Dry River Campground

Nice campsites. Beautiful scenic location. Bathrooms are nice and clean. The showers do require quarters though, so don’t forget them if you want one! The campground was very quiet when we were there, but it was definitely far from full since it was early in the season.

I visited Dry River Campground for three nights in August 2014 and I had a wonderful experience. The bathroom facilities were immaculate, coin operated showers reasonably priced and a laundry room! The campground is small and quiet. I read reviews about truck noise from the nearby road but I did not hear it. John (the manager) was very helpful when I requested to stay an extra night. Many hiking options nearby by auto. Not a lot of amenities near the campground which I actually liked. Firewood available and dog friendly. Plenty of space for my pop-​up. I will return to this campground.

Much quieter than Lafayette CG. The road noise is minimal and it is not very windy. I camped after Oct 15^th so there was no running water or bathhouse available. Only an outhouse, still clean and nice.

3.5 stars. The campground is small and cozy. Great location, very scenic. Nice bathrooms and showers. Sites were nice and clean. Dog friendly and very friendly and helpful staff.
There are two reasons I cannot give higher then 3.5 stars.
1. This is my biggest gripe, Road noise, I am out camping in the white mountains and it sounds like I am right next to I-​93. Honestly I hear FAR less road noise at my house in southern NH.
2. 10 dollar reservation fee for booking the site online. I believe this is a NH state park fee, I tried to call and make the reservation over the phone but they told me I had to book online, which charges me this 10 $ fee. Not really a big deal, but after getting rained out the previous week, I am up to 20 $ in reservation booking fees, and 15 $ for cancellation fees. 35 $ in fees and nothing in return.

One of the quietest, best-​situated campgrounds in the White Mountains. This campground is definitely more family-​friendly than a lot of the rowdy-​er campgrounds. It’s location in Crawford Notch State Park means it’s only minutes from some of the best waterfalls and hiking in New England.
The facilties are very clean and the price is good too. Highly recommended.

–Location is great due to being far from the city but there is the general store close enough that if you run out of something is not detrimental.
–Shower was good, don’t forget to bring quarters, it is fairly priced and always warm.
–The staff was friendly and cordial.
–Before quiet hours (I believe it was 10pm) it was rather noisy, as a group beside us had music blaring but once quiet hours hit… you could hear crickets. The staff drove around a couple of times to insure that quiet hours were being respected, which I for one appreciated.
–This site is situated by nearby easy/​moderate hikes like Arethusa Falls, Frankenstein Cliffs and HARDER hikes like Mount Isolation.
–I will visit again and did not give it full five stars because I have nothing to compare it to.

I have stayed at the Dry River Campground many times over the years. The campground is not close to the major shopping areas in North Conway, which is a plus if you are looking for isolation. Dry River is a clean, well laid out campground with wooded sites well separated from one another. The bath facilities are clean and easy to get to.
One reason I enjoy this campground is its proximity to Crawford Notch and the easier trails up Mount Washington. There are several good hikes nearby, and there are also camp stores within a reasonable distance. There are also trails that lead directly into the campground.
If you come here, be prepared for wildlife. I camped here with my kids, and over one weekend we had a cow moose and her two calves walk right through our campsite, and we also woke up in the early morning to some black bears that were snuffling around our campsite. The bears are largely harmless if you don’t have food in your tent, and any prudent camper has nothing to worry about. Just remember that the animals aren’t cartoons — they can be dangerous, but only if you do something foolish to alarm them.
Another nice feature to the campground is the moutain ridge on the other side of Route 302. This ridge provides extraordinary darkness at night, allowing for a much more brilliant view of the stars once night falls. I highly recommend this campground.

Every year we travel to the White Mountains for a bit of escape and a little R&R, and every year we stay at Dry River. Dry River is located just near the Willey House and Mt. Webster and Bartlett. However, it is a bit close to the highway. It has about 30 little lots, each with a fire pit and plenty of room for campers or multiple tents. Dry river also has restroom facilities, showers, and laundry room for the longer stays. The camp manager is also there most of the day to answer any questions and to sell firewood for $ 4.
All in all, it’s a great place to rest the head in between hiking, canoeing, or whatever outdoor fun you’re in for. It is conveniently located near many trails, mountains, and even Conway for those who like to shop on their outdoor adventures.
Just one warning, watch out for the black bears. On the final night of our stay we were woken up at 11:30 by some guy walking up and down the main road of the campground yelling «bears in the campground! There are bears in the campground!» We could also hear someone yelling at a bear telling it to go away. Many families left the campsite. John and I, in fear of being pulled from our tent in the middle of the night by a hungry bear, slept in the car. Upon leaving the next morning, we found claw marks on the dumpster where the campers store their trash. Ahhhh, it’s the little things that keep life in the wilderness interesting.