RV camping near Chelsea, Massachusetts offers multiple options within easy driving distance. Most campgrounds in this area operate seasonally from April through October, with the busiest period coinciding with fall foliage and Salem's Halloween events. Tent camping is limited at some locations, with Winter Island Park in Salem and Tuxbury Pond RV Campground offering the most accessible tent sites within 30 miles of Chelsea.
What to do
Hiking and nature trails: Visitors staying at Tuxbury Pond RV Campground can access nearby hiking opportunities. "About a mile from the campground is Foxboro State Park where you will find 20+ miles of hiking trails," notes one camper.
Beach activities: The coastal location provides swimming options within a short drive. "We rode bikes to Salisbury Beach and my young adult son rode his longboard to the beach," one visitor shared about their stay at Beach Rose RV Park, which is about a mile from the ocean.
Historic exploration: Salem's maritime history is accessible from Winter Island Park. "You can explore the beach, launch a boat (paddle or motor), catch a sunrise, or explore the remnants of Fort Pickering. There's a trail around the park with markers, but they're not well maintained."
What campers like
Public transportation access: Campers appreciate the ability to reach Boston without driving. "It's less than 2 miles from Salem and on the trolley line," a reviewer noted about Winter Island Park. "The commuter rail is 2 miles from the campground and during peak season a shuttle runs between the campground and Salem."
Pool facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain swimming pools as alternatives to beach swimming. At Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park, guests mention "The amenities are state of the art, clean laundry center, restrooms, bath house, grocery store, bar & grill, playground & 2 swimming beaches."
Entertainment options: Social activities are regularly scheduled at many parks. "We chose this campground because we needed a base for sightseeing," one visitor shared about Tuxbury Pond. "The live band was cool... the stand up comedy was awesome. For the most part, the comedians kept it fairly clean & our 9 yr old did not get any of the jokes that were a little sassy."
What you should know
Site privacy varies significantly: Many campgrounds feature closely spaced sites. "We were on S1, near a septic pipe & there was a severely nauseating, strong smell of sewage coming from it; we went to the front desk the next day & asked to move to S5," explained a camper at Tuxbury Pond.
Tent camping limitations: Most parks prioritize RV sites over tent spaces. "The tent sites are way too close to each other, thank god we just had one other guy next to us but was very uncomfortable being too close, no privacy at all," reported a Tuxbury Pond camper.
GPS reliability issues: Navigation systems may not direct correctly to some parks. A reviewer at Tuxbury Pond warned, "A little tip about GPS: if you're using Apple Maps, it will likely take you to a turn that is not the campground entrance, there's even a hand-written sign on someone's lawn that has directions to the entrance."
Tips for camping with families
Scout playgrounds and activities: Seacoast Camping and RV Resort offers family amenities. "Great small campground - very clean, very quiet. Not a lot for kids to do. My daughter loved the pool," shared one camper, highlighting the need to research kid-friendly activities.
Prepare for seasonal crowds: Summer weekends see high occupancy rates. "We were here in the off-season (May) and didn't have any neighbors so it was pretty quiet," noted a visitor to Seacoast Camping, suggesting shoulder season visits may provide more space.
Consider noise levels: Evening activities can affect younger campers' sleep. At Tuxbury Pond, a family reported "lots of noise at night from kids staying in RVs, screaming until 11pm," highlighting the importance of site selection for families with early bedtimes.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Douglas Forest RV Resort offers varied site configurations. "Infrastructure Concerns: The electrical system needs significant attention. Multiple RVs share single pedestals, and we observed exposed wire connections and pest issues at electrical boxes. Power fluctuations are common during warm weather, causing frequent breaker trips."
Road navigation challenges: Interior roads can be difficult for larger rigs. A camper at Seacoast Camping noted, "The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in. Lucky for us nobody was parked in that site."
Cell coverage reliability: Connectivity varies between parks. At Tuxbury Pond, a camper warned, "Forget about cellphone signal, it was 0," which is important information for those needing to stay connected while camping.
