Camping near New Bedford, Massachusetts offers both coastal and wooded options within a 30-mile radius. The area sits at sea level with average summer temperatures between 70-85°F and frequent ocean breezes. Most campgrounds in southeastern Massachusetts don't open until mid-April and close by late October, with some remaining operational until November 15th.
What to do
Fishing at local ponds: Myles Standish State Forest offers multiple kettle ponds for fishing. "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," reports one visitor to Myles Standish State Forest Campground.
Biking along the Cape Cod Canal: The paved bike path along the canal is accessible from several campgrounds. At Bourne Scenic Park, campers appreciate the "stair access to canal bike path" and "bike path along the canal, easy access." The canal path offers miles of flat riding with water views.
Shelling and beach exploration: Rocky beaches near camping areas provide interesting shoreline exploration. "The beach is small and quiet, and has some great shells and rocks. All in all, a quiet campground with the fundamentals," notes a visitor to Horseneck Beach State Reservation.
What campers like
Spacious sites for privacy: Several campgrounds offer good site separation. At Massasoit State Park Campground, campers mention: "We were located in the no electric no water area and even though every site was taken, it was surprisingly more private than you'd expect." Sites often include both fire rings and grills.
Clean facilities despite heavy use: Many campgrounds maintain good bathroom standards. "The comfort stations (indoor bathroom and shower and outdoor sink area) were clean and well maintained and close to all the sites," reports a Massasoit visitor. Another camper notes, "Bathrooms with music piped in. Love this place to pieces."
Proximity to beaches and water: Access to water is a key attraction. One camper at Newport RV Park mentioned, "We got a great pull through full hookup with a 5 minute walk to a huge dog park. There are also a bunch of beautiful trails right from the park." Another visitor noted it's "about an 20 min drive to local beaches."
What you should know
Ticks can be problematic: Especially in coastal campgrounds, ticks are a significant concern. A camper at Horseneck Beach State Reservation reported: "Why did we go home early? The TICKS!!! The tick situation was just very difficult. We drowned ourselves in tick spray, but the ticks were overwhelming."
Weekend traffic and bridge congestion: Traffic crossing onto Cape Cod can cause significant delays. At Shawme Crowell State Forest Campground, campers note: "Very convenient however, I found the traffic from nearby roads, highways and maybe even an airport to be surprisingly loud." Another mentioned it's "not recommended for light sleepers but very convenient."
Varying shower situations: Bathroom and shower access varies widely between campgrounds. "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," reported a Myles Standish visitor. At another campground: "There were long lines for showers every night and the showers were very outdated and not clean at all."
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds offer excellent play areas. At Jellystone Park Cranberry Acres, there are "Plenty of activities offered like miniature golf, basketball, horseshoes, a game room, and more." Another visitor mentioned, "Lots of fun activities for the kids, including wagon rides and foam parties."
Family-friendly activities: Many campgrounds schedule regular events. "The activities for kids is the draw for this campground for sure. My kids loved the train rides, movie night, flash light candy hunt, and arts and crafts," wrote a visitor to Boston/Cape Cod KOA. Another camper noted their children "really enjoyed the lake!"
Swimming options vary: Pond swimming may be preferable to ocean beaches for some families. "The pond water was very clear, seeing as they are fed from natural springs under the ponds," notes a Myles Standish camper. Another visitor mentioned "Nice new pool and kiddie pool" at Jellystone Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup limitations and dumping options: Many campgrounds have partial hookups only. At Boston/Cape Cod KOA, an RVer advised: "I have learned that you really need to upgrade to the better campsites to enjoy your stay. With that being said I did not take my own advice and I booked a basic 30 amp fullhook up campsite and it was so tight that unfortunately I did not enjoy it."
Site levelness challenges: Some campgrounds require extensive leveling equipment. At Bourne Scenic Park, "Leveling was not an issue for us in our site (C-25) but 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."
Seasonal differences in crowds: The camping experience varies dramatically by season. At Myles Standish State Forest, a camper noted: "The one thing you may notice is that if you stay on a Friday or Saturday night, the campground may be to capacity. But the Sunday, and Monday nights, the 7 closest spots to us were empty, it was like having the woods to ourselves."
Ranger
