Best Tent Camping near Chesterfield, MA
The Berkshire foothills surrounding Chesterfield, Massachusetts offer several tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Tully Lake Recreation Area provides tent-only campsites with waterfront options, while Zoar Outdoor offers tent sites with activities including white water rafting. Chester Railway Station features a unique tent camping experience near an active railroad where campers can hear trains passing at night.
Most tent campsites in the region require campers to carry gear from parking areas to their sites. Tully Lake provides carts to transport equipment from the central parking lot to walk-in tent sites, which range from 50 yards to nearly a mile from the entrance. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at established campgrounds, with flush toilets and coin-operated showers available at some locations. According to one visitor, "The sites are spacious and though there is not a bad site, some are better suited for certain purposes like group camping." Firewood is typically available for purchase, and many campgrounds enforce quiet hours to maintain the peaceful atmosphere.
Walk-in tent sites throughout the area offer greater privacy compared to drive-in options. Sites at Tully Lake are spread out with waterfront options providing direct access to swimming and paddling opportunities. A camper wrote, "We stayed at site 1, which was HUGE and extremely private. Sites closer to the water that we saw were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out." Cell phone coverage is limited or nonexistent at most tent campgrounds, creating a more immersive outdoor experience. Some primitive tent sites, like those at Onion Mountain Park, require short hikes to access and feature simple amenities like established fire rings. Many tent campsites in the region serve as excellent basecamps for hiking, fishing, and water activities, with several offering canoe and kayak rentals for exploring nearby waterways.
