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Best Tent Camping near Hawley, MA

616 Reviews

The forested hills surrounding Hawley, Massachusetts offer several tent camping options, from established campgrounds to more primitive sites in the nearby state forests. Tully Lake Recreation Area, located approximately 12 miles east in Royalston, provides tent-only camping with walk-in sites situated along the lakeshore. Barton Cove Campground offers tent platforms with views of the Connecticut River, while the nearby Federated Women's Club State Forest maintains rustic backcountry tent camping areas for those seeking more seclusion.

Surface details at tent campgrounds vary considerably, with some sites featuring established tent platforms and others offering natural forest floors. Most tent sites in the region provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities differ between locations. At Tully Lake, campers must carry gear from the parking area to tent sites using provided carts, with distances ranging from yards to nearly a mile. Vault toilets or composting facilities are common at established campgrounds, while primitive backcountry tent areas may require proper waste disposal methods. According to one visitor at Tully Lake, "You park and walk in but they provide carts. No water or electricity at the sites."

Areas farther from the main roads offer deeper seclusion with fewer disturbances from vehicle traffic. The tent-only nature of several campgrounds contributes to a quieter experience, particularly at sites requiring walk-in access. Tully Lake features waterfront tent sites where campers can swim directly from their campsite and explore the lake by canoe or kayak. The Seth Warner Shelter area along the Long Trail provides primitive tent camping spots for backpackers seeking a true backcountry experience. Sites within Green Mountain National Forest offer tent camping with varying levels of privacy and access to hiking trails. A reviewer of Tully Lake noted that "sites are very basic, with only a picnic table and fire ring" and that the walk-in nature means "no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites."

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Best Tent Sites Near Hawley, Massachusetts (24)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Hawley, MA

27 Photos of 24 Hawley Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Hawley, MA

616 Reviews of 24 Hawley Campgrounds

  • Sa R.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Beautiful lake

    First time staying there. Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them. Canoe, kayak & padddleboard rental available. Showers & bathrooms by the parking area. Lots of islands & places to explore on the lake. Buggy in June so bring your repellent. Dogs allowed...that’s all I got for now :)

  • Nicole G.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Tolland State Forest Campground

    Great Lakeside Campground

    This was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.

    The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.

  • Ryan A.
    Jun. 12, 2024

    Mohawk Trail State Forest Campground

    Great Campground in Western Mass

    This is a great campground located off of highway 2 in western Mass. I stayed in site 51 and luckily the campground was mostly empty(it was on a Thursday though and was supposed to be full for the weekend.) Each campsite has a bear box and fire ring, there is easy access to hiking trails and flush-toilet bathrooms with sinks are located throughout. There is only one dumpster though and it’s a walk to get to – store your trash in your car or drive it each night, or enjoy the walk. 

    The campsites are very close together without much brush for privacy, so you should expect to see your neighbors up close and personal. Some of the sites are on Cold River(which is more like a creek). The bugs were awful, especially the gnats and I did see a large tick on my fire grill, so be prepared. The best sites are on the lower loop around the water. Avoid any site next to the bathroom as the lights stay on all night and will shine directly into your tent. 49 looked really nice and seemed dark. The hike-in sites were also close together, 22 is the most private. There are baskets with wheels provided. 

    The rangers are friendly and sell firewood in case you need any. You’ll need to check in before going to the campsite, they’ll give you a map and they take good care of the sites. Would definitely camp here again.

  • Nancy R.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Tully Lake Campground is perfect to enjoy traditional family camping!

    Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border. It is a State managed campground, and reservations must be made through Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made, if you want one of these!

    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.) There are individual sites, and 2 group sites, if you are camping with a group. Canoes are available to rent to explore Tully Lake. Most parts of the lake are suitable for swimming, and some camp sites offer direct entry into the lake for swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. 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. The views are beautiful, and it's not unusual to spot professional nature photographers at various points along the waterfalls. Bring your cameras or smart phones to capture some of these breathtaking views! And of course there are longer, more challenging trails for more experienced hikers. There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only. Cell service is spotty to non-existent for some providers within the campground. But a short walk or drive away from the campground you can get connected again.

    The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7. There are sinks beside the building, where campers are asked to wash their dishes, rather than at the camp site. A fire ring and picnic table are provided at each camp site. If you've forgotten any gear or need groceries, there's a Walmart just a 15 minute drive away, open until 12 midnight.

    The staff are quite friendly, helpful and informative. If you enjoy "old fashioned" family tent camping, without the noise and presence of cars and RV's near your camp site, (or cell phones!) this is the place for you. Enjoy!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Alander Trail Camground — Mount Washington State Forest

    Amazing Dispersed Camping

    Absolutely love this spot and highly recommend if you’re looking for a super private, true primitive camping experience. You have to park at the entrance and hike in about 1.5-2 miles with everything on your back to get to the spots. Once you get there, theres quite a few sites to choose from and each offer quite a bit or privacy. It’s completely free and it usually isn’t too busy since most people don’t like having to carry all their stuff in that far. You will be in the heart of the forest/woods so definitely make sure to be prepared. We had some scares with coyotes and bears in the past but never anything crazy. They give you a semi-flat area for a tent, a fire pit and grill rack, one picnic table, and a bear box you would be sharing with other campers nearby

  • Erin B.
    Sep. 11, 2019

    Clarksburg State Park Campground

    low key and beautiful fall getaway

    Keep in mind that this review is written after camping sept 8th (the week that school started for many) so it might not be relevant to peak camping season. We were pleasantly surprised with our weekend getaway to Clarksburg State Park. Nestled in the Berkshires and basically walking distance to Vermont, Clarksburg State Park provides a comfortable and semi-private tent site. Several spots (including ours 6) were very close to the rather large pond. While the trees obstruct the views, the site was waterfront and we were able to walk a few yards downhill to the waters edge where we launched our kayaks (there is a designated launching spot elsewhere). No electric and water hookups are provided but we were totally okay with that. Bear boxes were provided on each site so that you don’t have to keep stinky food or garbage in your car! Each site also had a fire pit with a grate so that you can cook right there on the fire. The bathrooms were some of the cleanest campground bathrooms and showers i’ve experienced (no bugs or webs also) and there was a dishwashing station on the side. The sites were large and well spaced but they had trees in between so that you felt privacy. The campground itself had plenty of sites, firewood for sale in the front and a pavilion and beach area on the day use side. There are plenty of trails you can hop on right outside your tent site and very little light pollution for optimal star gazing. We really enjoyed our time here and will definitely be back!

  • Dawn S.
    May. 30, 2020

    Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground

    Clean

    My pup and I spent two nights here and were very happy. While this campground is bare-bones (no pool) it is perfect for anyone who wants to just chill and do nothing or hit the mountains / local area and do some hiking. The entire campground was very clean, as were the bathrooms. At check-in they will give you maps of hiking routes. Firewood is for sale onsite as are a few necessities. They also had bear boxes, picnic tables and fire rings at each site. We will go back.

  • Sara Q.
    Oct. 7, 2019

    Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground

    Small, loud, muddy

    Unfortunately, I was not a big fan of this small campground. Right from the start, upon checkin, I bought two $5 ea. bundles of wood after being assured they were "kiln dried".  The wood wouldn't catch no matter what I tried -- not even with the help of some fire starter.  The tent site itself was very small and barely fit my truck and tent.  It was made smaller still because of the mud and holes on the perimeter of the site. At night, there was a lot of traffic noise nearby and despite a posted quiet time, other campers were slamming car doors over and over and talking at the top of their lungs, making it difficult to sleep. The surrounding state forest was pretty and the trails were in decent shape.

  • Amanda S.
    Jul. 17, 2018

    Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park

    Great price

    This is basic dry camping it is fun but there is no electric or water at the sites o LU in the bathhouse. So if you get a site close the the bathhouse you will have water close by and electricity close. Otherwise it’s dry camping.. the platform sites are great it makes it real easy to set up a tent because of the platform that the tent goes on and the lake is ok. The kids don’t like swimming with fish so we didn’t spend much time at the lake

Guide to Hawley

Nestled in the scenic landscapes near Hawley, Massachusetts, tent camping offers a perfect escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.

Tips for tent camping near Hawley

  • For a unique experience, consider staying at the Chester Railway Station, where you can camp in a caboose and enjoy the sounds of passing trains.
  • Make sure to bring refillable water containers when visiting Barton Cove Campground, as water sources are limited but the rustic camping experience is worth it.
  • If you're looking for a private and lush environment, Maple Ridge Farm provides ample space and privacy between sites, along with friendly owners eager to enhance your stay.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Zoar Outdoor, you'll find well-maintained amenities including showers, drinking water, and picnic tables, making your camping experience comfortable.
  • Peace Farm Rescue offers a range of features such as electric hookups and firewood, ensuring you have everything you need for a cozy stay.
  • Enjoy the convenience of reservable sites at Cozie Nook Homestead, where you can also take advantage of clean shower facilities.

Local attractions for outdoor activities

  • Experience thrilling water adventures with rafting and tubing at Zoar Outdoor, which is connected to an adventure company.
  • Explore the nearby scenic views and hiking trails while camping at Seth Warner Shelter, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature.
  • For a peaceful retreat, Barton Cove Campground offers access to a beautiful river, ideal for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hawley, MA is Zoar Outdoor with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Hawley, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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