Elevation in Cummington, Massachusetts ranges between 800-1,500 feet in the Berkshire foothills, creating a microclimate that's typically 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. The area experiences vibrant fall foliage from mid-September through October, with several campgrounds operating on seasonal schedules due to winter conditions. Most primitive campsites require campers to pack out all trash as facilities are limited outside established campgrounds.
What to do
Hiking at Savoy Mountain: The campground offers immediate access to trails with varying difficulty levels, including the popular 1.7-mile round-trip hike to the Mt. Olga fire tower. "The hike up Mt. Olga provides awesome views of the Green Mountains. It's also fun to explore the relics of the old Hogback Ski Resort," notes Tara S., who visited Molly Stark State Park Campground.
River adventures: The Deerfield River provides tubing, kayaking, and swimming spots within a 20-minute drive of most campgrounds. A visitor to Country Aire Campgrounds mentioned, "Seconds from the Deerfield river. The campground is well-maintained the staff is friendly. So it will back from the road with a little brook running through it."
Paddling on local ponds: Several camping areas feature small ponds for fishing and paddling. At Woodford State Park, "The reservoir is beautiful- plenty of space to spread out for paddling and swimming," according to Melissa S., who adds, "We drove down to the second loop and parked on the side of the campground road and carried our kayaks down to the camper's beach."
What campers like
Peaceful settings: Campers frequently mention the quiet, wooded environments found throughout the region. Jason A. states, "This campground is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor. It is run by a family business... This place is very quiet even with all the kids."
Clean facilities: Most established campgrounds in the area maintain their facilities well. At Woodford State Park Campground, a camper noted, "This campground is very well kept and very clean. The bathrooms were the cleanest campground bathrooms I've ever seen!"
Yurt camping options: October Mountain State Forest provides distinctive yurt accommodations for those seeking structured glamping near Cummington. According to Cheryl B., "There are 3 yurts available May-October (no dogs allowed in the yurts). There are several tent sits available. Dogs are welcomed here! Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table."
Seasonal activities: During fall foliage season, many campgrounds organize special events. Jason A. from Northampton / Springfield KOA shared, "We went to this campground during fall foliage time. Very peaceful and very great staff. They had hayless rides and fire truck rides. This time they had a haunted house walk through."
What you should know
Elevation affects weather: The higher elevation around Cummington means temperatures can drop significantly at night, even in summer. Bring additional layers for evenings, especially for yurt camping around Cummington, Massachusetts.
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the area operate from May through mid-October. As one visitor to Prospect Mountain Campground and RV Park notes, "We did a three month seasonal Site. Staff is super nice and helpful. We had a nice quite spot even though we where in the road to the lake."
Bathroom facilities vary: While most established campgrounds have showers, primitive camping areas may have limited facilities. A visitor to Molly Stark State Park commented, "THE BATHROOM was the best I've seen camping very clean and updated and honestly gorgeous. Everyone else there was super nice and quiet."
Cell service limitations: Many campsites in the region have poor to no cell coverage. At Savoy Mountain, a visitor reported, "I had a flicking bar of coverage at the high point of the campground on Verizon, but all you MIGHT be able to do is text. Head toward Florida, MA on Rt 2 and at the height of land, you'll have good coverage."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature child-friendly amenities. Sandra S. shares about Prospect Mountain: "They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing. They also have a nice little store and snack bar."
Family activities: Weekly events keep children engaged at many locations. One visitor to Country Aire noted, "This campground is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor... We are very close to Berkshire East, in a small town of Shelburne Falls."
Swimming options: Most family-oriented campgrounds feature swimming areas. As Cindy from Country Aire Campgrounds shared, "Pros- warm clean bathrooms. Warm cinnamon buns in the am. Great playground, pool and pirate ship. We were there with the Scouts and took up a huge grassy area with tents."
Bike-friendly loops: Several campgrounds have internal roads suitable for children learning to bike. A visitor to October Mountain State Forest Campground mentioned, "Campground has a nice loop for the kids to bike. North Pond has a small beach for swimming."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Many campgrounds have varied site types with different levels of privacy. As Lisa D. from Northampton/Springfield KOA advised, "We stayed here for one night en route to Cape Cod. Although we had requested a specific site on the KOA website, the gentleman in the front office had arranged for us to park in an easily accessible pull-through site... We are SO glad that we did!"
Power limitations: Some campsites offer limited electrical hookups. At October Mountain, RVers have access to both 30 and 50-amp hookups, though availability may be limited in peak seasons.
Access road challenges: Some GPS directions may lead RVs down unsuitable roads. A visitor to Savoy Mountain warned, "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... Use the directions provided on the website, they are far more reliable."
Size restrictions: Several campgrounds can't accommodate larger rigs. If traveling with a big rig, call ahead to confirm accessibility. At most yurt camping locations near Cummington, Massachusetts, parking may be separate from accommodation sites.
