Camping in the LR this summer

[oak grove]

I'm coming in from the west coast this summer to spend some time "back home" in NH. I will be camping for about 5 nights somewhere in the LR before spending a few days at my mother's house in Barnstead.

Not all campgrounds have info posted on the web and since that's the only resource I really have here, I've narrowed my search down to a place called Long Island Bridge on M'boro Neck. There may be other places that are good that just don't have a website.

Does anyone have any info on this particular campground? Good, bad? If not so good, can anyone recommend a better place? I don't need electric or other hook-ups (but I do need nice showers!), just a clean tent site that's not creepy. LIB is $23/night, which seems to be the cheapest around. Not sure why.

[chipj29]

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but if you do a forum search for the keyword "campground", you will find several threads. Here are a couple that may interest you:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ght=campground
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ght=campground
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ght=campground

Other than Hack-ma-tack in Laconia, I personally have not camped at the lake.

[oak grove]

You're right, I could have done a search. It's just that when I looked at the various sections, I saw Boating, I saw Restaurants, etc., but nothing specific on camping. From there I looked at the various threads in the General Discussion and saw nothing related to camping over the last couple of years, so I figured there wasn't anything, at least not recent. Since campgrounds can come and go, and can change hands, I was wondering if anyone had any info about what I might find this summer.

In looking at those threads you just posted, I'm not seeing anything that helps me. The two threads about Long Island Bridge aren't really about the campground, they're about boat access.

I apologize if I have gotten off to the wrong start here. Forums are not something I participate in on a regular basis.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by oak grove

You're right, I could have done a search. It's just that when I looked at the various sections, I saw Boating, I saw Restaurants, etc., but nothing specific on camping. From there I looked at the various threads in the General Discussion and saw nothing related to camping over the last couple of years, so I figured there wasn't anything, at least not recent. Since campgrounds can come and go, and can change hands, I was wondering if anyone had any info about what I might find this summer.

In looking at those threads you just posted, I'm not seeing anything that helps me. The two threads about Long Island Bridge aren't really about the campground, they're about boat access.

I apologize if I have gotten off to the wrong start here. Forums are not something I participate in on a regular basis.

You haven't gotten off to the wrong start and your question is a very valid one.

I never tented at Long Island Bridge but have stayed there in a class C RV. Didn't care for the way they crammed the RV's in. Other than that it appeared to be a well kept campground with nice ammenities.

On the Gilford side of the lake, I would recommend Gunstock. Nice campground, very well kept and a little more off the beaten path. Lots to do around the Gilford area as well.

Good luck!

Dan

[oak grove]

Ahh, I see that there is an outdoor rec forum. (Perhaps this should be moved?) For some reason, I didn't think of camping! Perhaps because my camping this summer is not really for outdoor rec, but rather in lieu of $100/night hotels/motels. I just need a cheaper place to stay.

Thank you for your kindness. And thanks for the info on the campgrounds.

[mcdude]

right in Barnstead you could try the SUN RIVER CAMPGROUND located on the Suncook River.

[oak grove]

Originally Posted by mcdude

right in Barnstead you could try the SUN RIVER CAMPGROUND located on the Suncook River.

Okay, so here's the whole story: My Mom is 82, so she doesn't get around like she used to. I would like to spend some time around the lake, but she isn't up to it. If I fly in and stay at her house, I feel bad about not spending all my time with her. So, I'm trying to spend some time doing some recreating without her knowing it! If she knows that I'm in town, but I'm not staying with her, she'll get upset. Yet, if I stay with her the whole time, she'll get upset because a) she doesn't like company staying that long and b) because she really wants me to keep her company at the same time she's telling me to go out have fun while she stays home!

It's not a good situation. So, if I get to NH and don't go directly to her house -- and she sees me in town! -- I'm in trouble. So, I have to stay away from Barnstead. I have to stay away from Concord because she might go there to do her shopping. But I know the Lakes Region is not a problem! And I love it there. If I'm going to fly 3,000 miles once a year for vacation, I want to be able to enjoy my time there.

Okay, probably too much information, but I thought I'd better clear that up.

[upthesaukee]

and Darned if you don't. Know the feeling.

Here is a link to a bunch of campgrounds in and around the lakes region:

http://www.ucampnh.com/directory.asp

[oak grove]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Here is a link to a bunch of campgrounds in and around the lakes region:

http://www.ucampnh.com/directory.asp

I had found that directory online a few weeks ago. There's a lot of good info. That's how I narrowed my choices down to Long Island Bridge and Harbor Hill in Meredith. They look good online, but it's so hard to tell unless you've been there.

Thanks to everyone for the help so far.

[joann721]

We have been seasonal at Harbor Hill for the past 5 years.

The tent sites are on the next road over from the seasonals. The sites are clean and can be as rustic as you want.

The shining star for Harbor Hill are the bathrooms. They are spotless. The showers take 25 cents for a few minutes- but the water is always hot and are never icky.... they are cleaned at least once a day....

ps you cant see the lake or get to the lake from harbor hill- it is about 2 miles in either direction to Shep Browns or Center Harbor....

[oak grove]

Originally Posted by joann721

We have been seasonal at Harbor Hill for the past 5 years.

The tent sites are on the next road over from the seasonals. The sites are clean and can be as rustic as you want.

The shining star for Harbor Hill are the bathrooms. They are spotless. The showers take 25 cents for a few minutes- but the water is always hot and are never icky.... they are cleaned at least once a day....

ps you cant see the lake or get to the lake from harbor hill- it is about 2 miles in either direction to Shep Browns or Center Harbor....

Wow, thanks JoAnn! I will keep this in mind. It is more expensive than Long Island, and that extra $35 could be well spent on haddock! But maybe those clean bathrooms are worth the extra money.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by oak grove

You're right, I could have done a search. It's just that when I looked at the various sections, I saw Boating, I saw Restaurants, etc., but nothing specific on camping. From there I looked at the various threads in the General Discussion and saw nothing related to camping over the last couple of years, so I figured there wasn't anything, at least not recent. Since campgrounds can come and go, and can change hands, I was wondering if anyone had any info about what I might find this summer.

In looking at those threads you just posted, I'm not seeing anything that helps me. The two threads about Long Island Bridge aren't really about the campground, they're about boat access.

I apologize if I have gotten off to the wrong start here. Forums are not something I participate in on a regular basis.

Please accept my apologies, I was really not trying to be rude. I was trying to help you out, but just didn't have the personal knowledge other than the one campground I mentioned. You did nothing wrong, I was trying to help.
I did preface my post with "I don't want to sound like a jerk", as I know sometimes people are real quick to yell at someone to do a forum search. That is not what I was trying to convey at all.

Good luck on your adventure, we love camping all around the state.

[oak grove]

Originally Posted by chipj29

Please accept my apologies, I was really not trying to be rude. I was trying to help you out, but just didn't have the personal knowledge other than the one campground I mentioned. You did nothing wrong, I was trying to help.
I did preface my post with "I don't want to sound like a jerk", as I know sometimes people are real quick to yell at someone to do a forum search. That is not what I was trying to convey at all.

Good luck on your adventure, we love camping all around the state.

No need to apologize. You weren't rude. But you were right. I could have done a better job of searching. If I had, I would have realized that this thread should have been posted in the outdoor rec forum.

We used to camp down at Greenfield when I was a kid, but I've only camped in NH a couple times as an adult. Here in Oregon, there are very few campgrounds compared to NH. When the state parks open for reservations for Memorial Day weekend, they sell out within hours. I was worried about being able to reserve a site in NH. But maybe it's not as crazy there?