The Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts offer camping opportunities at elevations between 1,500-2,000 feet with typically cooler temperatures even during summer months. Several campgrounds near Drury provide water access, hiking trails, and black bear protection measures, with many sites requiring bear boxes for safe food storage. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from late May through October, though a few wilderness camping areas remain accessible year-round.
What to do
Waterfront activities: Clarksburg State Park Campground offers a pond suitable for kayaking and paddleboarding. A camper noted, "We were able to walk a few yards downhill to the waters edge where we launched our kayaks (there is a designated launching spot elsewhere)."
River recreation: The Deerfield River at Mohawk Park Campground supports multiple water activities. As one visitor shared, "It is so relaxing to wake up to the sound of the river and you can even head to a local park and tube down the river right back to your site!"
Hiking trails: From gentle walking paths to challenging mountain trails, the region offers varied terrain. At Molly Stark State Park Campground, "The hiking trail to Mt. Olga is 1.7 miles (round trip). There's a fire tower at the top, which provides awesome views of the Green Mountains."
Waterfall exploration: Several campgrounds offer nearby waterfall access. A visitor to Savoy Mountain State Forest mentioned, "Went to Tannery Falls, beautiful waterfall. About a 20 minute drive away, worth a visit."
What campers like
Woodland privacy: Mt. Greylock Campsite Park features heavily wooded sites with natural separation. A camper described it as having "great amenities and great feel to it" with "awesome wooded spacious sites."
River sounds: Waterfront sites are consistently rated highest for their natural ambiance. As one camper at Mohawk Trail State Forest described, "It was beautiful and great having running water to fall asleep to at night."
Clean facilities: Sperry Road Campground at Mount Greylock State Reservation maintains exceptionally clean composting toilets. According to one visitor, they were "so spacious and clean you could sleep on the floor in an emergency!"
Family programming: Several campgrounds offer organized activities, particularly on weekends. One visitor to Clarksburg mentioned, "Rangers provided programming for kids and families on the weekends."
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Most campgrounds in the region have strict food storage protocols. As a camper at Mohawk Trail State Forest noted, "There are lots of black bears so keeping food in the near lockers or locked in the car at all times is a must!"
Shower availability: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. At Savoy Mountain State Forest, one reviewer mentioned "only one shower stall per gender. The shower was absolutely nasty, and covered in mold."
Site selection strategy: Choose locations carefully based on privacy and terrain. At Clarksburg State Park, a camper advised: "Our site (#6) was on a slope, and there was the telltale sign of stormwater runoff tracks running through the middle."
Cell coverage limitations: Most campgrounds have minimal to no connectivity. A reviewer at Savoy Mountain noted, "No cell signal can get there, if your looking to unplug this is a great spot!"
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Woodford State Park Campground offers recreational amenities specifically for children. A visitor described it as "perfect for families! there are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean tus, and a few (hard to get) cabins."
Kid-friendly water features: Several campgrounds have swimming areas with gradual entry points. At Clarksburg, "The day use area is very nice with grass, shade and beach and swim area though it is a bit too far to walk especially with littles so be ready to drive over there."
Biking considerations: Not all campgrounds accommodate children's biking. At Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, a camper warned, "The camp has a lot of hills and some are pretty steep. We always bring our bikes and love to bike through the campgrounds, but this one is not good for biking."
Family-friendly noise levels: Expectations vary by campground and timing. At Woodford State Park, a camper advised, "If you're looking for a quiet spot maybe don't look here. If you have kids and don't mind them making friends and roaming the campground then this is great!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup placements: At Historic Valley Campground, RVers should note that "hookups are spread out on your sites. So you may need extra hose or longer cord to complete your hookups."
Dump station access: Plan your dumping strategy carefully. One RVer at Mohawk Park Campground reported, "You have to exit the campground area and come back in to use the dump station as it's located on the right hand side of the one lane road. No hose by the dump station."
Navigation challenges: Several campgrounds have complicated access roads. At Country Aire Campgrounds, GPS directions can be unreliable, while Historic Valley Campground visitors report: "They tell you clearly to avoid the GPS directions, but I can't help but think the giant hill they wanted us to avoid would've been better than the dead end and destroyed awning."
