r
roy T.
Scout
ScoutCountry Barn Motel & Campground
Very appealing cabins
I stayed in one of the cabins and actually enjoyed it more than i thought.
Top-Rated Campgrounds near Hathorne, MA
Campgrounds near Hathorne range from wooded tent sites to full-service RV parks, with notable locations like Lorraine Park Campground at Harold Parker State Forest and Winter Island Park providing scenic woodland and coastal settings. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering cabin rentals. Harold Parker State Forest features spacious wooded sites with water hookups, while coastal options like Cape Ann Camp Site provide ocean proximity and full amenities including electric, water, and sewer hookups.
Camping seasons in this region typically run from May through October, with most facilities closed during winter months. Harold Parker State Forest operates from late May to early September, while coastal locations like Salisbury Beach State Reservation remain open into mid-October. Reservations are essential during peak summer weekends, particularly for sites with hookups or water views. The region experiences typical New England weather patterns with warm, humid summers and occasional rainfall. As one camper noted, "Harold Parker is pretty basic as it comes. It's a nice place for sure. Lots of hiking. All the sites are very wooded. And there's some sites along a river for fishing and such."
Campers consistently highlight the spacious sites and natural setting at Harold Parker State Forest, with several reviewers mentioning the surprisingly large campsites and good separation between neighbors. Many sites feature water spigots, fire pits, and picnic tables, though amenities vary between locations. The campgrounds within reasonable distance of Hathorne provide varying levels of privacy and development, from basic facilities to full-service RV parks. One visitor shared that Harold Parker offers "spacious campsites, some are very private and some are more suitable for a group to combine a couple together, bathrooms are cleaned a couple times a day, trails in the area are great, swimming area, close to grocery shopping if you forgot something." Most campgrounds in the region balance natural surroundings with proximity to coastal attractions and urban conveniences, making them popular for weekend getaways from Boston.
Best Camping Sites Near Hathorne, Massachusetts (89)
1. Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest
32 ReviewsNorth Reading, MA6 milesWebsite+1 (978) 475-7972$17 - $35 / night
"north of Boston and <5 miles from the interstate, Lorraine Park campground at Harold Parker State Forest provides ample on-site activities and also serves as a jumping off point for exploring the Massachusetts"
"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."
2. Winter Island Park
14 ReviewsSalem, MA7 milesWebsite+1 (978) 745-9430$60 / night
"Many of the RV sites are located in the main parking lot; others are in a field just to the right of the entrance."
"We drove 3-1/2 days from Idaho to get to a COVID testing site which would take non MA residents and turn the results around under 48 hours. We needed quiet camping and not have it cost a fortune."
3. Salisbury Beach State Reservation
27 ReviewsSalisbury, MA18 milesWebsite+1 (978) 462-4481$28 - $38 / night
"However, you can’t beat the location and it’s a great place to go with a group."
"The feel here is electric, and positive. Lots of RV’s that stay here all summer long. Feels like you are in a tight-knit community, very friendly folks, packed tightly together."
4. Cape Ann Camp Site
16 ReviewsGloucester, MA14 milesWebsite+1 (978) 283-8683$36 - $44 / night
"Perfect location with access to Rockport - a beautiful place to visit, shop, eat & a great little trail with great views Beach down the street was big, beautiful and low tide was unexpected as you"
"Beautiful campsite, nice sized sites surrounded by trees so it felt pretty private. Bathrooms and showers well maintained, 25 cents for 5 minute shower."
5. Hanscom AFB FamCamp
11 ReviewsBedford, MA17 milesWebsite+1 (781) 225-3953"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."
"Close to minute man historical sites- revolutionary war historical trails and Ranger Station. Not too far from Boston."
6. Beach Rose RV Park
14 ReviewsSalisbury, MA19 milesWebsite+1 (978) 463-0226"Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts is a small, friendly, family-owned campground near the beach."
"Kids had enough driving for the day so we had to stop. We called last min and were thankful they had a spot. Arrived at dark and they were friendly and accommodating."
7. Camp Nihan Education Center
2 ReviewsSaugus, MA6 milesWebsite"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."
8. Wompatuck State Park Campground
42 ReviewsHingham, MA27 milesWebsite+1 (617) 895-8245$17 - $23 / night
"Ours (R002) was large, beautiful, and mostly surrounded by forest."
"I chose a spot away from others and was glad I did. Behind me was nothing but quiet woods and a deer meandered through a couple times."
9. Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
15 ReviewsSouth Hampton, NH19 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-1477"entrance (seems to happen frequently, I guess)."
"We went just for one night with a tent because our 5 years old loooves camping, so we reserved this at the last minute, and when we get there, well, the tent sites are way too close to each other, thank"
10. Spacious Skies Minute Man
29 ReviewsAyer, MA29 milesWebsite+1 (978) 772-0042$44 - $999 / night
"The pool is huge and clean and there is a ton of seating around. The shop has everything you could need. There are horseshoes, can jam, basketball, and bocce. There’s a playground and a rec room."
"Easily accessible by car to shopping, groceries, etc. but no hiking or good walking paths from the campground."
Recent Camping Photos near Hathorne, MA
260 Photos of 89 Hathorne Campgrounds
Alan
Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest
Michael V.
Camp Nihan Education Center
Della S.
Cape Ann Camp Site
Janet R.
Hanscom AFB FamCamp
Tanya W.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Sara C.
Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
Tim S.
Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground
Jake H.
Black Bear Campground
Jean C.
Tidewater Campground
Lisa H.
Winding River Campground
Laura
Wakeda Campground, LLC
Asher K.
Wompatuck State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Hathorne, MA
607 Reviews of 89 Hathorne Campgrounds
Alizé B.ScoutField and Stream RV Park
Highly recommend
Amazing place and community, unfortunately very expensive.
Sue B.
RangerSalisbury Beach State Reservation
Love camping here!
The first time we camped here was on Columbus Day weekend a number of years ago, and we got to see seals sun bathing on the beach. Are kids thought it was the greatest thing ever! The sites are a little close together and many of them are in direct sunlight , so that isn't the greatest , but if you have an awning, you should be good. We love that it is right on the water, and we can walk to the beach. We also appreciate that it is pet friendly, and our dogs love it too. Write down the street from camp, there is a street setup almost like a boardwalk, with arcades, live music, ice cream, food, and a carousel! There is also a bigger beach, and you are one twin away from New Hampshire. Lots to see and do here!
DevinScoutWinding River Campground
Close Sites, Loved the River!
My husband and I had a great time here! We went early in the season, so there were not many people there. We met the new owners/managers and they were very friendly. David was attentive and very helpful!
We stayed in the Oak Section at 317. The sites are pretty close together, which is why I gave a 4. We didn’t have neighbors, but I can imagine on a busy weekend, it might get crowded. The Utilities at this site were in an awkward spot, compared to where we wanted the camper.
- DevinScout
Spacious Skies Minute Man
The Road is Loud
My husband and I had a great time here! The owners and managers are amazing. Kind, friendly, attentive! We really appreciated them!
The reason for the 4/5 is due to the road noise, and the neighbors noise. The residents that boarder the campground are a bit loud. We camped at spot 72. If you are tent camping, I would recommend not camping at the 70’s spots. It’s just close to the road, and it can get noisy at times. It quiets down at night, but during peak travel times is a little loud. Head to the back of the camp ground. The bathroom looks further away than it is, but everything is very convenient!
Adam B.RangerBeach Rose RV Park
Nice people
Needed a spot to dump. They were one of only a very few places open in March. $20 to dump our tanks.
- MMatthew L.Scout
Forest Glen
Forest Glenn campground
Forest Glenn campground is a very nice campground on Wheelwright pond in Lee New Hampshire! Not well kept up but makes you feel like you’re still camping and not glamping ( glamorous camping ) besides some of the very nice campers here with 2 stories on them! Anyway cutting to the chase, just to let any new comers know that are looking for camping in the Lee area if you so choose to camp at forest Glenn depending who you are or how you approach this place dictates if you will have to feel like your stepping on eggshells your entire stay… the owner is a angry Drunk who is sometimes very nice to others or very nasty, and I personally mostly see him being nasty. A couple years back I wanted to look at the campground to see if this would be a place I wanted to stay at so I walked into the office and asked them if we could look around and the lady was in the process of writing us a pass to drive through. This man comes in and said whats going on so I politely told him that we were interested in his campground and we wanted to look around. He completely flipped out said he doesn't understand, said his campground is his back yard, we can't allow this how would you like if I just walked around your back yard etc etc.... yelling at us the whole time and spitting while screaming and then told us to get out of his sight…. This place mind you is overrun by golf carts and I have heard of incidents where people get hit by them because who cares about the posted 5mph speed limitations if your in a golf carts right? Right! And CLEARLY this place is a Double standard place so you will not be treated equal… and as far as I know this place has secret people who camp supposedly working at camp like the manager and security and the plumber or electrician who look like their helping but while helping they gather information about you to spread it around to others or to cause problems with you and the owner!! Oh how thoughtful… one Morning I was in the office and the owner pulled me into the rec room to have a talk with me about my string lights suggesting I shut them off at night and I’m not allowed to use them anymore. I said “sir why would I do that there are 50 other sites with spot lights and string lights Who are these lights bothering that I need to take them down for? “ he said use them inside the trailer I don’t want to see them on again! “ now tell me how that makes any sense… so I shut them off and it became like a minefield on my site at night with no lights while the campers down a different street get to have theirs on. There is no privacy at this place, things keep going missing, and the sites are packed like sardines with no room for Jesus. There are also people staying here over winter and it’s a seasonal campground tell me how that makes any sense. Anyway definitely an experience to be at where drama hits too close to home and the golf cart parking spots are rolling a little to close to my feet. “ oh sorry my foot slipped “ #welp time to search for another place. Seems to be a trend with almost every campground. Angry owners who automatically cause problems or can’t run their own business place without drug addicts for help ( to say the least me and my wife WILL NOT BE COMING BACK )
- LLeeScout
Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
This camping trip truly exceeded my expectations
The campground was clean, peaceful, and surrounded by wide open views. During the day, the natural landscape felt refreshing and expansive, and at night, the sky was filled with stars, creating a calm and almost magical atmosphere. The layout of the campsite was well planned, making it easy and comfortable for both beginners and experienced campers to enjoy their stay. One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.
One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.
- Alexander H.
GuideHanscom AFB FamCamp
Nice Campground near Boston
This is a nice campground near historic Lexington and Boston.
Guide to Hathorne
Camping in northeastern Massachusetts offers diverse outdoor options within 30 miles of Hathorne. The region contains a mix of coastal and forested campgrounds with most sites open from May through October. Weekday camping typically provides more site availability with coastal sites filling fastest during summer weekends when temperatures average 75-85°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Beach exploration: 1-2 miles from Winter Island Park offers opportunities along Salem Harbor. One visitor noted, "The beach is interesting with some tide pools as well as sand and warm water. Life guards were paying attention."
Historic site touring: Near Minute Man Campground provides access to Revolutionary War locations. "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," shares a camper.
Trail system hiking: At Lorraine Park Campground offers numerous wooded paths. A visitor mentioned, "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."
Kayaking: From Winter Island Park, paddlers can explore Salem Harbor. A recent camper stated, "We also kept our 2 kayaks on our site during our stay. Being so close to the beach had its pros and cons. The pros were the great view, easy put in for our kayaks."
What campers like
Wooded privacy: Many forest sites provide natural separation between campsites. At Cape Ann Camp Site, a camper observed, "The site are huge with space in between. They keep the bathrooms very clean. There are lots of trails and ponds."
Urban accessibility: Hanscom AFB FamCamp provides convenient access to metropolitan areas. A visitor explained, "You are also not too far from Cambridge, and can easily access Boston from there if you like."
Clean facilities: Regularly maintained bathrooms are a common positive. At Salisbury Beach State Reservation, one camper noted, "Good sites, with water and 30 amp electric. Easy walk to the beach. Dog friendly, big dump site, and good prices."
Spacious sites: Wompatuck State Park provides larger-than-average camping areas. A visitor shared, "Large sites. Clean bathroom. Good for families or couples."
What you should know
Site reservation timing: Book 3-6 months ahead for summer weekends at popular locations. At Cape Ann Camp Site, a visitor advised, "Call and they will help you find a spot if you have questions."
Transportation options: Public transit is available from some locations. A Winter Island Park camper noted, "This is a city park with a beach and a campground. This is a no frills campground, though there is a playground and beach. It's less than 2 miles from Salem and on the trolley line."
Seasonal pricing variations: Non-resident fees can be significantly higher. A Wompatuck camper observed, "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."
Wildlife awareness: Evening visitors are common at some campgrounds. At Cape Ann Camp Site, a visitor shared, "Very nice folks, great sites with A LOT of space between them. Spectacular views and wild turkeys, deer, etc."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple sites feature dedicated play areas. At Salisbury Beach, one visitor observed, "Clean facilities, super quick access to the beach, friendly staff, sites are pretty close together with little separation between each other. RV & tent sites available. Our family loves both the ocean & camping so it is a win-win!"
Educational programs: Ranger-led activities provide learning opportunities. At Lorraine Park Campground, a camper mentioned, "A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike."
Winter Island amenities: Beach facilities include lifeguards during summer. A visitor noted, "The bathrooms were very clean and being cleaned constantly. The beach was beautiful and enjoyed walking on the larger rocks. Also there's a beautiful lighthouse and some history plaques there."
Activity centers: Minute Man Campground provides multiple recreation options. A visitor detailed, "Pool is small but quality. We enjoyed the ping pong table!! Also have arcade, volleyball, and pet walk area."
Tips from RVers
Hookup access: Position considerations may require extra equipment. At Salisbury Beach State Reservation, one RVer shared, "The electrical post and water hookup were placed way behind our site and we could not reach even with our 40' electrical cord. Park staff told us we could back onto the grass in order to reach the electric."
Site surface types: Varied throughout region with mixed gravel, grass, and concrete options. At Minute Man Campground, a visitor noted, "Site seems level for the most part, made of gravel. Heated pool, laundry, Wi-Fi that works, cable, 50 amp FHU."
Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have complex internal roads. As one Minute Man camper observed, "Roads are a little interesting to navigate, and definitely aren't the straight lines on their map!"
Seasonal sites: Several campgrounds have permanent residents. At Beach Rose RV Park, a visitor explained, "We meet some seasonal campers that were very friendly and informative about the area. Great location from the ocean and some nice towns to visit."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Hathorne, MA?
Which is the most popular campground near Hathorne, MA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hathorne, MA is Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.
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