Seasonal camping opportunities near Northampton, Massachusetts range from early May to late October, with most campgrounds shutting down during winter months. The region sits at elevations between 200-800 feet, with varied terrain including rolling hills, forest groves, and riverside locations. Water access is limited in winter months at most campgrounds, with a few offering year-round availability.
What to do
Hiking at DAR State Forest: The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest Campground offers multiple trails suitable for day hikes. "Hiking is beautiful and there is a fire tower you could climb to get a great view," notes Alan, who stayed at DAR. Another visitor mentioned, "Bobcat trail to the beaver dam is a great hike, but the dam is not really anything much to see, so just enjoy the hiking."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas. At Prospect Mountain Campground, "They have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing," according to Sandra S. For those seeking natural swimming areas, one visitor at DAR State Forest mentioned, "The camp sites were a good size and in good shape. The lake was great for kayaking and fishing."
Fall foliage viewing: Autumn brings spectacular colors to the Berkshire region. At Northampton/Springfield KOA, visitors enjoy seasonal events alongside the changing leaves. "We went to this campground during fall foliage time. Very peaceful and very great staff. They had hayless rides and fire truck rides. This time they had a haunted house walk through," writes Jason A.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness receives frequent positive mentions. At Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, "The bathhouse was incredibly clean. Showers were great. The pool was cold, but really nice and again very clean," shares Rebecca L. Another camper noted, "The bathrooms were clean and well stocked."
Firewood delivery: Several campgrounds offer convenient firewood service. "I loved that they deliver firewood to your site when you purchase from them," mentions a Mt. Greylock visitor. This saves campers from having to transport their own wood.
Weekend activities: Organized activities provide entertainment, particularly on weekends. At Prospect Mountain, a camper reported, "They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides." At Country Aire Campgrounds, one visitor mentioned, "This campground is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Poor connectivity is common in the region. At DAR State Forest, a visitor pointed out, "This campground is in an area that has no cell reception for most carriers and there is no wi-fi." Plan accordingly by downloading maps and information in advance.
Variable site privacy: Campsite spacing and privacy differ significantly between campgrounds. At Country Aire Camp Ground, "We were there with the Scouts and took up a huge grassy area with tents. Looks like a lot of RV's for the long term, some pop ups, we were the only tents," reports Cindy.
Non-resident price increases: Out-of-state visitors face higher camping fees. One camper at DAR State Forest complained, "I don't mind paying a little extra some places because of being out of state, but paying $54 a night for not even any hookups when MA residents pay $17 is insane."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: White Birch Campground and Prospect Mountain both offer children's play areas. "They have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing," reports Sandra about Prospect Mountain. Another visitor noted their appreciation for "a newer playground with a sandbox."
Kid-friendly activities: Scheduled events keep children entertained. At Northampton/Springfield KOA, one camper mentioned, "They do seem to offer some interesting activities for kids with weekend fire engine rides, a gem panning center, seemingly well maintained playground/pool and a small haunted house for October."
Quiet hours enforcement: Family-friendly campgrounds typically enforce quiet time. However, results vary, as one Northampton/Springfield KOA visitor noted: "We had other campers arrive back at their tent sites across from ours at 11pm and they were inconsiderate of all the sleeping campers with their lights already out. After midnight I called the office and emergency line but got only the office answering machine."
Tips from RVers
Limited full-hookup sites: Reserve well in advance for water, electric, and sewer connections. At Peppermint Park Camping Resort, an RVer noted, "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."
Site leveling challenges: Terrain in the Berkshires can make leveling difficult. At Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, a camper observed, "The site was slightly slanted but that did help with drainage when we had torrential downpours." Another mentioned, "Some of the sites are up hills and might be difficult for some to park their trailers."
Road conditions: Narrow access roads can challenge larger rigs. As one visitor to Mt. Greylock noted, "We watched a fifth wheel try to back up a hill and then turn into a site and couldn't get a grip because of the incline and the loose gravel. I think it's just about getting a site that works for your vehicles."
