Fransted Family Campground, Franconia

So I have to admit, we had orignally planned on staying at the Layfette Campground for some hiking last weekend, but when it was booked we reluctantly picked Fransted. We were a little worried we would be "chased around in a golf cart" or "watched all night" like some of the other reviews here said, but our experience couldn't have been any different. The owners, Karen and Greg, were extremely helpful, friendly and professional. They had great tips for things to do or see in the area and even recommended a restaurant that was "smelly hiker friendly" for when we got home from a particularly long (and smelly) day of exploring. The shower, bathrooms and sites are absolutely immaculate, you can tell they take great pride in their campground. We had such a good time we may go back next weekend!

Worst place to camp topped with horrible management & customer service. My credit card was charged twice for 1 night rental for H7 tent and never even acknowledged their mistake. I checked my credit card statement found out 2 charges from Fransted. I called Karen Weiskerger who is also the owner to discuss the charges, she did agree that I got charged twice never once apologized for the error. She asked me to wait for the refund check will be mailed its been over 4 weeks haven't got my $60 check. Worst camp site ever, if you want to feel like caged zoo animal who is being watched at every given minute this place is for you. The camp site ranger is always driving around in the golf cart even at 12 am will stare at your camp site like he is your baby sitter. All the camp site location are on top of each other. Your neighbors tent would start right next to yours. It was my best friends birthday weekend, just 2 of us with our husbands rented tent H7 on the camp map it looks as if the next neighbor would be at a distant giving us some privacy and feeling of being in the nature. I had confirmed with Karen, if the distant between 2 camp site is decent she lied on my face. When we arrived the next campers kids happen to be placing in our site. Camp site rules and regulations are ridicules like your at a boot camp. You should be in bed by 10 pm if you are not then the ranger will keep reminding to keep it down. All we were doing is playing card and talking next to the fire place. We had planned on being up until mid-night so we can celebrate my friends birthday the reason we went camping. But, was completely ruined. We ended up purchasing $18 dollar worth of fire wood because each bundle per their instructions would burns an hour per bundle cost $6 we got 3 of them ran out of them before mid-night. Lady camping next to us was in bed by 9:30 kept yelling we need to keep it down. I would not recommend this place.... to anyone horrible location, cost, and staff...I have nothing good to stay about this place... If you do rent this place after reading my review please make sure you check the charges...

The Franstead Family Campground is the most peaceful car camping campground I have ever been too. After a long days drive check in was pleasant and firewood was efficiently dropped off and stacked at the site. The site floor was covered with pine chippings so rain water just dissapeared. The fire pit was nice and clean. Okay, everything is clean and well maintained. My kids spent hours playing with other kids putting dams across the stream and that gave me lots of time to relax. They have a nice store with all the necessary items and few items that were rare. I wish other campgrounds could be that nice.

We just spent a weekend camping here. The campsites are very nice, big enough for our 2 2-person tents, camping chairs, picnic table, and a large screenhouse. The bathrooms & showers are spotless, and I loved that the showers were in individual rooms. There's a river running through the campground which is shallow, but deep enough to cool off on a hot day. There's volleyball, ladderball, mini golf and a playground. We walked one of the hiking trails and thought it was clean and well-marked. The only downside is that the management seemed a little...intense. They couldn't BELIEVE we arrived 30 minutes early. "More than two people on your site? $10 per person." "Firewood? Must be purchased in the campground. Not down the street." We reserved 2 tent sites ($35/day) and instead got 2 RV sites ($49/day) Management drives around the campground in a golf cart and we felt like we were being stared down. Sorta creepy. Also note: they allow pets, but have restrictions on dog breeds which is not stated on their website. We had dog owners in our party and they asked if the dog had any pitbull in her.

My wife and I have come to this campgraound off and on for 13 years. Where as it is a nice place and well-maintained, we feel the owner could not care less if we ver come back so we won't. If you do not buy their firewood (at $6 a bundle) or spend bucks at their store, they will treat you like garbage. And Lord help you if you don't have kids. My wife and I are quiet and keep to our selves - usually stay in what they recommend the more private sites. We usually pick up our wood in Lincoln at $2 a bundle, and really don't waste much money. We noticed that the owner has become less and less friendly with us our last few visits - and this time, he actually sneered at us as we drove past him on his ranger cart. He drives past your site several times a day to make sure you are obeying all of his rules and never once does he say anything nice like "Are you enjoying your stay?" We gave this guy $40 a night for a campsite(!) and he treats us like we brought heroin to his property. Well, Mr. Ranger - there are hundreds of campgrounds in New Hampshire to visit - I won't be wasting my money at Fransted anymore - you can go on stalking your customers. I understand that is all about the money with you. You blacklist campers who don't buy your golden firewood or pay $50 for a sweatshirt in your store. You even charge the kids for popocorn on movie night - on top of the $40 a night charge - wicked generous.We have had enough of your sour puss and nasty stares. See you later, Fransted.

It's a nicely laid out campground with lots of amenities and activities for kids. The cleanest restrooms I've ever seen at a campground, and the grounds are very orderly. Other campers seemed even friendlier than is normal. There are lots of things for kids to do: mini golf, wagon rides through the campground, movies, candy bar bingo, baseball, basketball, and a shed full of toys, balls, frisbees, etc., for campers' use. That said, our welcome on check-in wasn't warm, or particularly friendly, and the staff seems brusque and nosy. Campsites are very close together and despite the staff's concern with noise it's a noisy place, in part due to the fact that staff are constantly buzzing around in tractors and carts, doing what I cannot imagine, aside from being very obvious about watching what is going on in each campsite. I felt as though our extended family group was being watched; for no reason I could discern, except that maybe we are not typical family campground people but rather quiet, environmentally conscious types who didn't really fit in with the rather noisy crowd. (Maybe the Obama stickers and peace sign stickers on the cars did it?). It's not cheap; a typical state park, offering fewer things to "do" and farther spaced campsites is far more appealing to me and a better value. Some people seem to love the place so it's clearly the right place for some.

You this campground! Everything is perfect. It's clean, has great service with friendly owners, and is in a great area of Franconia Notch. Have been going here for 10 years now and hope to every year!

This is a very clean campground. River sites are great. Jack is the best!!!

This is one of the nicest campgrounds we have stayed at. Within view of Cannon Mtn, it is convinient to everything in the White Mountains....Franconia notch, Crawford Notch,Mount Washington, Laconia and Kangamagus Hwy/White Mntns National Park. The campgrounds are owned by 2 families who are both wonderful. They very helpful in many ways. They are happy to share information about the local area and are very knowledgable. There is also a seasonal camper on site that can tell you anything you want to know about regional hikes and they put to together a resource book of information on hikes that is available to all campers on request at the office. They are all very pleasant to deal with. The camp store has a decent supply of basics, and if they don't have something they can tell you where to get it. There are games/ equipment (balls, outdoor games, board games, puzzles, etc) available to borrow for free while camping there after checking them out at the office, and there is mini-golf. The rest rooms are very clean, well above the average for most campgrounds we have been at. The sites are nice. There are a variety of different types: wooded, brookside, some pull-through and a field. The first time we camped there was for a weekend, not knowing the area. The staff gave us lots of information, and were wonderful. My daughter and spent the weekend hiking (We saw 13 waterfalls in 3 days!), and my father and the dog enjoyed just relaxing at the camp site. This campgrounds was great for both. We enjoy the area and the campgrounds so much that we return every year and stay for a week at a time. We all enjoy it, and have not run out of new things to see. We love camping here and always look forward to our next visit. I would highly reccommend it to anyone who enjoys camping near/ in the mountains, especially if you like hiking! No complaints about this one.

We loved this campground! It was so beautiful and quiet and very well taken care of. The Taylor family does a great job in maintainence of the campground. They make you feel warm and welcome from the minute you walk into the office. We only stayed one night there, but I wish we could have stayed more. We had a 34' motorhome and full hookup. The campground has many sites available and the tent sites are AMAZING! There is a beautiful river that runs through the tent sites....I only wish the the RV's could park there! I would highly recommend this campground especially if you are planning on visiting Mt Washington. It's the perfect distance from the mountain and a very scenic drive.