Camping isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s definitely something to be said for starry skies, cool nights by the campfire, and lots of ooey-gooey smores. In this list, we’ve included a mix of full-featured camping spots (i.e. places with showers and toilets) and rustic sites (i.e. you’re going in the woods). Check out these awesome, beautiful camping spots in Massachusetts.
- Horseneck Beach State Reservation, West Point
Flickr/Phillip Capper
Flickr/Christina McCarty With over 100 campsites and lots of amenities like running water, picnic areas, showers, toilets, fire pit areas and a playground, Horseneck Beach State Reservation is a great place to pitch your tent. The reservation is also only steps away from Horseneck Beach and a quick drive to Provincetown. To make reservations, call (508)-636-8817 or visit the webpage to learn more.
- Shawme-Crowell State Forest, Sandwich
Flickr/Jasperdo
Flickr/Alan Strakey Lots of space (700 acres, to be exact) combined with 15 miles of bike and walking trails makes this forest the perfect place for a woodland escape. This might be one of the best equipped campgrounds on this list (read: you won’t be roughing it quite as much). There are plenty of showers and restrooms to go around. Cyclists will also appreciate the access to the Cape Cod Rail trail. To make a reservation, call (508) 888-0351 or visit the webpage to learn more.
- Myles Standish State Forest, South Carver
Flickr/chipmunk_1
Flickr/chipmunk_1 You’ll never be bored while camping in this state forest. With plenty of biking and hiking (15 miles of trails), lots of swimming and fishing (16 ponds), plus equestrian trails and many campsites to choose from, Myles Standish is a local favorite and definitely popular with visitors as well. Campsites usually feature flush toilets, showers, fire pit areas, picnic areas and a dumping station. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
- Nickerson State Park, Brewster
Flickr/Lizard10979 This place is covered in tall pines and dotted with charming freshwater ponds. There’s plenty of kayaking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, hiking and biking to be had. One of Nickerson’s biggest draws has to be how many amazing campsites there are – you have 403 to choose from! Check out the park’s website for seasonal events and wilderness classes, too. Call (508) 896-3491 to make reservations or visit the webpage to learn more.
- Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, Boston
Flickr/MOTT When you plan a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, you get thirty-four islands to explore. That’s serious bang for your buck. Ferry service to the islands is available from Boston harbor, and there are concession areas on Spectacle and Georges Islands. Spending a day on a few islands is an excellent way to get to know the harbor area. The islands that permit overnight camping are Bumpkin, Grap, Lovells and Peddocks. Visit the website to learn more.
- Wompatuck State Park, Hingham
Flickr/Matthew Simoneau
Flickr/Dave Check out this park and take advantage of its convenient location and beautiful woods. It’s just a 35-minute drive from downtown Boston, and offers 260 forested campsites, 12 miles of paved paths for hiking and biking, and lots of fishing and boating opportunities. Mt. Blue Spring also is a great place to bottle up some fresh, delicious drinking water. Out-of-state visitors must pay $54 per night, while the fee for Massachusetts residents is only $17. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
- Savoy Mountain State Forest, Florida
Flickr/Doug Kerr
JBehn/TripAdvisor Located in the scenic woodlands of Florida (pro-tip: reserve your campground for the early fall; the foliage is stunning), Savoy Mountain State Forest is the perfect spot to bring the whole family. You can camp in one of 45 apple orchards, or book a few nights in one of the park’s rental cabins to experience glamping in Massachusetts. Visitors are also free to go mountain biking or cross-country skiing. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
- Harold Parker State Forest, Andover
Flickr/Myles Tan
Flickr/Chris Devers Head to this state forest to check out over 3,000 acres of hemlock and white pine woodland. It’s just 20 miles north of Boston, which makes it a great place to camp for a night before heading into the city for some urban fun. Featuring 89 campsites in Massachusetts that aren’t packed together so closely that you feel like you’re on top of your neighbor, the park offers picnic tables and grills at each site. There are no electric or water hookups, however, so you’ll definitely be roughing it here. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
- Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Falmouth
Flickr/NOAA Photo Library
Flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region This protected swathe of coastal land offers 2,700 acres of marshland and beach to explore. Camping is primitive, with few amenities, but the sites (ten total), which sit close to the water, make this one of the most beautiful camping spots in Massachusetts. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
- Otter River State Forest, Baldwinville
Flickr/tracy ducasse Otter River was actually the first campground to be opened in a Massachusetts state park. Most of the park’s 85 sites sit under a shady canopy of pine forest, though four are actually yurt sites and three surround Beaman Pond. The pond offers some great swimming, the waters warming up pretty early in the summer season. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
Have you stayed at any of these beautiful camping spots in Massachusetts? What was your experience like? Please tell us all about it in the comment section!
Flickr/Phillip Capper
Flickr/Christina McCarty
With over 100 campsites and lots of amenities like running water, picnic areas, showers, toilets, fire pit areas and a playground, Horseneck Beach State Reservation is a great place to pitch your tent. The reservation is also only steps away from Horseneck Beach and a quick drive to Provincetown. To make reservations, call (508)-636-8817 or visit the webpage to learn more.
Flickr/Jasperdo
Flickr/Alan Strakey
Lots of space (700 acres, to be exact) combined with 15 miles of bike and walking trails makes this forest the perfect place for a woodland escape. This might be one of the best equipped campgrounds on this list (read: you won’t be roughing it quite as much). There are plenty of showers and restrooms to go around. Cyclists will also appreciate the access to the Cape Cod Rail trail. To make a reservation, call (508) 888-0351 or visit the webpage to learn more.
Flickr/chipmunk_1
You’ll never be bored while camping in this state forest. With plenty of biking and hiking (15 miles of trails), lots of swimming and fishing (16 ponds), plus equestrian trails and many campsites to choose from, Myles Standish is a local favorite and definitely popular with visitors as well. Campsites usually feature flush toilets, showers, fire pit areas, picnic areas and a dumping station. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
Flickr/Lizard10979
This place is covered in tall pines and dotted with charming freshwater ponds. There’s plenty of kayaking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, hiking and biking to be had. One of Nickerson’s biggest draws has to be how many amazing campsites there are – you have 403 to choose from! Check out the park’s website for seasonal events and wilderness classes, too. Call (508) 896-3491 to make reservations or visit the webpage to learn more.
Flickr/MOTT
When you plan a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, you get thirty-four islands to explore. That’s serious bang for your buck. Ferry service to the islands is available from Boston harbor, and there are concession areas on Spectacle and Georges Islands. Spending a day on a few islands is an excellent way to get to know the harbor area. The islands that permit overnight camping are Bumpkin, Grap, Lovells and Peddocks. Visit the website to learn more.
Flickr/Matthew Simoneau
Flickr/Dave
Check out this park and take advantage of its convenient location and beautiful woods. It’s just a 35-minute drive from downtown Boston, and offers 260 forested campsites, 12 miles of paved paths for hiking and biking, and lots of fishing and boating opportunities. Mt. Blue Spring also is a great place to bottle up some fresh, delicious drinking water. Out-of-state visitors must pay $54 per night, while the fee for Massachusetts residents is only $17. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
JBehn/TripAdvisor
Located in the scenic woodlands of Florida (pro-tip: reserve your campground for the early fall; the foliage is stunning), Savoy Mountain State Forest is the perfect spot to bring the whole family. You can camp in one of 45 apple orchards, or book a few nights in one of the park’s rental cabins to experience glamping in Massachusetts. Visitors are also free to go mountain biking or cross-country skiing. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
Flickr/Myles Tan
Flickr/Chris Devers
Head to this state forest to check out over 3,000 acres of hemlock and white pine woodland. It’s just 20 miles north of Boston, which makes it a great place to camp for a night before heading into the city for some urban fun. Featuring 89 campsites in Massachusetts that aren’t packed together so closely that you feel like you’re on top of your neighbor, the park offers picnic tables and grills at each site. There are no electric or water hookups, however, so you’ll definitely be roughing it here. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
Flickr/NOAA Photo Library
Flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region
This protected swathe of coastal land offers 2,700 acres of marshland and beach to explore. Camping is primitive, with few amenities, but the sites (ten total), which sit close to the water, make this one of the most beautiful camping spots in Massachusetts. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
Flickr/tracy ducasse
Otter River was actually the first campground to be opened in a Massachusetts state park. Most of the park’s 85 sites sit under a shady canopy of pine forest, though four are actually yurt sites and three surround Beaman Pond. The pond offers some great swimming, the waters warming up pretty early in the summer season. Visit the webpage to learn more and to reserve your campsite online.
If you are looking for more of a glamping experience, check out the Pine Lake RV Resort and Cottages in Sturbridge.
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Address: 5 John Reed Rd, Westport, MA 02790, USAAddress: 42 Main St, Sandwich, MA 02563, USAAddress: 194 Cranberry Rd, Carver, MA 02330, USAAddress: 3488 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631, USAAddress: 191 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110, USAAddress: 204 Union St, Hingham, MA 02043, USAAddress: 319 Central Shaft Rd, Florida, MA 01247, USAAddress: 133 Jenkins Rd, Andover, MA 01810, USAAddress: 131 Waquoit Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536, USAAddress: 86 Winchendon Rd, Baldwinville, MA 01436, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Beautiful Camping Spots In Massachusetts April 13, 2021 Melissa M Where can go glamping in Massachusetts? Not everyone wants to rough it with a primitive tent out in the woods, but some may not want to stay at a hotel either. Glamping is the best of both worlds, a hybrid of camping and many of the amenities that can be found at a hotel. Normandy Farms in Foxborough has a luxury glamping resort that’s actually been voted one of the top campgrounds in the world! With yurts, cabins, campsites, and RV spots, just about anyone will love staying here and enjoying the luxury and amenities. Are there any beaches I can go camping at in Massachusetts? Aside from Horseneck Beach which was mentioned above, Scusset Beach in Sandwich, Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Sandy Neck Beach in West Barnstable, and Salisbury Beach State Reservation in Salisbury all allow beach camping. Find out more in our beach camping post. What are the most unique campgrounds in Massachusetts? You don’t have to stay at any ol’ campground in the Bay State as there are several interesting options like staying in a yurt at Otter River State Forest. The park itself is great for swimming, hiking, and exploring and then you can comfortably sleep the night away in a yurt. Another unique campground sits along the Cape Cod Canal at Bourne Scenic Park. Here you can choose to stay at a campsite or in a rustic cabin or lodge. Along with scenic views, there are plenty of amenities for all to enjoy!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Beautiful Camping Spots In Massachusetts
April 13, 2021
Melissa M
Where can go glamping in Massachusetts? Not everyone wants to rough it with a primitive tent out in the woods, but some may not want to stay at a hotel either. Glamping is the best of both worlds, a hybrid of camping and many of the amenities that can be found at a hotel. Normandy Farms in Foxborough has a luxury glamping resort that’s actually been voted one of the top campgrounds in the world! With yurts, cabins, campsites, and RV spots, just about anyone will love staying here and enjoying the luxury and amenities. Are there any beaches I can go camping at in Massachusetts? Aside from Horseneck Beach which was mentioned above, Scusset Beach in Sandwich, Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Sandy Neck Beach in West Barnstable, and Salisbury Beach State Reservation in Salisbury all allow beach camping. Find out more in our beach camping post. What are the most unique campgrounds in Massachusetts? You don’t have to stay at any ol’ campground in the Bay State as there are several interesting options like staying in a yurt at Otter River State Forest. The park itself is great for swimming, hiking, and exploring and then you can comfortably sleep the night away in a yurt. Another unique campground sits along the Cape Cod Canal at Bourne Scenic Park. Here you can choose to stay at a campsite or in a rustic cabin or lodge. Along with scenic views, there are plenty of amenities for all to enjoy!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Not everyone wants to rough it with a primitive tent out in the woods, but some may not want to stay at a hotel either. Glamping is the best of both worlds, a hybrid of camping and many of the amenities that can be found at a hotel. Normandy Farms in Foxborough has a luxury glamping resort that’s actually been voted one of the top campgrounds in the world! With yurts, cabins, campsites, and RV spots, just about anyone will love staying here and enjoying the luxury and amenities.
Are there any beaches I can go camping at in Massachusetts?
Aside from Horseneck Beach which was mentioned above, Scusset Beach in Sandwich, Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Sandy Neck Beach in West Barnstable, and Salisbury Beach State Reservation in Salisbury all allow beach camping. Find out more in our beach camping post.
What are the most unique campgrounds in Massachusetts?
You don’t have to stay at any ol’ campground in the Bay State as there are several interesting options like staying in a yurt at Otter River State Forest. The park itself is great for swimming, hiking, and exploring and then you can comfortably sleep the night away in a yurt. Another unique campground sits along the Cape Cod Canal at Bourne Scenic Park. Here you can choose to stay at a campsite or in a rustic cabin or lodge. Along with scenic views, there are plenty of amenities for all to enjoy!
