Camping opportunities near Conway, Massachusetts include several established campgrounds in the surrounding Berkshire foothills and Connecticut River Valley. The area sits at elevations ranging from 400-1400 feet with typical summer highs of 75-85°F and evening lows in the 50s. Many campgrounds close seasonally from late October through April, though some yurts and cabins remain accessible for off-season camping when winter temperatures can drop below freezing.
What to do
Whitewater adventures: 20-minute drive from Conway to the Deerfield River in Charlemont for rafting with Zoar Outdoor. "The campground is connected to an adventure/outing company that provides white water rafting, tubing and other water activities on a nearby river. It's close to where locals jump off outcrops into the lazy river and hang out on the river side," notes one visitor.
Hiking Mt. Olga: 1.7-mile round trip trail with fire tower views from Molly Stark State Park. "The hike up Mt. Olga is 1.7 miles (round trip). There's a fire tower at the top, which provides awesome views of the Green Mountains. It's also fun to explore the relics of the old Hogback Ski Resort."
Water activities on Adams Reservoir: Paddle, fish, or swim at the mountain-rimmed lake. "Woodford State Park offers a small reservoir with a little beach that you can swim or kayak/canoe in. There's a bunch of fish and other little creatures so it's fun to explore," reports a camper who visited the park.
What campers like
Secluded forest sites: 15 feet apart with good tree cover at many campgrounds in the region. "The outer ring sites on the map have the most seclusion," notes a visitor to Molly Stark State Park. "Sites are either wooded or open in the sun, with good distance between sites."
Clean facilities: Recently renovated restrooms at several campgrounds. "The bathrooms were the cleanest campground bathrooms I've ever seen!" exclaimed one camper at Woodford State Park Campground. "This is such a well maintained park. Well taken care of sites, gardens all around, cute lean-tos, new bathrooms/showers, hiking trail to MT. Olga, and friendly staff."
Wildlife viewing: Early morning is best for spotting local fauna. "We heard coyotes at night and loons in the morning," reported a visitor to Woodford State Park. "There is a nice grassy area on the water that's dog-friendly, and a separate little no-dog swimming and paddle boat area."
What you should know
Varying site privacy: Woodland sites offer more seclusion than field sites. At Peppermint Park Camping Resort, "Sites are a bit closer together than we prefer, but do have trees and brush in between."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds operate May through October. "Savoy mountain campground is a very nice state park camp, but don't rely on GPS to get you there—it will put you on the wrong end of the park in the middle of a rural neighborhood. The park is so hard to find that not even a cell signal can get there."
Yurt camping near Conway: Limited availability requires booking 3-6 months ahead. October Mountain has several yurts available May-October. "There are 3 yurts available May-October (no dogs allowed in the yurts). Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table. Highly recommend staying here if you are in the area!"
Limited cell coverage: Many campgrounds have poor or no reception. At Savoy Mountain, "Download your maps for offline use! Cell connection was horrible heading up here." Another camper at Erving State Forest noted, "There is also zero cell service (there is an operational pay phone at the showers)."
Tips for camping with families
Weekend activities: Reserve participation in advance during peak season. At Ashuelot River Campground, "There were several activities planned for father's day weekend including a BBQ food truck, BINGO, corn hole, horseshoes, and kids crafts."
Kid-friendly water play: Shallow areas marked at most beaches and ponds. "Woodford State Park is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor," shares a regular visitor.
Nature exploration: Morning wildlife walks along accessible trails. "The campground has a nice loop for the kids to bike. North Pond has a small beach for swimming," explains a camper at Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Yurt camping with children: Sturdy canvas structures provide more comfort than tents. "If you have kids and don't mind them making friends and roaming the campground then this is great! Boat rentals!" notes a Woodford State Park visitor about the yurt camping experience.
Tips from RVers
Dump stations: Limited availability requires planning ahead. At Country Aire Campgrounds, "The owners are always working on improving sites. The pool is ok, the new playground is awesome according to my little experts and there are some nice sites along a brook."
Site access challenges: Some campgrounds have tight turns or steep grades. "Although he advised against the tricky back-in site 'up on the hill' that we had originally selected, we thought we would at least give it a shot! We are SO glad that we did!"
Electrical service: Varying amperage across campgrounds. "We were in site 59, a pull-through with water and 30/50 amp service. The site was level and easy to get into and park. We were in a fully wooded area on the left side of the campground, which we prefer."
