Strafford / Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA Holiday

- 79 First Crown Point Rd, Strafford, NH 03884

For New Hampshire families and travelers looking for the perfect blend of rustic nature and resort-style entertainment, the Strafford / Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA Holiday offers an unparalleled destination. Situated on 46 wooded acres in the picturesque Lakes Region, this campground goes far beyond a simple place to pitch a tent or park an RV. It is a full-featured vacation hub designed to keep every member of the family engaged, relaxed, and making lasting memories. The resort’s identity as a 'KOA Holiday' location signifies a commitment to generous amenities and a structured, fun-filled activity schedule, making it a reliable and consistently clean choice for local residents seeking an effortless escape.

The grounds are widely praised for their exceptional cleanliness and well-kept appearance, with sites often described as nicely spread apart, offering a greater sense of privacy than many corporate-style parks. The variety of accommodations, ranging from spacious RV sites with full hookups and deluxe patios to cozy tent sites and premium cabins or tiny mobile homes, ensures there is an option for every camping preference.

However, potential visitors, especially those local to New Hampshire, should be aware of a few structural policies that deviate from a traditional "hometown" camping experience. This KOA operates with a clear "pay to play" model, which includes various add-on charges. Reviews highlight that the total price can feel steep due to extra costs like "resort fees" and dog fees, the latter being notably high for some. Furthermore, the campground strictly enforces a policy prohibiting outside firewood, even if kiln-dried, requiring all wood to be purchased on-site—a point of contention for many traditional campers who view this as a purely profit-driven mandate rather than a genuine environmental concern. The campground also charges an additional fee for guests wishing to choose a vacant site rather than accepting the one automatically assigned, further solidifying the corporate pricing structure. Finally, while pets are welcome (with required vaccination paperwork), key family activities and event areas are designated as dog-free, which can force a family to split up during peak fun times, slightly undermining the "dog-friendly" claim for owners who wish to remain together.

Despite these pricing and policy challenges, the sheer volume and quality of the amenities, coupled with the central New Hampshire location, continue to make this a sought-after family destination. The focus here is on modern convenience and organized recreation, ensuring that a stay is more than just camping—it’s a fully planned family vacation.

Location and Accessibility

The Strafford / Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA Holiday is conveniently located at 79 First Crown Point Rd, Strafford, NH 03884. This address places it in a highly central position for New Hampshire residents, directly situated between the state's popular Lakes Region and the historic Seacoast. This strategic location makes it an ideal basecamp for exploring a wide area without excessive travel time.

The campground is easily accessible from major state routes, specifically just a short distance from the Spaulding Turnpike (Route 16). Its central setting means that a quick drive can take you to attractions ranging from ocean beaches and coastal towns like Portsmouth, to the vast waters of Lake Winnipesaukee, to the exceptional hiking opportunities in the nearby Blue Job Mountain and Parker Mountain. Day trips to the White Mountains are also easily managed, offering a full scope of New Hampshire's natural and recreational diversity right outside the campground gates.

Services Offered

• Diverse Accommodations: Guests can choose from RV Sites (including Deluxe Patio sites, full hookups with 50 Max Amp and 45' Max Length, and pull-thrus), Tent Sites (with tables and fireplaces), Deluxe Cabins, Glamping Tents, and Tiny Mobile Homes.
• Full Utility Hookups: Most RV sites feature water, sewer, and electric hookups (20/30/50 amp), with cable TV access included, ensuring modern convenience for all big rigs.
• On-Site Retail and Supplies: A fully stocked Camp Store provides RV supplies, limited groceries, souvenirs, and, notably, the only permitted firewood for use on the premises.
• Essential Facilities: Modern, clean restrooms, showers, and a dedicated Laundry Facility are available to all guests, though some reviewers note intermittent locking of bathrooms during busy hours.
• Convenience Services: Site escorts are provided at check-in, and free delivery of items purchased at the camp store is offered as part of the resort fee package.
• Propane Services: A dedicated Propane Filling Station is available for convenient refills of LP gas tanks.

Features and Highlights

• H2O Fun Zone & Waterpark: A major highlight is the dedicated water play area, which includes a heated swimming pool (open seasonally), a twisting water slide with a flume splash, and a separate splash pad area with 12 water features, all included in the resort fee.
• Pond and Beach Access: The campground features a six-and-a-half-acre private pond with a sandy beach and designated swimming area. The pond also offers complimentary usage of boat rentals, including paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats (one hour maximum per boat).
• Structured Activities: The KOA features a friendly activity staff and a schedule full of professionally planned events, including crafts, themed weekends (like Fall Fest and Spooktacular), movie nights in the Raccoon Lodge, and wagon rides, primarily operating every day during the summer high season and on weekends in the spring/fall.
• Recreation and Sports: On-site amenities encourage friendly competition and play, including an Arcade with pool, air hockey, and video games, a Basketball Court, Horseshoe Pits, and a GaGa Ball pit.
• Pet-Friendly Amenities: The campground maintains a KampK9® dog park, providing a safe, fenced area for dogs to exercise and socialize, although the main H2O Fun Zone and activity areas are restricted from use by dogs.
• Unique Offerings: Other fun features include Gem Stone Mining and golf cart rentals, providing additional ways to entertain and explore the property.

Contact Information

Address: 79 First Crown Point Rd, Strafford, NH 03884, USA

Phone: (603) 332-0405

Mobile Phone: +1 603-332-0405

Conclusion: Why This Place is Suitable for Locals

For New Hampshire families, the Strafford / Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA Holiday is an excellent choice, primarily due to its central location and extensive, reliable on-site amenities. It functions as a complete vacation resort that is easy for local residents to reach and offers an immediate, packed agenda of fun, meaning less time spent driving and planning. The exceptional cleanliness, the sheer volume of water recreation (pond, beach, waterpark), and the organized activity schedules are major selling points for parents seeking a high-value, distraction-filled experience for their children. While the "resort fee" and various pricing policies may make it feel less like a nostalgic, rustic campground and more like a packaged vacation, this is precisely what makes it suitable for the modern local family: it’s a dependable, activity-rich basecamp that minimizes the effort required to have a fun and memorable New Hampshire getaway, whether you’re looking to stay put or launch a day trip to the Seacoast or the mountains.

Strafford / Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA Holiday

79 First Crown Point Rd, Strafford, NH 03884, USA