Best Tent Camping near Monson Center, MA

Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Monson Center? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Monson Center with tent camping. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your Massachusetts camping adventure.

Best Tent Sites Near Monson Center, MA (19)

    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

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

    9 Reviews
    90 Photos
    3 Saves
    Royalston, Massachusetts

    Overview

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites you to come relax at Tully Lake. There are a variety of outdoor recreation activities for you and you family. Although the dam was built primarily to reduce flood damages on the Millers and Connecticut Rivers, the 1,300-acre reservoir area provides a place for you to get away from it all and connect with nature.

    Recreation

    Tully Lake offers many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Activities in and around the lake include mountain biking, camping, disc golf, hiking, picnicking, boating, and fishing and hunting in the appropriate seasons.

    Facilities

    The Tully Lake Pavilion is located in the recreation area and offers picnic tables and grills. Maximum group size is 50 people with parking for 25 passenger vehicles at the upper gravel lot. The recreation area has a small playground for young children, volleyball court, and a horseshoe pit. Bathrooms are provided, but there is no running water.

    Natural Features

    The 1,262-acre Tully Lake property is managed to sustain a healthy ecosystem for future generations. The thriving biodiversity of the Tully River Valley and the interconnections of our forests, wetlands, waters, and wildlife are valued and managed for the long term. Tully Lake is home to a wide variety of wildlife, from tiny insects and song birds, to large mammals such as deer and moose. Fifty-five percent of the reservoir area is wetlands, providing habitat for fish, waterfowl, song birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as beaver, mink and otter. The rest of the property provides habitat for upland species such as deer, coyote, fisher, owl, fox, raccoon, skunk, porcupine, rabbit, and squirrel. The forest within Tully Dam's reservoir area is composed primarily of white pine, providing habitat for owls and woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, and white-tailed deer.

    Nearby Attractions

    When visiting Tully Lake there are several opportunities for visitors to explore in the surrounding area. At the north end of the lake there is a tent only campground run by the Trustees of the Reservations which provides a perfect launching point to enjoy the outdoor attractions nearby. Ten miles away is the Birch Hill Dam, another Army Corps project that provides miles of trails and river to explore. The Quabbin Reservoir is also within a short ten mile drive of Tully Lake and serves the city of Boston as its water supply. The Quabbin is a unique area; there were four towns flooded to create it, and it has some of the most interesting blends of human and natural history in the region.

    Charges & Cancellations

    Please review the cancellation and refund policy at the bottom of the webpage. In general, we will require at least two weeks prior to your reservation to consider a request.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Trash

    $40 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Sodom Mountain Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sodom Mountain Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park

    3. Onion Mountain Park

    3 Reviews
    9 Photos
    146 Saves
    West Simsbury, Connecticut

    This town-owned park consists of 190 acres of wooded, rocky mountainside. Trails here are relatively easy on the flat but significantly more difficult on the hillside. The ground can be very wet after rains. Onion Mountain Park is accessed on the west side of West Mountain Rd. just south of Shingle Mill Rd. Visitors will find a good size parking lot.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Hill Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Hill Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Federated Womens Club State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Chester Railway Station
    Camper-submitted photo from Chester Railway Station

    6. Chester Railway Station

    1 Review
    2 Photos
    14 Saves
    Chester, Massachusetts

    Caboose Camper Rental! Camp in an authentic 1919 railroad caboose! Drive right to the site. Electricity available. Outdoor cooking/eating facilities. Camp beside the busy CSX Boston Line. Need more room? Set up tents on the lawn.

    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Cabins
    • Picnic Table

    $50 - $100 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Barton Cove Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Barton Cove Campground

    7. Barton Cove Campground

    2 Reviews
    2 Photos
    69 Saves
    Greenfield, Massachusetts

    Barton Cove specializes in rustic tent-only camping. The campground is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Each campsite has a picnic table, grills and campfire ring. Vehicle use in the campground is restricted to unloading during arrival and loading during departure. Showers are available near the ranger station, and there are two group sites available for larger parties interested in camping together. Two sites suitable for pop-up trailers or class C camper vans are also available. The sites have no utility hookups. Scout groups can camp by special arrangement through November.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Group

    $22 - $30 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Willard Brook State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Willard Brook State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Willard Brook State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Willard Brook State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Willard Brook State Forest
    Camper-submitted photo from Willard Brook State Forest

    8. Willard Brook State Forest

    4 Reviews
    38 Photos
    69 Saves
    Ashby, Massachusetts
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)

    $14 - $23 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Zoar Outdoor
    Camper-submitted photo from Zoar Outdoor
    Camper-submitted photo from Zoar Outdoor
    Camper-submitted photo from Zoar Outdoor
    • No image available

      10. Gillette Castle State Park Campground

      2 Reviews
      26 Saves
      Hadlyme, Connecticut

      Four public camps along the Connecticut River at Hurd, Gillette Castle, River Highlands and Selden Neck State Parks offer primitive, riverside sites with fireplaces and pit toilets for individuals traveling on the river.

      Use of river campsites at River Highlands, Hurd and Gillette Castle is restricted to canoers and kayakers only.

      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Tents
      • Market
      • Trash
      • Picnic Table
    Showing results 1-10 of 19 campgrounds

    Recent Tent Reviews in Monson Center

    523 Reviews of 19 Monson Center Campgrounds


    • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Hopeville Pond State Park Campground
      Nov. 10, 2024

      Hopeville Pond State Park Campground

      Small campground in three sections on Hopeville Pond

      General: There are three sections to this campground: five canoe sites; 16 sites including one cabin behind the ranger station and what I would assume is the main section with 61 sites. Some sites have water and electric hookups, but the majority of the sites have no utilities. Note: Pets are not allowed at this campground!

      Site Quality: We arrived in the rain after the Ranger station had closed and circled the main section several times trying to find the site with the least amount of water. We did not know until the next morning when we went to pay that we ended up in an ADA-accessible site. It was not marked in any way and I’m guessing that the only reason it was designated as such was its proximity to the restrooms. All sites appeared level and even though they were supposed to have gravel pads, they were mostly a mix of dirt (or mud) and grass with a little gravel. 

      Bath/Shower House: In the main section, there is a very large and clean indoor bathhouse with free showers. Did not use the shower so cannot comment. Appreciated that there was immediate hot water at the sinks. The other two sections have vault toilets. 

      Activities/Amenities: In season there is swimming, but the beach is very small. Fishing, canoeing, and kayaking are also popular. There are also some trails for walking/hiking, a basketball hoop, a dump station, and recycling. 

      This was an overnight stay for us but the rate for out-of-state campers, while higher than for residents, was reasonable at $30. We would return to this campground.

    • Ricky H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
      Nov. 5, 2024

      Onion Mountain Park

      Quiet overnight

      Very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required. Small campsite, first come first served basis. Other posts claim you can park right the site, but you can not. It’s up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take. However, it’s not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite.

    • Missi N.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Northampton / Springfield KOA
      Oct. 11, 2024

      Northampton / Springfield KOA

      Cute little campground

      Quiet (besides occasional plane overhead) lots of trees, spacious sites, clean and modern bathrooms and showers, nice friendly helpful staff.

    • Kathy T.
      Camper-submitted photo from Salt Rock State Campground
      Sep. 23, 2024

      Salt Rock State Campground

      Clean, but dated facilities

      Campground is a bit crowded with sites close together. The facilities were clean but quite old. There are some nice hiking trails along the river.

    • f
      Camper-submitted photo from Sunset View Farms
      Sep. 21, 2024

      Sunset View Farms

      Lovely spot in the woods

      We booked last minute (2 hours before we arrived) and were met with the friendliest staff ready to help us at 7:30PM and get us checked in. Perfect spot if you don’t mind a 40 minute ride over to The Big E fair which is what brought us out to this part of MA. The restaurant was so nice, and to my surprise more than accommodating as I have celiac, they really went above and beyond. We will definitely be back next summer for a longer stay.

    • katherine B.
      Camper-submitted photo from Forest Lake Campgrounds
      Sep. 17, 2024

      Forest Lake Campgrounds

      People who run it are rude and of their word

      Paid in full for a week in July, we stay here every year. Learned in May that I had cancer and would need surgery and weekly chemo until the end of September. Contacted Forest Lake Campground in May to cancel reservation, discussed options and was told we could carry our week over for later. Just received the all clear from my Dr today. Called to make reservations and was told they would not honor our already paid week. They said we would not get our money back either. Won’t stay here again as they are not people of their word.

    • Jacob D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Fernwood Forest Campground
      Sep. 15, 2024

      Fernwood Forest Campground

      Great and Friendly

      This campground has a lot of amenities for what you pay. You can get a site with just water, or electric and water. Can do RV or tent. Warm showers and playground for kids with communal areas. Quiet and dark both nights and the staff is very friendly, the campground is in the family. Will definitely stay here again!

    • carol T.
      Camper-submitted photo from Waters Edge Family Campground
      Aug. 23, 2024

      Waters Edge Family Campground

      BEWARE WATERS EDGE CAMPGROUNDS THEY WILL KEEP ALL YOUR MONEY

      JUNE 30,2024  my husband & I were seasonals at waters edge campground Lebanon Connecticuit  gave them a 30 day notice we were leaving this place wasnt for us just awful the owners are just money hungey thieves they told us they were keeping our deposit wich we expected because it says non refundable deposit so okay fine but we paid for the whole season its open april15 to october15 gave a 30 day notice left june 30 they refused to give us back the money for july ,august,september,to october 15 they ket 750 plus 2500 dollars told us were not getting our money back So iam sure they rented the site thats double dipping so fair warning I dont want this to happen to anyone else they will Rob you blind oh and they broke our ice maker when they dewinterized our trailer and never owned up to it came down to my floor in camper soaked with water from my freezer and didnr bother to clean tthe mess and said  it must have been broken nefore so they are also dirty liars I didnt want to even give a one star rating but had to put somethin i give the a big fat 0

    • SomadNomad M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Granville State Forest
      Aug. 17, 2024

      Granville State Forest

      Gotta chance

      Dyrt says $17-$54 went through all the hoops to book one for tonight said $17 per night went to check out expecting a few extra fees, $58.50.....that's over the max advertised....DYRT YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH AND DELETE BAD ENTRIES. YOU ARE A DISSAPOINTMENT.

    • L
      Camper-submitted photo from Peppertree Camping
      Jul. 23, 2024

      Peppertree Camping

      Amazing stay

      We had our very first camping experience with our new camper at this campground and it was everything we could have imagined and more. It’s a beautiful campground, the gentleman and his family who own it are sooooo nice and they helped us a lot when it came to learning how to properly use our camper. All the fellow campers that we met were extremely nice. It’s a quiet campground, located right on a river. My children spent hours in it playing and fishing. Looking forward to returning.

    • Laura D.
      Camper-submitted photo from Brialee Family Campground
      Jul. 10, 2024

      Brialee Family Campground

      Best Camping Experience

      This was our families first time staying at Brialee Campground.  The cabin was absolutely beautiful and clean.  The staff were friendly and helpful. The activities were great and kept my grand children busy.  Swimming and the lake were fun.  I cannot say enough wonderful things.  We had such a great time I booked my reservations for Next July 2025 before I left.

      A special thank you to Sherri for the personal tour and showing us the ropes!  She is the best.

      The D'Avanzo Family

    • R
      Camper-submitted photo from Strawberry Park
      Jul. 10, 2024

      Strawberry Park

      Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

      Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

    • Eddy B.
      Camper-submitted photo from Whispering Pines Campground
      Jul. 8, 2024

      Whispering Pines Campground

      Fun for the family

      Great privately owned family campground. The pool, splash pad, live music and activities for the kids were great!

      AT&T service had only one bar. Couldn’t stream but worked for calls and texts. Campground WiFi was strong but as expected struggled to keep up on this busy 4th of July.

    • Matt R.
      Camper-submitted photo from Mohawk Trail State Forest
      Jul. 5, 2024

      Mohawk Trail State Forest

      Great little camp

      We got a sit right on the river, so that adds to this. But this place is great, a river, hiking trails, no phone signal, what else could yoy ask for? Oh yeah clean bathrooms, and guess what, they have those too!

      But honestly this place is great, the staff is the most friendly DCR staff I've met, the buildings are well kept, the sites a large! I'd gladly go back, and I am!

    • M
      Camper-submitted photo from Charlie Brown Campground
      Jul. 1, 2024

      Charlie Brown Campground

      Riverside Delight!

      This was our first time visiting and my entire family enjoyed themselves so  much, that we've already reserved a site for a few weeks from now. Arts and crafts, tractor rides, and of course the tubing down the river. Lots of built in entertainment for the kids! The grounds were clean, the playground was nice, and the people were all friendly.  We did a late checkout for $5 extra, but the noon checkout and two dump stations would make leaving on time a non-issue as well. 

      Of note: We camped with friends, who were given a spot next to a large group of people (weekend prior to 4th of July is to be expected). The group were very polite and abided by quiet hours, but they were having fun and a bit loud for my buddy's 2 month of baby. They requested to move sites, and the management was super accommodating and apologetic. Helped him move his site and threw in some firewood for the troubles.

    • Jason L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from West Thompson Lake Campground
      Jun. 27, 2024

      West Thompson Lake Campground

      Pleasantly surprised

      We had an excellent experience at this camp ground. The Staff and Rangers were polite and welcoming. We were able to see some boat races and played a round of disc golf on property. Once the boat races finished each day the camp was very quiet and peaceful. Had a great weekend

    • Rae-Ann W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Peppermint Park Camping Resort
      Jun. 24, 2024

      Peppermint Park Camping Resort

      Relaxing & family friendly

      We had a nice weekend at Peppermint Park. This was our 2nd visit with a camper (2022 & 2024) and stayed about 20 years ago in tents.

      It's family and dog friendly, has a pool, hot tub, newer playground with a sandbox, camp store with large lodge attached, horseshoe, volleyball and other outdoor game areas.  There were several activities planned for father's day weekend including a BBQ food truck, BINGO, corn hole, horseshoes, and kids crafts. There is also wifi, but the signal is not great. It did save me on data usage though so I appreciated it.

      There is a large number of seasonal's and everyone we interacted with was very friendly. My 11 year old granddaughter quickly made friends with some of the seasonal children. We attended BINGO, which was packed, and it was clear they are a friendly group. The grounds, pool, buildings and bathroom are all well maintained.

      Our site, 111, was a nice flat grassy site with water and 20amp electric. We were sunny in the morning and got nice shade starting late in the morning. We had season sites all around us with only a few of them occupied so it was pretty quiet in our section. Sites are a bit closer together than we prefer, but do have trees and brush in between.

      We were in between 2 bathroom buildings. One of them having only 1 shower, 1 toilet and sink in each side and the other had 1 shower, and 2 toilets on each side. I believe there is larger bathrooms with more showers in the lodge but we did not check them out.

      Our only negative is the wood for sale is on the greener side so it takes a bit to get it going. We had the same issue 2 years ago and ended up buying lighter fluid from the store then. We did not have any with us this trip and did not want to pay camp store prices so we used sticks from the area and some match light charcoal to get it going well.

      We did not venture outside of the campground this trip, but do know there are some nice ponds/lakes close by and hiking trails.

      Overall it's a nice friendly campground that we will continue to visit.

    • Kerry G.
      Camper-submitted photo from Odetah Camping Resort
      Jun. 21, 2024

      Odetah Camping Resort

      “Camp”grounds that discriminates against tent campers

      Odetah Camping Resort called us today 24 hours prior to our arrival- after 4 years of camping there- to cancel our site unless we rented an RV and didn’t use tents. We were allowed to book and had the booking for 4 months. I was on the phone with them while I booked for assistance since it’s a group booking for 16. I called later to book a cabana too. They never once said anything. Then they called 24 hours in advance because our reservation said tent and that’s not allowed. Then they charged us a cancellation fee. Even tho they cancelled ON US. 

      But my favorite part is them saying that the camping industry is moving to no longer allow tents. They think they are*kind* to still allow tents-a handful of sites on a rocky hill that don’t have electricity or water. So those with medical needs cannot use those sites. Those with mobility limitations cannot either. 

      WHAT?! 

      Camping= tents. Change your name if you are going to discriminate. Don’t worry tho, you can put on a tent NEXT TO an rv on the sites. You just cant put only a tent. 

      Their customer service was horrendous. The experience was horrendous. What a shame.

    • Ryan A.
      Camper-submitted photo from Mohawk Trail State Forest
      Jun. 12, 2024

      Mohawk Trail State Forest

      Great Campground in Western Mass

      This is a great campground located off of highway 2 in western Mass. I stayed in site 51 and luckily the campground was mostly empty(it was on a Thursday though and was supposed to be full for the weekend.) Each campsite has a bear box and fire ring, there is easy access to hiking trails and flush-toilet bathrooms with sinks are located throughout. There is only one dumpster though and it’s a walk to get to – store your trash in your car or drive it each night, or enjoy the walk. 

      The campsites are very close together without much brush for privacy, so you should expect to see your neighbors up close and personal. Some of the sites are on Cold River(which is more like a creek). The bugs were awful, especially the gnats and I did see a large tick on my fire grill, so be prepared. The best sites are on the lower loop around the water. Avoid any site next to the bathroom as the lights stay on all night and will shine directly into your tent. 49 looked really nice and seemed dark. The hike-in sites were also close together, 22 is the most private. There are baskets with wheels provided. 

      The rangers are friendly and sell firewood in case you need any. You’ll need to check in before going to the campsite, they’ll give you a map and they take good care of the sites. Would definitely camp here again.



    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Monson Center, MA?

      According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Monson Center, MA is Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.

    • What is the best site to find tent camping near Monson Center, MA?

      TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Monson Center, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.