Best Tent Camping near Nantucket, MA

Scusset Beach offers an extended camping season, although the extended season is restricted to self-contained units as the restrooms are turned off.  Also, 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.. You cannot reserve an RV site for a just a tent, though if you have a trailer, you may also have a tent on the site. The 5 tent sites have their own fire pits, but the RV sites must use a community fire pit, though in mid-November, just before the campground closed for the season, RVers used the firepit at a tent site that provided some additional protection from the wind.

The RV sites have paved parking pads and picnic tables, but the area to the side of the parking pads sometimes slopes away, so it's less usable for chairs, etc.  In the 2020 camping season, every other campsite was closed (thus the picnic tables across the entrance of the parking pad). Some of the sites, 32 34, 36, are along the back of the campground closer to the trees/scrub, and so have some degree of privacy and protection as compared to the others in the wide open park.

The campground is on the north shore of the Cape Code canal and provides access to a sandy beach, a jetty, and the Cape Cod Canal Trail for biking and walking. There's a nice playground for youth. You can fish from the shore or jetty, No need to cross the bridge to the Cape. Plymouth is also nearby to explore.

Great stay at the only campground on Martha’s Vineyard! Immaculate tent sites as well as bath houses, very clean shower and toilet facilities. Camp store is well stocked, including fire wood, and staying here you are close to all of the quaint MV towns…..whether by car, bike rental, or the island bus line that goes by the camp entrance. The ferry to Nantucket is only a few minutes away too for a day excursion! Very personable staff…..be sure to make at least a few minutes each day to pet the campground dogs!!

Scusset Beach Reservation overlooks Cape Cod Bay and accommodates a multitude of RV sites. The campgrounds aren’t the most attractive, but the pull here, of course, is the beach- which is actually pretty amazing.

Not nearly as crowded as a majority of the nearby Cape beaches and rather quiet- especially shocking for the weekend just before the July 4th holiday- Scusset Beach has all the amenities you could really want for a low-key beach outing. The beach is clean, with beautiful, white, rock-free sand. There’s a small snack bar with basic food options, bathroom and locker room facilities, picnic tables and plenty of parking. Lifeguards begin their work around 10am and are pretty serious about announcing all the rules.

In the grounds, you’ll find rows and rows of RV sites. Not much in terms of privacy- basically a glorified parking lot with the occasional tree and nearby nature center. The Park, however, also has 5 tent sites towards the back that are really your best bet if you want anything close to a true camping experience. Tent sites 1, 4 and 5 are the most attractive options, offering shade and a fair amount of privacy. Each is set up with a grill, fire pit and picnic table and are pretty decently sized.

Additionally, there are several trails around the Reservation. A nice bike path along the waterway is literally feet away from the tent sites; and there also seemed to be smaller paths dispersed throughout.

If you’re a fan of the Cape and ocean, definitely give Scusset Beach a try- especially one of the tent sites. You can literally walk to the shore and stores and restaurants are a quick car ride down the street.

Beautiful grounds with all the amenities you’ll need. Un level grounds so specify what you need. Very tight tent sites and very very busy so not very private.

Great campground on the outer cape, CC Rail trail goes right behind it so you can hop on your bike and ride. Showers and bathrooms were clean and the tent sites were good size. Office staff was very friendly and they have a store at the beginning of the camp ground so you can get whatever you need.

Will be going back!

Scusset is a very popular beach and campground in the summer. It's located close to the Sagamore Bridge on the mainland side. Traffic can be messy in the summer, especially on weekend days!

The campground itself is a haven for RVs. There are 5 "wooded" tent sites, where campers are allowed to have tents as well as a fire on the site. All other sites are located in a wide open area and are best suited for motor homes and trailers. Note, only the tent sites are allowed to have fires, all other sites you must do your cooking on a stove, and no fires are allowed. There is a communal fireplace near the entrance of the campground where everyone gathers at dusk to share a nice big fire.

Most sites have a paved driveway for your camper and space for a small car, and there is an overflow parking lot if needed. Flush toilets, sinks and showers are available in the main bathroom building and are cleaned on a regular basis. During beach season there is another restroom down by the beach with outdoor showers to get off all the sand! Sometimes the refreshments stand is open.

The beach is big, open and beautiful with lots of shells to hunt and marine life to check out. At the edge of the beach is the beginning of the Cape Cod Canal, and its walking/bike path. Along the canal are inlets to let you back into the campground.

In the morning you'll see lots of folks fishing, watch for old line/hooks.

Because the camp has so few trees, the winds can be gnarly. On the flip side, the lack of trees gives you a great spot to stargaze, especially if you focus your view out over the ocean, away from the lights of the mainland.

When my boyfriend and I decided to camp on the cape, he had mentioned Nickersons but said he hasn’t been there since he was little. I decided to check it out online and found you were able to make an online reservation. This seemed appealing and I felt was the easiest way to go about it. Unfortunately it wasn’t the easiest process as the website itself that they use (reserveamerica) was very hard to navigate and super confusing. After awhile of trying to figure it out, I finally was able to reserve a site and pay right online. We even got the Massachusetts resident discount with his home address. When we arrived, it was a very easy check in. They gave us directions to our site and even to the store to buy fire wood. The tent sites were a little close together but luckily our neighbors were quiet and easy going. The bathrooms were right behind out site which was really nice. We only stayed one night but it was very enjoyable at Nickersons and we will most definitely be back!

I've been coming to Nickerson St. Park with my family for several years now and find I'm happy just staying there instead of running all over the Cape to hit beaches, P-Town, etc. 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. The bike path and network of trails through the park (that connect to the beautiful 22 mile long Cape Cod Rail Trail) make for great bike riding and early morning running. Water is convenient to all the tent sites, and I really don't have any big criticisms on the park! this year, they seem to have sandblasted the inside bathroom doors as there's been some poorly drawn graffiti there over the years, but no more! There are multiple camping loops (7) for various sized groups/vehicles/campers, etc,. All in all, Nickerson is a true gem as far as state parks go.

I would say this campground is definitely better suited for RVers. There are very few tent sites in the park, and it's pretty loud between road noise and generators from the RVs.

Pros: The site we stayed in was pretty large and private. The campground is centrally located, so if you're visiting the area it's a great spot to be in if you'll be going off for day trips all over the area. The bathhouse was fairly decent.

Cons: The prices are a bit steep, even in the off season (we paid 42 bucks a night for the last weekend they were open in fall!). It is not quiet and relaxing either - we could hear car traffic all night over the bridge (a given since it's directly under the canal bridges), but also on route 6.

I wouldn't suggest this as a place to relax and get away into the woods. I would recommend it as a cheap alternative to hotels for visiting the cape. I probably won't be back here.

This state forest campground is located just over the Sagamore bridge, across the Cape Cod canal. It's a basic, no-frills campground, with more than half the sites designated as tent only; a few of the sites are designated for tent/pop-up. The tent sites tend to be on short spurs that may be hilly and uneven, so would be difficult to navigate with a trailer or larger vehicle. If you don't have camping gear, there are 6 yurts available for rent, though they were not available during the 2020 covid season. The bathrooms offer showers and are undergoing some renovations in 2020. No hookups, but there is a dump station. 

If you have young kids, they'll love the new playground area. That's really about the only attraction within the campground, though there are some hiking and biking trails. The Cape Cod Canal Bikeway is nearby and provides easy biking and exploration. If you're looking for a beach experience and you'll be there a few days, consider buying a weekly parking pass. During the week, it may be worthwhile to cross back across the Sagamore bridge to visit Scusset Beach State Reservation, but weekend summer traffic will likely make that prohibitive.

If you forgot food, Market Basket is a short distance away.

This park is huge! The 418 mostly wooded sites are divided into 7 sections and even more loops. You can find walk-in sites, tent sites, RV sites or yurts. The only thing missing is hook-ups. Water is readily available and there's a dump station, but you won't find electric. I liked some of the sites on the top and backs of the loops in the Section 6 area.

The attraction for me is the central location on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Additionally, a number of beaches on Cape Cod Bay are only a couple of miles away, so you can easily bike over and avoid the parking struggle. There are bike trails in the park as well, but hillier than those outside the park. You can fill many hours hiking, geocaching, fishing, boating, and swimming. If you don't have a bike or a boat, they'are available to rent in or near the park. If you are seeking the dunes and expansive coastal beaches, you will need to leave the park and contend with traffic, but there's plenty to keep you busy without ever leaving the park.

Of note, the rates are quite reasonable for MA residents, but significantly higher for out of state campers. Even so, it's a bargain for the prime location!

Found this campground last minute on way down road. We have a 40' 5th wheel (big rig) with 4 slide outs. Would have prob been in a Walmart parking lot, IF the mngr, Karen, wasn't so AWESOME!!! I called after hours to Sun RV Resorts corporate office. They got ahold of this great campground mngr, who called me back within a hour or so, while we were still on I-95. She happily agreed to let us head on in well after dark at almost 10pm. Came over, from her nearby home, to welcome us at gate with a super friendly, upbeat smile and a gift kit for our pup. Made us feel so WELCOME! Led us, via her car, to our open, pull-thru spot & said coffee would be on at 8am. She was so accommodating to our needs & multiple schedule changes. We wound up staying another night. She was like a cheerleader for us to have a great time. THANK YOU SO MUCH KAREN...you're the best! She made our experience here what it was...terrific! It must be noted, that this is an extremely large, full, town-like campground, packed full of mostly permanent seasonals, or full time occupant spaces. I do imagine that at high season, it is prob an absolute zoo, with noise & kids everywhere. We were there in late October (during COVID), so very quiet. Located in nice area, directly across road from beach on Nantucket Sound.

Formerly Paine's campground, this is now under the Massachusetts DCR. It offers inexpensive, rustic camping on the Cape, though rates are much higher for out-of-state guests than for instate. Many sites are small, some require walk-in, and parking may be separate from the site; in some instances it is across or near the site, and for others it is closer to the park entrance. Under the new ownership they've paved some of the roads, but the roads are narrow and with curves. All of the conditions have led them to limit campers to tents and short trailers/campers only, with length <15' and only 1 unit/vehicle per site. There is 20A electric on a number of the sites. When you read site descriptions, it will indicate 'compact loop' or 'petite site' and those are accurate!

Sites are largely shaded. Some of the sites back up to neighboring yards (9-12 area). Walk-in distance to some sites can be substantial (see sites 49, 59, 61, etc.) so be sure to read site descriptions carefully, but 61 in particular offers greater privacy. The sites aren't always level. There are no photos on the reservation website, so I've tried to capture most, but not all, here.

No alcohol or pets allowed. 

The are nearby beaches, hikes, Cape Cod Rail Trail and other biking opportunities are nearby. If you don't have a bike, you can easily rent one from nearby shops.

It won't be for everyone, but if you want a campground that is less expensive, caters to tents and trailers rather than the big rigs, this may be for you!

Camping on one of the best Islands in Massachusetts

Area 5, Site 17. On the edge of the smaller flax pond, beautiful site, great view of the lake. One of the smaller sites, we had two small 3 man tents which fit fine with a car, but if you had more gear might be tight. Very open to neighbouring site on one side.

State run campground located at beginning of cape cod route 6. The sites can accommodate large rvs and tents. They are dog friendly however, not allowed on beach during peak summer season. No fires are allowed and no great views of ocean. The cape cod bike path and lots of great fishing off canal located right next to campground.

I love this campground! Very family friendly, and makes Cape Cod accessible without having to rent a house or hotel. From this campground you can drive easily to lots of beaches, restaurants, and other tourist activities. It is right in the middle of the cape so even the very tip of the cape is within an hour's drive. Our campsite was huge and we had plenty of room to park a car with a trailer, two big tents, and lots of chairs around the fire.

We've been camping at Wellfleet Hollow (formerly Paine's Campground) for close to thirty years.  We love its location in the funky, artsy town of Wellfleet where there are great food options and some of the best beaches on Cape Cod.  It's also walking distance to the secluded Duck Pond which is a gem.  The campsite itself it wonderful with a tree canopy that lets in plenty of light but won't let you be baked with hot sun.  The sites are well spaced so you don't feel too crowded and the terrain is a bit hilly so it's got a nice, rustic feel to it.  At night you can go out to the power lines for some of the best star gazing on the East Coast. It's a short bike ride to the Cape Cod Rail Trail which is wonderful.  The bathroom facilities are much improved too.  The only beef I have is that out of staters have to pay an exorbitant fee relative to people from Massachusetts.  That seems a bit unfriendly especially since we are within the boundaries of the National Seashore roughly speaking.

Tents, yurts, powered or not powered. You can have remote-feeling sites, or ones that are close in…and all are “floored” with nice flat cover of dry pine needles from the towering white pines local to this area. A few miles from the north coast of Cape Cod (town of Sandwich), close to beaches and to a lovely long narrow “board walk” across a sea grass / marshland. You can have a campsite with a mountain bike trails leaving your space and ride through miles of trails. You can walk to fabulous shower and bath houses; you can also rent yurts!

Woodsy pet-friendly family camping with easy access to Cape Cod attractions. Our family of four plus one pet enjoyed biking, hiking, and pond swimming during our three night tent stay. Sites are grassy and tree-lined offering some privacy. Bathrooms were clean and showers were warm and spacious. We kept ourselves occupied within the park for most of our stay, but enjoyed venturing out to spend time enjoying the National Seashore, and outstanding sea food joints. Since camping means being close to nature be sure to bring bug spray and be prepared to deal with a bit of sand. In all, this state park made for a fun family outdoor adventure!

A quiet campground in mid June - sites are close together but not many people this trip, quiet and friendly neighbors. Right on the rail trail. Wellfleet beaches and glacial kettle ponds don’t require a parking sticker Labor Day- 2nd weekend in June.

Great Pond and Long Pond are both close by and lovely swimming. You can also walk to Duck Pond from the campground.

Site 73 had noise from the bathroom exhaust fan from 7am-10pm- just background drone but I noticed it.

Nice outdoor showers w hot water and clean restrooms with wash sink for dishes.

Wild turkeys moved through camp during my visit.

Tents only - no RVs.

Pay $300-$500/night for a hotel or this campground for $35/night? I’ll take the campground any day. Several years now I’ve packed a suitcase w a tent, tarp, air mattress and sleeping bag and had some of the best weeks of my life! The bus picks up and drops off just outside the campground and with a weekly bus pass you can be anywhere on the island within minutes. Every day was a new adventure to Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, Menemsha etc. Large shared male and female bathroom/shower complex next to the camp store and office as well as an outdoor shower for those more adventurous. Most sites have electric and water nearby. The management/owner takes pride in the campground and loves what he does. It’s the best way to experience Martha’s Vineyard!