USDA Forest Service · New Hampshire
Waterville Campground
USDA Forest Service · New Hampshire, United States
- Sites
- 29
- Hookups
- 25 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to October 11
- Max RV length
- 30 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,457 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- WATERVILLE CAMPGROUND SPUR (NFSR 128A) · paved · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- White Mountain National Forest
- Nearest town
- Waterville Valley
- Address
- WHITE MOUNTAIN, NH
- Phone
- 603-536-6100
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Ice Skating, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Swimming
26 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Waterville Campground is a popular home base for hikers who want to explore the southern White Mountains, including the scenic Pemigewasset Wilderness.
The tremendous choice of local attractions and the proximity to outdoor recreation opportunities - fishing, swimming, hiking and whitewater paddling to name a few - bring campers back to Waterville again and again.
The White Mountains boast pristine forests, clear mountain streams and rivers and the tallest peaks in the Northeast. The forest encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in New Hampshire and western Maine, and is one of the most popular in the country.
Recreation
Hikers are drawn to the many trails in the area. Campers can easily access the Drakes Brook Trail (4.4 miles) and Sandwich Trail (3.9 miles), which form a loop that begins and ends near the campground.
Water sports include fishing and kayaking. Anglers can cast a line for brook trout in the Mad River. A bit farther away is the Winnipesaukee River, which has a great 2.1-mile category I-II section of whitewater.
Other activities such as summer concerts, a swimming area, golf course and the Gunstock ski resort are close by.
Learn more about recreation in the national forest.
Facilities
A mix of standard and tent-only sites are well-spaced around a single loop. The facility provides the basic amenities of restrooms and drinking water. Many other amenities such as showers and laundry facilities are within a short drive.
Natural Features
The campground sits in a thick forest of northern hardwood trees, adjacent to the Mad River and surrounded by mountains.
The national forest is home to many species of northern wildlife, including moose, white-tailed deer and black bear. Almost 200 species of birds, including the rare Bicknell's Thrush, live in the White Mountains.
Nearby Attractions
Campers may want to take an afternoon to visit Gilford Beach, Dixon Point and Sandwich Beach, all near Waterville Campground.
The facility is also close to Waterville Valley Resort, which offers night life, summer concert tours, restaurants, horseback riding, canoeing, mountain bike rentals and shops.
The White Mountains region hosts four alpine and five nordic ski areas, which provide year-round recreation opportunities.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (802) 289-0970.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 8° | -17° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 27° | 11° | -23° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 22° | -5° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 32° | 17° | 77° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 45° | 30° | 84° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 52° | 43° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 62° | 51° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 59° | 50° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 53° | 42° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 40° | 28° | 71° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 37° | 28° | 3° | 62° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 31° | 16° | -7° | 47° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Osceola Vista · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Osceola Vista Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 16 sites
- Flat Mtn Pond Shelter · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Tripoli Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
- Campton Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 91 sites
All public campgrounds in New Hampshire · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.