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roy T.
Scout
ScoutCountry Barn Motel & Campground
Very appealing cabins
I stayed in one of the cabins and actually enjoyed it more than i thought.
Best Campgrounds near Andover, MA
Campgrounds near Andover, Massachusetts range from state forest sites to private RV parks with various accommodations. Harold Parker State Forest's Lorraine Park Campground offers spacious wooded sites with tent camping and limited RV hookups, while nearby private campgrounds like Spacious Skies Minute Man provide cabin options. Most campgrounds in the area feature fire pits, picnic tables, and access to water, with some offering shower facilities and electric hookups for RVs.
The camping season in this region typically runs from May through October, with most facilities closing during winter months. "Quiet hours from 10 pm to 7 am are enforced, and several campsites are large enough that if you have a small camper or van you may be able to pull through," noted one visitor. Massachusetts state parks prohibit alcohol consumption, which is strictly enforced at Harold Parker State Forest. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds provide water spigots at individual sites, though hookup locations may not always be convenient for RVs.
Campers report high satisfaction with the natural surroundings despite proximity to urban areas. A review mentioned that Harold Parker State Forest "feels like you are in the middle of nowhere" despite being less than 25 miles north of Boston and close to interstate highways. Most developed campgrounds in the area maintain clean bathroom facilities and free hot showers. Sites vary in privacy levels, with some tucked away from neighbors while others are more open and social. Several campgrounds feature waterfront options along ponds, providing fishing opportunities and scenic views. The region includes numerous hiking trails, swimming areas, and recreational activities within the state forest system, making it a convenient base for exploring both natural areas and nearby coastal communities.
Best Camping Sites Near Andover, Massachusetts (114)
1. Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest
32 ReviewsNorth Reading, MA4 milesWebsite+1 (978) 475-7972$17 - $35 / night
"You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size. All sites have water which is a plus."
"I live in a neighboring town to Andover. It’s so easy to get to."
2. Salisbury Beach State Reservation
27 ReviewsSalisbury, MA20 milesWebsite+1 (978) 462-4481$28 - $38 / night
"However, you can’t beat the location and it’s a great place to go with a group."
"The feel here is electric, and positive. Lots of RV’s that stay here all summer long. Feels like you are in a tight-knit community, very friendly folks, packed tightly together."
3. Spacious Skies Minute Man
29 ReviewsAyer, MA21 milesWebsite+1 (978) 772-0042$44 - $999 / night
"The pool is huge and clean and there is a ton of seating around. The shop has everything you could need. There are horseshoes, can jam, basketball, and bocce. There’s a playground and a rec room."
"Easily accessible by car to shopping, groceries, etc. but no hiking or good walking paths from the campground."
4. Hanscom AFB FamCamp
11 ReviewsBedford, MA14 milesWebsite+1 (781) 225-3953"The campground offers RV sites, some with hookups, as well as more walk-in secluded tent sites as well as one yurt tent. The campground is peaceful and quiet, although adjacent to a very busy AFB."
"Close to minute man historical sites- revolutionary war historical trails and Ranger Station. Not too far from Boston."
5. Winter Island Park
14 ReviewsSalem, MA16 milesWebsite+1 (978) 745-9430$60 / night
"Many of the RV sites are located in the main parking lot; others are in a field just to the right of the entrance."
"We drove 3-1/2 days from Idaho to get to a COVID testing site which would take non MA residents and turn the results around under 48 hours. We needed quiet camping and not have it cost a fortune."
6. Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
15 ReviewsSouth Hampton, NH17 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-1477"entrance (seems to happen frequently, I guess)."
"We went just for one night with a tent because our 5 years old loooves camping, so we reserved this at the last minute, and when we get there, well, the tent sites are way too close to each other, thank"
7. Beach Rose RV Park
14 ReviewsSalisbury, MA20 milesWebsite+1 (978) 463-0226"Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts is a small, friendly, family-owned campground near the beach."
"Kids had enough driving for the day so we had to stop. We called last min and were thankful they had a spot. Arrived at dark and they were friendly and accommodating."
8. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground
44 ReviewsRaymond, NH29 milesWebsite+1 (603) 895-3031$35 - $140 / night
"Much of the lake is better suited to paddle craft rather than motor boats due to it's shallow nature and rocks. The an expansive beach as well, a camp store and boat rentals."
"We were caught off guard by how far we had to drive from the entrance into the park to reach out campsite, but that was great - far away from the road."
9. Cape Ann Camp Site
16 ReviewsGloucester, MA22 milesWebsite+1 (978) 283-8683$36 - $44 / night
"Perfect location with access to Rockport - a beautiful place to visit, shop, eat & a great little trail with great views Beach down the street was big, beautiful and low tide was unexpected as you"
"Beautiful campsite, nice sized sites surrounded by trees so it felt pretty private. Bathrooms and showers well maintained, 25 cents for 5 minute shower."
10. Camp Nihan Education Center
2 ReviewsSaugus, MA12 milesWebsite"The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods."
Recent Camping Photos near Andover, MA
341 Photos of 114 Andover Campgrounds
Alan
Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest
Michael V.
Camp Nihan Education Center
Janet R.
Hanscom AFB FamCamp
Sara C.
Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
Dawn E.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Jake H.
Black Bear Campground
Martin B.
Spacious Skies Minute Man
Della S.
Cape Ann Camp Site
Lisa H.
Winding River Campground
Alyse-Beast F.
Calef Lake Camping Area
Laura
Wakeda Campground, LLC
Jean C.
Tidewater Campground
Recent Reviews near Andover, MA
733 Reviews of 114 Andover Campgrounds
Alizé B.ScoutField and Stream RV Park
Highly recommend
Amazing place and community, unfortunately very expensive.
Sue B.
RangerSalisbury Beach State Reservation
Love camping here!
The first time we camped here was on Columbus Day weekend a number of years ago, and we got to see seals sun bathing on the beach. Are kids thought it was the greatest thing ever! The sites are a little close together and many of them are in direct sunlight , so that isn't the greatest , but if you have an awning, you should be good. We love that it is right on the water, and we can walk to the beach. We also appreciate that it is pet friendly, and our dogs love it too. Write down the street from camp, there is a street setup almost like a boardwalk, with arcades, live music, ice cream, food, and a carousel! There is also a bigger beach, and you are one twin away from New Hampshire. Lots to see and do here!
DevinScoutWinding River Campground
Close Sites, Loved the River!
My husband and I had a great time here! We went early in the season, so there were not many people there. We met the new owners/managers and they were very friendly. David was attentive and very helpful!
We stayed in the Oak Section at 317. The sites are pretty close together, which is why I gave a 4. We didn’t have neighbors, but I can imagine on a busy weekend, it might get crowded. The Utilities at this site were in an awkward spot, compared to where we wanted the camper.
- SS W.Scout
Oxbow Campground
Clean, Spacious & Friendly
Oxbow Campground in Deering has a helpful and friendly staff. The bathrooms are kept clean although should be updated.
The campsites are spacious, trash picked up and very quiet at night promoting a good night's sleep.
They sell their own fire wood, an employee who services campers is also available.
They have a propane fill station for your convenience too!
Dogs must be kept on leashes for safety.
Owners live right there within the park.and take pride in their facility.
A nice family owned and run park promoting peacefulness.
- DevinScout
Spacious Skies Minute Man
The Road is Loud
My husband and I had a great time here! The owners and managers are amazing. Kind, friendly, attentive! We really appreciated them!
The reason for the 4/5 is due to the road noise, and the neighbors noise. The residents that boarder the campground are a bit loud. We camped at spot 72. If you are tent camping, I would recommend not camping at the 70’s spots. It’s just close to the road, and it can get noisy at times. It quiets down at night, but during peak travel times is a little loud. Head to the back of the camp ground. The bathroom looks further away than it is, but everything is very convenient!
Adam B.RangerBeach Rose RV Park
Nice people
Needed a spot to dump. They were one of only a very few places open in March. $20 to dump our tanks.
- MMatthew L.Scout
Forest Glen
Forest Glenn campground
Forest Glenn campground is a very nice campground on Wheelwright pond in Lee New Hampshire! Not well kept up but makes you feel like you’re still camping and not glamping ( glamorous camping ) besides some of the very nice campers here with 2 stories on them! Anyway cutting to the chase, just to let any new comers know that are looking for camping in the Lee area if you so choose to camp at forest Glenn depending who you are or how you approach this place dictates if you will have to feel like your stepping on eggshells your entire stay… the owner is a angry Drunk who is sometimes very nice to others or very nasty, and I personally mostly see him being nasty. A couple years back I wanted to look at the campground to see if this would be a place I wanted to stay at so I walked into the office and asked them if we could look around and the lady was in the process of writing us a pass to drive through. This man comes in and said whats going on so I politely told him that we were interested in his campground and we wanted to look around. He completely flipped out said he doesn't understand, said his campground is his back yard, we can't allow this how would you like if I just walked around your back yard etc etc.... yelling at us the whole time and spitting while screaming and then told us to get out of his sight…. This place mind you is overrun by golf carts and I have heard of incidents where people get hit by them because who cares about the posted 5mph speed limitations if your in a golf carts right? Right! And CLEARLY this place is a Double standard place so you will not be treated equal… and as far as I know this place has secret people who camp supposedly working at camp like the manager and security and the plumber or electrician who look like their helping but while helping they gather information about you to spread it around to others or to cause problems with you and the owner!! Oh how thoughtful… one Morning I was in the office and the owner pulled me into the rec room to have a talk with me about my string lights suggesting I shut them off at night and I’m not allowed to use them anymore. I said “sir why would I do that there are 50 other sites with spot lights and string lights Who are these lights bothering that I need to take them down for? “ he said use them inside the trailer I don’t want to see them on again! “ now tell me how that makes any sense… so I shut them off and it became like a minefield on my site at night with no lights while the campers down a different street get to have theirs on. There is no privacy at this place, things keep going missing, and the sites are packed like sardines with no room for Jesus. There are also people staying here over winter and it’s a seasonal campground tell me how that makes any sense. Anyway definitely an experience to be at where drama hits too close to home and the golf cart parking spots are rolling a little to close to my feet. “ oh sorry my foot slipped “ #welp time to search for another place. Seems to be a trend with almost every campground. Angry owners who automatically cause problems or can’t run their own business place without drug addicts for help ( to say the least me and my wife WILL NOT BE COMING BACK )
- LLeeScout
Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
This camping trip truly exceeded my expectations
The campground was clean, peaceful, and surrounded by wide open views. During the day, the natural landscape felt refreshing and expansive, and at night, the sky was filled with stars, creating a calm and almost magical atmosphere. The layout of the campsite was well planned, making it easy and comfortable for both beginners and experienced campers to enjoy their stay. One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.
One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.
Guide to Andover
Camping near Andover, Massachusetts provides access to diverse environments from wooded state forests to coastal beaches. The area experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 80-85°F and cool falls with early color changes beginning in late September. Several campgrounds require reservations at least two weeks in advance during peak summer months.
What to do
Hiking at Harold Parker State Forest: The forest contains numerous interconnected trails suitable for day hikes. "Lots of trails and ponds," notes a visitor at Lorraine Park Campground, adding that sites are "huge with space in between."
Beach access at Salisbury: Located about 30 miles from Andover, Salisbury Beach offers swimming and water activities. According to one camper at Salisbury Beach State Reservation, "The beach was clean. We've been back twice but not to camp."
Historical sites exploration: The region contains Revolutionary War landmarks. A visitor at Spacious Skies Minute Man notes it's "a forested haven so close to Boston that you think you are in the country. Concord is only 30 minute drive away with two full days of revolutionary historic sites."
Water recreation: Multiple ponds in the area support fishing, kayaking and canoeing. At Pawtuckaway State Park, "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer larger-than-average sites. At Harold Parker State Forest, one camper commented, "Large sites. Clean bathroom. Good for families or couples," while another mentioned "Site 301 did not flooded at all" during heavy rain.
Urban escape opportunities: The region functions well for campers wanting nature while staying near urban areas. A visitor at Winter Island Park explained, "We spent two nights at this campground - the closest camping to Boston. The campground is right on the ocean with incredible harbor views. It was an easy bike ride to the Salem Ferry to get access into Boston for the day."
Off-season advantages: Fall camping can provide more privacy and availability. "Very pretty and historical trails to walk on. Not too far from the city," describes a camper at Spacious Skies Minute Man about fall camping, while another at Winter Island Park noted, "The campground is clean and quiet with beautiful tent sites."
Proximity to coastal attractions: Several campgrounds offer base camps for exploring coastal towns. A visitor to Cape Ann Camp Site noted, "Cape Anne is beautiful. Perfect location with access to Rockport - a beautiful place to visit, shop, eat & a great little trail with great views."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many sites fill quickly during summer months. A Pawtuckaway State Park visitor advised, "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating."
Bathroom facilities vary: Conditions and availability differ between campgrounds. At Hanscom AFB FamCamp, one visitor reported, "Several clean modern bath houses, with hot showers and flush toilets," while a Cape Ann camper mentioned "pay showers (5 cents)."
Limited pet policies: Some campgrounds restrict pets during peak seasons. A camper at Pawtuckaway noted, "Tried to plan ahead this year and get a prime site to learn they don't allow dogs anywhere in the campground during summer months."
Traffic and noise considerations: Proximity to urban areas creates occasional disturbances. A visitor reported Winter Island Park has "noise during the day from the beachgoers, and the visits from raccoons and skunks at night (scavenging the food left by the beachgoers)."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. A visitor to Tuxbury Pond RV Campground mentioned "The pool, playground, bathrooms, and basketball court were all open and well maintained."
Beach options: Multiple sites provide swimming areas for children. About Winter Island Park, a camper shared, "The kids had a great time by the sea and the playground. Their are wildlife like skunks, racoons do put food in car."
Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds offer ranger-led programs. At Harold Parker State Forest, one visitor reported, "A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike."
Entertainment options: Several campgrounds schedule family activities. According to a camper at Tuxbury Pond, "Heated pool, laundry, Wi-Fi that works, cable, 50 amp FHU. Good fire pit and nice facilities."
Tips from RVers
Site angles and layouts: RV sites vary in accessibility. At Salisbury Beach State Reservation, a camper observed, "The electrical post and water hookup were placed way behind our site and we could not reach even with our 40' electrical cord. Park staff told us we could back onto the grass in order to reach the electric."
Seasonal considerations: Off-season camping offers lower rates but limited amenities. An RVer at Winter Island Park noted, "None of the sites offer much privacy. You can explore the beach, launch a boat, catch a sunrise, or explore the remnants of Fort Pickering."
Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have complex layouts. About Spacious Skies Minute Man, a camper reported, "Roads are a little interesting to navigate, and definitely aren't the straight lines on their map!"
Hookup availability: Utilities differ widely between sites. A camper at Beach Rose RV Park mentioned, "Great campground, though spaces are small, place is clean, nice pool and staff is very friendly, helpful and responsive! It's only about a mile from the beach."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Andover, MA?
Where are the best campgrounds in Andover, MA?
The best campground in Andover is Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest, offering clean wooded sites with easy reservation through Reserve America. Located in Andover itself, it's a convenient getaway with friendly staff and clean facilities. Many campers return annually to enjoy family time in the outdoors. For those willing to travel a short distance, Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury is another excellent option, particularly for RV campers. This small, family-owned campground near the beach features clean grounds, a swimming pool, and accommodating staff who go above and beyond during busy weekends.
What parks in Andover, MA offer camping facilities?
What parks in Andover, MA offer camping facilities?
Harold Parker State Forest is the primary park in Andover offering camping facilities through its Lorraine Park Campground. Located less than 25 miles north of Boston and under 5 miles from the interstate, it serves as an excellent base for exploring Massachusetts' north coast or as a stopover when heading to New Hampshire and Maine. For those willing to venture slightly beyond Andover, Willard Brook State Forest Campground and Otter River State Forest offer additional public camping options. Otter River is particularly noted for being clean, well-maintained, and family-friendly with swimming options in a pond or a short drive to a larger lake.
What camping sites are available near Andover?
What camping sites are available near Andover?
Several quality camping options exist within a short drive from Andover. Pearl Hill State Park Campground offers wonderful sites with varying privacy levels – site #18 is particularly desirable as it's situated next to a ravine with wooded surroundings. Salisbury Beach State Reservation provides an unbeatable beachfront location with convenient water and electricity hookups, making it perfect for group camping trips though it lacks privacy. Additional options include Tuxbury Pond RV Campground near South Hampton and Cape Ann Camp Site near Gloucester, both offering various amenities for different camping styles.
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