Massachusetts offers several yurt camping options near Braintree Town, with distances typically ranging from 30-45 minutes by car. Most campgrounds in this region sit at low elevations (under 300 feet) with typical summer temperatures between 70-85°F and relatively high humidity. The camping season runs primarily from May through October, with most yurt accommodations requiring advance reservations.
What to do
Hiking at Myles Standish State Forest: Located about 35 miles from Braintree Town, the forest offers numerous hiking and biking trails. "The bike trails through the park are great and we enjoyed them. Paved and mountain bike trails... Take the map with you as the bike trails were a little confusing," notes one visitor at Charge Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest.
Beach activities at Cape Ann: The beaches near Gloucester provide excellent swimming and shoreline exploration. "Beach down the street was big, beautiful and low tide was unexpected as you could walk for ever," reports a camper at Cape Ann Camp Site. The area also offers wildlife viewing opportunities with one visitor noting, "Spectacular views and wild turkeys, deer, etc."
Historical exploration in Concord: The HanscomField FamCamp provides access to significant Revolutionary War sites. A visitor explains, "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."
What campers like
Privacy at tent sites: Many campsites offer wooded, secluded spots for tents. At Pinewood Lodge Campground, one camper appreciates "Great views from our site of the pond. There was also a path down to a little dock on the pond that you could sit and relax on." Sites often feature natural buffers between neighbors.
Pond swimming: Several campgrounds feature natural swimming ponds. A visitor to Pinewood Lodge notes the area has "nice pond for fishing or swimming" while another mentions, "The pond water was very clear, seeing as they are fed from natural springs under the ponds."
Winter Island waterfront: Oceanfront camping at Winter Island Park provides unique water access. "Camping on the oceanfront was a rare treat!" exclaims one reviewer who appreciated that "the beach was beautiful and enjoyed walking on the larger rocks. Also there's a beautiful lighthouse and some history plaques there."
What you should know
Shower facilities vary: Many campgrounds charge for hot showers. Pinewood Lodge campers note "coin operated showers" with one mentioning "Hot showers were awesome (.25 cents per 3 minutes)." Another camper at Cape Ann reports "pay showers (5 cents)" and at Winter Island, there's "a full time bathroom attendant from 8 AM to 8 PM, so restrooms and showers were well kept."
Reservation requirements: Most yurt camping sites near Braintree Town fill quickly. The yurts at Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground are particularly sought after, with a camper explaining, "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance. That said, you can also look for last minute openings."
Transportation considerations: Getting to island yurt camping requires planning. "Getting to the island was a bit of a hassle. We live in Boston and took all of our gear on the T to the harbor by the aquarium. We then took the ferry to Georges Island. After that we waited and got on a much smaller island to Lovells," reports one camper.
Tips for camping with families
Children's activities: Normandy Farms offers extensive kid-friendly programming. "They had tons of festive activities. They have an indoor and an outdoor pool. The restrooms are clean. I highly recommend staying here. It was a lot of fun," shares a visitor to Normandy Farms Campground.
Family-friendly ponds: Ellis-Haven provides water recreation suitable for children. "Very nice beach on the pond, with lots of docks and rafts to swim out to. They also rent paddle boats," notes a visitor to Ellis-Haven Family Campground.
Supervised activities: Many campgrounds offer structured programs for kids. "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 a camper at Boston/Cape Cod KOA.
Tips for RVers
Site selection: Choose premium sites for better experience. At Boston/Cape Cod KOA, a camper advises, "I have learned that you really need to upgrade to the better campsites to enjoy your stay... 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."
Base camp logistics: Winter Island works well for RV trips into Boston. "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," reports an RV camper.
Hookup availability: Full hookups are common but vary by location. At Hanscom AFB, "The campground offers RV sites, some with hookups," while at Cape Ann Camp Site, a visitor notes "They have water, sewer, and electric hookups."
