Heather H.
Scout
ScoutSea Coast Camping and RV Resort
Great Spot
This is a really great campground. However, the cell service is terrible. I do have Wi-Fi, but it is very weak. I would count on having to use Starlink.
Camping near Ipswich, MA
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Camping opportunities near Ipswich, Massachusetts include both oceanfront and inland options within 20 miles of the town. Cape Ann Camp Site in Gloucester provides tent, RV, cabin and glamping accommodations in a wooded setting, while Salisbury Beach State Reservation offers beachfront access with tent and RV sites. Several RV parks including Beach Rose RV Park and The Pines Camping Area provide additional options along the coast, with most facilities operating seasonally from May through October.
Most campgrounds in the coastal Massachusetts region require reservations, particularly during summer months when beach-adjacent sites fill quickly. Water and electric hookups are common amenities, though sewer connections vary by location. The camping season typically runs from May through mid-October, with some facilities closing after Labor Day. Winter camping is limited due to seasonal closures and New England weather conditions. Visitors should prepare for variable coastal weather patterns that can include fog, wind, and occasional summer storms. A visitor noted that "Cape Ann has everything you need for an easy, hassle-free camp experience. It's right off the main road, checking in is quick and employees are helpful."
The beach access represents a primary draw for campers in this area, with several campgrounds situated within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean. Sites at Salisbury Beach State Reservation provide direct beach access with paved camping pads and amenities like fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ grills. Nearby towns such as Newburyport, Rockport, and Gloucester offer additional attractions and dining options. While oceanfront locations offer scenic views, some campers note the trade-off of less privacy between sites. A camper described Salisbury Beach State Reservation as "not really camping, more of a beach stay. It's a great place to bring the kids and do beach things all day. Great Spring Striper fishing." Sites with water views typically command premium rates and require booking well in advance during peak summer weekends.
Best Campgrounds near Ipswich (103)
1. Salisbury Beach State Reservation
"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."
from $28 - $38 / night
Check Availability2. Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest
"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."
from $17 - $35 / night
Check Availability3. Cape Ann Camp Site
"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."
from $36 - $44 / night
Check Availability4. Winter Island Park
"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."
from $60 / night
Check Availability5. Beach Rose RV Park
"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."
6. Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
"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"
7. Wakeda Campground, LLC
"We had bathrooms located near our site. They were four separate bathrooms that had a sink and toilet and were clean. They did offer showers in another area but I did not use them."
"Our full hookup site was very close to other sites, so unfortunately we had to deal with some noise issues."
from $48 - $97 / night
Check Availability8. The Pines Camping Area
"There’s not much around here to do, but for us we enjoyed the calmness."
from $35 - $46 / night
Check Availability9. Hampton Beach State Park Campground
"One side of the campground is bordered by an inlet that fishing boats use to head out from the harbor. Another side is sand dunes, that are the south end of Hampton beach."
"Hampton Beach SP is a small beachside campground for self-contained RVs only; if you’re in a tent, you may want to look south to Salisbury SP just a few miles across the border into MA."
from $70 / night
Check Availability10. Black Bear Campground
"Wish we knew in advance how the hookups were layed out because it is way far away from where our hose would reach and we had to go out and buy an extension due to it being located at the end of the site"
Drive Time
- 41 min from Boston, MA
- 55 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 14 min from Worcester, MA
- 1 hr 24 min from Providence, RI
Recent Camping Photos near Ipswich, MA
254 Photos of 103 Ipswich Campgrounds
Della S.
Cape Ann Camp Site
Dawn E.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Jake H.
Black Bear Campground
Emanuela B.
Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest
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Tuxbury Pond RV Campground
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Camp Nihan Education Center
Jean C.
Tidewater Campground
Pawsfuradventure T.
Wakeda Campground, LLC
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Winding River Campground
Jim G.
Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort
Nancy W.
Seacoast Camping and RV Resort
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Great Bay Camping
Recent Reviews near Ipswich, MA
615 Reviews of 103 Ipswich Campgrounds
Julie S.
GuideWinter Island Park
Can’t beat the view
I was lucky enough to score one of the waterfront spots for one night of my stay. I backed in and opened the rear doors of my campervan and just stared at the ocean view for hours. Spectacular!
- rroy T.Scout
Country Barn Motel & Campground
Very appealing cabins
I stayed in one of the cabins and actually enjoyed it more than i thought.
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 )
Guide to Ipswich
Camping spots near Ipswich, Massachusetts include several wooded retreats within a 20-mile radius of this coastal town. The area sits at sea level with numerous salt marshes and tidal rivers creating unique wetland camping environments. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with high humidity and frequent evening fog rolling in from the Atlantic.
What to do
Paddle with wildlife: Salisbury Beach State Reservation offers river access with diverse paddling options. "We loved paddle boarding in the river where seals were plentiful and fun to watch. There is also another winding river that goes through a marshy area that was great for bird watching. Beware of tides and strong currents in these areas as they can make paddling difficult," notes Nancy W.
Fish the waters: Early season visitors can enjoy productive fishing from shore. "Great Spring Striper fishing. Lots of local restaurants and the center of town is super close," reports a camper. The jetty at Hampton Beach State Park Campground provides another popular fishing spot where visitors "can sit on and fish from or watch the sunrise."
Explore nearby towns: Take day trips to historic coastal communities from your campsite. "About 30 minutes north on I-95 is the New Hampshire town of Portsmouth which is super hip and has great restaurants. Definitely recommend visiting both of these towns if you have time," shares a reviewer at Salisbury Beach.
What campers like
Beach proximity: Many campers value the quick ocean access. "Clean facilities, super quick access to the beach, friendly staff," says Sara D. about Salisbury Beach State Reservation. At Winter Island Park, campers appreciate "camping on the oceanfront" with one reviewer noting it's "a rare treat!"
Wooded privacy: For those preferring forest surroundings, Lorraine Park Campground offers "nice wooded sites" with "spacious and beautiful" camping areas. A camper mentions, "The site are huge with space in between. They keep the bathrooms very clean. There are lots of trails and ponds."
Seasonal events: Summer visitors enjoy organized activities at campgrounds. "Summer has fireworks and projection screen movies," mentions a Salisbury Beach camper. Another notes that at Harold Parker State Forest, "A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Prime oceanfront sites book far in advance. "It is very difficult to get reservations as it is extremely popular," notes a Hampton Beach State Park camper. For last-minute options, look inland to campgrounds like Cape Ann Camp Site where staff "will help you find a spot if you have questions."
Site spacing: Campsite density varies significantly between locations. "The sites' privacy is very diverse. You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose," notes a camper at Lorraine Park. Oceanfront sites typically offer less privacy with one camper noting sites are "pretty close together with little separation between each other."
Weather considerations: Coastal conditions can change rapidly. "If it gets windy too," warns a Salisbury camper. Another mentions, "We caught the tail end of the season last year and the beach was super peaceful and much quieter than in high season."
Tips for camping with families
Beach activities: Beach Rose RV Park offers convenient beach access without waterfront prices. "We rode bikes to Salisbury Beach and my young adult son rode his longboard to the beach," shares a camper, adding it's "only about a mile from the beach. Clean and friendly staff. Kid friendly."
Playgrounds and pools: Many campgrounds feature family amenities. "The playground is perfect for kids," notes a camper at The Pines Camping Area. Another mentions that Beach Rose RV Park has a "nice pool and staff is very friendly, helpful and responsive!"
Transportation options: When visiting Salem, consider Winter Island Park for its accessibility. "It's less than 2 miles from Salem and on the trolley line," notes a camper, making it convenient for exploring without moving your vehicle.
Tips from RVers
Utility placement: Check hookup locations when booking. "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," advises a Salisbury Beach camper. Another RVer at Black Bear recommends planning ahead: "Wish we knew in advance how the hookups were layed out because it is way far away from where our hose would reach."
Wind protection: Coastal campgrounds experience strong ocean breezes. "Be careful of your awning as it is very windy," warns an RVer at Hampton Beach State Park. Consider bringing additional tie-downs or supports if planning to use awnings or screen rooms.
Level sites: Site grading varies across campgrounds. "Our site was large with full hookups and the area was very clean," notes a camper at Wakeda Campground. Another mentions having a "nice perfectly level site in a beautiful wooded area" at Cape Ann Camp Site, which can make setup significantly easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there bike camping available in Ipswich?
Is there bike camping available in Ipswich?
Bike camping is possible in the Ipswich area, though dedicated bike-in sites are limited. Wompatuck State Park Campground is approximately 25 miles south of Ipswich and provides sites accessible to cyclists, though it's important to note that sites are situated along a main road with limited privacy. For cyclists looking for convenience to transportation options, Riverside Terminal Overnight Parking offers a unique solution for bike-and-ride adventures, with MBTA train connections to Boston and reasonable overnight parking fees ($6 weekdays, $3 weekends). Both locations can serve as starting points or destinations for cycling routes around the North Shore area.
What amenities are available at Ipswich camping grounds?
What amenities are available at Ipswich camping grounds?
Campgrounds in the Ipswich area offer varying levels of amenities to suit different camping preferences. Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest, located within 30 minutes of Ipswich, features wooded sites in a convenient location with basic amenities but notably does not permit alcohol consumption even at your campsite (common in Massachusetts state parks). For those seeking more facilities, Hanscom AFB FamCamp offers military families and retirees access to RV sites with hookups, walk-in tent sites, and even a yurt option in a wooded setting. Most campgrounds in the region provide water access, toilet facilities, and fire rings, with private campgrounds typically offering additional amenities like showers, electrical hookups, and sometimes pools or recreation areas.
What are the best campgrounds near Ipswich, MA?
What are the best campgrounds near Ipswich, MA?
Several excellent campgrounds are within easy reach of Ipswich, MA. Salisbury Beach State Reservation offers beachfront camping with water and electricity hookups just 20 minutes north of Ipswich. While sites aren't particularly private, the prime coastal location and easy beach access make it popular for group outings. For a family-friendly option, Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury provides a clean, well-maintained facility with a swimming pool and accommodating staff. For those willing to drive about 30 minutes, Cape Ann Camp Site near Gloucester offers a more traditional camping experience with wooded sites and full amenities, serving as an excellent base for exploring Cape Ann and the North Shore.
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