Paugus Bay and Laconia Campgrounds
Paugus Bay is the Laconia end of Lake Winnipesaukee. These are the campgrounds in and near Laconia and Gilford, with site types, rates and lake access.
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Paugus Bay is the Laconia end of Lake Winnipesaukee, and the campgrounds around it put you a short drive from the beach at the Weirs, the boardwalk and Funspot. This guide compares the main Laconia campgrounds and the closest options in Gilford, using each campground’s own published numbers, plus what to know about the bay itself.
We did not stay at any of these. Rates and dates change every year, so the numbers below are the ones their sites showed when we checked, and you should confirm before you book.
Paugus Bay in brief#
Lake Winnipesaukee drains out at the Weirs. Water flows through the Weirs channel into Paugus Bay, and a dam at Lakeport at the bay’s southwestern point sends it on to Opechee Lake.
A watershed plan excerpt from Winnipesaukee Gateway puts Paugus Bay’s direct watershed at 6,230 acres, with another 1,234 acres making up the bay itself. A Lakes Region Planning Commission plan lists Meredith, Laconia and Gilford as the bordering towns, and gives a mean depth of 9.3 meters (about 30 feet) and a maximum depth of 24.4 meters (about 80 feet). Those figures come from a plan with 2010-era measurements.
Two details matter if you boat here. New Hampshire Marine Patrol’s restrictions page says Paugus Bay has a boat restriction area and tells visitors to contact Laconia for the regulations. And a 2014 state access map labels the Paugus Bay State Forest site as walk-in access, not a trailer ramp. The City’s Conservation Commission monitors water quality on the bay.
Campgrounds compared#
| Campground | Where | Sites | Rate we found | Season we found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paugus Bay Campground | Laconia, on the bay | 30 transient sites with water and electric, 3 full hookup | $57 or $61 per night, 2026 | Not stated on pages we read |
| Pine Hollow Campground | Near Weirs Beach | Tent, pop-up and motor home sites | $60 to $65 per night for tenting | Not stated clearly |
| Gunstock Campground | Gilford | 262 sites, 100 of them basic | See Gunstock’s rates page | Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend |
| Ellacoya State Park | Gilford, Winnipesaukee shore | 37 RV sites, reservation only | $60 per rig per night | April 30 to Columbus Day weekend |
Paugus Bay Campground#
This is the campground on the bay. It describes itself as having a private beach and access to local attractions. Its fees page offers 30 transient sites, each with water and electric hookups. Sites 65, 85 and 87 are full hookup sites with an onsite sewer connection.
- Rates for 2026: $57 per night for water and electric, and $61 per night for full hookup.
- Boats: a boat dock was $25 per day, and a jet ski slip $20 per day.
- Dumping: an onsite dump station and a honey wagon you can borrow.
- Rules: one unit per site, meaning a tent, pop-up, motor home or trailer, plus one extra small tent.
- Swimming: the campground’s rules say no lifeguards are provided and you swim at your own risk.
The campground’s rules page still showed 2025 rates, while its fees page showed 2026, so use the fees page and confirm when you book. We did not find clear opening and closing dates on the pages we read.
Pine Hollow Campground#
Pine Hollow says it is one mile from some of Lake Winnipesaukee’s popular beaches. It advertises paved and shaded tenting and motor home sites, 30-amp electric and full hookups. Its rates page, which shows 2027 seasonal rates, lists tenting at $60 per night and tenting with 30-amp electric at $65 per night. We could not confirm its opening and closing dates, so ask before you plan around them.
Gunstock Campground in Gilford#
Gunstock offers 262 campsites, including full hookups, 30-amp and 50-amp electric and water, basic sites and two rustic cabins. Its site says the 100 basic sites are most appropriate for tent camping, although some can take pop-ups and small trailers. Summer camping runs from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, and Gunstock says it is minutes from Lake Winnipesaukee, the Weirs and Funspot. See Gunstock’s rates page for current pricing.
Ellacoya State Park#
Ellacoya is in Gilford on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. The State Parks page describes a 600-foot sandy beach, and day-use fees of $5 for adults 12 and older, $2 for children 6 to 11 and nothing for children under 5.
The RV campground has 37 sites, available by reservation only, with three-way hookups. It is open for reservable stays from April 30 through Columbus Day weekend. The rate is $60 per rig per night for water, electric and sewer hookups. Tents are not allowed at the RV park. An older State Parks PDF gave 38 sites and an 800-foot beach, so the figures above come from the current web page.
Other options near the Weirs#
The Weirs Beach tourism directory also lists Hack-Ma-Tack Camping Area, a members-only veterans’ campground and Resort on the Bay. We did not verify current details for those from the operators, so check them directly. Our guide to Lake Winnipesaukee campgrounds covers a wider group of sites around the lake.
Ahern State Park, on Lake Winnisquam in Laconia, has 3,500 feet of shoreline but does not permit camping.
What the city’s rules mean for campers#
If you camp outside a campground, Laconia’s park rules prohibit overnight camping or parking in city parks except with prior approval, and no RVs, trailers or buses may park in a park or beach lot. If you drive in from a campground to use the beach, the Weirs Beach guide lists parking costs, lifeguard status and where to launch a kayak.
Before you book#
- Match the site to your gear. Tents, pop-ups and motor homes are sold as separate site types at the same campgrounds.
- Ask about boats. Paugus Bay Campground lists dock and jet ski slip fees. Gunstock and Ellacoya are not on Paugus Bay itself.
- Reserve early for state park sites. Ellacoya’s RV sites are reservation only. Our lake camping reservation guide explains how to time it.
- Plan the trip. Our guides to planning a lake camping trip and lake camping safety cover gear and weather.
Frequently asked questions#
Is there camping on Paugus Bay?
Yes. Paugus Bay Campground has 30 transient sites with water and electric hookups, and it describes itself as having a private beach. Sites 65, 85 and 87 are full hookup sites with an onsite sewer connection.
How much does Paugus Bay Campground cost?
The campground’s fees page for 2026 listed $57 per night for water and electric and $61 per night for a full hookup. A boat dock cost $25 per day and a jet ski slip $20 per day. Check the campground for current rates, because its rules page still showed 2025 figures.
Can you tent camp at Ellacoya State Park?
Not at the RV campground. The State Parks page says the RV campground has 37 reservation-only sites with three-way hookups, and that tents are not allowed at the RV park. The park also has a 600-foot sandy beach with a day-use fee.
Which campground near Laconia is best for tents?
Gunstock Campground in Gilford says it has 100 basic sites that are most appropriate for tent camping, and Pine Hollow Campground advertises paved and shaded tenting sites. Both list tenting separately from RV sites, so ask about shade, slope and distance from the road when you book.
How deep is Paugus Bay?
A Lakes Region Planning Commission watershed plan lists a mean depth of 9.3 meters (about 30 feet) and a maximum depth of 24.4 meters (about 80 feet). The figures come from a plan with 2010-era measurements. See our guide to Weirs Beach for the area’s beach and boat rules.
Sources#
- Paugus Bay Campground
- Camping fees, Paugus Bay Campground
- Campground rules, Paugus Bay Campground
- Pine Hollow Campground
- Rates and reservations, Pine Hollow Campground
- Features, Pine Hollow Campground
- Summer camping, Gunstock
- Campsite types and rates, Gunstock
- Campsite reservations, Gunstock
- Ellacoya State Park, NH State Parks
- Ahern State Park, NH State Parks
- Campgrounds, Weirs Beach tourism site
- Subwatershed descriptions, Winnipesaukee Gateway
- Winnipesaukee watershed management plan Phase 1, Lakes Region Planning Commission
- Water quality testing, City of Laconia
- Restricted bodies of water, New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol
- Lake Winnipesaukee public water access map, State of New Hampshire
- Rules and Regulations, City of Laconia
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We started this blog as a place to go to when we had questions about buying our first home on the lake. There was a lot of information on the internet, but we always spent hours...
