Lafayette Place Campground

We've stayed here twice (3 & 5 years ago) and we're staying again in October. This is a popular campground with no hook-ups and it's advisable to reserve ahead. Heavily wooded tight campground (might be hard to manage with larger vehicles). Many sites are small but there is privacy due to trees . There's a small general store with shower rooms (paid showers) and bathrooms at rear of building. Our site was right on creek and could only accommodate a small vehicle (we have a camper van) or pop-up camper but we loved it. Although we were relatively close to the road, I don't remember road noise. Surrounded by great hiking!

As far as the individual sites go, they are fairly standard. Roomy enough with a picnic table and fire ring and most are reasonably spaced far enough apart with trees to provide privacy. However, the noise from Highway 93 is intolerable! 18-wheelers blowing by at all hours of the day and night, making it very difficult to enjoy a restful sleep. I had reserved site 46 because it was across the street from the Pemigewaset River but I could not hear the river over the highway noise. You can hear the highway noise from all the sites, but I think 33, 34, and 35 are the quietest. The Lonesome Lake Trail runs right through the campground which is good news/bad news. Easy access to the trail but there are a number of sites that directly border the trail, which could impede privacy. No cell service. There is a store, and two restrooms with pay showers; one of these also has a dishwashing sink, and washer and dryer, a nice perk. Franconia Notch State Park has a lot to offer and this campground is centrally located. If it wasn’t for the horrible highway noise, I would give this campground 4 stars; however, it is the ONLY campground in the park, so I guess that’s that!

I recently was doing a loop of the northeast camping out of my car and was headed back from Maine and Acadia when my plans to stay at old cherry mountain road fell through due to every spot being taken. I found this place by chance and was able to get a site for 25 bucks. The road noise from the highway is decently loud but I blocked it out. Had I not been so tired from driving or had booked this place for an intentional family campout and not used it as a last resort the noise would have been very excessive. You can hear just about every car downshift to get up the hill as well as 18 wheelers. That being said the campground is pretty nice and all the staff are outstanding. I had in and out signal at my site and they supply a picnic table as well as a fire ring. Site 95 is next to a walking trail and there was heavy foot traffic all day about 20-30 ft from the site so keep that in mind

Overall if it wasnt for the highway noise this campground would be a definite 4 star

Camped in tents for 4 days and hiked. Nice campground, lots of nearby trails and sites, nice lake with beach. Clean large pads that stayed mud free even after torrential rains. There are pads that can accommodate mid-large trailers. Super friendly staff. The biggest downside was the incredible noise from the highway, it was literally like a freight train coming right at you. Have to go into town for cell service. Or climb a mountain. 😀. Nice bathrooms.

We had reservations here, but our spot (site 38) was too tight for our trailer. We only saw 2 very small trailers here and our 19 foot trailer felt tight on some of the turns just getting around the campground. We decided to stay somewhere else.
We also thought there would be a dump station here, but there is not.
I would recommend this state park for tent or car camping only.

The highway is close and the noise echoes badly - trucks using their engine brake all the time makes it unbearable. But otherwise this is a nice campground, with lots to do in the area. Washrooms and showers were clean, and there are dishwashing sinks. Showers are coin operated and expensive (1$ for 4 minutes).
Not suited for big rigs.
Also of note: many many squirrels in this campground. You can't eat peanut butter without them jumping on your picnic table. We were even 'attacked' by one when simply sitting outside to read.

It is right on I93.
Traffic noise is terrible. Sites OK, well shaded. No power, water available but bibs are not threaded.
Chipmunks will run into your camper leave nothing open.
Showers are coin operated and not clean.
The staff does not want to be there.

Franconia Notch State Park is located in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway, which extends from the Flume Gorge at the south to Echo Lake at the north. For eight miles, I-93 winds between the high peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges.Franconia Notch was the home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain, the same "Great Stone Face" immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster. While you are here, stop at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center and walk through the renowned Flume Gorge, ride the exciting aerial tramway at Cannon Mountain, and visit the New England Ski Museum.