Basin Campground
Basin Campground is located in a rustic, remote part of White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, about 15 miles north of Fryeburg, Maine. It is a small facility with access to hiking and mountain biking trails and proximity to a small pond for fishing and canoeing. The White Mountains boast pristine forests, clear mountain streams and rivers and the tallest peaks in the Northeast. The forest encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in New Hampshire and western Maine, and is one of the most popular in the country.
More like this: reservable in New Hampshire · big rigs in New Hampshire · pets allowed in New Hampshire
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗

Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 8 |
| Tent-only | 5 |
| Host/management | 8 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Tent only | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 011 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 012 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 014 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 015 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 016 | Tent only | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | |||
| 018 | Tent only | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Sites 002, 006, 009, 010 and 5 more are listed accessible |
Basin Campground hosts a mix of tent-only and standard sites along a single loop near Basin Pond. Accessible restrooms and drinking water are provided. There are no showers or a dump station.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | Mid-May to October |
| Forest | White Mountain National Forest |
| Booking | Reserve sites online through recreation.gov or by calling toll free at 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) |
| Fees | Single Family Site Per site / per night $30.00. Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00 |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Fryeburg, Maine, take Highway 113 north 15 miles to the campground.
| Coordinates | 44.2675° N, 71.0228° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBradley Brook Rx
4 mi from the campground · 1 acres
- PrescribedSouth Jackman Rx
31 mi from the campground · 39 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ragged Mountain Equipment ↗ | 13.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Call of the Wild RV Center ↗ | 27.7 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 33.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Overnight at The Basin campground
Worth a stop
The town of Fryeburg, Maine has groceries, restaurants and gas. Campers might enjoy a scenic day trip to the Presidential Range, which consists of the tallest mountains in the forest, including the 6,288-ft. Mount Washington, the highest peak north of the Smoky Mountains and east of the Mississippi River.
- 2.1 miLaughing Lion Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3.1 miE Royce / Spruce Hill Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miBasin Trail ↗4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miRoyce Trail4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miBickford Brook Trail4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1 miBasin Trail Spur B0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miMount Meader Spur A0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miLeach Link Trail1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.5 miMt Meader Trailhead ↗White Mountain National Forest
- 2 miBaldface Trailhead ↗White Mountain National Forest
- 2.1 miLaughing Lion Trailhead ↗White Mountain National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside White Mountain National Forest.
- inWhite Mountain National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 946,821 acres
- 1.3 miWild River Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 24,032 acres
- 2.4 miCaribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 11,236 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Brickett PlaceBuilding · Stow · 0.9 mi
- Fives CourtBuilding · Lovell · 7.6 mi
- Lovell Meeting HouseBuilding · Lovell · 8.9 mi
Natural features
The campground is in a pleasant mixed hardwood forest a short distance from the 23-acre Basin Pond. The national forest is home to many species of northern wildlife, including moose, white-tailed deer and black bear. Almost 200 species of birds, including the rare Bicknell's Thrush, live in the White Mountains.
Recreation
Hikers will enjoy exploring the 4.5-mile Basin Trail, which leaves from campground, and numerous other hiking and mountain biking trails within a short drive. Trout fishing is available in Basin Pond. The pond's calm waters are also ideal for canoeing. The area hosts four alpine and five nordic ski areas, which provide year-round recreation opportunities such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking, outdoor concerts, interpretive trails, special events and regional and national skiing and snowboarding races.
Guidebooks for New Hampshire
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Basin Campground?
Sites at Basin Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reserve sites online through recreation.gov or by calling toll free at 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Basin Campground?
Single Family Site Per site / per night $30.00. Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Basin Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Basin Campground have?
21 sites, including 8 standard sites without power and 5 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Basin Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Basin Campground?
There are no showers or a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Basin Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Basin Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Basin Campground?
Sites 002, 006, 009, and 010 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 9 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Basin Campground?
Hikers will enjoy exploring the 4.5-mile Basin Trail, which leaves from campground, and numerous other hiking and mountain biking trails within a short drive. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Basin Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cold River (0.5 mi), Wild River Campground (3.3 mi, first-come), and Hastings Campground (6.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby



