Best Tent Camping near Essex, MA

Recent Tent Reviews in Essex

502 Reviews of 10 Essex Campgrounds

• 

  R M.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 1, 2024

  Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

  Hidden jewel in Andover Ma

  I use up my two weeks allotted here at Harold Parker every year. A great place to enjoy family in the outdoors .clean sites. clean bathrooms and friendly staff. I live in a neighboring town to Andover. It’s so easy to get to.

• 

  Megan S.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 31, 2024

  Winter Island Park

  Good way to stop in Salem for October

  I stayed one night here to experience Salem during Halloween at a tent site. Positives are access to Salem, Uber and Lyft are available though scarcer as the night gets later (10:30 pm), it is also on the trolley line if you need transportation during their business hours, great view for sunrise. Negatives are there is no privacy at the sites, everything is very open, fires must be off the ground, and the bathrooms are old and may not be stocked.

• 

  Judy W.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 4, 2024

  Bear Brook State Park Campground

  Bearbrook Pros and Cons

  Con: Signage is awful! Hard to find park, office and cabins! Once there, Looong drive to both campground and Cabins.

  Pro: cabins are on a remote lake. Perfect for star gazing! Rustic but comfy (beds) cabins. Bring all your own stuff. No electricity, so no lights. Our cabin had a steep path. Others did not.

• 

  Jacob D.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 16, 2024

  Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

  Quiet but expensive for out of state

  Need to make reservations before 2pm!! This campground is nice and calm with a lot of space and bathrooms. There are water hookups at tent sites. Didn’t have any issues, just it is a little expensive for someone from out of state. We paid $54 because we are from Ohio

• C

  Chuck H.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 12, 2024

  Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort

  Small, clean, quiet campground close to NH beaches and Portsmouth NH

  Friendly staff, hard gravel access roads, level gravel sites. No issues with electric, sewer or water hookups. Some of the best clear, clean, drinking water at high pressure we have come across. Great access to beaches, numerous eateries and shopping minutes away. This is our second time we have been here and here for the month of September.

  I would reccomend Seacoast RV Park to other campers.

• A

  Arno W.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 5, 2024

  Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

  Wonderful

  This is one of the best places we saw. We were here during a quiet period in August. The pitches are spacious and shaded.

  The sanitary building is clean with good showers.

  There is a lovely pond in which you can swim. It is somewhat small when crowded but nevertheless very lovely.

  The water in the pond is not streaming so be prepared for mosquitoes when camping close to the water.

  There is a well maintained playground for kids and there are activities planned for kids and adults.

  We would definitely return.

• G

  Gordon C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 30, 2024

  Ponkapoag Camp

  Beautiful

  Had an amazing stay, cabin was perfect and comfortable. Water was nice and fish were biting. Can’t wait to come back.

• 

  Ronald C.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 19, 2024

  Sun Outdoors Wells Beach

  Huge campground

  I only stayed one night because I couldn’t find a spot anywhere close to 95 . The campground is huge and the spaces are very tight ,not to mention $148 for a full hook up pull thru site that my 42 ft 5w barley fit. I would not go back .

• L

  Lisa H.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 18, 2024

  Winding River Campground

  Great time with kids

  We had a great time here camping with our kids and grandkids. River is not much to look at but the pool was great and there were great events like foam parties, DJ at the pool, pancake breakfast and live music to name a few. Staff were friendly and helpful.

• 

  Jonathan J.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 17, 2024

  Wompatuck State Park Campground

  Everything you NEED

  This spot does have everything you need. It is very remote and a lot of distance between campsites. Lots of trees. The bathroom amenities work but not the cleanest. There isn’t much to the RV sites but an electric plug. Like I said what you need, but not want you might want.

• J

  Joseph I.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 17, 2024

  Beaver Dam Campground

  Excellent campground

  Beautiful and very well maintained. The staff is awesome. There are SO many amazing activities for the whole family. Would absolutely recommend!

• 

  Jean V.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 11, 2024

  Wompatuck State Park Campground

  Good (not excellent)

  PROS

  - 45 min from Boston

  - You have everything you need there: firewood, bathrooms (with shower, soap and toilet paper), a camp pit...

  - You get a map in the entrance - very helpful for hiking.

  - You can take a trail from the campsite.

  - Good sights while hiking, with good spots to have lunch or pause for water.

  CONS

  - Only one really: You don't have the feeling of being really in the woods. There is NOT a decent amount of land between each campsite. So if you have neighbors all around, you'll feel like in a village!

• A

  Arno W.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 8, 2024

  Thousand Trails Moody Beach

  Nice for one or two nights

  The 30 amp sites are very close together.

  The campground layout is quite unusual, with campers parked lengthwise along the road. This means that you share the space where you sit outside with the camper behind you, resulting in very little privacy. It feels cramped, and you’re constantly close to your neighbors. If you’re looking for a peaceful, secluded camping experience, this setup might not be ideal.

  The facilities are ok but dated and could be cleaner. The beach is a short 15-minute walk.

  For children, there is a swimming pool, a basketball court and a small playground

  All in all, this is a good campground if you are on the road and want to spend a night or two exploring the area.

• 

  Chris P.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Pinewood Lodge Campground

  Good, No- Frills Campground

  Pinewood has all of the basics covered. Great place to spend 1-3 nights under the stars. Hot showers were awesome (.25 cents per 3 minutes) and the stone fire pits were a hit. Pond was pretty dirty and you’ll be in close proximity to a shooting range and municipal airport (be wary of noise levels).

• 

  Manda M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 23, 2024

  Pinewood Lodge Campground

  Relaxing

  Relaxing by the river w ur family is the best way to go

• 

  Miccal M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 22, 2024

  Bear Brook State Park Campground

  Nice, Clean but crowded, and most sites are close together

  This was my first time staying at Bear Brook, it's an easy campground to get to, once you get to the west gate it's about a 4-mile drive to the campground, if you're coming from the east it's about 1.5 miles.

  The first impression was impressed by the size and how organized everything was. Check-in was easy, then driving to my site (#7) took a minute.

  That's when I realized the sites were 4' apart in the section I was staying in. Other sites on each end are further apart.

  The campground has a beach, a playground, a Ball field, and a store. The roads are all easy to drive on but narrow.

• 

  Megan F.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 17, 2024

  Wompatuck State Park Campground

  Small Issues

  I would probably nitpick stay at this park again. The site we had paid for was not given to us. The shower in the bathroom did not provide hot/warm water until the end of my shower, and then the water would not turn off. Also, the lady camping beside us was tent camping, and she literally smoked weed the whole time she was there. We have children, and while she was there, you couldn’t do anything outside without smelling it. Overall, not the best campground.

• k

  kimberly B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 9, 2024

  Saddleback Campground

  If I could do negative I would

  So my fiance and I we had called and asked if they had tent sites they put us at 9T ( which to any other campground T with the number means tent) but the owner comes up this morning being a complete ass saying that it wasn’t a tent site & that we requested to move sites and now all of a sudden it was a problem so paid 60?which was supposed to be paid for two nights & basically told that we had to pack up and leave with no refund & a very sour taste in my mouth from that campground. I will never return

• 

  Nate & His Reina Puertorriqueña H.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Thousand Trails Moody Beach

  It was just ok.

  It was an ok experience. We don’t like the campsites being sideways or parallel to the road, it feels strange. Bathrooms were down for cleaning but when they opened they smelled of bleach and still had gobs of hair in the drains of multiple shower stalls.

• a

  aliyyah A.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Normandy Farms Campground

  Very Enjoyable 1 night stay

  We enjoyed our tent site with a wooden lean-to. Overall very private and peaceful, however the only drawback is that people took frequent casual walks pass the area all day long. There's really no way around that.

  We did not get a chance to enjoy the amenities, but they all looked nice and well thought out.

  We will return.

• a

  aliyyah A.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Canoe River Campground

  Good But Not Ideal for us

  The campground was very busy with families events activities, etc. If you prefer a noisy fun experience and a more social experience with your very close neighbors, this is the pot for you. Our preferred style of camping requires more space and less noise. The pool bathrooms were gross, but the other facilities area near the tent sites was very nice and clean.

  The food was great and the staff is friendly. Overall we had a great time, but its unlikely we’ll return mostly due to the noise level.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 21, 2024

  Thousand Trails Moody Beach

  Consider Thousand Trails Membership for Better Value

  Consider the Thousand Trails membership when booking this site. Our annual membership fees basically covered what it would cost to camp here for two weeks.

  The campground has good proximity to Orchard Beach and Portland. However, the spots are pretty tight, and the WiFi is awful away from the registration office. We were in the wooded area, but those camping on the outskirts seemed able to utilize their Starlink.

  The dog park and pool were small but nice. The bathroom facilities were pretty good, though they weren't cleaned as often as they should be.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 21, 2024

  Wompatuck State Park Campground

  Good for Mass Residents

  Wompatuck is a charming state park with numerous hidden trails known mostly to locals, making it ideal for low-traffic hiking, biking, and mushroom hunting. However, one side of the campground appears to be shut down.

  For out-of-state visitors, the cost might not be justifiable, with rates of $17-23 per night for in-state visitors and $60 for out of staters. Sites offer electric hookups only.

  I was disappointed with our assigned spot. Despite seeing several other sites that could have accommodated our rig size, K05 was the only option available when booking online. The site was small and tight, with poison ivy, water pooling during rainstorms, and limited space for our dogs.

  Additionally, both groups across from us were large families with many children, which detracted from the tranquility of our stay. I thought there was a limit to the number of people per campsite, but it appears that might not be the case.

  Lastly, be aware that alcohol and outside firewood are prohibited at this campsite.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 19, 2024

  Hanscom AFB FamCamp

  Recreation camping close to Lexingtin and Concord

  The HanscomField Fam Camp is a wooded recreational camp for military families and retirees, as well as for RV camping for active duty military on temporary orders. The campground offers RV sites, some with hookups, as well as more walk-in secluded tent sites as well as one yurt tent. The campground is peaceful and quiet, although adjacent to a very busy AFB. Proximity to the base provides access to the base exchange and other facilities, but the quiet location is a recreational retreat centered around several indoor and outdoor gathering spaces such as basketball and outdoor sports, and an indoor game and recreation room complete with crafts supplies for the kiddos and tourism info for the lical area. In the immediate vicinity are the villages of Lexington and Concord as well as the Minute Man National Park and Walden Pond, so the campground makes a great basecamp for exploration of the area’s rich culture and history. You are also not too far from Cambridge, and can easily access Boston from there if you like.

  There are several clean modern bath houses, with hot showers and flush toilets. The office staff is very helpful and friendly!

  Dogs are welcome too.

• A

  Ann B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 3, 2024

  Spacious Skies Minute Man

  A little bit of heaven

  Spacious Skies Minute Man is a forested haven so close to Boston that you think you are in the country. There are so many cool things to do just a short drive away. The nearby town of Ayer is right out of a Norman Rockwell painting.  Concord is only 30 minute drive away with two full days of revolutionary historic sites, and famous people home tours such as Louisa May Alcott. Lots of good coffee spots and restaurants in historic downtown Concord so spend a morning in this special city.

• S

  Steve A.

  Guide

  

  May. 28, 2024

  Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort

  Not my norm

  While not the type of campground we normally try to book, it fit our needs for this trip perfectly. The bathrooms are clean and nice, and the landscape was well maintained. I could picture my father in law loving this place.

• 

  Jake H.

  Scout

  

  May. 21, 2024

  Black Bear Campground

  Quick off highway camp site

  They charge 50 dollars for a tent site with no electric, the spots are right next to eachother and touch the bath house. There’s more rules than a state park.its easy to get in and out of.