Top Tent Camping near Charlton, MA

Searching for a tent camping spot near Charlton? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Charlton with tent camping. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.

Best Tent Sites Near Charlton, MA (12)

    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    1. Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    9 Reviews
    90 Photos
    2 Saves

    Overview

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites you to come relax at Tully Lake. There are a variety of outdoor recreation activities for you and you family. Although the dam was built primarily to reduce flood damages on the Millers and Connecticut Rivers, the 1,300-acre reservoir area provides a place for you to get away from it all and connect with nature.

    Recreation

    Tully Lake offers many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Activities in and around the lake include mountain biking, camping, disc golf, hiking, picnicking, boating, and fishing and hunting in the appropriate seasons.

    Facilities

    The Tully Lake Pavilion is located in the recreation area and offers picnic tables and grills. Maximum group size is 50 people with parking for 25 passenger vehicles at the upper gravel lot. The recreation area has a small playground for young children, volleyball court, and a horseshoe pit. Bathrooms are provided, but there is no running water.

    Natural Features

    The 1,262-acre Tully Lake property is managed to sustain a healthy ecosystem for future generations. The thriving biodiversity of the Tully River Valley and the interconnections of our forests, wetlands, waters, and wildlife are valued and managed for the long term. Tully Lake is home to a wide variety of wildlife, from tiny insects and song birds, to large mammals such as deer and moose. Fifty-five percent of the reservoir area is wetlands, providing habitat for fish, waterfowl, song birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as beaver, mink and otter. The rest of the property provides habitat for upland species such as deer, coyote, fisher, owl, fox, raccoon, skunk, porcupine, rabbit, and squirrel. The forest within Tully Dam's reservoir area is composed primarily of white pine, providing habitat for owls and woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, and white-tailed deer.

    Nearby Attractions

    When visiting Tully Lake there are several opportunities for visitors to explore in the surrounding area. At the north end of the lake there is a tent only campground run by the Trustees of the Reservations which provides a perfect launching point to enjoy the outdoor attractions nearby. Ten miles away is the Birch Hill Dam, another Army Corps project that provides miles of trails and river to explore. The Quabbin Reservoir is also within a short ten mile drive of Tully Lake and serves the city of Boston as its water supply. The Quabbin is a unique area; there were four towns flooded to create it, and it has some of the most interesting blends of human and natural history in the region.

    Charges & Cancellations

    Please review the cancellation and refund policy at the bottom of the webpage. In general, we will require at least two weeks prior to your reservation to consider a request.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Trash

    $40 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Hill Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Hill Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest

    3. Federated Womens Club State Forest

    1 Review
    22 Photos
    25 Saves
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Picnic Table
    • Toilets
    Camper-submitted photo from Sodom Mountain Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sodom Mountain Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Barton Cove Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Barton Cove Campground

    5. Barton Cove Campground

    2 Reviews
    2 Photos
    69 Saves
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Group

    $22 - $30 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park

    6. Onion Mountain Park

    3 Reviews
    9 Photos
    146 Saves
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Dispersed
    • No image available
      • No image available

        8. Lovers Lyn

        Be the first to review!
        2 Saves
        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Tents
        • Standard (Tent/RV)
        • Tent Cabin
        • Alcohol
        • No image available
          • No image available
          Showing results 1-10 of 12 campgrounds

          Recent Tent Reviews In Charlton

          525 Reviews of 12 Charlton Campgrounds


          • Missi N.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Northampton / Springfield KOA
            Oct. 11, 2024

            Northampton / Springfield KOA

            Cute little campground

            Quiet (besides occasional plane overhead) lots of trees, spacious sites, clean and modern bathrooms and showers, nice friendly helpful staff.

          • Kathy T.
            Camper-submitted photo from Salt Rock State Park
            Sep. 23, 2024

            Salt Rock State Park

            Clean, but dated facilities

            Campground is a bit crowded with sites close together. The facilities were clean but quite old. There are some nice hiking trails along the river.

          • f
            Camper-submitted photo from Sunset View Farms
            Sep. 21, 2024

            Sunset View Farms

            Lovely spot in the woods

            We booked last minute (2 hours before we arrived) and were met with the friendliest staff ready to help us at 7:30PM and get us checked in. Perfect spot if you don’t mind a 40 minute ride over to The Big E fair which is what brought us out to this part of MA. The restaurant was so nice, and to my surprise more than accommodating as I have celiac, they really went above and beyond. We will definitely be back next summer for a longer stay.

          • G
            Camper-submitted photo from Ponkapoag Camp
            Aug. 30, 2024

            Ponkapoag Camp

            Beautiful

            Had an amazing stay, cabin was perfect and comfortable. Water was nice and fish were biting. Can’t wait to come back.

          • carol T.
            Camper-submitted photo from Waters Edge Family Campground
            Aug. 23, 2024

            Waters Edge Family Campground

            BEWARE WATERS EDGE CAMPGROUNDS THEY WILL KEEP ALL YOUR MONEY

            JUNE 30,2024  my husband & I were seasonals at waters edge campground Lebanon Connecticuit  gave them a 30 day notice we were leaving this place wasnt for us just awful the owners are just money hungey thieves they told us they were keeping our deposit wich we expected because it says non refundable deposit so okay fine but we paid for the whole season its open april15 to october15 gave a 30 day notice left june 30 they refused to give us back the money for july ,august,september,to october 15 they ket 750 plus 2500 dollars told us were not getting our money back So iam sure they rented the site thats double dipping so fair warning I dont want this to happen to anyone else they will Rob you blind oh and they broke our ice maker when they dewinterized our trailer and never owned up to it came down to my floor in camper soaked with water from my freezer and didnr bother to clean tthe mess and said  it must have been broken nefore so they are also dirty liars I didnt want to even give a one star rating but had to put somethin i give the a big fat 0

          • Matt S.
            Camper-submitted photo from Mystic KOA
            Aug. 5, 2024

            Mystic KOA

            Great campground for coastal CT & RI

            We stayed at Mystic KOA in North Stonington, Connecticut, to be tourists in Mystic. Spoiler alert… we had a great stay! 

            This campground is just 15-minutes from Mystic and about an hour’s drive to Newport, Rhode Island. It’s just a few minutes from I-95 and so close to Mystic Aquarium, downtown Mystic, Mystic Seaport, and all the local spots. 

            It’s a well-maintained campground with 2 pools(though the larger one was closed for maintenance during our stay), lots of play areas and daily activities for little ones, and a cool“pub truck” for adult drinks. Our site(#408) was about 85’ long with plenty of room for our 45’ motorhome and toad(and then some!). It was level and gravel with a nice fire ring and picnic table. The hookups worked fine with 50-amp electric and decent water pressure. Cable TV had nearly 50-channels, but the wi-fi didn’t quite reach our part of the park. 

            Due to a family issue, we needed to leave about a day-and-a-half early. We called the office as a courtesy to let them know as we were pulling out and received a partial credit for a night’s stay on our credit card. Didn’t even ask, they just did it. Thanks Mystic KOA! 

            We’ll definitely be back. This is a great place to stay when visiting the coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island area.

          • L
            Camper-submitted photo from Peppertree Camping
            Jul. 23, 2024

            Peppertree Camping

            Amazing stay

            We had our very first camping experience with our new camper at this campground and it was everything we could have imagined and more. It’s a beautiful campground, the gentleman and his family who own it are sooooo nice and they helped us a lot when it came to learning how to properly use our camper. All the fellow campers that we met were extremely nice. It’s a quiet campground, located right on a river. My children spent hours in it playing and fishing. Looking forward to returning.

          • Laura D.
            Camper-submitted photo from Brialee Family Campground
            Jul. 10, 2024

            Brialee Family Campground

            Best Camping Experience

            This was our families first time staying at Brialee Campground.  The cabin was absolutely beautiful and clean.  The staff were friendly and helpful. The activities were great and kept my grand children busy.  Swimming and the lake were fun.  I cannot say enough wonderful things.  We had such a great time I booked my reservations for Next July 2025 before I left.

            A special thank you to Sherri for the personal tour and showing us the ropes!  She is the best.

            The D'Avanzo Family

          • R
            Camper-submitted photo from Strawberry Park
            Jul. 10, 2024

            Strawberry Park

            Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

            Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

          • Eddy B.
            Camper-submitted photo from Whispering Pines Campground
            Jul. 8, 2024

            Whispering Pines Campground

            Fun for the family

            Great privately owned family campground. The pool, splash pad, live music and activities for the kids were great!

            AT&T service had only one bar. Couldn’t stream but worked for calls and texts. Campground WiFi was strong but as expected struggled to keep up on this busy 4th of July.

          • aThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Normandy Farms Campground
            Jul. 8, 2024

            Normandy Farms Campground

            Very Enjoyable 1 night stay

            We enjoyed our tent site with a wooden lean-to. Overall very private and peaceful, however the only drawback is that people took frequent casual walks pass the area all day long. There's really no way around that.

            We did not get a chance to enjoy the amenities, but they all looked nice and well thought out.

            We will return.

          • aThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Canoe River Campground
            Jul. 8, 2024

            Canoe River Campground

            Good But Not Ideal for us

            The campground was very busy with families events activities, etc. If you prefer a noisy fun experience and a more social experience with your very close neighbors, this is the pot for you. Our preferred style of camping requires more space and less noise. The pool bathrooms were gross, but the other facilities area near the tent sites was very nice and clean.

            The food was great and the staff is friendly. Overall we had a great time, but its unlikely we’ll return mostly due to the noise level.

          • Beth R.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Mystic KOA
            Jul. 5, 2024

            Mystic KOA

            Nice amenities

            Pros: 15 minutes from Mystic CT 50 AMP, sewer & water hookup Nice amenities

            Cons: Gravel site No shade Tight site & hard to get in/out for big rig

          • M
            Camper-submitted photo from Charlie Brown Campground
            Jul. 1, 2024

            Charlie Brown Campground

            Riverside Delight!

            This was our first time visiting and my entire family enjoyed themselves so  much, that we've already reserved a site for a few weeks from now. Arts and crafts, tractor rides, and of course the tubing down the river. Lots of built in entertainment for the kids! The grounds were clean, the playground was nice, and the people were all friendly.  We did a late checkout for $5 extra, but the noon checkout and two dump stations would make leaving on time a non-issue as well. 

            Of note: We camped with friends, who were given a spot next to a large group of people (weekend prior to 4th of July is to be expected). The group were very polite and abided by quiet hours, but they were having fun and a bit loud for my buddy's 2 month of baby. They requested to move sites, and the management was super accommodating and apologetic. Helped him move his site and threw in some firewood for the troubles.

          • Jason L.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from West Thompson Lake Campground
            Jun. 27, 2024

            West Thompson Lake Campground

            Pleasantly surprised

            We had an excellent experience at this camp ground. The Staff and Rangers were polite and welcoming. We were able to see some boat races and played a round of disc golf on property. Once the boat races finished each day the camp was very quiet and peaceful. Had a great weekend

          • Kerry G.
            Camper-submitted photo from Odetah Camping Resort
            Jun. 21, 2024

            Odetah Camping Resort

            “Camp”grounds that discriminates against tent campers

            Odetah Camping Resort called us today 24 hours prior to our arrival- after 4 years of camping there- to cancel our site unless we rented an RV and didn’t use tents. We were allowed to book and had the booking for 4 months. I was on the phone with them while I booked for assistance since it’s a group booking for 16. I called later to book a cabana too. They never once said anything. Then they called 24 hours in advance because our reservation said tent and that’s not allowed. Then they charged us a cancellation fee. Even tho they cancelled ON US. 

            But my favorite part is them saying that the camping industry is moving to no longer allow tents. They think they are*kind* to still allow tents-a handful of sites on a rocky hill that don’t have electricity or water. So those with medical needs cannot use those sites. Those with mobility limitations cannot either. 

            WHAT?! 

            Camping= tents. Change your name if you are going to discriminate. Don’t worry tho, you can put on a tent NEXT TO an rv on the sites. You just cant put only a tent. 

            Their customer service was horrendous. The experience was horrendous. What a shame.

          • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Hanscom AFB FamCamp
            Jun. 19, 2024

            Hanscom AFB FamCamp

            Recreation camping close to Lexingtin and Concord

            The HanscomField Fam Camp is a wooded recreational camp for military families and retirees, as well as for RV camping for active duty military on temporary orders. The campground offers RV sites, some with hookups, as well as more walk-in secluded tent sites as well as one yurt tent. The campground is peaceful and quiet, although adjacent to a very busy AFB. Proximity to the base provides access to the base exchange and other facilities, but the quiet location is a recreational retreat centered around several indoor and outdoor gathering spaces such as basketball and outdoor sports, and an indoor game and recreation room complete with crafts supplies for the kiddos and tourism info for the lical area. 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. You are also not too far from Cambridge, and can easily access Boston from there if you like.

            There are several clean modern bath houses, with hot showers and flush toilets. The office staff is very helpful and friendly!

            Dogs are welcome too.

          • Theresa H.
            Camper-submitted photo from Devils Hopyard State Park
            Jun. 11, 2024

            Devils Hopyard State Park

            Nice for a small campground

            This was our first stay at Devil’s Hopyard campground. We enjoyed our stay and were happy with our site. It was great to hike and see the waterfall.

          • A
            Camper-submitted photo from Spacious Skies Minute Man
            Jun. 3, 2024

            Spacious Skies Minute Man

            A little bit of heaven

            Spacious Skies Minute Man is a forested haven so close to Boston that you think you are in the country. There are so many cool things to do just a short drive away. The nearby town of Ayer is right out of a Norman Rockwell painting.  Concord is only 30 minute drive away with two full days of revolutionary historic sites, and famous people home tours such as Louisa May Alcott. Lots of good coffee spots and restaurants in historic downtown Concord so spend a morning in this special city.

          • M
            Camper-submitted photo from Nickerson Park Family Campground
            May. 30, 2024

            Nickerson Park Family Campground

            Quiet and friendly all around.

            We visited for a our kids' spring break. Not many campgrounds open that early here in CT. The staff were super pleasant and helpful, and were all working hard the entire time we were there to prep that campground for their official "opening weekend". 

            The sites were all clean and seemed well spaced. The kids loved the playground, and they were putting a fresh coat of paint on things while we were there. The river that flows the length of the campground seemed clean and awesome. Staffers and other campers said kids tube down it when it's warmer, then just hop out and walk back through the camp to start over again. 

            Walmart & Aldi's is 10-15 minutes away. Pizza places/breakfast spots in the same area as well. Lots of state land to explore nearby.

          • Ryan A.
            Camper-submitted photo from Devils Hopyard State Park
            May. 21, 2024

            Devils Hopyard State Park

            Good Location for Hiking, Lots of Garbage, Not Recommended

            Camped here on a Friday night in Site 16, yet another campground recommended in“Best Tent Camping: New England.” Overall I was not impressed. The campsites are right next to each other and are marked with posts. The sites are so close that the posts are marked with the site number on both sides which tells me that there has been confusion in the past.

            The sites along the creek mostly have worn paths to walk to it but it’s nothing impressive and I wouldn’t want to eat fish that came out of it. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, some have the kind where the top flips over and others have the moveable grate that goes up and down. There is a large dumpster in the campground and several porta-potties. The old outhouses have been permanently closed and locked shut. My campsite had a lot of trash in it, old tent stakes, plastic bottle caps, plastic fork, broken glass, etc. Not good.

            Some of the people there were camping in a group and were blasting music. I didn’t see a single park ranger the entire night so I’m not sure how often they police it. Someone in a pickup truck came into the campground, did a u-turn, and sped out at 30 mph which was really annoying and unsafe.

            Across the street from the campground is a trail to Chapman Falls, which will take less than 10 minutes to hike to, but it’s a pretty waterfall despite all the foam and garbage around it.

            This is a pretty basic campground and is nothing special. Out of all the sites I think 22 looked the best, it is more isolated and you can hear the waterfalls from it, which would be relaxing. The downside is that it’s right next to the entrance and road so you’ll get car headlights at night.

            I woke in the morning to a gray sky and hundreds of birds singing– it was my favorite part of the trip. I delayed getting up to enjoy the moment. I also didn’t see any ticks but I’m sure there are plenty based on other reviews.

            I’ve always thought that if states were condiments Connecticut would be mayonnaise– relatively unremarkable and bland. This campground fits that description perfectly.

          • Ryan A.
            Camper-submitted photo from George Washington State Campground
            May. 15, 2024

            George Washington State Campground

            An OK Campground but not Great

            Camped out here for two nights after reading about this place in the"Best Tent Camping: New England" book. It's better than the other campgrounds in Rhode Island that I looked at (Burlingame, Fort Getty) but isn't my favorite campground. If you're not a Rhode Island resident the fee for most sites is$36/night. Is it worth it? Eh, probably not unless you're really jonesing to camp for a weekend in the Ocean State. 

            It does have some great things going for it, namely the hiking trails and views of the lake. There are some tent-only sites which are numbered T1-T5. I stayed in T5 and it was the best of the bunch because it had the most privacy and space, including a grassy area. The other tent-only sites were fairly small and if you go to any mixed use sites you run the risk of having an RV next to you. The A1-A7 sites are remote and hike in, but you're going to have to hike either 0.4 or 0.6 miles through some uneven terrain. The next best group of sites would be 19-24 which are on their own small loop near the lake. 

            The things I didn't like were the streetlights over the port-a-potties that shine all night. There is a manned gate where you check in and you have to get let into the campground during the day, but at night the gates are wide open and it seems like some people know this because there are a few oddballs around in the early morning. There is swimming at the lake but it looked way too dirty. 

            Overall the place was managed very well, the sites were cleanish and the grounds were taken care of. The employees drove by at least once an hour, I thought they were collecting trash from dumpsters but the only place with a dumpster is near the entrance. I couldn't figure out why they kept driving by so often. I had a good time, it was relaxing and scratched the camping itch.



          Guide to Charlton

          Camping near Charlton, Massachusetts, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From family-friendly campgrounds to serene spots for RVers, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

          What to do:

          • Explore local parks: Wompatuck State Park Campground is a great spot for hiking and biking. One visitor mentioned, "You can take a trail from the campsite," making it easy to enjoy the outdoors.
          • Visit nearby beaches: Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground is just a short drive from Roger Wheeler Beach and Scarborough Beach. A camper shared, "Not far from great RI food," highlighting the convenience of dining options nearby.
          • Enjoy recreational activities: Normandy Farms Campground has tons of activities for kids, including a bike track and multiple playgrounds. One family said, "Absolutely love this campground. It has so many things for the kids to do."

          What campers like:

          • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review from Lorraine Park Campground noted, "The sanitary building is clean with good showers."
          • Spacious sites: Many campgrounds, like Greenfield State Park Campground, offer large, private sites. A long-time visitor stated, "If you like large sites in a wooded setting with many private ones, this is the place."
          • Friendly staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of campground staff. At Mystic KOA, one guest said, "The staff are amazing and the entire place is completely geared to families."

          What you should know:

          • Alcohol policies vary: Some campgrounds, like Wompatuck State Park, do not allow alcohol. A reviewer pointed out, "You don't have the feeling of being really in the woods," which might be a consideration for those looking for a more secluded experience.
          • Site conditions can differ: At Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground, a camper noted, "Our site was very uneven," suggesting that some sites may require extra leveling for RVs.
          • Limited amenities: Not all campgrounds have on-site stores. A visitor at Rocky Neck State Park Campground mentioned, "There is no on-site camp store for last-minute necessities."

          Tips for camping with families:

          • Plan for activities: Choose campgrounds with plenty of kid-friendly options. Normandy Farms Campground received praise for its "tons of activities for kids," making it a hit for families.
          • Check site size: Make sure the campsite can accommodate your family comfortably. A reviewer at Minute Man Campground said, "The sites were ample size and space for our rig and needs."
          • Bring bug spray: Some campgrounds, like Lorraine Park, are near water, which can attract mosquitoes. One camper advised, "Be prepared for mosquitoes when camping close to the water."

          Tips from RVers:

          • Leveling blocks are essential: At Wompatuck State Park, a visitor recommended bringing "plenty of leveling blocks" as some sites are not level.
          • Choose sites wisely: At Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground, a reviewer suggested booking in the back section for "much longer and level sites" if you have a larger RV.
          • Check for hookups: Make sure your chosen campground has the necessary hookups for your RV. A camper at Mystic KOA mentioned, "50 AMP, sewer & water hookup" as a plus for their stay.

          Camping near Charlton, Massachusetts, provides a mix of fun, relaxation, and adventure. Whether you're with family or exploring solo, there are plenty of options to make your trip memorable.

          Frequently Asked Questions

          • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Charlton, MA?

            According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Charlton, MA is Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.

          • What is the best site to find tent camping near Charlton, MA?

            TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Charlton, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.