I've stayed at Ashuelot River Campground twice and am planning a third visit later this year. As an…read moreavid hiker, my idea of camping is simple and self-sufficient: pitching a tent, boiling water to avoid giardia, cooking on a Coleman stove, and living out of a cooler. I'm not looking for an air-conditioned RV experience with all the modern comforts--I'm here for the outdoors. That's why I'm puzzled by some of the negative reviews this campground has received. Ashuelot provides a natural setting where you can create the camping experience that suits you. Yes, there are rules--but they're mainly in place to ensure that everyone has a peaceful and enjoyable time. Let's be honest: not everyone is considerate, and a few basic guidelines go a long way toward making the space enjoyable for all. This isn't luxury travel. It's camping--and it's affordable. If you're expecting concierge service or hotel-style amenities, there are plenty of expensive hotels nearby that might better fit your expectations. But if you're self-reliant, easygoing, and here to enjoy nature on its own terms, Ashuelot River Campground offers exactly what you need for a rewarding experience.

What a lovely campground. There's some thing for all types of campers. We (retired couple with 2…read morelarge dogs) stayed at a full hookup riverfront site before Memorial Day. Fairly open, but a nice spot. There are plenty of pretty spots in the woods with water and electric and a bit more privacy. They would make nice tent or smaller camper spots. That's what we'll choose when we return. Nice little walking trails for the dogs, and access the beautiful river. Friendly checkin, and helpful at the store when we needed a quick repair.

For the last three summers, my wife, kids, and I have done extended camping (I work remotely). This…read moreyear, our lease ended and we thought it was the perfect chance to camp longer while we decided whether to move out of state or stay local. We called Swanzey Lake Campground and asked about length-of-stay rules. Jill assured us there were none and even let us choose a site in person. The lake and new bathrooms made the higher price feel worth it. Everything started fine until a couple weeks in. My wife and I had a heated--but non-violent and quiet--argument and we foolishly called the police. They came, found no issue, and left. Jill and Bill were understandably upset, but after a sincere apology, Jill gave us another chance, saying if it happened again, we'd have to leave. Fair enough. Then out of nowhere, a welfare check was called on us by another camper claiming I wasn't letting my kids out of the tent. Absurd. In reality, it was a quiet Saturday--we had fans running, windows open, and WiFi going. My kids were happy and safe. It felt like someone was watching us simply for not being social. My kids were upset, my oldest was confused and scared, and I let the office know how angry I was. We had done nothing wrong. Even the officer said she didn't know why she was called and gave me her number in case I had any new concerns myself. A few days later, someone I had worked with months ago at a nonprofit (not law enforcement or anything official) called the campground asking for me because I hadn't responded to her calls. That same day, we were told to move again--and that we had one week left. Baffling. I went to the office and tried to explain, but Jill refused to hear anything. She referenced the call and said now she was on "a state agency contact list" - whatever that means - and said that was enough to end our stay. That was the moment I realized logic was no longer part of the equation. Later I spoke with Bill, who was respectful but said he had to support Jill's decision. It became clear--if you're not part of the seasonal RV crowd, you're not really welcome here. We were in a tent, not an RV, and that seemed to make all the difference. Even after we left, I was told there was yet another complaint--this time about our dog being left in the car. The car had been remote-started with AC blasting. It was still cold when we returned. But again, everything we did seemed to be reported and twisted. We were moved to a spot with zero privacy, surrounded by campers who all seemed to know each other, hung out together, dined together. Jill had told us we could stay through mid-August. Then suddenly we were told the site was "seasonal only." The inconsistency was exhausting. If you're doing actual extended camping--not just a weekend RV hangout--this is not the place. There's clear favoritism, it's very clique-like, and we were constantly scrutinized for things others were doing openly without consequence. We didn't accept the additional week and left the next day. We were treated unfairly and judged, and despite our best efforts to respect the rules and communicate, it wasn't enough. I wouldn't recommend this campground to anyone looking for more than a brief stay. We were not the problem. Your clique was, your judgment was, and Jill, you owe us an apology. But we already know we'll never get one. Do not stay here. Period.

Love this campgrounds. I was lucky enough to have an RV in a seasonal spot for two years. Fabulous…read moreowners who really care about their property as well as their guests. Swimming, kayaking and canoeing are just a few amenities you can enjoy. They also have get together's and special events. Either a family, couple or just being by yourself it's the perfect atmosphere. Highly recommend Swanzey Lake!

This center served as my home base for a series of hiking adventures on and around Mount Monadnock…read morein June. I was assigned a lakefront cottage that was extremely spacious and quite comfortable. There are more modern, and more fully outfitted, condos but I enjoyed the scenic view and quite setting of my cottage. Pilgrim Pines is a venue that hosts a variety of visitors. There are summer camps, conferences and, likely, retreats but my visit was with a group of hikers and artists who stayed on property from Sunday through Friday. Meals are held in the main dining room and are served buffet-style which made it easy to enjoy what I wanted and to the leave the rest for others. Guests are expected to place dirty dishes and glassware in a bin which makes for a quick and easy clean up. There is a 2 1/2 mile loop around the lake that can be enjoyed during a leisurely walk or a more ambitious run. There are also trails and dirt roads/paths nearby for additional outdoor excursions. The water was a little too cold for my tastes but the lake seemed to be inviting and would certainly provide a smooth place to canoe. There is a small store on property with hours that vary according to need. It offered a lovely selection of toys for children, sweet treats, Christmas ornaments and other holiday decor, jewelry, original paintings and some items representative of the region. Definitely worth checking out if you can manage to be around when staff opens it up for business. Every staff member I encountered added to the overall enjoyable experience of staying here. It was always easy to strike up a conversation or ask for any assistance. A lovely chapel on property did double duty as a morning yoga studio and an evening presentation spot for guest speakers. The real highlight of the stay, particularly after an exhausting day hike, was the shower. It had great water pressure and hot water that helped to make the muscles feel much better. Due to the religious affiliations of this property alcohol is off limits. Guests are welcome to enjoy the books, games, puzzles and even the TV found in the main lodge but for me the chance to enjoy the outdoors or just curl up with a book in my little lakeside nook was all I needed!

Great getaway every year with our family!! My wife has been coming here her whole life and now our…read morekids love coming to the pines too.

Enchanting forest Swimming hole…read morePicnic areas Hiking trail Campsite $5 daily fee for visitors-- pay at the covered info stands

Great place for family,kids and youngsters alike! Peaceful…read morepond to kayak swim and fish. Small swimming area for kids as well. Park benches and picnic tables and open grounds for games!

Stumbled upon the Somerset Reservoir while we were out one day driving around the area; a couple of…read moreour friends were headed there to take their dog for a swim, so we decided to meet them. It is VERY much off the beaten path and once you turn on Somerset Rd., it's a good 3 or 4 mile drive to get to the general parking, picnic area near the water. Oh yeah, the road isn't paved either so it's best to have a 4x4 or some sort of vehicle with tires that can handle the trek. The general parking area is a decent size, there are a few picnic tables and a port-a-potty which was surprisingly clean. The reservoir itself is huge and great for kayaking or canoeing, neither of which we did, but I did see quite a few people there enjoying themselves on the water. There is one general walking direction which takes you to several different hiking paths and there is even a cute little bridge overlooking a beautiful stream. It had rained that morning and with leaves falling, the trails were a little slippery at points, but nothing that made me feel unsafe. I'd definitely recommend wearing sneakers or hiking boots of some kind. Between the group of us, we had 3 dogs and none of them were on a leash; people really didn't seem to care and everyone was friendly. The dogs enjoyed swimming in the water and I enjoyed looking at it. I'd most definitely go back to Somerset Reservoir with a camera and a light lunch to kick back and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Camped here haha lol at the airfeild, it was just so good. FOOD WAS GREAT. Those burgers and and…read morepattys were out of this world, they were cooked good. Such a good place for my family. I have a good palette so I love good food lol

Easy access hype…read more This Gorge is easily accessible from the road and worth stopping for a few minutes. It is not a destination worthy but provides a scenic rest stop on your way to elsewhere. Many road trippers and tourist traps are here. There are about 20-30 parking spots near the East side of the bridge. There is an info board and a trailhead at the parking lot. The trail meanders below the road bridge to the Quechee Gorge. This summer (9/25) has been quite dry, so not big cascades but better views into the Gorge can be had. There's a big construction going ON the bridge so there was some traffic (yup). The construction probably will be completed before the winter. PSA - The best vista to this Gorge is actually from the bridge which is a very short walk from the parking lot.

This place has always been a home for me . Home away from home . It is cost efficient due to the…read morehigh hotel rates these days . I remember when a hotel stay would be less than 100.00 a night with amenities. Anyways, this campground is close to work, entrainment and many food choices. It is clean and well managed with a friendly and competent staff. I never felt unsafe or financially cheated. This will always be my go to spot ! Thank you Quechee !

Chad and his wife are amazing. They work so incredibly hard to take care of the campground and are…read morevery accommodating. You would never know this great campground is hidden away in Newport!! If I need to chill, this is where I go!!

This is a no frills campground, but I have to honestly say that we had a great stay this past…read moreweekend. Pros 1. The campground is very inexpensive, $35 a night with water and electric. 2. Beautiful sites available right on the water. Other site away from the water area available too. 3. SUPER easy check-in. 4. Not a ton of rules/regulations like most campgrounds and there didn't need to be as everyone is very respectful there, like it should be! 5. Dogs allowed as long as they are on a leash at all times. Again, not a lot of red tape, paperwork and rules to bring your dog camping which is so nice! 6. Campground and facilities are well maintained and clean. 7. Great location with lots to do nearby. 8. Wood for campfires available for $4 a bundle. Cons 1. We picked a site #56 because it was on the water and close to one of the bathroom locations listed on their map. While they were certainly close, they were actually porta pottys, not actual bathrooms with running water. Not a huge deal ,but had we know this, we probably would've picked a site closer to one of the real bathrooms with running water. 2. No central location to wash dishes other than your campsite. 3. Some of the sites along the water are very narrow and close together. We could actually hear the couple in the site next to us talking every morning when they woke up and it was not because they were loud. 4. No campground store so if you forgot something, you're going to have to venture out in the surrounding area to find what you need. There is plenty nearby, but it's always nice if you can just get it from the campground store. Your best options are site 61 if you want a nice, large site on the water (not a lot of privacy) or site 65 for a nice, large site, but very private with only one site next to you and the other side is trees. If you like camping in an open field with other campers and don't mind the lack of privacy, they have that option too. Really something for everyone. One last note, showers are 50 cents for 6 minutes. Not a pro or con in my opinion, but certainly worth mentioning so you are prepared when you get there!

Wow what a place! 2nd time staying and it's always so relaxing and beautiful. Will continue our…read moretradition. Great owners, great coffee, cute store. Campsites are beautiful and love the cabin!

We heard about this campground and, specifically, the Retro RV (Shasta) from a friend. I was so…read moretaken by my friend's description that I immediately signed up for a weekend get-away! The folks who work at the KOA are SOOOO friendly and helpful. They greeted us when we arrived, gave us maps and codes to the bathroom/shower building, and hooked us up with wood and a small axe to cut it with! The Retro RV was absolutely charming. Based on other reviews, we came equipped with cleaning supplies. I think that the RV was sufficiently campground clean. There was no visible dirt, or stains anywhere and no off-putting odors. Nevertheless, we still cleaned the whole RV, especially the floor. I'm including this because I believe that the RV's sanitation would be adequate for most campers but you will have to invest a little elbow grease if you're a neat-freak like me. The RV had a pot and frying pan, plates, cups, utensils and really basic kitchen stuff. There was a cute little coffee pot, coffee and tea. There was a heater and an AC (or maybe it was a fan?), but we didn't use either during our trip the first weekend of October. The bed had vinyl padding that was in sections. We brought a queen sized mattress topper and cozy sleeping bags that fit perfectly over the vinyl and made it feel like home. I believe the vinyl padding would have been annoying to sleep on directly as it would have moved around and sagged in parts. Outside of the RV was a deck with a small table and chairs. We moved the chairs to the fire-pit and sat spent the bulk of our time sitting around it. We roasted hotdogs and marshmallows. I was especially delighted to discover that the RV had wifi! I hoped to write on my laptop sitting by the fire and the wifi sure helped a ton! Our favorite part of staying at this KOA was exploring Brattleboro. The town is incredible, quaint, hippie-ish and friendly. We loved the town so much that we were sold on the entire state of Vermont (this camping trip was our first time to the state). Conversely, the other campers at the campground seemed to be a bit more conservative for our taste. Compared to all of the rainbows in town our fellow campers had bumper stickers and flags that had less welcoming flair. It almost doesn't feel right to dock a star from this KOA because of the expressiveness of other campers, but I got the impression that this was the norm.