2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Within a 45-minute drive of Northbridge, Massachusetts, tent campers can access a mix of primitive and developed tent campsites, ranging from walk-in lakeside sites to island campgrounds reachable only by ferry. Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston stands out as a highly-rated tent-only campground managed by the Trustees of Reservations, featuring walk-in tent sites with lake access. Buck Hill Campground in nearby Rhode Island provides rustic tent camping with minimal amenities in a heavily wooded setting along Wakefield Pond. For those willing to travel slightly farther, Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground offers a unique tent camping experience on several islands accessible only by ferry from Hingham or Boston.
Most tent campgrounds in the region require advance planning, with reservations opening months ahead of the camping season. Tully Lake features walk-in tent sites where campers park in a central lot and transport gear using provided carts, with distances ranging from 50 yards to a mile. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, with centralized bathroom facilities. Federated Women's Club State Forest offers more primitive tent camping with composting toilets and requires campers to bring their own water. Cell service varies significantly across these locations, with many sites having limited or no connectivity, particularly at Tully Lake and Federated Women's Club State Forest.
Tent campers frequently mention the peaceful atmosphere created by car-free campsites. According to one Tully Lake visitor, "No cars at the campsites made for a super quiet stay," highlighting how the walk-in setup enhances the camping experience. Another camper noted that Tully Lake's island site offers exceptional privacy and views, though it requires booking well in advance. The waterfront sites at several campgrounds allow tent campers to swim directly from their sites or launch kayaks and canoes for exploration. Buck Hill Campground features large group sites that can accommodate 10+ tents each, making it suitable for scout groups or family gatherings seeking a no-frills backcountry tent camping experience.
"All the sites are in large clusters (each can accommodate 10+ tents). many of the sites are also along Wakefield Pond (big enough lake for canoe/kayak/etc."
"Campground review: Camping at Boston Harbor Islands requires some planning, but you get the benefit of a remote island with minimal company."
"This campground has 6 yurts and 6 tent sites. The yurts have bunk beds, a floor lamp, a table inside, a picnic table outside and a grill. Just getting to the island is a fun adventure."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $8 - $55 / night
"Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them."
"Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border."
from $40 / night
"The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods."
from $46 - $50 / night
"Spots are hard to find.dorothy gave us a great spot near rest rooms and showers for the kids. Every single person we met was a delight and overly generous to us and our kids."
TravelerSmall but quaint park. It is the off season, but there are numerous folks here. Propane fill available. They stock the river behind the park with trout. Walking path in the woods along the river. Staff are friendly and helpful.
ScoutAmazing amenities and activities here. Staff is great. Lots of room for big rigs. Tent spots are shady while other ones are sunnier. They have rentals such as log cabins/ A-frames to rent also. Hot tubs and pools too!
TravelerBeautiful place about an hour from Salem Boston and Plymouth. Be careful getting in Sharp Hill coming up and down lots of scrapes on the ground tight navigation through sites lots of beautiful trees.
LegendI’m not going to lie this was a little tricky for big rigs to get to, but with lots of patience and skillful driving, it is doable. Salem is an old New England town so there are many narrow streets and some low clearances. Follow the directions on the parks website as they are designed for RVs– don’t use Google Maps unless you are a small camper. Even getting into the park is kind of challenging because of the way the entrance is laid out with the entrance booth and some low hanging trees. This campground is in a municipal park with a marina, beach, a short walking trail, and picnic areas. The campground has different sections and totally different feels to them. We arrived on a weekend and section we were in the section which is in the parking lot of a busy marina. The parking lot was half full which made for navigating our 45’ bus into our site pretty hard.
No sites have fire pits but you can have a fire if you bring your own above ground pit. Tent sites have picnic tables but nothing else. Some sites you can drive to and have a car onsite and others are non-vehicle access sites (11, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27& 38) in which you have to park in a parking lot. Some RV sites have great water views and others are in a back gravel lot. In my opinion, the best RV sites are 12-16(A-D) because they have a water view. Sites 16B-D are a little tricky for big-rigs to get into because of the tight space. Our site (#13) had a slight downhill slope. We pulled in forward so we could have a view of the harbor which meant the utilities (water electric only) were in the front of our site but we were able to reach without an extension cord. We loved watching the action in the harbor. There is a gazebo by the water which we enjoyed siting under and watching boats go in and out of the harbor while it rained.
There is a nice sandy beach onsite which attracts a lot of day use vistors. The grounds are interesting to walk around as the water views are nice and there is an old fort to explore. Nearby town of Salem Willows is(about½ mile away) is a cute old seaside town with restaurants and arcades. They have a Bluebike rental station which is an easy way to get downtown and explore the area if you don’t have a car.
ScoutAfter a busy summer, we wanted somewhere we could just park the camper and slow down for a few days. Sterling Park worked out great for that. We spent one morning fishing, walked the trails later in the day and finished the evening around the fire. Nothing complicated, just a really enjoyable camping weekend.
ScoutWe came with another family and had a blast. The kids disappeared together for half the day while the adults hung around the sites. Between fishing, the pool and the other activities, everyone found something they liked. Would definatly come back.
ScoutOur kids are already asking when we can go back. They loved the pool, playground and all the space to run around. We mostly just sat back and enjoyed having a few days off.
ScoutBrought our camper up for a long weekend and had plenty of room to relax. The campground store was also super handy when we realized we forgot a few things.
GuideHard to beat being right on the water with a lighthouse! But it's kind of a kooky campground.
Pros:
- Gorgeous views.
- Cute little trails.
- Super friendly staff.
- The bathrooms were always being cleaned (which is nice), but the bathrooms are dilapidated, so it's kind of like putting lipstick on a pig.
Cons:
- It's just an odd arrangement of sites. The RV area is a parking lot. Some tent sites don't allow cars on them. Our site #37 was cool, but right by the busy entrance.
- As we stayed in October, the entire area is Halloween central. There were tour trolleys coming in all day, and since we were near the entrance we felt like animals in a zoo.
- As mentioned previously - the bathrooms could use a serious upgrade.
Tent camping near Northbridge, Massachusetts provides access to several environmental zones within an hour's drive, from forested lakeshores to harbor islands. Temperatures range from summer highs averaging 80°F to cooler spring and fall nights that can drop into the 40s. Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds, with most remote sites having minimal to no connectivity even for major carriers like Verizon.
Paddle Tully Lake: Tully Lake Recreation Area rents canoes and kayaks directly at the campground for exploring the lake's shoreline and islands. "We took our canoe and spend the whole day at the lake. You can find lots of private areas to swim, pick blueberries and relax," notes camper Ben P.
Hike waterfall trails: Doane's Falls near Tully Lake Recreation Area offers an accessible series of five cascading waterfalls. "If you'd like to hike with children, there is an easy hike close to the entrance, along Doane's Falls, a series of 5 waterfalls along an ascending path through a wooded area," explains Nancy R.
Island hop via ferry: When camping at Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground, use the inter-island ferry service. "While you're out on the islands, take time to explore one of the others...look for sea glass on Spectacle Island and climb the hill for a view of the Boston skyline, explore the old forts and visitors centers," suggests Jean C.
Cart-in camping privacy: The tent-only, walk-in setup at many campgrounds creates a more secluded experience. "We stayed at site 1, which was HUGE and extremely private. Sites closer to the water that we saw were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out. No cars at all at the campsites, which was great for peace of mind as our toddler roamed around," reports Megan G. about Tully Lake Recreation Area.
Group site options: Buck Hill Campground offers large group sites for communal camping. "All the sites are in large clusters (each can accommodate 10+ tents). Many of the sites are also along Wakefield Pond (big enough lake for canoe/kayak/etc," notes Greg R.
Rustic wilderness experience: Federated Women's Club State Forest provides a true backcountry experience with minimal amenities. "Some of the sites are definitely walk-in, with a narrow trail leading from the road. It's possible to park at other sites; I'm guessing the gate at the beginning of the road toward the campground is open when the campground is open," explains Jean C.
Reservation timing matters: Most campgrounds in the area require booking well ahead, especially for waterfront sites. "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance. That said, you can also look for last minute openings," advises Martha H. about Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground.
Water access varies: Bring your own water for camping at Federated Women's Club State Forest, as there are no water sources on site. "Bring your own water. There is a composting toilet located near the group site in the field," notes one camper.
Transportation logistics: Getting to island campsites requires planning. "Getting to the island was a bit of a hassle. We live in Boston and took all of our gear on the T to the harbor by the aquarium. We then took the ferry to Georges Island. After that we waited and got on a much smaller island to Lovells," explains Jess G.
Short-distance walk-in options: For families with young children, Camp Nihan Education Center offers accessible sites close to parking. "The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods. A recently renovated bathroom and shower facility makes clean ups easy," shares Michael V.
Cart availability: Tully Lake provides carts to transport gear from the parking area to campsites. "You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them. Canoe, kayak & paddleboard rental available," explains Sa R.
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer swimming options. "The camp is also adjacent to Breakheart Reservation, which had a great shallow pond with life guard on duty as well as bike trails and a range of different hikes," notes a Camp Nihan visitor.
Limited RV options: Most campgrounds near Northbridge prioritize tent camping with minimal RV accommodations. For RV camping, consider Waters Edge Campground in Coventry, RI which offers electric hookups, water, and sanitary dump stations.
Tent-only designations: Be aware that several popular campgrounds including Tully Lake Recreation Area and Buck Hill Campground are exclusively for tent camping and do not accommodate RVs or trailers of any kind.
Off-grid preparation: For RVers accustomed to hookups, camping near Northbridge often requires adapting to more primitive conditions. Even at campgrounds that permit RVs, many sites lack electrical or water connections, requiring self-contained operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Northbridge, MA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Northbridge, MA is Buck Hill Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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