Western Massachusetts' camping spots near Ashfield sit between 1,200-1,800 feet elevation in the Berkshire foothills. This location offers cooler summer temperatures than coastal regions, with nighttime lows often dropping into the 50s even during July and August. Many campsites in the region require bear-safe food storage due to the active black bear population throughout the area.
What to do
Hiking trail access: The Mohawk Trail State Forest Campground provides direct access to multiple hiking trails from the campsites. "There are plenty of options for hiking including two nearby falls, a section of the AT, and of course the summit. The summit lodge offers breakfast & lunch," notes one visitor who appreciates the trail connectivity.
River activities: Sites along the Deerfield River at Mohawk Park Campground & Restaurant offer opportunities for water recreation. A reviewer points out that "you can camp right beside the river!! Don't count on phone service, and no showers." Another camper mentions "you can even head to a local park and tube down the river right back to your site!"
Autumn camping: Fall camping trips in the Ashfield area provide unique seasonal experiences. At the Northampton / Springfield KOA, one visitor described their autumn experience: "We went to this campground during fall foliage time. Very peaceful and very great staff. They had hayless rides and fire truck rides. This time they had a haunted house walk through."
What campers like
Privacy level: The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest Campground receives consistent praise for spacious sites. "The sites are very roomy and wooded. The staff was friendly and accommodating, and the facilities were clean," states one camper. Another emphasizes, "We stayed here October 6-9 2021... Site #44 is HUGELY HUGE. Seriously, you could put down three tents and a couple of campers and not feel crowded."
Bear boxes: Many campsites in the region provide bear boxes for food storage. At Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation, a camper noted, "The bear lockers are roomy and clean and could double as storage to keep items out of the rain." Another camper mentioned they "had a sighting in our neighboring site and not all other campers are bear smart and left food/trash out even though rangers gave reminders."
Water features: Swimming options vary between campgrounds. One camper at Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground reported, "It has a small pond with swimming beach and a couple was just pulling their kayak out when I arrived." At DAR State Forest, a visitor explained, "There is a campers only beach on upper highland lake that was easy walking distance from the campsite and fishing opportunities there as well."
What you should know
Price differentials: Out-of-state visitors face significantly higher fees at some state campgrounds. One reviewer at DAR State Forest complained, "I don't mind paying a little extra some places because of being out of state, but paying $54 a night for not even any hookups when MA residents pay $17 is insane."
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the region operate from May through October. At Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, the terrain presents unique challenges: "The camp has a lot of hills and some are pretty steep. We always bring our bikes and love to bike through the campgrounds, but this one is not good for biking. Our little ones had trouble going down the hills because of the loose gravel."
Bear activity: Black bears are present throughout the region. A camper at Mohawk Trail State Forest mentioned, "This campground is peaceful and has sites that are well spaced... There are lots of black bears so keeping food in the near lockers or locked in the car at all times is a must!"
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Families with children should consider campgrounds with dedicated recreational facilities. At Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, visitors note, "The pool was cold, but really nice and again very clean." Another camper mentioned, "There are activities planned for the weekends that we took advantage of too. The band on Saturday night was fun and we brought our chairs and a cooler up there after dinner."
Beach access: Swimming options vary significantly between campgrounds. One visitor to DAR State Forest explained, "I tent camped here for a night in early July and enjoyed the stay. The camp sites were well kept though kind of light on privacy and space between campsites... There is a campers only beach on upper highland lake that was easy walking distance from the campsite."
Bathroom facilities: Bathroom quality and availability differs widely across campgrounds. At Savoy Mountain State Forest, one camper noted, "The shower was absolutely nasty, and covered in mold. But, I don't go camping to shower, so it wasn't horrific for me." In contrast, Mt. Greylock State Reservation received praise: "The composting toilets were so spacious and clean you could sleep on the floor in an emergency!"
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have limitations for larger RVs. A camper at DAR State Forest advised, "Not sure I'd try a really big rig here, but our little 16' trailer fit in great. I don't see any pull through sites, but I didn't see them all." Another noted the "very narrow parking areas on the sites."
Hookup availability: Full hookup sites are limited in the area. At Country Aire Campgrounds, a reviewer mentioned, "The owners are always working on improving sites," but others noted varying site quality throughout the campground. Another camper at Savoy Mountain State Forest clarified, "There are RV sites and there is a dump station/potable water fill station available at the park entrance, but no RV hook ups of any kind."
Site selection: Terrain variations affect RV camping comfort. At Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, a camper observed, "Some of the sites are up hills and might be difficult for some to park their trailers. We watched a fifth wheel try to back up a hill and then turn into a site and couldn't get a grip because of the incline and the loose gravel."
