4.0771 reviewsPrice
$30/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
32 campsites
Season
Open mid-May through...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$30/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
32 campsites
Season
Open mid-May through...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Check Policy
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Passaconaway Campground, Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Fall foliage weekends reward early arrivals: grab site 15 for a 30-second walk to the Swift River, hit the Olivarin Brook Trail or Mt. Potash across the highway, and catch genuinely dark skies at night. Privacy between sites is real even when the campground fills.
No potable water on-site means hauling your own or driving to Jigger Johnson to fill up, the vault toilets draw repeated complaints about filth and broken fixtures, and zero cell signal is total, not partial. Recent reviewers say maintenance has slipped noticeably.
Reference information about Passaconaway Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>This heavily wooded campground has 33 sites with the Swift River a short distance away. Across the highway from the campground is the trailhead for the UNH Trail to Mt. Hedghog, the Downes Brook Trail, and the Mt. Potash Trail.</p>
The elevation is 1,300 ft. The campground has one large and one smaller loop in a nice forest of old conifers and mixed hardwoods within walking distance of the Swift River. Some campsites are along the river which can be seen through the vegetation. The campsites closest to the river enjoy shade from a variety of deciduous (hardwood) trees while sites closest to Rt 112 are tucked in among huge conifers. The moss-lined interior road adds to the campground's character. Separation between sites provides excellent privacy. In sites close to Rt. 112, there is traffic noise. Firewood is available for a fee. The nearby Russell-Colbath Historic Site offers a living history White Mountain National Forest 451 along with weekend interpretative programs from early July through Labor Day. This is bear country; practise safe food storage techniques.
Open mid-May through mid-October.
In Conway, NH, at the intersection of State Rts. 16/113 and 112 (Kancamagus Scenic Highway), take Rt. 112 west for 14 miles to campground on right.
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Fall delivers the best conditions: peak foliage, stable temperatures in the 50s and 60s during the day, and crisp nights in the 30s and 40s. September and early October offer ideal hiking weather and brilliant leaf color, though leaf-peeper weekends get crowded. The campground is open mid-May through mid-October. Summer stays comfortable under the forest canopy, which provides natural cooling. Expect mosquitoes and bugs during warmer months. Winter closes the campground entirely with deep snow and frigid temperatures.
Fall is described as best season: peak foliage, ideal hiking temps and crisp nights.
The Passaconaway Campground is characterized by its rustic facilities and natural surroundings. Official sources confirm that the campground doesn't offer potable water on-site, requiring campers to bring their own or drive to nearby facilities such as Jigger Johnson Campground for water needs. Vault toilets are available, but user reviews frequently describe them as poorly maintained and often unpleasant. "No light...walls are dirty full of bugs broken door handle," remarked one user, reflecting the general sentiment about the restroom facilities. There are no showers or flush toilets, and users like Anthony Pagliuso noted "no bathrooms...just outhouse pit toilet." Firewood is available for purchase on-site, although reviewers noted fluctuations in availability depending on the presence of a host. Picnic tables and fire rings are available at all 32 campsites. The campground does not provide Wi-Fi, cell phone service, or electrical hookups, making it a true off-grid experience. This lack of connectivity is praised by some reviewers as a way to disconnect, such as Michael Anderson, who appreciated the site being "more rustic than some of the others, smaller, and has ZERO cell signal." However, others found this inconvenient, especially given the lack of potable water.
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