Spring Camping around Mt. Washington

[WeatherKeeper]

I am curious if anyone knows of a great camp ground somewhere around the area of Mt. Washington. My family and I are beginning to plan a late spring camping trip for that area. We are looking for campgrounds that have facilities and have activities for children (swing sets, swimming pools etc). We are looking to do a bit of hiking on the mountain while we are there. Any help would be appreciated

[afmrintern]

Lots of campgrounds like this around the area.

Some of my favorites were the Ammonoosuc Campground in Twin Mountain: http://www.ucampnh.com/ammonoosuc/

and

Jefferson Campground in Jefferson:
http://www.jeffersoncampground.com/

I'd start with these!

[WeatherKeeper]

Thank You!

I had already been looking at the Jefferson Camp Ground... it looks very appealing!! The only thing I am concerned about up there are the bugs... black flies; I know they tend to be bad around that area around the beginning of summer. I had heard that camping in the Cape Cod area at the beginning of Summer is a good idea because there are no bugs, is this true?

[hobbes]

How about Eastern Slope Camping Area on Route 16 between Conway & North Conway. Swimming pool, swing sets, & 2 beaches on the Saco River.

[Rich]

We love http://beechhill.com in Twin Mtn. Indoor pool, playground and QUIET! Centrally located to everything in the whites!

[KD Talbot]

I like to camp in the State Parks or WMNF Campgrounds. No Amenities though. Pit toilets and maybe a swingset, although some of them now have real bathrooms and showers, like Lafayette Place and Dry River. They are much more like "camping" if you ask me and usually under $20 a night. doesn't sound as though you're going to backpack so I suggest these. Moosebrook in Gorham has a swimming hole (ice cold), real bathroom and showers with a small playground, is near the Auto Road and Pinkham Notch.

http://www.nhstateparks.org/ParksPag...grndsHome.html

The blackflies start in late April the further south you are, depending on the weather. North of Washington as Moosebrook is, they may start around Memorial Day, by early June they can be intolerable anywhere in the mountains. Never camped on the Cape, so I can't say, but I guess the ocean breeze keeps them down, but watch out for greenheads. I'd take blackflies over these. They feel like someone shot ya' with a pellet gun! Not unlike the deerflies that come out in late June and July around southern NH. I say the earlier you go the better off you'll be as far as insects go. You may spend some cool nights huddled around the campfire, though. The time to really go camping in NH is September and October. Warm days, cool nights, foliage and NO BUGS!
KDT

[WeatherKeeper]

Thank you for the very informative replies! This will be the first time we have gone camping in the spring. We usually go camping several times in the Fall when it is more tolerable as far as temperature and bugs go, this will be our first Spring camping trip. I am really starting to become concerned about the black flies on the first week of June. Has anyone camped in the Mt. Washington area on or around the first week of June? How was your black fly experience? Has anyone ever been camping on the Cape around this time and how was your experience there? Thanks for all your help!!

[KD Talbot]

Well, as I said before the blackflies can be unbearable by the first week of June in the mountains. However, I camped in Evans Notch the first week of June last year and they were ever present but not intolerable. It depends on how far north you are, and how early their season can start. This is based on rainfall, warm weather, how early the snow melts and probably a dozen other factors. If it's warm early, say early May they will get a good foothold and can be miserable by June. If there is a lot of rain then there may not be much of a problem with them, but the mosquitos will carry you off. Seriously, I would not suggest to anyone to camp in New Hampshire in June. I can't help you with the Cape.
KDT