Glamping options close to North Adams, Massachusetts include sites at 1,900 feet above sea level in Vermont's Green Mountains and secluded forest settings throughout the Berkshires. Most locations experience cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands, with evening temperatures frequently dropping 10-15°F below daytime highs even during summer months. Winter camping options are extremely limited with most facilities closing after mid-October.
What to do
Hiking to fire towers: At Molly Stark State Park Campground, the 1.7-mile round trip to Mt. Olga's fire tower offers panoramic views. "The hike up Mt. Olga is 1.7 miles (round trip). There's a fire tower at the top, which provides awesome views of the Green Mountains," shares camper Tara S.
Water activities: Paddling opportunities range from beginner to advanced. "We drove down to the second loop and parked on the side of the campground road and carried our kayaks down to the camper's beach. Our dog loved getting a little swim! The reservoir is beautiful- plenty of space to spread out for paddling and swimming," notes Melissa S. about Woodford State Park.
Brewery access: Several campgrounds offer direct trail connections to local breweries. One visitor at Molly Stark mentioned, "You can continue on the hiking trail to a cute brewery/pizza place or even a distillery. If hiking is not for you it's a 3 minute car ride away."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer the best wildlife spotting opportunities. At Piebald Mountain, campers report regular encounters. "We were greeted by some turkey and visited by some deer. Comfy and cozy setting," notes Tarah Z.
What campers like
Secluded waterfront sites: Strategic site selection can enhance privacy. "Clean, Quiet, relaxing great water views. I have stayed here a couple times and loved it. The sites are nice and private. The views on some of the sites to the lake are beautiful," writes Sandy M. about Woodford State Park.
Night sounds: Several campgrounds offer distinctive evening atmospheres. "We heard coyotes at night and loons in the morning," mentioned Melissa S. about her Woodford State Park experience.
Practical convenience: Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground offers centralized facilities. "The bathhouse was clean and well maintained. It is important to follow the directions and turn off of Rt. 2 onto Central Shaft Road (google maps labels it Shaft Road. It is between the Blue Vista Motor Lodge and Hoosac Range Preserve)," advises Heather C.
Varied camping sites: Each campground offers different site configurations. "There are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean tus, and a few (hard to get) cabins. Bathrooms are plentiful and clean, hot showers for a small price," notes Sambath T. about site options at Woodford State Park.
What you should know
Site selection matters: At October Mountain State Forest Campground, some sites offer more privacy than others. "What site you get makes all the difference. There are Many, I would say most, Sites that you feel very exposed and out in the open. Just plopped next to someone on the grass. Look for the sites that go off to the side (not on the loops) like 39-40," advises Desiree M.
Connection limitations: Cell service is virtually nonexistent at most campgrounds. "The park is so hard to find that not even a cell signal can get there, if your looking to unplug this is a great spot!" notes Bill K. about Savoy Mountain.
Shower considerations: Token-operated showers are common at state parks. One camper at Woodford noted, "Long waits in the morning- two shower stalls and lots of teenagers," while another mentioned "Token operated showers that we didn't use this time."
Navigation challenges: GPS directions frequently lead to wrong locations. "Savoy mountain campground is a very nice state park camp, but don't rely on gps to get you there it will put you on the wrong end of the park in the middle of a rural neighborhood," warns Bill K.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly atmosphere: Country Aire Campgrounds offers family-oriented activities. "This campground is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor. It is run buy a family business," shares Jason A.
Playground facilities: Family campgrounds offer varied play options. "The new playground is awesome according to my little experts and there are some nice sites along a brook," writes a frequent Country Aire visitor.
Children-focused camping: Some campgrounds are better suited for families with children. One visitor to Woodford State Park advised, "If you're looking for a quiet spot maybe don't look here. If you have kids and don't mind them making friends and roaming the campground then this is great! Boat rentals!"
Biking opportunities: Flat loops for beginners are available at some locations. One camper mentioned, "Campground has a nice loop for the kids to bike," at Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Tips from RVers
Site access routes: RVers should follow specific arrival directions at Zoar Outdoor and nearby campgrounds. "It's close to where locals jump off outcrops into the lazy river and hang out on the river side," notes Seth K., but adds that "their quiet hours are quite oppressive."
Dedicated RV areas: Campground layouts typically separate RV and tent camping. "The campground has 3 sections, located on different tiers of a hill. The lower level has RV sites, middle has tent sites, and upper has a few yurts," explains a visitor to October Mountain State Forest.
Utility noise considerations: At October Mountain, "There is a station nearby that offers a constant hum and during the week there are trucks going in and out of before 7am. The closer to the street side the worse it is," shares Desiree M.
Site size limitations: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger RVs. "Came in here hoping to start off my weekend with a nice reserve site. Had plenty of room for my truck and RTT. Close enough to your neighbors to see but you're not exactly on top of each other," notes William A. about one waterfront site at Woodford.
