Camping spots near Blandford, Massachusetts sit in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,400 feet. The region experiences warm summer days with cool nights, even in July and August when temperatures can drop into the 50s. Most camping areas open from May through mid-October with peak season in July and August when weekend reservations should be made 2-3 months in advance.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Tolland State Forest Campground provides direct access to Otis Reservoir. "We love Tolland and have had good luck securing lakefront sites. We have brought out kayaks and took off right from the site. There are rocks to get into the water but the water is clean and not mucky," notes a camper who appreciates the fishing access.
Hiking trails: October Mountain State Forest Campground offers multiple trail networks directly from the campground. One visitor mentioned, "Beautiful area to hike. Quiet off the beaten path. There are 3 yurts available May-October. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table."
Fall foliage viewing: The woodland campsites at Northampton / Springfield KOA provide excellent autumn color viewing. "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," reports a fall visitor.
Mining and gem panning: Prospect Mountain Campground offers recreational mining activities for families. According to one camper, "They have a mining area where kids can 'mine' 'gems'. Kids had a blast!"
What campers like
Quiet camping options: Black Rabbit Farm offers only three sites total on a working farm with vineyard views. "I stayed here last weekend and had a great night watching the stars twinkle and the fireflies dance in the vineyard and meadows. Loved the views," noted one visitor who enjoyed the solitude.
Water recreation access: Several camping areas provide water access with varying levels of development. At Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, a camper noted, "Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots. Excellent rates on all sites. Excellent amenities available within a short walk."
Clean facilities: Prospect Mountain Campground receives positive reviews for maintenance. "I flew up here from Louisiana and met my sister in a primitive tent site. The grounds were absolutely beautiful and very well maintained! Pool was lovely and refreshing," shared one visitor who traveled specifically to camp at this location.
Bear boxes at state forest sites: Tolland State Forest provides bear boxes at campsites, indicating wildlife presence. "The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles," mentions a camper.
What you should know
Road noise concerns: Several campgrounds have sites affected by road noise. At Granville State Forest, one camper warns, "Comments about the campground first... If you're looking for a long drive into the woods with not a lot around, this is your place. It is admittedly quiet. Keep in mind there is no place to dispose of garbage. Also, I concur that any of the sites along the road are terrible (e.g. sites 3-5). The road is a main road and is very noisy."
Alcohol policies vary significantly: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in the nearby American Legion State Forest permits alcohol, while Massachusetts state forests strictly prohibit it. Granville State Forest is particularly strict — "This campground has a zero-tolerance alcohol policy. Unlike most, if you bring beer, you can expect to be kicked out without notice. No warnings."
Limited garbage facilities: Several state forest campgrounds require campers to pack out their trash. Granville State Forest has "no place to dispose of garbage. So be prepared to haul it out. And there are no places to buy supplies if you forget anything. You will have to drive at least 15-20 miles."
Electrical infrastructure issues: Some campgrounds experience power limitations. White Pines Campsites had reliability issues according to one camper: "About three days into our stay, the power line caught on fire and we lost power to our RV for a few hours."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Northampton/Springfield KOA offers structured children's activities, especially on weekends. A reviewer shares, "There is a pool there is a playground there are games of all ages. If you're in the area I recommend to stay they have 10 sites up to the large rigs with full hook ups."
Swimming options: Choose campgrounds with dedicated swimming areas for safety. "The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved the campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff," mentions one camper about Tolland State Forest.
Bug preparation: October Mountain and other woodland sites require insect preparation. A camper warns, "this place, at the end of May is positively swarming with mosquitoes and gnats, even in the 2 rainy and cold-ass nights we spent there, the flies were everpresent."
Unique accommodations: Consider railway-themed camping at Chester Railway Station where families can stay in a converted caboose. "It is a really fun place to spend a night, especially for a train enthusiast. The caboose is stationed on a big grassy field, near a real railroad. It sleeps 4 and you can set up tents outside too. You hear the trains running at night. Very clean and comfortable."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: White Pines Campsites requires careful site selection. "We stayed at site 85 in Sunny Crest and liked having some privacy. The sites nearby had some trees providing space between each site. A lot of the sites we drove by were pretty sloped — I would recommend a drive through if you can beforehand," suggests one RVer.
Hookup locations matter: Position of hookups can affect campsite functionality and enjoyment. One camper at Walker Island noted, "We then noticed that our picnic table was less than a foot from our neighbors leaking septic dump and hose, which might have contributed to the rancid smell."
Seasonal site options: Prospect Mountain Campground offers seasonal sites for those wanting to camp repeatedly in the area. "We did a three month seasonal Site. Staff is super nice and helpful. We had a nice quiet spot even though we were in the road to the lake," reports a seasonal camper.
Site preparation: At several campgrounds, campers recommend checking sites carefully upon arrival. One White Pines visitor noted, "When we got to our spot, it was covered in hundreds and hundreds of nails and broken glass. Maintenance ended up having to get a shovel to get most of the nails up but we still spent the first few days of our stay picking up nails and glass."
