Northampton, Massachusetts sits at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains with elevations ranging from 125 to 822 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping months. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October with limited availability during winter months.
What to do
Hiking trails: October Mountain State Forest Campground offers access to the Appalachian Trail for day hikes or overnight backpacking. "Beautiful area to hike. Quiet off the beaten path. There are 3 yurts available May-October (no dogs allowed in the yurts). There are several tent sites available. Dogs are welcomed here! Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table," notes one camper.
Water activities: Zoar Outdoor combines camping with river adventures. "The campground is connected to an adventure/outing company that provides white water rafting, tubing and other water activities on a nearby river. It's close to where locals jump off outcrops into the lazy river and hang out on the river side," explains one visitor.
Fall foliage viewing: Northampton / Springfield KOA offers prime leaf-peeping opportunities in autumn. A camper shares: "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."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Prospect Mountain Campground provides secluded camping spots. "We liked this campground a lot! Lots of trees and shade. Great pool. The sites on the water looked nice- hoping to try for that next time!" reports one camper. Sites range from open meadows to densely wooded areas.
Family-friendly activities: Country Aire Campgrounds organizes regular events for children. "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, wife and I've been here many times and we will keep coming back," shares a repeat visitor.
Clean facilities: Wells State Park Campground maintains updated bath facilities. One camper notes, "Wells State Park camp grounds recently got new bathrooms and they are so clean! The campsites are a nice size to drive your car up to and still have ample tent/picnic table/fire space. Camp sites are clearly labeled and none are that far of a walk from the beach or bathrooms."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the Northampton area require advance booking, especially for yurt camping. Reservations can be made 6 months ahead for state parks and up to 1 year in advance for private campgrounds.
Seasonal availability: Erving State Forest Campground operates from late May through early October. "There are only 27 sites, but in 2020 many of the ones served by composting toilets are closed. You need reservations in advance. Fees in 2020 are only $17 for MA residents, but $55 for out-of-staters," advises a visitor.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds have nearby infrastructure that creates ambient noise. At October Mountain State Forest, a camper reports: "There is a station nearby that offers a constant hum and during the week there are trucks going in and out before 7am. The closer to the street side the worse it is. The far off sites (like 39-40) the sound is still there but more distant."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sunset View Farms offers multiple recreation options for children. A visitor mentions, "There is horse shoes, shuffle board, basketball, play ground, swimming pond, fishing stream and fishing pond. Would recommend to my family and friends gladly. Beautiful area was once a large farm."
Swimming options: Many Northampton area campgrounds provide water recreation. A camper at Prospect Mountain notes: "I flew up here from Louisiana and met my sister in a primitive tent site. The grounds were absolutely beautiful and very well maintained! Pool was lovely and refreshing. The kids had a blast fishing and riding their bikes around."
Weekend activities: Northampton / Springfield KOA schedules special events for families. "Staff was very nice, adequate amenities. Very little privacy between campsites even in wooded areas. A smaller operation with a high percentage of seasonal residents. 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."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose your campsite carefully based on rig size and access needs. A camper at Northampton / Springfield KOA shares: "We stayed here for one night en route to Cape Cod. Although we had requested a specific site on the KOA website, the gentleman in the front office had arranged for us to park in an easily accessible pull-through site, right at the entrance."
Hookup options: Country Aire Campgrounds provides full-service sites for RVs. One camper notes: "The site was small but a pull thru, no problems at all, full hook up. There is a nice pool just getting ready to open we are here mid, May 14th we leave."
Off-season considerations: RV campers should check seasonal availability for yurt camping near Northampton. Many water systems are winterized from October through April, limiting hookup availability during colder months.
