Monadnock State Park RV & Campground Guide
New Hampshire
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Monadnock State Park, located near the summit of its namesake peak, provides visitors with opportunities for hiking, biking, climbing, fishing, skiing, and bird-watching. Located in southwestern New Hampshire, the park sits close to the highest point of Mount Monadnock, which is 3,165 feet. The park stays open year-round, although you'll have limited services in the winter and during inclement weather conditions. Due to its elevation, the park features cool temperatures throughout the year, with bitterly cold conditions in the winter. Summer is the best time to visit, but it's also the most crowded, making day-use reservations a necessity.
Nearby Cities
Keene, NH
Peterborough, NH
Bennington, NH
Manchester, NH
Spring 37-59 F
Summer 49-70 F
Fall 23-41 F
Winter 10-29 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Monadnock State Park
Campground Accommodations
Gilson Pond Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes, some 30-amp sites
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: No
Max RV length: 30 feet
Other amenities: Back-in sites; tent-only sites; platform sites; family camping; playground; bathhouse with showers; pit/vault toilets; drinking water; restrooms; fire rings; comfort station
Monadnock Headquarters Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: No
Max RV length: N/A
Other amenities: Tent-only sites and group sites; youth group camping during the high season; family camping during the offseason; back-in and pull-through sites; comfort station; convenience store; fire rings; outhouse; drinking water; restrooms; playground; showers; flush toilets; pit/vault toilets
Woodmore Campground and RV Park
Woodmore Campground and RV Park is a 23-acre facility that offers 125 campsites for tents and RVs. This campground is the closest to Monadnock State Park that provides for RV camping. Woodmore is a family-oriented campground with picnic tables and fire rings at every campsite. Located on Lake Contoocook's shores, the campground is a great spot for anglers, boaters, and swimmers. A horseshoe pit is available for those who wish to stay in camp, and there is a baseball diamond, volleyball court, arcade, and playground. Hiking and biking paths wander through the dense forest that covers the park. A well-stocked camp store means your cupboard is maintained. Restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities round out Woodmore’s amenities.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Fee: $58-$75 per night
Office hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday - Thursday; 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday. Woodmore is open from Mother’s Day weekend to mid-October.
Ashuelot River Campground
Ashuelot River Campground sits 21 miles west of Monadnock State Park. The 50-acre campground sits alongside the Ashuelot River and offers 74 campsites capable of handling RVs. About 27 of those campsites provide full hookups. Along with the campsites, this facility offers several exceptional amenities, including canoe and kayak rentals, a volleyball and badminton court, a game room, Wi-Fi, and on-site storage. Anglers are free to rent boats to work their magic up and down the river. Others who seek a less-intense cruise often rent boats or kayaks to float along the river’s peaceful shores. The store supplies plenty of firewood, propane, and information about where to go for the best hikes in Monadnock State Park.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Fee: $47-$57 per night
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily from May 1 through mid-October
Seven Maples Campground
Seven Maples Campground is only 12 miles north of Monadnock State Park. The campground offers 41 RV campsites. Twelve of those campsites provide full hookups that include sewer access. This 54-acre campground is meticulously maintained and comes with a swimming pool, a game room, bathhouses, restrooms, showers, a laundry facility, and a kayak rental service. It's located alongside Moose Brook, and kayakers have access to the legendary fishing at Norway Pond. A private trout fishing pond adds angling opportunities where kids learn the excitement of fishing. A camp store provides all those essentials that campers suddenly discover while venturing away from home.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Fee: $49 to $58 per night
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. May 1 through mid-October
What to Do at
Monadnock State Park
Monadnock State Park has 40 miles of hiking trails, many of which take you to the summit of Mount Monadnock. You can take your bike out on some of the hiking trails, but not all of them. Fish at Gilson Pond and in the streams that wind their way through the park as well as the lakes. The park also offers rock climbing that's more like scrambling as there are no technical climbing routes. In the winter, go cross-country skiing on the lower-elevation trails below the summit. Monadnock also offers picnicking and bird-watching.
Visit Monadnock State Park year-round to experience four distinct seasons and participate in various activities.
Inside Monadnock State Park
Monadnock State Park is not designed as a campsite. The park's attractions are its natural beauty, its hiking trails, and its opportunity to commune with nature in a secluded environment. Several trails guide visitors to different destinations. Some hikers seek the top of Mount Monadnock whereas others choose a less-strenuous path to Gilson Pond. Regardless of your intentions, always be aware of your limitations as some trails are arduous.
Fishing
Try and catch rainbow trout, lake trout, and largemouth bass at Gilson Pond or at the park's small lakes or streams. You do need to get a New Hampshire fishing license before you can fish here.
Nature Watching
The park has various bird species that you can try spotting. Just some birds you can see at the park include eagles, hawks, and black-capped chickadees.
Hiking
The goal of many hikers will be to try and summit Mount Monadnock. Various trails in the park take you up to the peak, with varying lengths and elevation gain depending on the starting point. For example, from the park headquarters, you can take the White Dot Trail to the top of the mountain; you'll gain about 1,800 feet in elevation. From Gilson Pond, take the Birchtoft/Red Spot Trail 3.5 miles to the summit; you'll gain nearly 2,000 feet on this hike. When hiking in the park, always dress warmly, even in the summer, as the weather can be unpredictable. The top of Mount Monadnock will always be colder than its base.
Climbing
The climbing at Monadnock State Park is not the technical kind but rather the rock scrambling kind. Many of the climbing routes involve hiking. When you get near the summit, you'll have to do some rock scrambling to reach the peak. As with hiking, dress in layers when attempting to summit the peak.
Biking
You can take your bicycle out on some of the park's hiking trails. Always check trailhead signs to see which paths allow bikes. Note that as the trails here aren't flat and paved, you'll experience a more rugged form of biking than you may be used to.
How to Get to
Monadnock State Park
Directions from Keene: In downtown Keene, from the intersection of Main Street and West Street, head south on Main for 0.9 miles. At the intersection of State Route 101, turn left and drive for 4.1 miles. At the intersection of NH-124, make a right and continue for 10.2 miles. Make a left onto Dublin Road, and drive for 1.3 miles until you reach the park entrance.
Entering Monadnock State Park
The day-use fee is $15 for a vehicle with up to six occupants. The park strongly recommends that visitors reserve parking spots in advance during the peak travel season, which is summer and weekends from April through November. The reservation fee is $1. Note that if you try and enter the park during the busy season without a reservation, you could get turned away.
There's parking available at the picnic area of the Monadnock Headquarters Campground section and along the Gilson Pond Campground roads.
You’ll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Monadnock State Park. If you don’t have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monadnock State Park
Summer has the warmest temperatures, although note that it still gets chilly at night. If you visit during the summer or on a weekend from April through November, don't forget about getting a reservation in advance so you can claim a parking spot.
See birds like hawks, turkey vultures, eagles, and black-capped chickadees.
The Gilson Pond Campground has five RV sites, with each having 30-amp electrical hookups. These are the only RV sites in the park, and note that Gilson closes for the winter. Most other sites are tent-only or platform sites.
It's highly encouraged that you reserve your camping spot in advance, especially during peak travel season. Fees vary depending on the type of site, but for the RV sites, the cost is $35 per night.
No, the park does not allow pets, so leave your four-legged friend at home.
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