Basin Campground, Chatham, NH

Basin Campground is located in the Saco Ranger District, White Mountain National Forest (1 hr 36 min west of Lewiston, ME) with an elevation of 753 feet. There are a total of 13 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of May to mid October. 8 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. There is a fee of $22.00 per night. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.

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Campsite Reviews (52)

4.4 out of 5

5 star		62%
4 star		21%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star		6%

@KathrynS492126 · Camped on Aug 18, 2024 at Campsite #9

We return to Basin every year. The area is beautiful with many great hikes. We also bring our bikes. Mt Washington, North Conway and Bethel are not too far away. Visit the Gem Museum in Bethel. They have a world class collection and wonderful displays.

@CaitlinM553341 · Camped on Aug 2, 2024 at Campsite #9

The location, surrounding area, and views are 10/10! Things to note that will help future guests:- The majority of the bathroom facilities are out of order, but there are porta-potties handy- No active camp host (when we were there)- Firewood is available on a self-serve, honor system where the camp host site is ($8 per bundle)- Basin pond is heavily infested with leeches (plenty of swimming holes on the cold river about 15 from the campground)- Large and easy-to-use boat ramp with plenty of parking located at the entrance of the campground- No cell phone service within 5 miles of either director of the campground (download what you need prior to arrival)Overall, we had a great time and would go back again!

@AndrewH3730305 · Camped on Jul 11, 2024 at Campsite #6

Go somewhere else. I showed up the day after my reservation start time and the host gave my site away when others were available. There was no interacting with the host on my behalf. No one to explain anything. Highly disappointed with the host and the grounds. Pretty but there is so much better around the area.

@RyanL5089068 · Camped on Jun 28, 2024 at Campsite #10

5 star location, beautiful spot for sure. Only negative thing I have to say is the whole campground has to share a one stall bathroom or two portable toilets. Seems like the up keep is lacking a bit. Also didnt see the host once. Great stay otherwise

@JEFFREYC949418 · Camped on Jun 25, 2024 at Campsite #20

The campground is in a beautiful setting. There are many hiking trails in the area. The campsites are strategically situated for privacy.

@DeanaD22AEE6CA · Camped on Oct 5, 2023 at Campsite #15

Very quiet, peaceful campground:)

@RachaelSEC9144 · Camped on Sep 3, 2023 at Campsite #20

Had a great time!

@KathrynL852711 · Camped on Aug 23, 2023 at Campsite #6

A lovely rustic campground on Basin Lake, and centrally located to several trailheads and an extensive hiking trail network. The hosts keep everything clean and serve as good resources, important because there is no cell service for miles in any direction! We will definitely stay here again.

@CarriePC2796FE · Camped on Aug 22, 2023 at Campsite #18

Basin Campground is very nice and well kept. When I arrived to my reserved campsite I discovered it was not going to work with my car tent as it was one spot for parking and up some stairs where the tent site was. The hosts of the campground were very accommodating and let me choose another site that was not reserved. Also on the map of the campground I now know that not all sites are marked. It would be helpful as I tried to book the same site I ended up in, but am not able to as it isn't listed. It was my first time camping with my 2 standard poodles and was a nice experience for all.

@MaryS3622227 · Camped on Aug 13, 2023 at Campsite #2

First time camping outside of an organized event. I went with a friend and we had a blast! Basin Campground is simple, but it has everything we hoped for, including a flat campsite, cooker, wood for sale, toilets (which worked fine), running water, beautiful!!!!!!!! pond, and other stuff we didn't get to, like nearby hiking trails and swimming. I did try the trail around the pond, but left it when I thought I had lost it. It had gone uphill to avoid the muddy swamp I ended up in. Our camp site was quiet except for a neighbor's soft music, but they turned it off at 10:00, per rules. We preferred the crickets, and they chirped all night.

@AustinT4D65490 · Camped on Jul 24, 2023 at Campsite #18

Great off the grid spot. Lake is beautiful.

@kendriawC5426A · Camped on Jul 23, 2023 at Campsite #2

I stayed at several campgrounds during my visit to White Mountain National Forest. I was most looking forward to Basin Campground. The pond was breathtaking but my least favorite camping experience. I had 3 different bug repellants and a week later Im still in agony from mosquito bites. The mosquitos were vicious and not deterred. If youre on the pond side, you have to hike uphill to the restrooms while being swarmed by mosquitos. One positive: the campground is very quiet during weekdays. Except a busload of camp kids arrived halfway through my stay. I wasnt aware that this campground hosted groups so it was very confusing and annoying to hear summer camp instructors yelling all day.

@KathieS8122619 · Camped on Jun 26, 2023 at Campsite #2

This is my 3rd year camping here. I love that it’s a small campground and love the location. The caretakers are very friendly and approachable. Apparently, the folks that are usually there had to leave and a very nice gentleman from the adjacent campground was checking on things. He had a lot on his plate with 2 campgrounds, abundant rain and no working bathrooms at the Basin Campground. The bathrooms have always seemed “on the fritz” and tend to not flush very well. I’m curious why there are no outhouses here, seems that would be a simpler solution. We made the best of it though and will be back.

@EricO5592955 · Camped on Jun 22, 2023 at Campsite #15

Very nice place for calm. Close to some very nice mountain like Bladface. Very rustic ;-) !

@LizRB372382761 · Camped on Jun 14, 2023 at Campsite #21

This is not to put down the hosts or the campsite in general, but our stay here was less than stellar. There were swarms of mosquitos and we got eaten alive. It also rained the whole time we were here so that put a damper on things. The basin itself is beautiful and the mountains are breathtaking. We also said at DollyCopp a campsite a few miles over from Basin, and there were significantly less bugs. The bathrooms were fine.

@DavidS3927304 · Camped on May 26, 2023 at Campsite #12

Our favorite campground. No electric or water on sites which is fine. Campground is in a natural bowl right next to Basin Pond. All kinds of hiking in the area. nothing more peaceful than falling asleep to the sounds of the owls and loons. Camphost does an excellent job of keeping sites groomed and enforcing quiet times.

@EileenE2346067 · Camped on Oct 2, 2022 at Campsite #14

We love Basin campground- beautiful location, great hosts. But, my husband has informed me that all of this season there has been just one working flush toilet for the entire men’s room! Whoever us in charge of maintaining plumbing has certainly dropped the ball.

@JoanA9436726 · Camped on Sep 29, 2022 at Campsite #6

There are trail head signs however they do not have distances and there are no maps anywhere. Not even online. I wanted to hike right from the campground but was unable to because of this. Since there is no reception you have to drive a ways to figure out a hiking plan B.

@StephenB287309 · Camped on Sep 15, 2022 at Campsite #18

good with fine privacy

@AlanP4893055 · Camped on Sep 11, 2022 at Campsite #11

Good sites, well spaced in a nice wooded location with a small pond nearby.

@KathrynS492126 · Camped on Aug 21, 2022 at Campsite #6

We loved our 4 nights at Basin. It's a very quiet location to get away from it all. No cell service, which for us was much needed. It has shady sites next to a lovely pond at the base of the mountains. There is a lot of hiking in the area and scenic drives. We left Basin much more relaxed than when we arrived. If you are pulling an RV, it's much easier to drive north on Rte 113 from Fryeburg that it is to drive south from Gilead.

@Christina28186 · Camped on Aug 8, 2022 at Campsite #10

Just an okay site- it would have been a little better if our neighbor's dogs weren't off-leash! We had a good time exploring the surrounding forest roads. There was some shady activity happening out by the pond, so we didn't get to check it out. Looks like a homeless camp has set up there.

@JenS8690337 · Camped on Aug 7, 2022 at Campsite #2

Wonderful campground. Well maintained sites. Easily accessible potable water. Quiet. We stayed in early July and liked it so much we returned a few weeks later. Lots of great hiking trails (challenging and family-friendly) and swimming holes close by! Excited to return next year.

@MarcellaB91850 · Camped on Aug 1, 2022 at Campsite #10

A trail just about 2.5 miles south of the campground had a wonderful deep pool surrounded by huge rocks. It wasn't a difficult hike and worth exploring!

@MarvinC7716399 · Camped on Jun 26, 2022 at Campsite #15

A nice small secluded campground. There is a small lake and a lot of hiking trails in the area. Find your maps and hiking options before you get to the campground. Ranger stations are a long drive and there is no detailed information on the trails available at the campground. If you want an out of the way place to camp, this is great. We would stay again. We were in site 15 with a 30ft 5th wheel and had plenty of room. It was a nice secluded spot away from other campers, with the convenience of being across the road from the restrooms. There are no showers, just toilets and cold water sinks. There are water spigots around the campground, but no fresh water fill up station or dump station.

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