Glamping in Forestdale, Massachusetts provides campers access to pine-shaded terrain with sandy kettle ponds throughout the region. Located in Barnstable County on the upper portion of Cape Cod, Forestdale experiences warm summers averaging 80°F and relatively mild winters, making the camping season generally run from April through October. The area's natural terrain features sandy soil with pine and oak forest that creates both challenges for tent staking and opportunities for private, wooded camping experiences.
What to do
Biking the Cape Cod Canal: Bourne Scenic Park provides direct access to the paved Cape Cod Canal bike path. "There's a stair access to canal bike path" notes one camper, while another mentions it's "a beautiful location right along the canal that you can bike down to the beach or just to watch some fisherman reel in some massive fish."
Fishing in freshwater ponds: Charge Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest offers fishing opportunities in kettle ponds. A reviewer noted, "The pond water was very clear, seeing as they are fed from natural springs under the ponds," while another mentioned the "small pond but nice and clean" with "bbqs, tables and bathrooms at the pond."
Swimming in clean kettle ponds: Sweetwater Forest provides access to freshwater swimming. "There are a lot of touristy Cape spots a short drive away," says one reviewer, while another notes there's "a pond that's good for boating but not swimming" and mentions the woodsy camping areas are "full of birds and interesting wildlife."
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: Many campers note that timing significantly impacts the experience. At Myles Standish, one visitor noted, "if you stay on a Friday or Saturday night, the campground may be to capacity... But the Sunday, and Monday nights, the 7 closest spots to us were empty, it was like having the woods to ourselves."
Private, wooded sites: Cape Cod Campresort & Cabins offers more secluded glamping options. "Spots are beautiful. Private little lake with rentals & fishing, 2 pools, playground, store, etc. and it's all conveniently located in cape cod," shares one visitor who appreciated the amenities alongside natural settings.
Clean facilities: Cleanliness at Scusset Beach State Reservation stands out to visitors. "One of the cleanest campgrounds we have been too. Given everything going on with Covid-19 we were very impressed with how clean everything was around the campground including the camp store and bathrooms," mentions one camper. Another notes, "the showers are clean, free and the water is hot."
What you should know
Limited tent sites: Many campgrounds prioritize RVs with few designated tent areas. Scusset Beach has "5 designated tent sites during the peak season, so if you want to tent camp here, you'd best make a reservation well in advance" according to one reviewer, who adds "you cannot reserve an RV site for just a tent."
Site proximity varies dramatically: Campers consistently mention site spacing as a key consideration. At Nickerson State Park Campground, "the sites are large, although no hook ups" and offer more privacy than many commercial campgrounds. One camper reports, "the sites themselves are also on the larger size."
Seasonal restrictions: Most facilities have limited operating seasons. "The campground is on the north shore of the Cape Code canal and provides access to a sandy beach, a jetty, and the Cape Cod Canal Trail for biking and walking," explains one visitor about Scusset Beach, noting it's open "April through November with limited services in the shoulder season."
Tips for camping with families
Book sites near amenities: Cape Cod Campresort offers extensive activities for children. "Excellent. Very clean, neat campground with plenty of activities for kids….kids really love the lake!" wrote one visitor. Another noted the campground has "2 pools, playground, store, etc."
Visit during shoulder season: Nickerson State Park becomes quieter after summer peak. One visitor explained, "I came later in the season and midweek, I was treated to quiet seclusion in a very nice little walk in site down by the pond" and cautioned, "this place fills up FAST in the summer—so a reservation is usually smart."
Check noise levels: Some campgrounds become lively social spaces. "I've been camping for over twenty years and this campground is by far the noisiest campground I have ever been to," warns one Cape Cod Campresort visitor, adding "it does die down as it gets closer to quiet hours but that's at 11 pm and fires need to be out at midnight."
Tips from RVers
Choose level sites: Site conditions vary greatly between campgrounds. At Bourne Scenic Park, one RVer noted, "Leveling was not an issue for us in our site (C-25) but the majority of sites would be a problem for a motorhome to get level without the aid of blocks. In fact, some sites were ridiculously unlevel and took a scary amount of blocks."
Check water/sewer setups: Hookup configurations affect comfort. At Bourne Scenic Park, "No sites have sewer; however, grey water dump stations are randomly placed throughout the campground and can be accessed with a garden hose," according to an experienced RVer, who added that "utilities were well-placed and all worked well."
Reserve early for large rigs: Limited large sites fill quickly. Sweetwater Forest campers warn that "there are limited full hookup big rig sites, and they book up in advance" while others note that water view sites similarly require advance planning.
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