RV camping options extend within 20-35 miles of Malden, Massachusetts, with sites available in both coastal and inland settings. Most campgrounds in this region offer a range of hookups from water-electric to full service sites, with cellular connectivity generally reliable across all locations. While coastal campgrounds provide ocean access and tend to remain open through mid-November, inland sites typically close by mid-October.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Wompatuck State Park Campground offers extensive trails for outdoor activities. "We found a large pond and an underground bunker to venture into. The campsite had trees around it so you felt secluded and there was plenty of wood to collect for a fire," notes one camper about the Wompatuck State Park Campground.
Boating access: Several parks provide water recreation options on both lakes and ocean. "Camping on the oceanfront was a rare treat! Our site was large enough for an 8 person tent, 4 person tent, EZ Up, and a pop up dog house for our pooch. We also kept our 2 kayaks on our site during our stay," shares a visitor to Winter Island Park.
Golfing: Some RV sites near Malden, Massachusetts combine camping with golfing. Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park offers "a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc. There are 300 camping sites with full hookups," according to a reviewer.
What campers like
Beach proximity: Coastal campgrounds provide easy beach access. "We rode bikes to Salisbury Beach and my young adult son rode his longboard to the beach. We thought the small campsites would bother us, but after one day we got used to it and it was fine," reports a guest at Beach Rose RV Park.
Quiet atmosphere: Some parks offer more peaceful environments. "We really liked this park! It was clean, very well cared for, supper nice people and a decent price ($43/night) for camping in coastal New England," states a camper at Seacoast Camping and RV Resort.
Swimming options: Many parks feature pools or swimming areas. "Beautiful campground, clean facilities, decently priced. The pool, playground, bathrooms, and basketball court were all open and well maintained. We really enjoyed our stay!" shares a visitor to Tuxbury Pond RV Campground.
What you should know
Site variations: Quality and size vary significantly between campgrounds and even within the same park. "Our site was in a field that was near the bathrooms. We were on S1, near a septic pipe & there was a severely nauseating, strong smell of sewage coming from it," notes one reviewer about Tuxbury Pond RV Resort.
GPS challenges: Navigation systems sometimes lead to incorrect locations. "A little tip about GPS: if you're using Apple Maps, it will likely take you to a turn that is not the campground entrance, there's even a hand-written sign on someone's lawn that has directions to the entrance."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds have limited seasons. "Wompatuck is a charming state park with numerous hidden trails known mostly to locals, making it ideal for low-traffic hiking, biking, and mushroom hunting. However, one side of the campground appears to be shut down."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Many campgrounds offer play areas for children. "The kids had a great time by the sea and the playground. There are wildlife like skunks, raccoons do put food in car. Each site has a grill and shade," mentions a reviewer from Winter Island Park.
Entertainment options: Some parks provide organized activities. "Pros: Friendly staff, clean bathrooms, clean grounds, gated campground with card key access in/out of the grounds, 2 pools (closed for the season during our stay), pavilion, activities/entertainment, fairly quiet during quiet hours, laundromat, playground, dog park, boating pond, Horse shoe & Basketball court."
Budget considerations: Non-resident fees can be substantial at state parks. "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," warns a visitor to Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many RV parks near Malden have tight sites requiring careful maneuvering. "The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in. Lucky for us nobody was parked in that site."
Hookup locations: Position of utilities can affect RV placement. "The water and electric were between our site and the next on one side and sewer between our site and the one on the other side. This made it difficult to place our trailer on the slanted site and reach all services."
Seasonal residency: Many parks have a high percentage of permanent residents. "It's a huge park with mostly seasonal/annual campers. Section A is right near the entrance and this is where most of the transient sites are. They are first come first serve," explains a visitor about Gateway to Cape Cod RV Campground.
