Camping sites near Egremont, Massachusetts include primitive backcountry options, rustic tent platforms, and family-oriented resorts with modern amenities. The region sits at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,250 feet, creating temperature variations of 10-15 degrees between valley campgrounds and mountain sites. Summer evening temperatures often drop into the 50s even when daytime highs reach the 80s, requiring campers to pack additional warm layers.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 2 miles from campground. At Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park, campers can take a short hike to Bash Bish Falls. "There are plenty of hiking trails nearby and of course, trails to Bash Bish Falls which is beautiful. It was low the first time we visited and we were able to make it to the top of the falls to go swimming and the views were incredible," notes jackie G.
Swimming in clean water: lifeguarded area. Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground offers swimming with supervision. "They have both platform and dirt tent sites, all sites come equipped with fire pits. The bathrooms and showers are clean and the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season," reports Seth K., who adds, "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
Taconic Mountains wildlife viewing: evening hours best. The forests around Egremont host diverse wildlife. A visitor to Taconic State Park observed, "The taconic mountains offer some great flora and fauna. We had several species of frogs and toads wandering about in the evening, giant millipedes were plenty, and even found a newt on our hike."
What campers like
Bear boxes at primitive sites: Alander Trail Campground in Mount Washington State Forest provides bear protection at their hike-in sites. "They also have bear boxes at each site! Although we were the only campers at the time the area was immaculate and not one piece of trash on the ground anywhere! The outhouse was even clean!" reports Liz P.
Platform tent sites for wet weather: Several campgrounds feature raised platforms that keep tents dry during rain. At Lake Taghkanic, Rosie R. notes, "This was our second time coming to this campground and our second time getting dumped on by the rain, but have no fear!! The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!"
Free hike-in camping options: Budget-conscious campers can find no-cost sites. A camper at Jug End Dispersed on the Appalachian Trail reports, "Great spot, I have section hiked the majority of the east coast AT and this is in my top 10 spots to stay at."
What you should know
Power station noise levels: October Mountain State Forest Campground has ambient noise from nearby electrical infrastructure. According to Desiree M., "There is a station nearby that offers a constant hum and during the week there are trucks going in and out before 7am. The closer to the street side the worse it is. The far off sites (like 39-40) the sound is still there but more distant."
Weekend crowding from NYC: Some campgrounds become busy during peak periods. "This was a truly great campground, but its proximity to NYC draws large crowds on weekends," notes John E. about Taconic State Park, adding, "Very nice campground, but I'd avoid weekends."
Steep terrain at several sites: Many campgrounds in the Berkshires feature sloping grounds. At October Mountain, a camper warns, "What site you get makes all the difference. Many, I would say most, sites that you feel very exposed and out in the open. Sites are closer together and on the smaller side."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for kids: Spacious Skies Woodland Hills offers water features for children. A recent visitor mentioned, "They have a pond for swimming and softball field. They allow late check-ins!" Another camper noted, "The pond has a fountain which sounds like a small waterfall at night, and wildflowers were in bloom."
Bathroom access considerations: When selecting a site with children, consider bathroom proximity. At Lone Oak Camp Sites, a visitor observed, "Some sites can be very close though but otherwise great weekend trip!" This proximity can be beneficial for families with young children needing frequent bathroom access.
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds offer play equipment for children. At Copake Falls Area, Christina M. reports, "There was a very large open grassy field for play/sports, a playground and life guarded portion of the lake for swimming. This place is very good for easing on first timers and there were quite a few children."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for large vehicles: Bigger rigs require careful site selection in the hilly terrain. At Lone Oak Camp Sites, "This campground is large and has a variety of sites to choose from. It has a large field for seasonal and large RVs to small wooded sites for tents. Be careful on the map for what site has what amenities, and make sure to double check power requirements because it's not labeled on the sites and it varies."
Electric hookup variability: Power options differ across campgrounds. At Waubeeka Family Campground, tent sites are separate from RV areas: "The tent area is a small dirt cul-de-sac off to the side between some trailers and the bathrooms. Honestly not terrible though as behind is all woods."
Campground navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have layout issues affecting RV access. At Lone Oak, a visitor noted, "They also have a tendency to close one of the main roads in the campground for cornhole tournaments... This closure then means anyone checking in may have to navigate through a really tight seasonal area to access their site."
