CampgroundsDB

First-come camping in New Hampshire (no reservation needed)

New Hampshire has 42 public campgrounds you can camp at without a reservation, 25 free and 17 charging a fee. All are run by the U.S. Forest Service.

42
Total
0
Reservable
42
First-come

noindex Fewer than 3 campgrounds here clear the indexable bar yet, so this page stays noindex.

First-come campgrounds vs. dispersed camping

Every campground below is a named, developed site that takes no reservations: show up, find an open site, pay if there's a fee. Dispersed camping (boondocking) is different: camping on open public land away from any campground. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

Most first-come campgrounds by town: 11 near Grafton , 9 near Coos , 6 near Carroll , and 3 near Bartlett .

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Baldface Shelter Carroll · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Barnes Field Group Campground Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Beaver Brook Shelter Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Blackberry Crossing Conway · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $30 per night
 Camp Penacook Shelter Carroll · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Coppermine Shelter Twin Mountain · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Dry River Shelter # 3 Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Eliza Brook Shelter Woodstock · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Ethan Pond Shelter Bartlett · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per person per night
 Flat Mtn Pond Shelter Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Fourth Iron Backcountry Site Bartlett · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Franconia Brook Campsites Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Garfield Ridge Shelter Bethlehem · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per person per night
 Gentian Pond Shelter Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Guyot Shelter Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per person per night
 Hermit Lake Complex Gorham · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per person per night
 Hexacuba Shelter Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Imp Shelter Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Jeffers Brook Shelter Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Jigger Johnson Carroll · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $30 per night
 Kinsman Pond Woodstock · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Liberty Springs Franconia · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per person per night
 Moose Mountain Shelter Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Mountain Pond Shelter Carroll · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Nauman Tentsite Bartlett · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Ore Hill Tentsite Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Osceola Vista Group Campground Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Overnight Use:
 Passaconaway Conway · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $30 per night
 Province Pond Shelter Carroll · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Rattle River Shelter Shelburne · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Rocky Branch Shelter #1 Carroll · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Sawyer Pond Shelter & Tent Platforms Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Sugarloaf I Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $24 per night
 Sugarloaf Ii Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $24 per night
 Thirteen Falls Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Three Ponds Shelter Rumney · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Trapper John Shelter Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Trident Col Tentsite Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Tripoli Rd Twin Mountain · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $25 per night
 Velvet Rocks Shelter Grafton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Wild River Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $24 per night
 Zealand Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $24 per night

Common questions

Is there free camping in New Hampshire?

Yes. 25 public campgrounds here are free and first-come: Baldface Shelter, Beaver Brook Shelter, Camp Penacook Shelter, Coppermine Shelter, and 21 more.

Can you camp on BLM land in New Hampshire?

Yes, in most places. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

Campgrounds you can book ahead: camping in New Hampshire.