M
Maggie B.
Scout
ScoutOtter River State Forest
Highly Recommend
Great place to camp. Reasonably priced. Clean hot showers and dish washing station. Clean-Quiet-Well Patroled and Maintained. Nature based activities for kids.
Camping near Buffumville Lake
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Buffumville Lake in Massachusetts encompass a range of accommodations from basic tent sites to full-service RV resorts and cabin rentals. The area features several developed campgrounds including Wells State Park Campground in Sturbridge and Sutton Falls Camping Area, both offering a mix of tent and RV sites. Many facilities in the region provide electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, with several also offering cabin rentals and glamping options. The campground density in central Massachusetts creates numerous options within a 20-mile radius of Buffumville Lake, with both state-managed and privately-operated properties available to travelers.
Seasonal operations significantly impact camping availability in the region, as most campgrounds operate from April or May through mid-October. Winter camping options are extremely limited, with most facilities completely closed during colder months. Wells State Park Campground typically opens in May and closes in October, while nearby private campgrounds like Pine Acres Family Camping Resort and Sutton Falls Camping Area maintain similar seasonal schedules. Amenities vary significantly between properties, with state parks generally offering more rustic experiences compared to private resorts. As one camper noted about Wells State Park, "Beautiful campground with brand new bathroom/shower facility. Offers hiking, biking, swimming, fishing. Nice and quiet also."
Water access represents a significant draw for many campgrounds in the area, with several properties situated on ponds and lakes. Facilities like Indian Ranch Campground provide lake views and boat access, while Sutton Falls features waterfront sites along Aldrich Mill Pond. Hiking trails connect many of the campgrounds to surrounding natural areas, particularly at Wells State Park where visitors appreciate "a huge system of trails which are all very well marked." Site spacing and privacy vary considerably between properties, with state park campgrounds generally offering more separation between sites. Electrical reliability has been noted as inconsistent at some properties, particularly during peak usage periods in summer. Private campgrounds in the region tend to offer more amenities including camp stores, organized activities, and full hookup sites, though they typically command higher nightly rates than state-operated facilities.
Best Camping Sites Near Buffumville Lake (147)
1. Wells State Park Campground
16 ReviewsSturbridge, MA7 milesWebsite+1 (508) 347-9257$17 - $55 / night
"This is a great campground located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on walker pond. Brand new bathroom/shower facility this year. Offers hiking, biking, swimming, fishing. Nice and quiet also."
"Beautiful campground in a nice central location nearby several nice towns in Central Massachusetts."
2. George Washington State Campground
26 ReviewsPascoag, RI15 miles+1 (401) 568-6700$18 - $75 / night
"So if you are confused about things like location, let’s knock that out first: This campground is located near 2185 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814."
"The campground was safe, nicely laid out so we could have a series of sites next to one another. Biking was a blast for the kids along with trail hike around pond, beach, and fishing."
3. West Thompson Lake Campground
9 ReviewsGrosvenor Dale, CT11 milesWebsite+1 (860) 923-3121$15 - $30 / night
"They have bathrooms and showers close by that (if I remember correctly/things haven’t changed too much in the past couple of years) were in relatively decent shape compared to others I’ve been in at campgrounds"
"centrally located bathrooms/showers basketball court, playground and ampitheatre to keep the kids busy. hiking trails galore, disk golf, and swimming nearby. so fun!"
4. Sutton Falls Camping Area
6 ReviewsManchaug, MA7 milesWebsite+1 (508) 865-3898$40 - $65 / night
"Cute quiet place with a lake. Family run very friendly. They only thing I didnt love is they remodeled one set of bathrooms in the back and the front was the old set."
"Cabins and RV sites across the lake, along with beaches for swimming. Bathrooms located on P1 peninsula. Canoe rentals on-site. Lovely picnic dining area alongside covered bridge and waterfall."
5. Pine Acres Family Camping Resort
15 ReviewsRutland, MA17 milesWebsite+1 (508) 882-9509$70 - $115 / night
"Miles and miles of country/forests surrounding pine acres, however pulling in you’ll soon realize how much goes on inside the campground."
"Although the tent sites are a distance from anything, the main areas of the campground are fantastic. With a full calendar of events (some free, some cost $) you will never be bored."
6. Douglas Forest RV Resort
5 ReviewsWebster, MA6 milesWebsite+1 (508) 943-1895$65 - $125 / night
"What really sets this place apart is the location. You’re literally steps away from Douglas State Forest, which made morning hikes and evening strolls absolutely magical."
"Drive times: Boston: 60min| Hartford: 62min| Providence: 42min| Albany: 120min| Portsmouth: 106min"
7. Thousand Trails Sturbridge
6 ReviewsWestville Lake, MA10 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-1477"The manager was able to give me a great campsite away from all of the RVs and cabins. It was right at the entrance however you did have to hike up a short 50ft hill to get to the site."
"We had a great time relaxing around the campfire with another family. The playground was a hit for our kids!"
8. Kings Campground
3 ReviewsManchaug, MA7 milesWebsite+1 (508) 476-25349. Charlie Brown Campground
8 ReviewsEastford, CT17 milesWebsite+1 (860) 974-0142"Surrounded by the Natchaug forest, and adjacent to the Natchaug River. Great activities for everyone."
"Activities were still available with social distancing of course due to Covid. Close by was Taylor Brooke Winery which was the perfect place to while away a late summer afternoon."
10. Quinebaug Cove Campground
4 ReviewsFiskdale, MA12 milesWebsite+1 (413) 245-9525$70 - $78 / night
"Perimeter spot you overlook a lake, it’s nice and quiet. Everyone waves, nice lake to fish on. Front desk/owner? is a sweetheart."
"Small campground on lake. lot of seasonal sites. Sites on beach are nice size."
Recent Camping Photos near Buffumville Lake
212 Photos of 147 Buffumville Lake Campgrounds
Travis
Douglas Forest RV Resort
Stephanie M.
Sutton Falls Camping Area
Tim S.
Wells State Park Campground
Mara S.
Thousand Trails Sturbridge
Michael C.
West Thompson Lake Campground
Taylor B.
Bowdish Lake Camping Area
J G.
George Washington State Campground
Cathy G.
Echo Lake Campground
Shawn D.
Pine Acres Family Camping Resort
Megan P.
Charlie Brown Campground
Bianca M.
Mashamoquet Brook Campground — Mashamoquet Brook State Park
Kimberly M.
Oak Leaf Family Campground
Recent Reviews near Buffumville Lake
615 Reviews of 147 Buffumville Lake Campgrounds
Greg S.
LegendTravelers Woods Of New England, Inc
4.3 stars
Pros- easy on off of the interstate. Very nice people! Nicely kept grounds. Cool camp store. Nice playground and green space. Scenic small river runs along the back of the property. Beautiful surrounding area! Cons- swimming isn't allowed in the river! It's crystal clear and deep in spots right next to camp sites. Crushing blow that we couldn't play in it. Sites pretty tight. Moderate highway noise. Only full hookup sites are up by the highway without any nature to speak of.
If you are like us and want to play in the creek, drive or walk a half a mile up the road and take a little path right before the low bridge. Great swimming hole in some of the clearest water I have ever seen.- A
Ashley H.
TravelerMashamoquet Brook Campground — Mashamoquet Brook State Park
Cozy Rustic Campground
Due to the heat wave, I opted not to spend the night, but we did roll through and check out the area. First thing we noticed is how close and open the sites were, with a few exceptions. I attached photos of the more secluded sites I plan to choose next time. Site 49 is what I had reserved and it was large and partially secluded. The bathroom buildings are boarded up across the campground and state park with port o potties in front. I was not eager to check those out… a bucket started feeling like the safer option lol It was quiet but on the more secluded sites, there was ample road noise and you could see the road from some sites. I didn’t get a chance to look for the walkway to the park and river, but I plan to next time. The state park and river nearby was beautiful and quiet and serene with smattering Fourth of July picnics. Overall, I plan to return here when the weather is more cooperative and my car camper is better equipped :)
Kaitlynn F.ScoutSunset View Farms
So fun!
I have 4 kids, 8 and under and they had an absolute blast. We will definitely be back.
Kyle G.ScoutTully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
Amazing
9/10 Have to cart everything to site but everything else good
- RRalph C.Traveler
Hanscom AFB FamCamp
Worst Military Campground
Published rules are can only be here for 30 days with a three week extension possible. The fact is at least half of the spaces are occupied by full time residents with one resident stating she has been here for two years. The airfield noise is excessive during the day. The airfield closes at 11 PM so at least it is not all night long. We booked a pull through and they wanted to put us in a small back in site with shared utilities. I put my foot down and was given a pull through. On a positive note, the bath house is clean and the laundry room is not over priced
- VVictoria V.Traveler
Hide-A-Way Cove Campground
Just okay
When we arrived at our site we were instantly greeted with an angry resident. He started shooing us away as we were trying to park our camper at our site. He needed to back out and leave but we had only been there no more than 3 minutes before he popped up angrily. There are a lot of long term campers there. Very very unkept campers. Broken down, damaged, some look unlivable. Some may not like the dozens of cats everywhere, but I did. It’s fun to spot a new cat roaming around the campground. The pool is nice and clean. The playground is cute. The Arcade is not worth going to. A lot of the games were broken or empty. Bikes are NOT allowed. My 8 year old son was riding his bike and we were told he couldn’t do that at this campground. The pond/beach area is beautiful. You can try fishing in it. We didn’t catch anything. I definitely don’t suggest swimming in it. It’s not clean enough for that. Camp “store” is very minimal in what they have. Mostly little candy and some minor essentials. There is also a little restaurant attached to the camp store. I like that the sites were grass and not dirt. Or site did not have sewer. We had to go to the dump station to empty black water.
Nancy W.LegendNewport RV Park
Clean sites, good location.
We stayed here a number of years ago when it was Milleville Ponds Campground and what an improvement! The park is really clean, well mowed, well-packed gravel roads and camping pads. No problem for big-rigs. There are some seasonals but their sites were tidy. About half the campsites are in the woods and half in the open. There are some deluxe sites with paved patios and nicer fire pits but they are really close together and no shade. We really liked our site (#400) which was gravel, long and level. (We would choose 401 if we came back.) The patio had nice grass which our dog loved. The utilities were well-placed and the electric legs were good at 124 volts. I called to see if there was cable tv because there was a connection on our post and was told that some sites had cable. But, when I hooked it up, we didn’t get any channels; however, we got about 60 over-the-air tv channels. Great wifi. Not much for amenities, just a pavilion and playground. There is a public dog park just outside the park that is really big and you can walk a ¼ mile to a hiking trail. There are three airstreams and a 3-bedroom house for rent. The bath house is centrally located. Unfortunately, they are not super close to the tent sites and there is no path through campsites so you either have to walk around or cut through someone’s site. It took us anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to get downtown (depending on traffic). There are few restaurants nearby and a grocery less than ten minutes away. Overall, we liked how clean and well-kept the park was and enjoyed our site. We stayed eight nights with the average nightly cost at $81and would come back if in the area.
- Richard A.Traveler
Gibson Hill RV Park
Worst I've Been To Blatant Deceptive Advertising
Let me save you from making a grave mistake. The campground was quiet. That's the best thing I can say about Gibson Hill after spending a week there. Totally unkempt and in disarray. The roads are a rocky, dusty rutted mess. The campsites while some newly graveled, not well I might add, are not level. The electric at my site kept tripping off. I finally discovered, with no help from the non-existent management, that the service disconnect breaker was bad. Luckily I had an extra 30A cord and was able to plug into the unoccupied adjacent site. How this abomination has any 5 star reviews is above my pay grade. During the week we were here we never saw a camp representative. We were not welcomed by anyone affiliated with the campground and I never saw anyone on duty in the office. The is NO weekly entertainment. There is NO weekly bonfire. THERE IS NO POOL. Our site had no picnic table and no fire ring and had areas dotted with clumps of gray fur. Obviously noone had inspected our site for cleanliness prior to our arrival. Our first visitor was a 4' rat snake. There was debris strewn all over the grounds. There was one trash container. Unlined and uncovered. No dog poop bags or signs regarding poop pickup. There was a lot of demolition but no new construction ongoing. The“pool” is a 4’ deep square under construction and far from being completed. The“resort” signage was a joke. It took me 3 tries to find my way out of the campground. The entrance sign is installed parallel to the road rather than perpendicular to it for visibility. The number of decrepit or abandoned trailers on site was unbelievable. We were never told if the campground was under new management and/or under going refurbishment. In any event it was missing the mark. Unfortunately we paid for a week in advance so we were stuck here. NEVER AGAIN. I’m leaving this truthful review so no other potential campers are duped into staying here. Definitely an absentee owner who doesn't have a clue. Really too bad because the location and grounds have enormous potential. I will let Happy Grounds and RV LIFE know of my great disappointment and suspect reviews. By the way, to the reviewer who said they enjoyed the pool. THERE IS NO POOL. There is NO on-site management.
Guide to Buffumville Lake
Camping near Buffumville Lake offers options across central Massachusetts and into neighboring Connecticut and Rhode Island. Most campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 500-900 feet above sea level, creating moderate temperature variations between day and night even during summer months. The area's mixed hardwood forests provide natural shade at many campsites, with late summer temperatures typically ranging from 55°F overnight to 80°F during daytime hours.
What to do
Hiking network at Wells State Park: Located 20 minutes from Buffumville Lake, the park features extensive trail systems suitable for various skill levels. "Offers hiking, biking, swimming, fishing. Nice and quiet also," notes John L., who highlighted the park's diverse activities. The park's main trail loops around Walker Pond, providing approximately 3 miles of moderate terrain hiking.
Disc golf at West Thompson Lake: The campground offers an on-site disc golf course that draws both beginners and experienced players. "There are a lot of choices for hiking including a disc golf course," shares Deborah B. about the West Thompson Lake Campground. The course features 18 holes winding through wooded areas, with first-time players able to complete the course in approximately 90 minutes.
Paddling on Aldrich Mill Pond: Sutton Falls provides direct water access for kayaking and canoeing on the scenic mill pond. "We were delighted when we learned we had the little peninsula of site P1 all to ourselves. Stunning views across the large pond," reports Stephanie M. from Sutton Falls Camping Area. Paddling routes vary from 1-3 miles depending on water levels and chosen path.
What campers like
Bathhouse facilities at Wells State Park: The recent renovation of bathroom facilities has significantly improved the camping experience. "Wells State Park camp grounds recently got new bathrooms and they are so clean! The campsites are a nice size to drive your car up to and still have ample tent/picnic table/fire space," explains Lauren C. about Wells State Park Campground.
Riverside settings at Charlie Brown Campground: Many sites offer direct waterfront positioning along the Natchaug River. "We chose the best spot for our first camping trip with our new travel trailer. Everyone assisted us and taught us the world of camping... If you go to Charlie Brown's request a site by the water," advises Ron C. about his experience at Charlie Brown Campground.
Beach and water recreation at Pine Acres: The campground offers both pool facilities and beach access for water enthusiasts. "Beautiful and fun. Live music and food trucks were available. Pool and splash pad along with sandy beach," notes Katelyn D. who appreciated Pine Acres Family Camping Resort's water amenities. The beach area features approximately 100 feet of shoreline with gradual entry points suitable for younger swimmers.
What you should know
Seasonal operation limitations: Most campgrounds in the region close between mid-October and mid-April. George Washington State Campground operates "mid April to Columbus Day," while West Thompson Lake Campground lists its season as "May 16 to September 6." Plan ahead as few facilities offer late fall or early spring camping.
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds require equipment for leveling RVs and trailers. "We booked site #39 online... No pictures of individual campsites on the ReserveAmerica booking site, so we were kind of winging it... The site seemed nice, but was very un-level, with a steep, narrow driveway," reports Jen V. about her Wells State Park experience.
Mosquito presence: Some campgrounds, particularly those in wooded areas, report significant mosquito activity. "Let me start off by saying this place is more of a resort than a campground... On top of that the tenting area of the camp ground is over run with mosquitos, from morning to night they are all over you and I'm pretty sure they are immune to bug spray," warns J.W. from George Washington State Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Organized activities: Many campgrounds schedule regular family-friendly events. "Arts and crafts, tractor rides, and of course the tubing down the river. Lots of built in entertainment for the kids!" reports Michael about Charlie Brown Campground. Most scheduled activities occur on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming facilities, though beach quality varies significantly. "Gorgeous campground. It's red clay instead of sand. I knocked a star because I think the swimming area could be bigger and raked," notes Emily H. about Wells State Park's swimming area. Families with small children may prefer campgrounds with pools rather than natural swimming areas.
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with updated play equipment. "Camp store is great, fun fishing on the lake and tons of activities for the kids," explains Rob G. about Pine Acres. Most campground playgrounds are centrally located, requiring supervision for children under 10 years old.
Tips from RVers
Electric reliability: During peak summer weekends, electrical systems at some campgrounds experience capacity issues. "Our rig is 11'9" to the top of the A/C and we had no issues," notes Sean about Sutton Falls regarding clearance under their covered bridge, though he mentions that "the cell signal" was problematic for remote work.
Site spacing considerations: RV sites vary significantly in size and privacy between campgrounds. "Pretty tight to maneuver bigger rigs. Sites are small-ish, but they work. The facilities are excellent," advises Steve K. about Pine Acres. RVs over 35 feet may find challenging conditions at certain campgrounds, particularly those with narrow access roads or older infrastructures.
Winter storage options: Most campgrounds in the area close seasonally but some offer off-season storage. "We've camped here twice so far and can't wait to be back. This campground is very small and quiet, but the lake and adjoining river offer hours of fun for small craft," shares Cynthia K. about Indian Ranch Campground. Several campgrounds charge between $300-500 for winter storage, typically from October through April.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Buffumville Lake?
What camping is available near Buffumville Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, Buffumville Lake offers a wide range of camping options, with 147 campgrounds and RV parks near Buffumville Lake and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Buffumville Lake?
Which is the most popular campground near Buffumville Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Buffumville Lake is Wells State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buffumville Lake?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buffumville Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Buffumville Lake.
What parks are near Buffumville Lake?
What parks are near Buffumville Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Buffumville Lake that allow camping, notably Westville Lake and West Hill Dam.
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