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Best Tent Camping near Hamilton, MA

552 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Tent camping options surrounding Hamilton, Massachusetts include established campgrounds like Cape Ann Camp Site in Gloucester, which offers wooded tent sites from May 15 to October 15. Camp Nihan Education Center also provides tent-specific camping areas with more primitive setups. Both locations are within reasonable driving distance of Hamilton and provide dedicated spaces for tent campers seeking natural surroundings without the intrusion of larger RVs or motorhomes.

The tent sites at Cape Ann Camp Site feature dirt surfaces with fire pits and wooded surroundings that create natural separation between campsites. Bathroom facilities include clean restrooms and pay showers (25 cents for 5 minutes). Picnic tables come standard at most sites, and drinking water is available throughout the grounds. Most tent camping areas in this region require reservations, particularly during peak summer months when availability becomes limited. While some sites offer water and electrical hookups, primitive tent setups with no utilities are also available for those seeking a more traditional camping experience.

Tree cover provides ample shade at most tent campsites near Hamilton, creating comfortable daytime temperatures even during summer heat. The wooded terrain offers privacy between sites, especially in the tent-specific areas which tend to be more secluded than RV sections. Proximity to coastal areas like Gloucester and Rockport provides tent campers with easy access to beaches and shoreline trails. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the tent sites at Cape Ann are particularly appealing: "We had a great time camping and going to the beach. The camp ground is full of beautiful boulders and fire pits. We were tent camping and were very happy with our site." Fall camping offers reduced crowds while still maintaining comfortable overnight temperatures, making it an ideal time for tent campers seeking more solitude.

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Best Tent Sites Near Hamilton, Massachusetts (8)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Hamilton, MA

552 Reviews of 8 Hamilton Campgrounds

  • Migdalia G.
    May. 29, 2019

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Nice Wooded Campground in Awesome Area

    We stayed at Harold Parker State Forest Campground during Memorial Day Weekend. Reservation through Reserve America was a breeze. Check in till 9:00 pm was convenient. Checkout by 11:00 am but we paid for an additional night to be able to leave at night the day we checked out. Totally worth it!

    Nice large campsites. The sites’ privacy is very diverse. You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size. All sites have water which is a plus. All have a fire pit/box, charcoal bbq and a picnic table. Most of them are drive in. 

    Quiet hours from 10 am to 7 am. No alcohol allowed (although I didn’t see an actual enforcement of this rule and guess it’ll happen only if people act out). Rangers are constantly patrolling. Felt pretty safe at night. You can’t bring wood. Bundles are $5 each and it burns really well. 

    Lots of biking/hiking/walking trails, a nice small pond/beach, boat access, a few basketball courts, a volleyball court and a common huge fire pit added to the fun. A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike. 

    Bathrooms were fairly clean although small and showers were free! Some sites were right in front of a lovely pond and there were many group sites available as well. 

    The location is pretty good. Salem, Andover, Boston Are accesible while staying here. Close proximity to Richardson Ice Cream which you CANT miss if you decide to stay.  They have cheap but amazing ice cream, mini golf and battling cages which was entertaining for my whole crew. 

    It rained a lot during one night of our stay and the site (301) did not flooded at all. All sites seemed in pretty good shape the morning after as well. 

    Beautiful and will recommend to families with small kids, groups and couples too.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Cape Ann Camp Site

    25 cents for a shower

    The aerial photos of this place are very deceiving. This camp ground is the foreground of the main house which, is situated on the top of the hill. The sites are all dirt. There is no concrete pads. There is no WIFI. There is no sewer hook up however, near the street there is a "dump station."  The camp ground is run down and unmaintained. Our site had a fire ring which, was filled with ash. Our first night we woke up to a trailer filled with smoke because, someone near by had a fire in 92 degree heat. Most campers are full time residents. There is no sight of them during the day light hours but, at night they are up and about on bikes and mingling with each other. 

    25 cents per 5 minute hot shower is offered in the public restroom. Some shady people immediate started to hover near the public restroom once we drove up the hill to use the public restrooms. For $70/nite for a view it's not worth it. I was glad to leave- very creepy.

  • Sable W.
    May. 16, 2018

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Spacious, Quiet, Clean and Conveniently Located

    Five friends and I decided to compete in Questival, which came to Boston for May 11-12, 2018. There aren't many campgrounds open in Massachusetts this early in the season, but Harold Parker State Forest was! I snagged a group campsite since we'd have four tents. We had to set up after dark, so we wound up congregating in one corner of the group site. When we woke up we could see just how HUGE the group site was! We had 4 two-person tents; you could easily fit 3x that number of tents. PLENTY of flat ground to set up on, and we were far enough back from the road that we never heard or saw other campers arriving, even though we know most other Questival competitors stayed at this campground. It was about a 5 minute walk to the bathrooms and showers, and potable water was available right on the site. Even though it was early in the season and not very leafy, we could only occasionally see our neighbors' headlamps. There were 4 or 5 fire pits, 5 large picnic tables, and 3 driveways that could fit two cars each. Great value for the cost! We were pleased with the privacy, space, cleanliness, and amenities.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Tidewater Campground

    Large campground near, but not on the beach

    First of all, the location is a little quirky and I think I only arrived once without a wrong turn! Watch the GPS carefully. That said, it’s very close to Hampton Beach and you can easily drive or bike over. The campground is parallel to US1, so there is some road traffic noise. Some of the tent sites overlook the marsh. The tent sites are definitely tighter than trailer sites. Some sites back up to each other and it takes a moment to understand where one ends and the next begins. 

    I was here early in the season and placed in a seasonal site with water/electric. Site was level. Neighbors were friendly. The bathroom was a short walk away and spotless. I did notice that in the tent areas, the main bathrooms are supplemented with portable toilets. Sites are mostly wooded, which will offer nice relief from the heat. It's a nice base for exploring the area.

    There’s a gated entry and turtle-speed limit that they take seriously. The pool was not yet open. There’s a small store onsite for ice and essentials. All the big box stores and a number of restaurants are nearby. For a change of pace from seafood, I picked up Shane's Texas Pit BBQ and brought it back to my site. 

    You may request a reservation online, but you have to confirm and pay for it via the phone. You’ll need to arrive before 9pm to check in. Bring $10 for a cash deposit on the gate card. Only 1 vehicle and 1 camping unit (tent or trailer) allowed on a site.

    Downside: They charge for showers, the amount and duration is unclear and the duration varies depending on which shower you choose! Given the rates they charge, this seems petty.

  • Meg T.
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Salisbury Beach State Reservation

    Seagulls hungry for Egg Rolls and sunsets galore!

    Stayed here with my partner for her birthday while we were up in the Plum Island/Rockport area. Beautiful ocean access and great facilities. We stayed in a site right next to a large bathhouse with showers, plentiful stalls, and water bottle fill-up and rinse off station. We were situated next to a kind family who lent us fire starter and offered us some of their snacks they were making when we arrived, while we were setting up we did lose some egg rolls to a hungry seagull but I think he needed them more than we did. Not very private and sites are packed close together, but that is what I expected based off the map! I would absolutely return again, this time to check out the beach and surrounding area!

  • Anna C.
    Oct. 15, 2019

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Red Ledge Rebel Shell Rain Pants at Pawtuckaway State Park

    *CAMPGROUND REVIEW*

    This campground is definitely a dazzler and I was fortunate to visit on a quieter weekend. I was able to enjoy an especially picturesque sunset over the lake and I would definitely visit this spot again, especially with how accessible the campground is. There is a nice stretch of sandy beach at the campground as well as canoes and kayaks for rent. The convenience store at the campground had essentially everything you would need for a good camping trip. Definitely do your research on the different site numbers because some sites are much more private and scenic than others. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire pit as an added bonus.

    Pros: 

    -Within a short driving distance from the Boston area 

    -Lakefront sites available 

    -Canoe and kayak rentals available 

    -Well stocked convenience store 

    -Reasonable cell reception

    Cons: 

     -Can get busy during peak camping times 

     -Some sites have a lack of privacy

    *PRODUCT REVIEW*

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. During this trip, I took out a pair of Red Ledge Rain Pants. While it didn’t rain during my camping stay (great from a camper perspective, not so great from a reviewer perspective), I was able to try out the general fit of the pants. They have a nice stretch fit to them and a certainly one of the more stylish options as far as rain pants go. As is true for most waterproof gear, they run on the warmer side and don’t have a ton of ventilation so they may not be the best choice for hotter weather. Although I didn’t get to test out the pants in a camping setting, I did wear them a few days ago while making the 1.5 km evacuation route trek from my apartment to the flood shelter during one of the biggest typhoons to make landfall in Japan. After about 25-30 mins of walking in record breaking-ly heavy rain, the pants started to saturate around the knees and the upper thigh area started to get a bit soggy. That being said, this is probably the most extreme possible test setting and they did hold up reasonably well. Due to the aforementioned, I would recommend using these pants as a waterproof option when skiing/snowboarding in warmer weather where you still want a snow barrier but may not necessarily need the insulative warmth offered by actual snow pants.

    Pros: 

    -Stylish look 

     -Stretch fit 

     -Waterproof 

     Cons: 

     -Trap heat 

     -Not typhoon proof

  • k
    Aug. 15, 2019

    Dixons Coastal Maine Campground

    LOTS of people but lovely campground

    This is an extremely large campground.  It seems that most of them on the coast of Maine are.  We didn't get a very good sight, but the person who answered the phone basically told us that when we called and it was all they had, so I can't say too much about that either (#17).  The sight was small and between the two driveways.  All of the sights seem to have rocky ground, so I recommend a sleep pad and a footprint for your tent so you don't rip the bottom.  

    Now, on to the other stuff.  There is a small playground that is weathered but in decent shape.  The pool is lovely and meticulously kept.  The grounds, bathrooms and showers are spotless.  It's 50 cents for 5 minutes to take a shower (unheard of) with hot water.  There is even hot water to wash your dishes next to the bathrooms.

    They sell ice, wood ($7) and many "I forgots" in the store (bacon, milk, etc...).  They give you a security card to get into the grounds ($10 deposit).  The campground was SUPER quiet and quiet hours go to 8am (thank you)!  Only an RV about to leave made a ton of noise at 7.

    I would go there again.  It was a safe place close to so many things.  The beach and everything else is VERY close but not so close as to be annoying.... 5 minutes at most.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 18, 2020

    Willard Brook State Forest Campground

    Small forest campground best suited for tents and small trailers

    This small state forest campground in north/central Massachusetts is just up the hill from Damon Pond. I suggest downloading maps before you head out because cell service is iffy in the area.  

    Sites are largely level, around a small, bisected loop with towering pines. Most of the sites are best suited to tents and small trailers (think teardrops and pop-ups), but a couple of sites can accommodate slightly larger units. They are level and there's not a lot of brush between sites, so not much privacy either. I liked site 3 for a bit more privacy ; it's also one of the 3 sites designated for an RV. Site 11 is larger and can accommodate a larger unit.

    There is a large yurt suitable for 10 people. The yurt does offer electricity, but there are no hookups nor a dump station at the campground. There are flush toilets, but no showers. The small bathroom was under renovation autumn 2020. There is a dishwashing sink. 

    There are hiking trails in the area and, of course, swimming at the small pond. A nearby roadside waterfall offers another picnic area opportunity. For a longer hike, you can hike to and from Pearl Lake State Park. Fishing, mountain biking, and geocaching are other activities available. There's a parking lot closer to the beach or it's an easy walk from the campground.

    If you are from out of state, check fees carefully. In 2020 MA increased fees significantly in light of the pandemic. Prices are steep for what you get if you are out of state.

Guide to Hamilton

Tent camping near Hamilton, Massachusetts offers access to wooded landscapes within short drives of both ocean beaches and freshwater lakes. The area sits in Essex County with elevations generally under 500 feet and a climate featuring mild summers with average July temperatures around 72°F and cold winters. Camping season typically runs May through October with most facilities closing during winter months.

What to do

Explore coastal trails: At Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground, campers can discover multiple islands accessible by ferry. "Exploring the island was awesome. We found all kinds of bunkers and a brick house...sitting on the beach watching the sun set over Boston was awesome," notes Jess G.

Beach access: Salmon Falls River RV Resort provides a base for regional beach exploration. "Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!!" explains Samantha N., highlighting recreational options beyond natural beaches.

Nature programs: Camp Nihan Education Center connects with nearby Breakheart Reservation. "The camp is also adjacent to Breakheart Reservation, which had a great shallow pond with life guard on duty as well as bike trails and a range of different hikes," shares Michael V.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many tent campers appreciate the natural separation found at Military Park New Boston Air Force Station. "Great Outdoor Place! Nice scenery with fresh air and freedom sunshine!" comments Shuang W., highlighting the open feeling.

Proximity to water activities: Several campgrounds offer water recreation. At Cape Ann Camp Site, "I loved the lazy river and had so much fun!" reports one camper, noting the cooling options during summer heat.

Natural landscape features: Rocky shorelines and forested settings create distinctive camping environments. "The camp ground is full of beautiful boulders and fire pits," mentions Dan, describing the natural terrain that creates boundaries between sites.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Boston Harbor Islands, Martha H. advises, "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance. That said, you can also look for last minute openings."

Water availability: While some sites have potable water, others require campers bring their own. Jean C. notes about harbor island camping: "If you have a folding wagon, you may appreciate having it to carry items on and off the ferry and to your site on the island... otherwise you'll need to bring gallon of water/person."

Payment details: Some facilities have coin-operated amenities. Ben E. from Cape Ann Camp Site mentions, "The showers require payment with quarters. I don't know how many quarters it takes because I don't carry change. So I washed my hair in the sink."

Tips for camping with families

Look for dedicated activity areas: Family-oriented campgrounds offer structured recreation. "A little of everything at this campground, 2 pools 2 hot tubes, a giant water slide that is even fun for the adults!!! Have great activities daily for the kids," explains Aaron G.

Consider terrain challenges: Some sites require more hiking than others. "The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods," writes Michael V., noting the benefit for groups with young children.

Pack for changing weather: New England weather can shift quickly even in summer. One camper suggests bringing layered clothing for morning fog and afternoon heat, especially for coastal camping where temperatures vary throughout the day.

Tips from RVers

Site surface considerations: Many tent sites near Hamilton feature natural rather than leveled surfaces. Cristina P. shares about Crown Point Campground: "We had a nice perfectly level site in a beautiful wooded area. Definitely recommend it!"

Hookup availability: RV campers should verify utility options before booking. Lajaun C. notes, "They have water, sewer, and electric hookups. No wifi. There is a nice little store on-site for anything you forgot."

Site spacing: RV sections often differ from tent areas in terms of privacy. As Della S. points out, "The campground is clean and quiet with beautiful tent sites. The RV sites are not as secluded as the tent sites."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Hamilton, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hamilton, MA is Cape Ann Camp Site with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Hamilton, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Hamilton, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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