Tent camping near Hadley, Massachusetts offers numerous sites within forested surroundings at elevations between 200 and 1,500 feet. The Connecticut River Valley provides campers with multiple waterfront options across several state forests and recreation areas. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with higher humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons bring cooler nights requiring additional layers.
What to do
Swimming options: At Tully Lake Recreation Area, the lake offers swimming directly from waterfront sites without designated swimming areas. "We take our canoe and spend the whole day at the lake. You can find lots of private areas to swim, pick blueberries and relax," notes visitor Ben P.
Hiking trails: Access to Doane's Falls is available via a short trail from Tully Lake Campground, providing multiple waterfall viewing points. "If you'd like to hike with children, there is an easy hike close to the entrance, along Doane's Falls, a series of 5 waterfalls along an ascending path through a wooded area," explains Nancy R.
Water activities: Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont offers whitewater rafting, tubing and water excursions on the nearby Deerfield River. "The campground is connected to an adventure/outing company that provides white water rafting, tubing and other water activities on a nearby river. It's close to where locals jump off outcrops into the lazy river," states Seth K.
What campers like
Private sites: Tully Lake campers appreciate the separation between sites. "We stayed at site 1, which was HUGE and extremely private. Sites closer to the water that we saw were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out. No cars at all at the campsites," reports Megan G.
Unique accommodations: Chester Railway Station provides unconventional lodging in a converted train caboose. "The caboose is stationed on a big grassy field, near a real railroad. It sleeps 4 and you can set up tents outside too. You hear the trains running at night," explains Esther L.
No vehicle access: Most tent sites at the best tent camping near Hadley require walking gear in from parking areas. "This is a 'Carry In' campground. You park at the entrance, register with Ranger. Large wooden wheelbarrows are provided to bring your gear to your camp site. This means no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites," notes one Tully Lake visitor.
What you should know
Site access logistics: At Barton Cove Campground, accessing sites involves multiple steps. "Only real annoyance was dealing with set up and take down of the campsite - you check in at the office, grab a key to unlock the gate, drive to the campground, unlock gate, drive through gate, lock gate, unload your stuff, drive to gate, unlock gate, drive through gate, lock gate, return key," explains Brie B.
Limited facilities: Federated Women's Club State Forest offers minimal amenities. "Bring your own water. There is a composting toilet located near the group site in the field," advises Jean C.
Camping restrictions: Certain campgrounds have specific rules. "It seemed like there were a lot of restrictive rules compared to other campgrounds that made camping more stressful," notes Jade B. about Barton Cove Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Noise considerations: Some holiday weekends bring larger crowds. "We went memorial day weekend few years ago, busy holiday of young teens partying. Park staff tried their best, but other campers definitely took away from our stay. Loud throughout," reports Lauren A. about her Tully Lake visit.
Bathroom access: Consider campsite proximity to facilities when camping with children. "Our site was fairly far from services, long run with small kids in the middle of the night," cautions Lauren A. about Tully Lake.
Car-free camping benefits: Maple Ridge Farm helps transport gear to remote sites. "They'll drive you in an ATV up to some of the sites that are further away from the parking lot," notes Les R., adding that the campground has "plenty of space and privacy between sites."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most tent camping near Hadley, Massachusetts focuses primarily on tent sites with minimal RV accommodations. "This is really meant for people who want to be outdoors in the woods...but not good for people who want to take their kids somewhere easy," explains Kris M. about Tully Lake.
Site reservations: Popular campgrounds book quickly, particularly for holiday weekends. "The sites fill up weeks out (and can completely fill the day registration opens, which is date-dependent each year...Booking for Memorial Day meant I booked in April), so you have to be on your game," advises Kris M.
Seasonal operations: Peace Farm Rescue offers limited camping with just 2 sites but provides electric hookups and accommodates both tent and cabin camping. Many campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically closing after Labor Day and reopening around Memorial Day.
