Campers seeking top spots near South Dartmouth, Massachusetts can choose from several options within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at sea level with average summer temperatures between 70-85°F and winter lows around 20-30°F. Salt marshes and coastal woodlands characterize the terrain, with many campgrounds featuring tree cover that provides welcome shade during summer's peak humidity.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Bourne Scenic Park, campers can fish directly in the Cape Cod Canal. "If you like fishing this is your place," notes one visitor. The canal regularly yields impressive catches, as another camper observed: "Beautiful location right along the canal that you can bike down to the beach or just to watch some fisherman reel in some massive fish."
Biking trails: The area offers excellent cycling options, particularly at Myles Standish State Forest. "There are several miles of bile trails that were very enjoyable," reports one camper. Another visitor adds: "The bike trails through the part are great and we enjoyed them. Paved and mountain bike trails." Remember to bring a detailed map, as "the bike trails were a little confusing."
Water activities: Multiple ponds at Myles Standish State Forest provide swimming and boating options. "We kayaked one morning and enjoyed watching the people catching good sized fish around us. The beach (at least at Charged Pond) had a nice sandy section and a bathhouse." Many campgrounds in the area feature swimming areas, though quality varies. One camper at Cape Cod Campresort noted: "Kids really love the lake!"
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the room to spread out at Massasoit State Park. One visitor noted: "The sites had both a firepit with a flip grill as well as an upright grill. Both were clean and ready to use when we arrived." Another camper appreciated that "everything is new the playground is fantastic. hiking trails are great, bike trails are great. lakes have great fishing."
Affordability: Camping offers an economical way to visit high-priced areas. At Martha's Vineyard Family Campground, a camper highlighted: "To be able to camp comfortably on this island and have access to all the island has to offer without spending an arm and a leg is what I love." Another visitor agreed: "Pay $300-$500/night for a hotel or this campground for $35/night? I'll take the campground any day."
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention bathroom cleanliness as a deciding factor. At Newport RV Park, one visitor noted: "Bathrooms with music piped in. Love this place to pieces." Another camper at Bourne Scenic Park appreciated: "One of the cleanest campgrounds we have been too. Given everything going on with Covid-19 we were very impressed with how clean everything was around the campground."
What you should know
Reservation timing: The best places to camp near South Dartmouth fill quickly, especially for waterfront sites. Book several months in advance for peak summer dates. At Shawme Crowell State Forest, campers note it's "basic, no-frills" but "has more than half the sites designated as tent only; a few of the sites are designated for tent/pop-up."
Noise levels: Highway noise affects some campgrounds. One camper at Shawme Crowell reported: "The traffic noise is almost constant especially Friday nights. Not recommended for light sleepers." Similarly, at Bourne Scenic Park: "Where we were it was close to the bridge and the traffic was loud all night."
Site privacy: Site spacing varies widely between campgrounds. A camper at Cape Cod Campresort observed: "The sites are very close together so there is little privacy." In contrast, at Massasoit State Park: "We stayed in loop b south, which is really not a loop but a dead end. Very quiet, and we were the only people in the loop for a couple of days. Sites are nice and level and large. Vegetation between sites for privacy."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature upgraded play areas. At Cape Cod Campresort, families enjoy "plenty of activities for kids" including "a pond with rentals & fishing, 2 pools, playground, store, etc." Shawme Crowell recently improved their facilities: "If you have young kids, they'll love the new playground area."
Scheduled activities: Boston/Cape Cod KOA offers organized events for children. "The activities for kids is the draw for this campground for sure. My kids loved the train rides, movie night, flash light candy hunt, and arts and crafts," reports one family. These structured activities can be especially welcome during rainy weather.
Swimming options: Check water quality reports before swimming, as conditions can vary. At Myles Standish, "the pond water was very clear, seeing as they are fed from natural springs under the ponds." Contrast this with Cape Cod Campresort where one visitor noted: "Pool needs cleaning. One playground, not many options."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region require leveling equipment. At Bourne Scenic Park, "the majority of sites would be a problem for a motorhome to get level without the aid of blocks. In fact, some sites were ridiculously unlevel and took a scary amount of blocks." Bring extra leveling equipment when camping in this region.
Site selection: At Newport RV Park, site choice can make a big difference. "Call ahead to check on shade versus full sun sites if that's important and take note of grass and course gravel pad material as well. The main campground is on a slope, so be prepared for some leveling requirements, especially sites #216 and #217 (front to back)."
Tree sap issues: Be aware that wooded sites may damage your RV exterior. "Biggest negative was the trees can drop a lot of sap so be ready to wash your rig and vehicles as soon as you leave if it was a heavy sap time," warns one RVer who stayed at Gateway to Cape Cod RV Campground.
