Camping in Massachusetts

Every Massachusetts camping guide our team has shipped — campgrounds, free dispersed sites, RV parks, family picks, backcountry permits, and seasonal calls.

Published guides

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  When Is Camping Season in Massachusetts? Month-by-Month Reality

  A retired ranger's month-by-month take on Massachusetts camping season, from mid-May openings to the September sweet spot most folks miss.

  By Buck Tanner
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  Massachusetts State Parks for Camping: The Ones Worth the Drive

  A 38-year ranger's take on which Massachusetts state parks are worth pitching a tent in — from the Berkshires to Cape Cod, with no fluff.

  By Buck Tanner
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  RV Campgrounds in Massachusetts: Hookups, Sites, Honest Reviews

  Honest roundup of RV campgrounds in Massachusetts: which state parks have hookups, which private parks are worth it, and where the CCC-era loops still fit a modern rig.

  By Wren Holloway
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  Camping Near the Biggest City in Massachusetts — Under 90 Minutes

  Real campgrounds within 90 minutes of Boston — state parks, harbor islands, and which private spots are worth the booking fee.

  By Riley Cobb
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  Pet-Friendly Camping in Massachusetts: Where Dogs Are Genuinely Welcome

  where dogs are actually welcome camping in Massachusetts — real state park picks, private campgrounds worth it, and where "pet-friendly" is a lie.

  By Riley Cobb
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  Mountain Camping in Massachusetts: Elevation Picks for Cool Nights

  Honest picks for mountain camping in Massachusetts — Sperry at Greylock, Savoy, Mohawk Trail and more. Cool Berkshire nights, real fees, real gotchas.

  By Riley Cobb
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  Lake Camping in Massachusetts: 10 Sites With Real Water Access

  ten Massachusetts campgrounds with real lake or pond access — from Nickerson's kettle ponds to Tolland's Otis Reservoir, with honest booking notes.

  By Riley Cobb
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  Beach Camping in Massachusetts: What You Actually Get

  A straight-talking look at beach camping in Massachusetts — what's actually oceanfront, what isn't, and which state park sites are worth booking.

  By Buck Tanner
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  Free Dispersed Camping in Massachusetts: Where We Actually Pull In

  Straight talk on free dispersed camping in Massachusetts — AT shelters, state forest workarounds, and where you actually have to cross the state line.

  By Buck Tanner
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  Family Camping in Massachusetts: Picks That Won't Drive You Nuts

  Massachusetts has one of the older state-park systems in the country — the Trustees of Reservations predates the Sierra Club, and the state's DCR properties…

  By Wren Holloway
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  Best Campgrounds in Massachusetts

  A considered roundup of the best campgrounds in Massachusetts, from Mount Greylock and Mohawk Trail to Nickerson and the Cape, with honest notes.

  By Wren Holloway
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  Backcountry Camping in Massachusetts: Permits, Routes, Bear Notes

  Backcountry camping in Massachusetts — AT shelters, state forest remote sites, permits explained, plus bear and tick notes from an old ranger.

  By Buck Tanner