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Best Campgrounds near South Ashburnham, MA

576 Reviews

The state forests and recreation areas surrounding South Ashburnham, Massachusetts provide multiple developed campgrounds within a 15-mile radius. Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground and Otter River State Forest offer tent and RV camping with varying levels of amenities, while several facilities like Pearl Hill State Park Campground and Willard Brook State Forest Campground feature cabins and yurts. Most campgrounds in this region maintain a natural, wooded setting with traditional camping experiences. Sites at these developed campgrounds typically include fire rings and picnic tables, with some offering electric hookups.

Camping availability in north central Massachusetts follows seasonal patterns, with most state-operated facilities open from mid-May through early October. Lake Dennison operates from late May to early September, while Otter River State Forest has a slightly longer season extending to mid-October. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend camping during summer months. Many campgrounds offer water access for swimming and boating, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Cell service throughout the region is often described as spotty or limited. One camper noted that Tully Lake Campground features a unique carry-in setup: "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."

State forest campgrounds in this region generally receive positive reviews for their well-maintained facilities and natural settings. Campsites are typically spacious with adequate separation between neighbors, though privacy levels vary by location. The Pine Campground operates year-round, offering an extended season option compared to state-operated facilities. Water activities represent a significant draw, with several campgrounds situated near ponds or lakes for swimming and paddling. Hiking trails connect many of the campgrounds, providing recreational opportunities beyond the camping areas. According to visitor feedback, "This campground is clean and well kept. Lots of families here. Swimming in a pond or a short drive to a bigger lake. It's kind of a hidden gem in north central Massachusetts."

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Best Camping Sites Near South Ashburnham, Massachusetts (127)

    1. Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

    14 Reviews
    Foster Lake, MA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 297-1609

    $17 - $35 / night

    "The loop closer to the entrance has a lot of private sites. Although if you have one closer to the main road, it is quite noisy with road sounds. But many of the sites in the middle are more quiet."

    "As a caveat, waterfront in this instance was more of a water view as the lake was on the other side of the campground road and a large open area with trees."

    2. Otter River State Forest

    14 Reviews
    Baldwinville, MA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 939-8962

    $17 - $55 / night

    "Swimming in a pond or a short drive to a bigger lake (camping pass covers both). One of my favorites. It's kind of a hidden gem in north central Massachusetts."

    "I loved it here, it was a great little campground for massachusetts"

    3. Gilson Pond Area Campground — Monadnock State Park

    19 Reviews
    Jaffrey, NH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 532-2416

    $29 - $45 / night

    "Campsites are well shaded but if you have an RV take the time to rent an RV site otherwise backing in will put you in and awkward position as the mixed use “standard” sites are oriented towards tent camping"

    "The campsite is big and away from another site. You can easilly access to hiking trails.

    The staff there are friendly and helpful. It's definitely a plus."

    4. Spacious Skies Minute Man

    28 Reviews
    Ayer, MA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 772-0042

    $39 - $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."

    5. The Pine Campground

    7 Reviews
    Ashby, MA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 386-7702

    "Small river/ brook rind behind the campground.   Some shots have nice sound of river right behind the sites.  No pond or pool for swimming."

    6. Pearl Hill State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    West Townsend, MA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 597-2850

    $17 - $35 / night

    "We really lucked out with getting one of a few sites left on Memorial Day weekend - after walking the campground, I think we would have chosen the same one again! "

    "It was like walking with fur on the bottom of our shoes. The dog also got needles stuck all over and we had to use our COVID alcohol gel to get the glue off. "

    7. Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    9 Reviews
    Royalston, MA
    14 miles
    +1 (978) 249-9150

    $40 / night

    "Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border."

    "Volleyball and horseshoes are near the entrance. You may purchase firewood. The bathrooms offer flush toilets and a single shower on each site, plus a dishwashing sink outside."

    8. Willard Brook State Forest Campground

    4 Reviews
    Ashby, MA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 597-8802

    $14 - $55 / night

    "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.  "

    "This campground is small - but its conveniently located near a larger city if you decide you want to venture back to civilization. The trails in the park are nice and well maintained."

    9. Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Rindge, NH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 899-3362

    $42 - $65 / night

    "the rules but everybody does and it's a good experience, everyone is very friendly the owners are wonderful people and super friendly very helpful it's clean they offer a lot of stuff to do right on a lake"

    10. Pine Acres Family Camping Resort

    15 Reviews
    Rutland, MA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 882-9509

    $70 - $115 / night

    "Miles and miles of country/forests surrounding pine acres, however pulling in you’ll soon realize how much goes on inside the campground."

    "Although the tent sites are a distance from anything, the main areas of the campground are fantastic. With a full calendar of events (some free, some cost $) you will never be bored."

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Recent Camping Photos near South Ashburnham, MA

339 Photos of 127 South Ashburnham Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near South Ashburnham, MA

576 Reviews of 127 South Ashburnham Campgrounds

  • Utshob A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Bear Brook State Park Campground

    Convenient and fun

    The park was easy to get to, only about half an hour from Manchester. It has kayak rentals and a very well stocked camp store, that was close to the camp sites. Our campsite was only about a hundred feet away from the camp store but still felt private.

    Our campsite also had a fire pit and a picnic table which were great.

    The size of the sites varies quite a bit though as well as their isolation, some were out in the open.

    For cell service: ATT seems to have pretty decent coverage but not Verizon.

  • Kenneth P.
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fort Dummer State Park Campground

    Not So Bad

    We spent one night at site #20 and enjoyed our stay.  It was rather peaceful other than the hum of I-91. The staff was friendly and helpful. The sites were generally wooded, pretty level, and fairly spread apart from one another.  I saw no signs of the problems identified in the June 2025 review.  Yes, I must agree that the restrooms are old, but they were clean.  The other problems might happen anywhere and were obviously brought under control.  Clearly, the writer of the June 2025 post knew way more than any weekend camper would be aware of and this shows that is more to their story that should have been revealed in their post.

  • S
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Cold Springs Camp Resort

    All Around Exceptional

    This place is just great! They have clean, flat sites, easy to navigate and get our fifth wheel in. The facilities are spotless. There are numerous pools and hot tubs, activities and the people that work there are just the nicest! Our kids were never scolded for being loud and neither were the adults. We have booked our return trip already and can't wait to go back!

  • Rachael K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

    Really pretty and chill

    This campground is pretty and offers many private site options. We didn't use the bathrooms so can't speak on that. But overall it's a clean campground.

    There are two loops. The loop closer to the entrance has a lot of private sites. Although if you have one closer to the main road, it is quite noisy with road sounds. But many of the sites in the middle are more quiet. The sites by the lake are really pretty, but there's not much privacy. All of the sites are good size and the fire pits are placed well.

    The other loop farther away from the entrance has a lot more lakeside sites. But there's very little privacy. The sites with higher numbers by the lake are all on top of each other with little to no trees or shrubs between sites, and you can't really decipher where one site ends and the next begins. We would not stay on that loop if we visited again. Unless it was site 101 which seemed more private for that loop.

    Sites 1 through 5 on the first loop are pretty quiet and peaceful. We stayed at site 4 and we think that it was one of the best sites in the campground. We didn't have neighbors on either side of us. We only had neighbors across from us. The site was spacious , peaceful and pretty. There was a little trail from our site that went down to a marsh. That was absolutely beautiful.

    We will definitely stay here again.

  • gabe N.
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

    What a gem

    We camped here one night on a pit stop and it exceeded our expectations! We camped on the north shore; sites were big and offered immediate access to and view of the lake. However, there is limited privacy between sites so hope for good neighbors :) also cell service was fine with AT&T.

  • Eric LeBoeuf
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Pearl Hill State Park Campground

    Nice place

    Don't expect to go swimming in the so called pond its all weeds and muck dear flies are killer but a little smokey fire takes care of them showers and bathrooms were always super clean id go back

  • Jim R.
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Indian Ranch Campground

    Live Music, Lake Views, and Laid-Back Vibes—One of Our Favorite Campgrounds

    We ended up at Indian Ranch Campground after leaving another local campground under less-than-ideal circumstances… and honestly, it turned out to be one of the best accidental discoveries we’ve ever made.

    From the moment we arrived, the energy here was completely different—welcoming, relaxed, and full of life. The campground is beautifully laid out with well-kept sites, plenty of trees, and easy access to Webster Lake(aka Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg—yes, really).

    🎶 The concerts? Incredible. Being able to walk from our campsite to watch national music acts perform live at the Indian Ranch Amphitheater is a game-changer. It’s like a music festival that doesn’t require you to sleep in a muddy field. Huge bonus for music lovers!

    🛺 Golf cart rentals make exploring the campground easy and fun, especially if you're hauling chairs, coolers, or just want to cruise around and enjoy the views.

    🏊‍♂️ The pool is clean and inviting—perfect for relaxing after a show or just enjoying a sunny afternoon.

    🌅 The lake itself is stunning, with spots to sit and watch the boats, fish, or just take in the view. The vibe is very“lake life meets concert culture,” and it works perfectly.

    🍔 There’s also an on-site restaurant inside the gates with great food, cold drinks, and a laid-back patio atmosphere that completes the experience.

    🤝 The people here? Fantastic. Campers were friendly, staff was helpful, and there was an overall sense of community that you just don’t get at every park. In Summary: Awesome mix of camping+ concerts Clean facilities, full hookups, and spacious sites Golf cart rentals= a must! Pool, lake, and great food on-site Walkable access to live shows= chef’s kiss🎶 We stumbled in… and didn’t want to leave If you're looking for more than just a campsite—if you want an experience—this is it. We'll be back. Probably more than once.

  • Jim R.
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Douglas Forest RV Resort

    Please—Do Your Homework Before You Stay Here

    I wish I wasn’t writing this.

    Truly. But if sharing our experience helps even one person avoid the same mistake, then it’s worth it.

    We booked two full weeks at Douglas Forest RV Resort, drawn in by its wooded setting and supposed family-friendly charm. The photos looked peaceful. The location sounded perfect. But within hours of arrival, we realized we had walked into something completely different.

    Almost immediately, we witnessed aggressive, disturbing behavior—adults yelling and chasing children through the park. At one point, a child was literally being pursued by a vehicle. In a campground. On the roads where people walk, dogs are walked, and kids ride bikes. We were shocked. We kept expecting someone from staff to step in—but no one did. When we brought it up to another guest, they just nodded and said,“Yeah… it’s always like this.” Turns out, management is known to overlook certain behavior from“regulars.”

    As we walked the grounds, we also noticed**several people clearly living out of tents—**not camping, not weekend warriors, but living there long-term. It gave the entire campground an uneasy, off-kilter feel. The line between traveler and transient is not well-maintained here, and it adds to the overall lack of safety and structure.

    We were ready to leave that night, but with tight, poorly lit roads, towing out after dark just wasn’t safe. So we locked up, barely slept, and pulled out at first light. We had paid for 14 nights. We stayed one. And we didn’t ask for a refund—because honestly, we just wanted out.

    And yes, we later discovered that many of the glowing reviews online were written by someone who works at the campground. That’s not just misleading—it’s reckless. Campers rely on those reviews to make informed choices.

    Douglas Forest RV Resort could be something special, but it’s not. Not right now. Not while safety is ignored, accountability is non-existent, and some guests are clearly treated as untouchable. Please, do your homework before booking here.

    We wish we had—just one day earlier.

Guide to South Ashburnham

Camping near South Ashburnham, Massachusetts, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds nearby, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Pawtuckaway State Park Campground. "So many lovely waterfront sites, clean facilities, camp store and beach are great," says a long-time visitor.
  • Water Activities: Enjoy kayaking or canoeing at Bear Brook State Park Campground. One camper noted, "The campground has a beach, a playground, a ball field, and a store."
  • Wildlife Watching: Visit George Washington State Campground for a chance to see local wildlife. A reviewer mentioned, "Very clean, not as busy, and has all the basics."

What campers like:

  • Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the large, private sites at Greenfield State Park Campground. One reviewer said, "If you like large sites in a wooded setting with many private ones, this is the place."
  • Clean Facilities: Many visitors rave about the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A camper at Woodford State Park Campground remarked, "The bathrooms are BEAUTIFUL! The nicest I've seen yet."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Families enjoy the activities available at Normandy Farms Campground. One parent shared, "Absolutely love this campground. It has so many things for the kids to do."

What you should know:

  • Pet Policies: If you're bringing pets, check the rules. At Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, pets are allowed on trails but not in the campground during summer. A reviewer noted, "Leashed pets are welcome on hiking trails only."
  • Seasonal Availability: Many campgrounds, like Lorraine Park Campground, are only open from late May to early September. Make sure to plan your trip accordingly.
  • Crowded Weekends: Expect busier conditions on weekends. A camper at Greenfield State Park Campground mentioned, "The weekend was packed! Our neighbors were playing karaoke till 11pm."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Amenities: Look for places like Normandy Farms Campground, which has pools and playgrounds. A visitor said, "The grounds are beautiful, the staff is lovely."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to check out the ranger-led programs at Jamaica State Park Campground. One family shared, "Amazing programming options from the ranger staff each day."
  • Pack for Bugs: Be prepared for mosquitoes, especially near water. A camper at Bear Brook State Park Campground warned, "There are more mosquitoes than we experienced further north."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Some sites may not be level, so bring leveling blocks. A reviewer at Normandy Farms Campground mentioned, "We basically had to park sideways and use a lot of leveling blocks."
  • Look for Full Hookups: If you need full hookups, check campgrounds like Minute Man Campground. A visitor noted, "Some of the FHU sites are pretty tight, but overall the campground is nice."
  • Plan for Quiet Hours: Be mindful of quiet hours, especially on weekends. A camper at Salisbury Beach State Reservation said, "Loud neighbors after quiet hours."

Camping near South Ashburnham, Massachusetts, has something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family adventure, you'll find a spot that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near South Ashburnham, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, South Ashburnham, MA offers a wide range of camping options, with 127 campgrounds and RV parks near South Ashburnham, MA and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near South Ashburnham, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near South Ashburnham, MA is Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 14 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near South Ashburnham, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near South Ashburnham, MA.

What parks are near South Ashburnham, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near South Ashburnham, MA that allow camping, notably Tully Lake and Edward MacDowell Lake.

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