Shawme Crowell State Forest Campground and nearby camping areas around Mashpee Neck offer a variety of seasonal camping experiences from spring through late fall. The campgrounds sit within pine forests at elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 100 feet, providing a mix of wooded and coastal environments. Winter temperatures average 25-40°F while summer averages 65-85°F with higher humidity levels typical of coastal New England.
What to do
Hiking forest trails: Shawme Crowell State Forest features numerous hiking paths through pine forests. According to one visitor, "We stayed here in October and it was a little too chilly for us to camp but we gave it a shot. The campground wasn't too big and the sites offered a lot of privacy, and some hiking trails within the campground." However, another camper notes, "I've hiked the trails and you have to be careful. They aren't always well maintained or marked."
Biking the Cape Cod Canal: Bourne Scenic Park offers direct access to the paved Cape Cod Canal path. "Beautiful location right along the canal that you can bike down to the beach or just to watch some fisherman reel in some massive fish," notes one visitor. The canal path connects to numerous towns and beaches in the area.
Fishing in freshwater ponds: Peters Pond RV Resort provides excellent freshwater fishing opportunities. A camper reports, "Great fishing and nice clean sites." Another visitor mentions, "We really enjoyed the beach raft, able to kayak and did some fishing."
Explore multiple kettle ponds: Nickerson State Park Campground features unique glacial kettle ponds for swimming. "The clean, freshwater swimming at the kettle ponds (which are usually uncrowded and within less than a minute's walk from our campsite) is incredible," writes one regular visitor.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Sweetwater Forest offers secluded camping spots. "We were on site B17 and it was perfect. Complete 360 privacy, well wooded, and just what was needed. Listen to the sounds of frogs at night was kinda awesome," writes one camper. Another visitor mentions, "The tent area is in a woodsy hollow full of birds and interesting wildlife."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and showers. At Sweetwater Forest, a camper noted, "The comfort stations were clean and the showers have hot water and there's an outdoor sink & counter to wash dishes." Another visitor at Bourne Scenic Park stated, "One of the cleanest campgrounds we have been too."
Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds provide peaceful settings away from crowds. At Sweetwater Forest, one visitor commented, "This was the quietest campground during 'quiet hours' that I've ever visited. Walking my dog late at night or early in the morning was absolutely silent."
Proximity to Cape beaches: Most campgrounds serve as convenient bases for beach exploration. One Indianhead Resort visitor noted, "Just a 1/2 mile away is a great nature walk to the ocean." Another camper at Scusset Beach mentioned, "The beach is big, open and beautiful with lots of shells to hunt and marine life to check out."
What you should know
Traffic and noise levels: Some campgrounds experience road noise. At Scusset Beach State Reservation, a camper noted, "Where we were it was close to the bridge and the traffic was loud all night." Similarly, at Shawme Crowell, a reviewer commented, "It is very close to Rt 6 so the traffic noise is almost constant especially friday nights."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, particularly for summer months. At Nickerson State Park, a camper advised, "This spot fills up quick so reservations well ahead of time are needed."
Limited site availability: Tent-only sites can be limited at some locations. At Scusset Beach, one camper noted, "There are only 5 designated tent sites during the peak season, so if you want to tent camp here, you'd best make a reservation well in advance."
Seasonal differences: Off-season camping offers quieter experiences but sometimes limited facilities. A Scusset Beach camper explained, "Scusset Beach offers an extended camping season, although the extended season is restricted to self-contained units as the restrooms are turned off."
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with recreation options: Cape Cod Campresort & Cabins offers multiple activities for children. "They have glamping sites, which include full hookup, fire pit with chairs, octagon shaped picnic table and stone patio for your rv front door. Pets welcomed, a ton of extra activities like row boat rental, kayak rental, mini golf for $3 all day," notes one family.
Consider activity-focused campgrounds: Some locations specialize in family programming. One visitor to Cape Cod's Maple Park (Jellystone) commented, "This is the perfect family campground with lots of activities for the whole family during the on season. Your whole family will be entertained."
Check for playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature playground facilities. At Shawme Crowell, a visitor mentioned, "If you have young kids, they'll love the new playground area." Another camper noted, "The second one has a playground while the first one does not. I would not recommend the first area if you have small children for this reason."
Be prepared for variable weather: Cape Cod experiences frequent weather changes. A visitor to Indianhead Resort commented, "We had the greatest camping neighbors. It was really good. The site we had only had 110v. One night it caught on fire. Scared us to death."
Tips from RVers
Consider site levelness: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring preparation. At Bourne Scenic Park, one experienced RVer observed, "The majority of sites would be a problem for a motorhome to get level without the aid of blocks. In fact, some sites were ridiculously unlevel and took a scary amount of blocks."
Check hookup configurations: Campgrounds offer varying levels of service. At Sweetwater Forest, a reviewer noted, "Only drawbacks are that there are limited full hookup big rig sites, and they book up in advance; also water view sites down at the pond also book up in advance."
Understand dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer sewer hookups at individual sites. As one Bourne Scenic Park visitor explained, "No sites have sewer; however, grey water dump stations are randomly placed throughout the campground and can be accessed with a garden hose."
Research site dimensions carefully: Some campgrounds have tight spaces for larger rigs. A visitor to Bourne Scenic Park noted, "Lots of tight spaces" while another mentioned, "The one thing we did notice was that the site layout in some areas is not traditional meaning they are not all in the same direction and configuration. Some sites run parallel while the next one runs perpendicular."
