Best Glamping near Marblehead, MA

Winter Island Park and Boston Harbor Islands State Park offer distinctive glamping experiences on Massachusetts' North Shore, within easy reach of Marblehead. These waterfront destinations feature climate-controlled accommodations with modern amenities while maintaining their natural coastal setting. At Winter Island Park, waterfront glamping sites provide harbor views and ocean breezes, complete with electric hookups and access to well-maintained shower facilities. Boston Harbor Islands offers more secluded glamping options including yurts with comfortable bedding and rustic-chic furnishings. Both locations maintain the balance between outdoor immersion and creature comforts with picnic tables, fire rings, and proximity to beach access. "Campground is right on the ocean with incredible harbor views. It was an easy bike ride to the Salem Ferry to get access into Boston for the day," noted one visitor.

Glamping at these coastal retreats provides unique access to maritime attractions and historic sites. Winter Island Park places guests within two miles of downtown Salem, where the Salem Witch Museum and other historic attractions await exploration. The campground's beachfront location enables easy kayak launching, fishing, and trail walking along the shoreline. Boston Harbor Islands State Park glamping accommodations operate seasonally from June through Labor Day weekend, requiring advance reservations due to limited availability. A visitor described their experience: "We had a great time camping and going to the beach. The camp ground is full of beautiful boulders and fire pits." For those seeking urban adventure, Salem's trolley line connects Winter Island with downtown, while Boston Harbor Islands offers boat transportation to the city, making these glamping sites ideal basecamps for exploring New England's coastal communities.

Best Glamping Sites Near Marblehead, Massachusetts (27)

    1. Winter Island Park

    14 Reviews
    Salem, MA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 745-9430

    $50 / night

    "We spent a weekend here on a tent site close to the beach. There was no parking at our site, but the parking lot was only 25 yards away so it was not an issue."

    "Each site has a grill and shade.you can bring your pets and campfires need to be off the ground. There was 2 weddings while we where their."

    2. Cape Ann Camp Site

    16 Reviews
    Gloucester, MA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 283-8683

    $36 - $44 / night

    "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."

    "Beautiful campsite, nice sized sites surrounded by trees so it felt pretty private. Bathrooms and showers well maintained, 25 cents for 5 minute shower."

    3. Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Hull, MA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (781) 740-1605

    $8 - $55 / night

    "You may choose to leave from Long Wharf, near the Aquarium T stop on the Blue line, or from Hingham, with overnight parking available."

    "The ranger showed us two spots that we could camp at but they had no grills. We chose a smaller but more secluded spot."

    4. Hanscom AFB FamCamp

    10 Reviews
    Bedford, MA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (781) 225-3953

    "No water on this site but there is electricity. Several options for bathrooms and all have hot running water."

    "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."

    5. Normandy Farms Campground

    40 Reviews
    Foxborough, MA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (866) 673-2767

    $50 - $200 / night

    "The staff was positive and helpful and that made a difference for me. I traditionally dry camp or go for semi hooked up on purpose, I just like the quieter camping."

    "This is more luxury than campground, but if that is your style then you will love this place. Four pools? Sauna? Spotless campsites (even charcoal is removed from fire pit rings between guests!)?"

    6. Tuxbury Pond RV Campground

    14 Reviews
    South Hampton, NH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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"

    "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

    16 Reviews
    Exeter, NH
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 772-5274

    $48 - $97 / night

    "It still had beautiful trees surrounding it but not as secluded from neighbors. There are also many seasonal campers there but all of their sites were beautifully decorated with flowers and such."

    "Lots of pine trees so pine needles and pine pitch can be a slight issue. Staff is friendly and good amenities but no pool."

    8. The Pines Camping Area

    4 Reviews
    Salisbury, MA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 465-0013

    $35 - $46 / night

    "There’s not much around here to do, but for us we enjoyed the calmness."

    "Nice campground with friendly staff. Restrooms need some repairs at the pool (which was awesome in the morning). We had a good time."

    9. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    44 Reviews
    Raymond, NH
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 895-3031

    $35 - $140 / night

    "The park includes a large family beach on the lake."

    "I was able to enjoy an especially picturesque sunset over the lake and I would definitely visit this spot again, especially with how accessible the campground is."

    10. Fourth Cliff Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Scituate, MA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 468-9547
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Glamping Reviews near Marblehead, MA

329 Reviews of 27 Marblehead Campgrounds


  • Emily T.
    Sep. 27, 2021

    Cape Ann Camp Site

    Perfect beginner camp spot

    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. There is a corner store, bathrooms, picnic tables, fire pit, cell service, and close beach access. Everything you need for a beginner camping experience.

  • M
    Aug. 22, 2021

    Cape Ann Camp Site

    Great campsite!

    Beautiful campsite, nice sized sites surrounded by trees so it felt pretty private. Bathrooms and showers well maintained, 25 cents for 5 minute shower. No cell service but wifi available at the office. Only thing we didn't like washere a lot of people walking dogs and let them "go" wherever.

  • Bowen B.
    Sep. 20, 2021

    Indianhead Resort

    Good people, needs updating

    The staff here is friendly and helpful whenever you call.

    The property itself is in need of updating. The bathrooms work well enough, but they are in need of a significant amount of maintenance.

    The sites are kept clean and have water and electric (some may be by powercord). The tent sites do not offer much separation in the area I stayed.

    The sites do have plenty of room for a tent, vehicle and each have their own fire pit and picnic table.

    It does have the ability for people to do several recreational activities on site: walking trails, beach, volleyball, basket ball.

    I stayed a couple nights and had a good stay overall.

  • Cassie G.
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Winding River Campground

    Fun laid back place. This campground has a lot of potential. Some info on their website and Facebook isn’t accurate.

    I would like to share my experience this past weekend at Winding River in Exeter NH. My family of 3 Stayed at tent site 523 in the Oak area. We also had family at 553 and 554 and Cabin 2.

    About site 523: I clearly had one of the largest and most private tent sites. It was set back with a long driveway tucked between 522 and 524. It’s a very steep drop into the river making most sites a little nerve wracking with a little one. Online it said water available nearby. Most sites had a hookup but there wasn’t a one on my site. It looked like there may have been one to share on the road, but I didn’t end up needing to figure that out.

    Tent sites 522 and 524: Along with most of the tent sites these sites were very close to each other, much smaller and closer to the road. I wished my family members had gotten 552 and 553 as they blended together nicely if you are tenting in side by side spaces. The ground was very rocky making staking tents down difficult. They were right next to the bathroom which was convenient but loud. Ventilation in the bathroom was not good so the doors were propped open much of the time and loud hand dryers.

    Shower:

    • This is the smaller of the two bathrooms in the campground. There are 2 showers there. Each with a single insufficient curtain and no hooks on the wall or bench to place things down. Water was hot enough, pressure was ok if you set it to the high power massage-like setting.
    • The showers in other bathroom (near the town center area) had a door and two curtains. Some had hooks (some of which were broken). I almost tripped going in and out of these bathroom stalls because they are raised up but there is no marking on the ground to indicate that.

    Cabin 2: Ac worked well. There was a good sized bed downstairs, smaller beds in two lofts. I was surprised the couch didn’t pull out. Fridge and all dishes were nice and clean. All the cabins seem to have different back porch setups. This porch was smaller than C1. There was a propane grill that smelled rancid with sooo much caked on The burners. The location of the ceiling fan under the other lights in the ceiling gave them a flashing effect that really bothered me.

    Pros:

    • Lower price compared to other campgrounds (but I don’t feel like I got everything advertised on the website)
    • Two playgrounds, both were nice.
    • Water slide was fun
    • We arrived Thursday at the gate and were told how to get to our site, to set up and then come over to the office which was nice.

    Cons:

    • The river is very low and yucky so none of the boating or fishing advertised was possible. likely causing the massive amount of mosquitos.
    • The whole arcade building was was “out of order”
    • The laundry room had two washers (one was broken) and two dryers 2.50 each per load. Not sufficient for a campground this size (especially when people leave their clothes in the machine for 30 mins after they’re done!)
    • Camp store was poorly stocked (multiple empty coolers).
    • Ice $3 per SMALL bag.
    • Wood $10 per bundle and rules say you can’t bring from off-site. I saw people with huge metal bins of wood but was never offered that option when I payed for multiple bundles.
    • Camp store closes at 3 on Sunday and doesn’t open until 11 am during the week (which is also checkout). This made it a little confusing when I wanted to return the golf cart. They have a small area with icecream that is scooped and maybe a kitchen. I never saw it open but I think the sign said open morning to 12 and then again in the evening.
    • The pool was green and cloudy on day 3. I called the office and was told they had just shocked it and that was a result of the copper. I am not informed enough on pool safety so I opted out of swimming on the hottest day of our stay. My son was bummed.
    • Planned activities were only scheduled for Friday and Saturday, when online mentions “daily”. During adult kareoke there were plenty of kids and really poor wifi (wasting so much time between songs).

    And just to add:

    • Staff I encountered was friendly enough, but It would be nice if they wore shirts to identify themselves.
    • Golf cart was great, but cost more than the site per night.
    • Pedal go-carts were available for rent (I didn’t ask a price).
  • K
    May. 8, 2018

    Charge Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    Camping, biking and kayaking

    Over Memorial Day weekend, we camped at Myles Standish. We were in the Charged Pond area, in loop F. The campground doesn't have hook ups, but there is a dump station with water and water available around the loops. The lower part of the camp ground is set up in different loops. While this is a large campground, it didn't feel that large as the loop probably had 50 sites. Our site was wooded and pretty private for a state campground. We had plenty of room and the site had a fire pit and picnic table. Each loop has one bathhouse. Ours, unfortunately, did not have hot water. We were told if we wanted it, we could go to any of the other loops. The bathrooms had two showers and three stalls, two sinks. There were at least three outlets in the women's room which was convenient for a quick cell phone charge. 

    The check in process was a little challenging. We arrived later in the day and had hoped to get our pop up set up by dark, but the check in process took almost 30 mins between waiting in line and a VERY slow attendant. He was more worried about my out of state phone number than getting us checked in. He also kept trying to put us in a different section of the campground. I finally pulled up my reservation to show him that I was in the Charged Pond area. 

    Our daughters rate campgrounds by their bathrooms. I was pleasantly surprised that they received at least one cleaning during our time there. But regardless, the bathrooms weren't that clean. It wasn't the worst bathroom (thanks Yosemite for setting that standard), but it could have been a little more attended to. It scored a - "not so bad that we'd never come back" rating from the girls. 

    The bike trails through the part are great and we enjoyed them. Paved and mountain bike trails. The map they give you at check in isn't very good - hard to read and a little blurry. We picked up a nice printed, folded map at the visitor's center in town and it was much nicer and easier to read the trails. Take the map with you as the bike trails were a little confusing.

    We also enjoyed the various kettle ponds. We kayaked one morning and enjoyed watching the people catching good sized fish around us. The beach (at least at Charged Pond) had a nice sandy section and a bathhouse. 

    The town of Plymouth is about a 10 min. drive if you need anything. We never saw a camp store or even a place to get ice. But we didn't look that hard either. 

    I was surprised that it was fairly quite and not busier on a holiday weekend. We felt most people respected quiet hours and there were even empty sites in our loop. 

    We will definitely go back. It was a nice, quick getaway.

  • Gail W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2021

    Hanscom AFB FamCamp

    Clean, quite and inexpensive, what's not to like!

    Staying at #20 tent sight and loving it. No water on this site but there is electricity. Several options for bathrooms and all have hot running water.

  • Ashlee L.
    Jul. 2, 2018

    North of Highland Camping Area

    Absolutely wonderful and quiet

    This is by far one of the best campgrounds I’ve stayed at so far. North of Highland Camping area definitely caters to tent campers – the roads are not big enough for large trailers or RVs, and they have no electric or sewage hookups anywhere in the park. This campground has been owned by the same family since the 1950s.

    We arrived around 10 am on a Saturday morning, and even though it was the weekend before July 4th, there were still several sites available for walk-ins (they have more than 250 sites). The desk clerk was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, and extremely helpful – he walked us through picking the best site available by asking us what our preferences were (did we want to be near the restrooms, close to the beach path, what size tent did we have, etc). He even gave us tips on getting beach fire permits. The price for the site was reasonable for the area.

    The campground itself is gorgeous – it’s within the pine barren forest near Head of the Meadow beach, completely surrounded by Cape Cod National Seashore land. All of the sites are shaded, and they are decently sized with picnic tables. There is also a ½ mile walking path that leads directly to Head of the Meadow beach; if you go to the town beach side, walk-ins are free!

    There are several restrooms centrally located to the main camping loops, plus one building that houses the coin-op showers, the camp store, a rec hall, and even an adults-only quiet room w/ electronic charging stations. The restrooms were very clean and well maintained, and even had soap and paper towels, which is rare in campgrounds. Each restroom building also had outdoor showers for rinsing off.

    The owners are VERY strict on their quiet hours policy (1030pm – 730am), and they are very restrictive on some noises during the day as well – pets, motorcycles, and portable generators are not allowed in this campground at all. This is exactly the kind of camping experience I’m looking for, as I’ve had some bad experiences the last year or so with other campgrounds attracting loud partiers.

    Overall, this was one of my favorite camping experiences and I will definitely be back!

    Pros: Wonderfully helpful staff, reasonably priced, very quiet and relaxing, clean and well-maintained facilities, great location, beautiful.

    Cons: If I had to pick any cons, it would be that the roads throughout the campground are in kind of rough shape and could use more signage (a lot are one-way and sometimes hard to distinguish from campsite parking spots). I had no problem in my SUV, but it might be a little rougher driving on them in a compact car. Also, no fires are allowed in the campground itself due to fire restrictions, but you can easily get beach fire permits to have one on the beach. That’s all I can think of – this campground was great!

  • Lajaun C.
    Feb. 10, 2020

    Cape Ann Camp Site

    Great Site

    Love this campground. The staff is awesome. Very helpful. The sites are nice and wooded. All size RVs and tents are welcome. They have water, sewer, and electric hookups. No wifi. There is a nice little store on-site for anything you forgot. It is also close enough to stores if you need more. Very close to a nice beach too.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2019

    Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Banner & Oak Traveler Shirt at Boston Harbor Islands

    Campground review: Camping at Boston Harbor Islands requires some planning, but you get the benefit of a remote island with minimal company. Unless you book one of the 12 yurts on Peddocks island, the camping is rustic; you’ll need to bring everything, including water. Reservations open 6 months in advance and sites fill quickly, so plan ahead if you’re counting on a particulate day. I only visited the campsites on Peddocks Island, so I can’t speak to the ones on Lovell, Grape, and Bumpkin. 

    Getting there: Unless you have your own boat(check regulations on the website; you’ll need to anchor offshore overnight), you’ll want to catch a ride on the ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands. Figuring out the schedule is the trickiest part, not least because they don’t make the inter-island ferry schedule as readily accessible. Here’s the scoop: 

    1. Check the ferry schedule. Figure out which departure makes the most sense for you. You may choose to leave from Long Wharf, near the Aquarium T stop on the Blue line, or from Hingham, with overnight parking available. For Bumpkin and Grape Islands, you’ll want to leave from Hingham; Peddocks and Lovells are available from either departure point
    2. Buy your ticket online in advance. Some town libraries have passes offering 2-for-1 ferry rides, so if you’re a MA resident in the greater Boston area, it’s worth checking that out first. Otherwise, you’ll be looking at an extra$20 for the ferry, but that fee covers your round trip as well as the use of the interisland ferries so you can explore other islands. If you’re traveling as a family, look at the family pack for another discount. You can show the ticket on your phone when you board. 
    3. Pack as lightly as possible and plan to carry or wheel it to your site. If you have a folding wagon, you may appreciate having it to carry items on and off the ferry and to your site on the island. There may or may not be carts available on the island. Peddocks has running water available, but otherwise you’ll need to bring gallon of water/person. If you want to grill, bring your own charcoal; otherwise bring a stove or bring food that doesn’t need to be cooked. You may scavenge wood to build fires below the high tide line only. No alcohol and no pets. 

    The yurts on Peddocks are great, providing shelter from the elements, bunks with mattresses, electricity, a ceiling fan, table with benches, and a grill. There are 6 yurts up a small hill, with a composting toilet and water from a tap nearby. The 6 tent sites are also in this area. An additional 6 yurt sites are below the hill and in the woods, so it’s a slightly longer walk to the toilet. at the top of another hill there is an open, grassy area, also with a composting toilet, that provides group campsited.

    While you’re out on the islands, take time to explore one of the others…look for sea glass on Spectacle Island and climb the hill for a view of the Boston skyline, explore the old forts and visitors centers, earn a Junior Ranger badge from the National Park Service, fly a kite, or go for a swim or kayak. In mid-August we collected handfuls of blackberries as we explored Peddocks. 

    Ranger Product Review: Banner& Oak Traveler Shirt 

    As a Ranger with the Dyrt, I sometimes get to test items; in this case I ordered the Banner& Oak Traveler long-sleeve t-shirt  in indigo. It’s long sleeved and super soft, but the first time I went to put it on, I realized the Banner& Oak tag along the hemline was sewn through both the front and back, so I couldn’t put t on until I removed the tag. I didn’t have scissors with me, so it was tough to get it off and ultimately I ended up with a hole in both the front and back. I’ve worn this on strolls through the woods when the weather was nice, but cool and on the foggy morning ferry ride to the island. The sleeves are not constricting and when I pushed them up to my elbows, they stayed in place while I hiked. I will say that it is a unisex t-shirt and the sleeves and body of the shirt tend to run long. I like that, but if you're petite, it may be annoying.


Guide to Marblehead

Marblehead's coastal campers contend with a marine microclimate that brings fog until midday during summer months. The North Shore area sits at sea level with maritime climate patterns causing evening temperatures to drop 15-20 degrees from daytime highs even in July and August. Glamping options near Marblehead, Massachusetts include both mainland and island settings with different accessibility challenges.

What to do

Beach exploration: Visit Cape Ann Camp Site, located 18 miles from Marblehead in Gloucester. "Cape Anne is beautiful. 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 could walk for ever," wrote Ron C.

Historic sites: Explore Revolutionary War landmarks at nearby Hanscom AFB FamCamp. "Close to minute man historical sites- revolutionary war historical trails and Ranger Station. Not too far from Boston," notes Caitlin B. The campground serves as a strategic base for exploring America's founding history.

Island hopping: Take boat transportation between Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground islands. "During the day you can take small ferries to a variety of other islands to go swimming or explore. This is a great adventure for kids," writes Martha H. The interisland ferry system allows visitors to see multiple island environments on a single trip.

What campers like

Remote isolation: Experience island camping at Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground. "Camping at Boston Harbor Islands requires some planning, but you get the benefit of a remote island with minimal company," writes Jean C. The island's remoteness creates a sense of privacy despite its proximity to Boston.

Off-season quiet: Camp in early spring or late fall at Cape Ann Camp Site. "Very nice folks, great sites with A LOT of space between them. Spectacular views and wild turkeys, deer, etc.," notes John S. Wildlife viewing opportunities increase during shoulder seasons when campgrounds operate below capacity.

Military facilities: Access exclusive amenities at Fourth Cliff Recreation Area. "This is a great place for military members. Full hook ups, houses to rent, tent sites, and lots to do. Once the season closes very quiet, lots of stores in the area close. The base it self is very clean and quiet with beach access during low tide," writes Larry N.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Book well in advance for luxury glamping near Marblehead. "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance. That said, you can also look for last minute openings," advises Martha H. regarding Boston Harbor Islands.

Shower facilities: Prepare quarters at some campgrounds. "25 cents per 5 minute hot shower is offered in the public restroom," notes doris C. about Cape Ann Camp Site. Most upscale glamping options provide complimentary showers.

Transportation logistics: Plan ferry schedules carefully for Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground. "Getting to the island was a bit of a hassle. We live in Boston and took all of our gear on the T to the harbor by the aquarium. We then took the ferry to Georges Island. After that we waited and got on a much smaller island to Lovells," shares Jess G.

Tips for camping with families

Wildlife encounters: Bring binoculars to Pawtuckaway State Park Campground. "I forgot the daily visits from the ducks, like clockwork morning and dusk a family of ducks visited looking for grub," writes Ellen C. Children enjoy these predictable wildlife interactions.

Playground options: Consider campsites near play areas at Winter Island Park. "Winters island is a beautiful campground in Salem,ma...the kids had a great time by the sea and the playground," says Candace H. This provides built-in entertainment for younger children.

Site selection: Choose waterfront sites when available. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" notes J L. about Pawtuckaway State Park Campground. These premium sites often cost $5-10 more per night but provide direct water access.

Tips from RVers

Dump station locations: Plan ahead as not all glamping sites near Marblehead have on-site dump facilities. "There is no sewer hook up however, near the street there is a 'dump station,'" explains doris C. about Cape Ann Camp Site.

Limited availability: Reserve early at Winter Island Park. "We spent two nights at this campground- the closest camping to Boston. Book in advance here because it fills up quickly and there are very few RV sites!" warns Rae M.

Seasonal considerations: Check operating dates for North Shore glamping options. Most glamping facilities in Marblehead operate from May through October, with limited wintertime availability. "Summer season early May through end October," reports Heather C. about Hanscom AFB FamCamp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Marblehead, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Marblehead, MA is Winter Island Park with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Marblehead, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 27 glamping camping locations near Marblehead, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.