Campsites near Goshen, Massachusetts sit within the Berkshire foothills at elevations ranging from 1,400-1,600 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. The region's glacial terrain features numerous ponds and reservoirs suitable for paddling, with most campgrounds open seasonally from mid-May through mid-October due to harsh winters. Proximity to both the Connecticut River Valley and Berkshire highlands provides campers with diverse recreational options.
What to do
Hiking at Savoy Mountain: The campground provides direct access to multiple trail systems, making it convenient for day hikers. "Beautiful area to hike. Quiet off the beaten path. There are 3 yurts available May-October... Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table. Highly recommend staying here if you are in the area!" notes Cheryl B. from Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground.
Kayaking on local ponds: Many campgrounds provide water access for paddling opportunities. At Woodford State Park Campground, visitors enjoy "a beautiful clean swimmable lake with a walking trail around it," according to Sambath T. The park offers boat rentals seasonally from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.
River activities: The Deerfield River offers tubing and fishing near several campgrounds. "Seconds from the Deerfield river. The campground is well-maintained the staff is friendly. Set well back from the road with a little brook running through it," shares Joshua B. about Country Aire Campgrounds. Tubing trips typically run 3-4 hours depending on water levels.
Fire truck rides: Unique to Northampton/Springfield KOA, families can enjoy scheduled fire truck rides around the property. "They had hayless rides and fire truck rides. This time they had a haunted house walk through," mentions Jason A., highlighting the family-friendly activities that run primarily on summer weekends.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities as a highlight. "Quiet (besides occasional plane overhead) lots of trees, spacious sites, clean and modern bathrooms and showers, nice friendly helpful staff," notes Missi N. about Northampton / Springfield KOA.
Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded sites with natural barriers between neighbors. At Molly Stark State Park Campground, "the outer ring sites on the map have the most seclusion," according to Tim K., with sites featuring stone fire rings and picnic tables set among mature trees.
Swimming opportunities: Most campgrounds in the region feature either lakes or pools for swimming during summer months. Prospect Mountain Campground offers "a nice pool, playground and pond for fishing. They also have a nice little store and snack bar," according to Sandra S., making it popular for families seeking water recreation.
Yurt accommodations: For campers seeking comfort without hauling equipment, several parks offer yurt options. "There are 3 yurts available May-October (no dogs allowed in the yurts). There are several tent sites available. Dogs are welcomed here!" explains Cheryl B. about October Mountain, making it a solid option for yurt camping near Goshen, Massachusetts.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the region operate on limited schedules. "Open 4/19/2019 - 10/31/2019" is typical for Prospect Mountain Campground and RV Park, with similar patterns at other facilities. Call ahead for exact dates as some parks extend their season in mild years.
Limited cell service: Reception can be spotty throughout the region. "This camp site is best for family camping with small children or people looking for an easy getaway," notes Brian T. about Savoy Mountain, where connectivity is minimal in most areas of the park.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise or have closely-spaced sites. "There is a road that seems to house construction vehicles that were busy going by early evening and early morning," mentions Tiff H. about October Mountain State Forest, highlighting that perimeter sites often experience more noise than interior locations.
Campfire restrictions: Policies vary significantly between parks. "The campground is connected to an adventure/outing company that provides white water rafting, tubing and other water activities on a nearby river... They don't allow fires at the campsites though which is annoying," notes Seth K. about Zoar Outdoor, one of the few locations with fire bans.
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Family-oriented campgrounds offer structured activities during peak season. At Country Aire Campgrounds, "This campground is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor," reports Jason A., with most activities running on weekends from late June through August.
Kid-friendly amenities: Certain campgrounds provide exceptional facilities for children. "My kids love it can't wait to go back I hear they built a mini golf course," shares Barbara M. about Northampton/Springfield KOA, which has continuously upgraded its family offerings.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment suitable for various age groups. At Country Aire Campgrounds, cindy notes they have "warm clean bathrooms, warm cinnamon buns in the am, great playground, pool and pirate ship," making it particularly appealing for families with young children.
Safety considerations: Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours and have staff available overnight. "We had other campers arrive back at their tent sites across from ours at 11pm and they were inconsiderate of all the sleeping campers," reports Angie G., indicating that while staff response varies, most campgrounds maintain 10:00pm-7:00am quiet hours.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: RVers should research specific site dimensions before booking. "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, right at the entrance," shares Lisa D. about Northampton/Springfield KOA, highlighting the importance of confirming site assignments.
Water and electric options: Most campgrounds provide hookups, though amperage varies. "We had water and a 15 amp power box at our site and it was great for a tent but not for anything else," notes Angie G., emphasizing the importance of confirming electricity capacity when bringing power-hungry RVs.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds offer sanitary dump stations even when full hookups aren't available. "There is a dump station/potable water fill station available at the park entrance, but no RV hook ups of any kind," explains Bill K. about Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground, a typical setup at state parks in the region.
Navigational challenges: Some campgrounds have access roads unsuitable for larger RVs. "It is important to follow the directions and turn off of Rt. 2 onto Central Shaft Road (google maps labels it Shaft Road. It is between the Blue Vista Motor Lodge and Hoosac Range Preserve). The other road that accesses the campground is nearly unpassable with an rv," warns Heather C. about Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground.
