Seasonal camping opportunities exist within a 25-mile radius of Abington, Massachusetts, with most sites open from May through late October. The region's terrain features a mix of coastal access and inland woodland camping, with temperatures ranging from 75-85°F during peak summer months. Campsites near Abington offer diverse natural settings including kettle ponds, pine forests, and harbor views for glamping close to Abington, Massachusetts.
What to do
Trail exploration at Myles Standish State Forest: Located about 22 miles from Abington, this 12,000-acre forest contains multiple camping loops and numerous hiking trails. "There are several miles of bile trails that were very enjoyable. The bike trails through the part are great and we enjoyed them. Paved and mountain bike trails," notes a visitor who recommends bringing a good map as "the bike trails were a little confusing."
Beach access at Winter Island Park: This Salem waterfront campground offers direct beach access with tidepools. "The beach is interesting with some tide pools as well as sand and warm water. Life guards were paying attention," writes a camper at Winter Island Park. Another visitor highlights the location's coastal activities: "We kept our 2 kayaks on our site during our stay... easy put in for our kayaks, and convenience for fishing and trail walking."
Historical sites exploration: Camp near revolutionary historical landmarks at Hanscom AFB FamCamp. "In the immediate vicinity are the villages of Lexington and Concord as well as the Minute Man National Park and Walden Pond, so the campground makes a great basecamp for exploration of the area's rich culture and history," explains a visitor at Hanscom AFB FamCamp. Another camper notes it's "Close to minute man historical sites- revolutionary war historical trails and Ranger Station. Not too far from Boston."
What campers like
Kettle pond swimming and fishing: The natural spring-fed ponds at Myles Standish State Forest provide clear water for swimming and angling. "The pond water was very clear, seeing as they are fed from natural springs under the ponds," reports one camper at Myles Standish State Forest. Another visitor enjoyed "kayaking one morning and watching the people catching good sized fish around us."
Family-oriented activities: Boston/Cape Cod KOA provides extensive amenities for children. "We saw all kinds of activities for kids. Bouncy 'pillow', pool, bounce pad, sluice, miniature golf, and a playground," shares a visitor at Boston/Cape Cod KOA. Another family mentioned, "My kids loved the train rides, movie night, flash light candy hunt, and arts and crafts."
Island glamping experiences: Boston Harbor Islands offers a unique glamping experience on Peddocks Island. "The yurts on Peddocks are great, providing shelter from the elements, bunks with mattresses, electricity, a ceiling fan, table with benches, and a grill," describes a visitor. Another camper collected "handfuls of blackberries as we explored Peddocks" during an August stay.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds near Abington require advance booking, especially for weekend stays and glamping accommodations. For Boston Harbor Islands, "Reservations open 6 months in advance and sites fill quickly, so plan ahead if you're counting on a particular day," advises a camper at Boston Harbor Islands State Park.
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience varying noise levels. At Winter Island Park, expect "noise during the day from the beachgoers, and visits from racoons and skunks at night." At Shawme Crowell, "It is very close to Rt 6 so the traffic noise is almost constant especially friday nights. Not recommended for light sleepers but very convenient."
Shower facilities vary: Shower amenities differ significantly between campgrounds. At Pinewood Lodge, "Don't care for the coin operating showers," notes one visitor, while another mentions "Don't like that you have to pay for hot water." Ellis-Haven Campground offers "clean bathrooms and clean clear pond to swim in," and Myles Standish has bathroom houses that "received at least one cleaning during our time there."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Seek campgrounds with dedicated play areas for children. "The campground has a new playground area. That's really about the only attraction within the campground, though there are some hiking and biking trails," notes a visitor to Shawme Crowell State Forest. At Ellis-Haven, families can enjoy "a nice beach on the pond, with lots of docks and rafts to swim out to. They also rent paddle boats."
Activity scheduling: Many campgrounds organize seasonal programming for children. One Ellis-Haven visitor noted the campground offers "Lots of scheduled activities for children," while a Boston/Cape Cod KOA camper mentioned weekend events: "We stayed here over the 4th of July this summer. Overall we had a nice time and our 3 kids really enjoyed it."
Site selection for family camping: Choose sites based on proximity to amenities and bathrooms. At Pinewood Lodge, campers recommend waterfront sites: "We were lucky enough to get a site by the pond. There was great views from our site of the pond. On the site there was also a path down to a little dock on the pond that you could sit and relax on."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Many campgrounds near Abington offer comprehensive RV connections. At Pinewood Lodge Campground, visitors note the campground is "Great for any type of camping, convenient to all kinds of shopping and touristy things... lots of activities and celebrations for every age group. Two dogs parks are a huge benefit for us as well."
Site sizing and privacy: RV site dimensions vary significantly between campgrounds. One Boston/Cape Cod KOA visitor advised: "I have learned that you really need to upgrade to the better campsites to enjoy your stay. I booked a basic 30 amp fullhook up campsite and it was so tight that unfortunately I did not enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I'll never book the basic campsite again I'll pay the few extra dollars to have a bigger site it's so worth it."
Off-season travel advantages: Consider camping outside peak summer months for better availability and quieter experiences. At Ellis-Haven, "The park was very busy and we never saw grounds staff in the park," during Labor Day weekend, while spring and fall visitors generally report more attentive service and better site selection for upscale glamping options close to Abington.
