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Best Tent Camping near Nantucket, MA

196 Reviews

Tent camping options near Nantucket, Massachusetts include several established campgrounds on Cape Cod, with primitive tent setups available at Sandy Neck Beach Park and Wellfleet Hollow State Campground. Sandy Neck Beach Park offers backcountry camping with five dispersed sites located 3-4 miles from the trailhead, while Washburn Island Campsites in Waquoit Bay Reserve provides boat-access-only camping on a small island with waterfront views.

Most tent sites in the area require advance planning due to limited availability and specific access requirements. Sandy Neck's primitive tent camping requires hiking through sand without shade cover, making the trek challenging with camping gear. The park staff will deliver water and firewood to these remote sites for convenience. Wellfleet Hollow State Campground restricts camping to tents and small trailers under 15 feet, with many sites requiring walk-in access and separate parking. Sites vary in size and privacy, with some described as "compact" or "petite" in reservation systems.

The tent camping experience in this coastal region offers unique advantages for those seeking a more rustic experience. "This is a really cool option for those interested in visiting Cape Cod and also backpacking," noted one camper about Sandy Neck Beach Park. Sites at Wellfleet Hollow feature a tree canopy that provides shade without blocking all sunlight, creating a comfortable environment even during summer months. Washburn Island's ten campsites all offer water views and exceptional quiet, especially during shoulder seasons. Campers at these locations gain convenient access to Cape Cod's beaches, hiking trails, and in some cases, the Cape Cod Rail Trail for cycling. Reservations can be difficult to secure during peak summer months, with better availability in May, September, and October.

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Best Tent Sites Near Nantucket, Massachusetts (3)

    1. Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites

    4 Reviews
    West Barnstable, MA
    34 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "This is a really cool option for those interested in visiting Cape Cod and also backpacking. The park has 5 dispersed sites located 3-4 miles from the trailhead with picnic tables and an outhouse."

    "Took one more trip down for the end of the season, great weather but VERY windy"

    2. Washburn Island Campsites — Waquoit Bay Reserve

    1 Review
    Falmouth, MA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 457-0495

    $8 - $35 / night

    "Fire pits at each site with wood on sale at the ranger hut. 1 composting toilet."

    3. Wellfleet Hollow State Campground

    4 Reviews
    South Wellfleet, MA
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 349-3007

    $22 - $55 / night

    "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."

    "We've been camping at Wellfleet Hollow (formerly Paine's Campground) for close to thirty years. "

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Nantucket, MA

5 Photos of 3 Nantucket Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Nantucket, MA

196 Reviews of 3 Nantucket Campgrounds

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 2, 2021

    Fearing Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    Wooded sites near a pond

    There are 2 Fearing Pond loops at Myles Standish State Forest, the H & I loops. The H loop entrance is closer to the Charge Pond loops and is higher above pond. This loop is better suited to the larger trailers/tents with more space to drive around a loop , but some spots have slopes. The I loop's best feature is a small beach that is easily accessible from all sites. They've done a lot of site restoration and the fact that it didn't open in 2020 helped. In spite of that, many of the sites have awkward approaches and there is a large parking lot closer to the bathroom. There are no hookups, but there is a dump station available. Water is available, but no electric hookups. Fire rings and picnic tables provided.

    The forest has miles of biking trails, ponds for swimming, fishing, and boating, and even cranberry bogs to explore (though harvest is late in the camping season and this section is not open at that time).

    Cell phone coverage is poor to absent in the forest, so download maps for offline use prior to your arrival.

    Plymouth is nearby for a any forgotten provisions and for sightseeing. Erickson's ice cream cafe is near the entrance if you need a treat!

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 27, 2020

    Scusset Beach State Reservation

    Coastal campground open late in season

    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.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2020

    Wellfleet Hollow State Campground

    Newer rustic state campground for tents and small trailers

    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!

  • Our Greight Escape ..
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Bourne Scenic Park

    Wonderful campground!

    We stayed here for a season and loved it! The staff from the front desk to the front gate are incredibly friendly and welcoming!

    Pros-

    Front office is open late (9pm)

    Offers wood, ice, fire starters, hoses and adapter cap for gray water drain.

    Country Store

    Ice Cream

    Amazing views of the canal.

    Bike path along the canal, easy access.

    Lots of playgrounds for different ages

    Bounce pad (in-ground)

    Pool

    Stair access to canal bike path.

    Dump station

    Inexpensive to have visitors\

    Located near so much! Walmart, Market Basket, Target all within 15min.  

    Cons-

    No on site drainage for black water (grey takes an adapter). You will need a poop tote.

    Lots of tight spaces

    Anyone can pay to access canal, so they can access any campsite even without staying there. 

    Highway noise.

    BRIDGE TRAFFIC- if you know you know.

  • Anna C.
    Jun. 11, 2019

    Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites

    Backcountry Camping at Cape Cod

    This is a really cool option for those interested in visiting Cape Cod and also backpacking. The park has 5 dispersed sites located 3-4 miles from the trailhead with picnic tables and an outhouse. The hike in to the sites can be particularly difficult because it requires trekking through sand without any sun coverage and with all of your gear. It’s also a bit of a gamble because the sites are not reservable ahead of time. In order to secure a spot, you must show up at the park headquarters where sites are handed out on a first come first served basis. A nice amenity is that the park staff will send someone to the sites to deliver 5 gallons of water for free as well as firewood for a small fee so you don’t have to carry those resources. The sites are tucked away from the beach a bit into the brush which provides a nice relief from the wind. Fires are permitted at the beach and I was lucky to witness a really beautiful beach sunset. I did not encounter too many bugs during my time of visit but I’ve been warned that it can get quite buggy in mid to late summer. Overall, this is a 5 star primitive spot for me because it’s secluded, requires a bit of leg work and has a great view.

  • Alicia F.
    Aug. 15, 2018

    Marthas Vineyard Family Campground

    I love this campground!

    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!

  • Rachel P.
    Jun. 30, 2019

    Scusset Beach State Reservation

    An RVer’s Paradise

    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.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 16, 2020

    Shawme Crowell State Forest Campground

    Stay here because you want to explore the area

    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.

  • Ashlee L.
    Aug. 19, 2019

    Charge Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    One of my worst camping experiences

    Pros - the campground is lovely to drive through and the sites are fairly nicely design with some privacy between sites (some sites have more some have less).  It's also nice to have access to the multitude of hiking trails and ponds.

    Cons - the works.  We stayed around Charge Pond on a Friday and Saturday night, and even though the park has clearly stated quiet hours of 10 pm to 7 am (which includes generators), it was one of the loudest camps I've ever been to.  Several camp neighbors in our loop were up well past 1am loud as hell - talking loudly, screaming and yelling - even their kids!  And one site had their trailer generator running all night - there was absolutely no patrol of this campground at all, which is unacceptable on weekends in my opinion.  This place attracts some really awful people - there were several spots of vomit in the road Saturday morning, and on Sunday morning a neighbor could be heard at 6 am puking his guts out in surround-sound.  That plus the general noisiness, disrespect of other campers, and lack of patrol would keep me away alone, but the state of the facilities topped it off.  The women's room in Charge Pond loop A was filthy - it wasn't super outdated, but just not clean at all.  Every surface was absolutely disgusting, they had a 5-gallon plastic bucket to serve as the bathroom trash, and the entire place smelled like urine.  To top it off, when using it Sunday morning every single stall was out of toilet paper, and the whole place had very clearly had not been cleaned since Friday night.  I know campground bathrooms are usually not the best, but this was definitely one of the worst - I've used vault toilets that were cleaner!

    I will never stay here again.

Guide to Nantucket

Tent camping near Nantucket, Massachusetts offers outdoor enthusiasts access to coastal environments with distinctive dune formations and maritime forests. Located approximately 30 miles south of Cape Cod's mainland, the area experiences moderate summer temperatures averaging 76°F with frequent coastal breezes. Camping options concentrate on Cape Cod's southeastern shoreline, with most sites requiring advance planning during the May through October season.

What to do

Beach exploration: Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites offers direct beach access with fire permits for evening campfires. "You need a sandy neck ORV pass and a self contained camper (toilet) to camp here, but it's very worth it. Right on the water, relaxing and sunny most of the time! Campfires allowed at night, and pets are allowed," reports Matt R.

Stargazing: Wellfleet Hollow State Campground provides exceptional night sky viewing opportunities from nearby power lines. "At night you can go out to the power lines for some of the best star gazing on the East Coast," notes Tom C., who has camped there for nearly three decades.

Swimming: Wellfleet Hollow State Campground provides access to multiple freshwater swimming options. "Great Pond and Long Pond are both close by and lovely swimming. You can also walk to Duck Pond from the campground," according to Cal K., who visited in June.

Cycling: Wellfleet Hollow State Campground connects directly to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. "It's a short bike ride to the Cape Cod Rail Trail which is wonderful," mentions Tom C. The campground's location makes it easy to access the trail without transportation.

What campers like

Water views: Washburn Island Campsites offers waterfront camping on a small island. "Small island with 10 camp site (one group) all with views of the water very quiet at night. Fire pits at each site with wood on sale at the ranger hut," reports Tim C., who enjoyed the solitude during shoulder season.

Wildlife encounters: Campers frequently spot local wildlife during their stays. "Wild turkeys moved through camp during my visit," reports Cal K. about their experience at Wellfleet Hollow State Campground.

Off-season tranquility: Shoulder season visits provide a more peaceful experience with fewer crowds. "Campsites can be reserved 6 months in advance so it is tough to get one during the summer months but great camping in May, September, and October as well. Camped there May 20-25 2018 and there were only 1-2 other sites being used," notes Tim C. about Washburn Island.

What you should know

Reservation challenges: The best tent camping near Nantucket requires advance planning. "In order to secure a spot, you must show up at the park headquarters where sites are handed out on a first come first served basis," explains Anna C. about Sandy Neck Beach Park.

Site selection considerations: Many campgrounds have variable site layouts and access requirements. "The booking site is a little confusing in terms of if your site will have room for a car. Some don't and you have to park in the parking lot which can be a haul to your site," warns Will A. about Wellfleet Hollow State Campground.

Non-resident fees: Out-of-state visitors face higher camping fees at some state facilities. "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," notes Tom C. about Wellfleet Hollow.

Tips for camping with families

Water delivery service: For backcountry sites with challenging access, some parks offer support services. "A nice amenity is that the park staff will send someone to the sites to deliver 5 gallons of water for free as well as firewood for a small fee so you don't have to carry those resources," notes Anna C. about Sandy Neck Beach Park.

Shoulder season advantages: For families seeking more space and quiet, consider non-peak timing. "Camped there May 20-25 2018 and there were only 1-2 other sites being used," reports Tim C. about Washburn Island, indicating less crowding during spring visits.

Facility availability: Some campgrounds offer improved facilities that work well for families. "Nice outdoor showers w hot water and clean restrooms with wash sink for dishes," reports Cal K. about their recent stay at Wellfleet Hollow State Campground.

Tips from RVers

Length restrictions: RV campers seeking tent camping near Nantucket should note strict vehicle limitations. "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," explains Jean C. about Wellfleet Hollow State Campground.

Site leveling challenges: Prepare for potentially uneven terrain at some campgrounds. "The sites aren't always level," notes Jean C. about Wellfleet Hollow, suggesting the need for leveling blocks or equipment for small trailers.

Road conditions: Some campgrounds have limited access due to road design. "The roads are narrow and with curves," explains Jean C., indicating why larger RVs are restricted at certain locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tent camping allowed on Nantucket Island?

Nantucket Island does not have official public tent camping facilities. Unlike mainland Cape Cod locations, the island has strict regulations about overnight camping on beaches and public lands. Visitors looking for traditional camping experiences often need to consider nearby mainland options like Wellfleet Hollow State Campground on Cape Cod instead. Private land camping requires property owner permission, and unauthorized camping can result in fines. The island's limited size and conservation efforts contribute to these restrictions.

Where are the official campgrounds on Nantucket?

Nantucket Island does not currently have official public campgrounds. The island's small size, extensive conservation land, and high property values have limited camping development. For those wanting a Cape Cod camping experience, the mainland offers several options, including the primitive Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites, which provides a unique opportunity to camp near the beach with campfires permitted. Visitors to Nantucket typically stay in hotels, vacation rentals, or bed and breakfasts instead of camping.

What are the alternatives to tent camping on Nantucket?

Instead of tent camping on Nantucket, consider staying at mainland Cape Cod campgrounds and taking a day ferry to the island. Washburn Island Campsites — Waquoit Bay Reserve offers a serene island camping experience with waterfront views and is accessible by boat. Another option is booking accommodations on Nantucket itself, ranging from hotels and inns to vacation rentals and B&Bs. For those set on an outdoor experience, consider glamping facilities that may be seasonally available or arrange a private homestay that allows tent setup on their property (with explicit permission).

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