Best Tent Camping near Northbridge, MA

Within a 45-minute drive of Northbridge, Massachusetts, tent campers can access several established campgrounds that offer a range of primitive to developed tent sites. 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.

Best Tent Sites Near Northbridge, Massachusetts (14)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Northbridge, MA

642 Reviews of 14 Northbridge Campgrounds


  • Sa R.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Beautiful lake

    First time staying there. 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. Canoe, kayak & padddleboard rental available. Showers & bathrooms by the parking area. Lots of islands & places to explore on the lake. Buggy in June so bring your repellent. Dogs allowed...that’s all I got for now :)

  • Nancy R.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Tully Lake Campground is perfect to enjoy traditional family camping!

    Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border. It is a State managed campground, and reservations must be made through Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made, if you want one of these!

    This is a "Carry In" campground. You park at the entrance, register with Ranger. Large wooden wheelbarrows are provided to bring your gear to your camp site. (This means no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites.) There are individual sites, and 2 group sites, if you are camping with a group. Canoes are available to rent to explore Tully Lake. Most parts of the lake are suitable for swimming, and some camp sites offer direct entry into the lake for swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. 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. The views are beautiful, and it's not unusual to spot professional nature photographers at various points along the waterfalls. Bring your cameras or smart phones to capture some of these breathtaking views! And of course there are longer, more challenging trails for more experienced hikers. There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only. Cell service is spotty to non-existent for some providers within the campground. But a short walk or drive away from the campground you can get connected again.

    The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7. There are sinks beside the building, where campers are asked to wash their dishes, rather than at the camp site. A fire ring and picnic table are provided at each camp site. If you've forgotten any gear or need groceries, there's a Walmart just a 15 minute drive away, open until 12 midnight.

    The staff are quite friendly, helpful and informative. If you enjoy "old fashioned" family tent camping, without the noise and presence of cars and RV's near your camp site, (or cell phones!) this is the place for you. Enjoy!

  • K
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Fort Getty Campground

    No shade no rule enforcement. Great place for a big group to party if that’s what you want.

    Loud campers in large groups.

    Rules regarding quiet hours, no generators, number of tents per site and late arrival and setups were not enforced.

    People next to us crammed 8 tents on 3 sites. I counted a group of at least 20.

    There is no privacy, people were constantly walking through our site and stepping over our tent guy lines.

    People partied until 2:00am and woke up at 5:30am shining headlights and idling cars.

    Bathrooms were dirty, sites boundaries not marked and crammed together. No shade.

    Beautiful location, rangers were nice.

    RV folks were surly, seemed like a lot of them stay there for the entire season. One said hi, the rest stared when we drove by.

    We booked and paid for two nights and left first thing after just one night.

  • Migdalia G.
    May. 29, 2019

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Nice Wooded Campground in Awesome Area

    We stayed at Harold Parker State Forest Campground during Memorial Day Weekend. Reservation through Reserve America was a breeze. Check in till 9:00 pm was convenient. Checkout by 11:00 am but we paid for an additional night to be able to leave at night the day we checked out. Totally worth it!

    Nice large campsites. The sites’ privacy is very diverse. You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size. All sites have water which is a plus. All have a fire pit/box, charcoal bbq and a picnic table. Most of them are drive in. 

    Quiet hours from 10 am to 7 am. No alcohol allowed (although I didn’t see an actual enforcement of this rule and guess it’ll happen only if people act out). Rangers are constantly patrolling. Felt pretty safe at night. You can’t bring wood. Bundles are $5 each and it burns really well. 

    Lots of biking/hiking/walking trails, a nice small pond/beach, boat access, a few basketball courts, a volleyball court and a common huge fire pit added to the fun. A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike. 

    Bathrooms were fairly clean although small and showers were free! Some sites were right in front of a lovely pond and there were many group sites available as well. 

    The location is pretty good. Salem, Andover, Boston Are accesible while staying here. Close proximity to Richardson Ice Cream which you CANT miss if you decide to stay.  They have cheap but amazing ice cream, mini golf and battling cages which was entertaining for my whole crew. 

    It rained a lot during one night of our stay and the site (301) did not flooded at all. All sites seemed in pretty good shape the morning after as well. 

    Beautiful and will recommend to families with small kids, groups and couples too.

  • Sable W.
    May. 16, 2018

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Spacious, Quiet, Clean and Conveniently Located

    Five friends and I decided to compete in Questival, which came to Boston for May 11-12, 2018. There aren't many campgrounds open in Massachusetts this early in the season, but Harold Parker State Forest was! I snagged a group campsite since we'd have four tents. We had to set up after dark, so we wound up congregating in one corner of the group site. When we woke up we could see just how HUGE the group site was! We had 4 two-person tents; you could easily fit 3x that number of tents. PLENTY of flat ground to set up on, and we were far enough back from the road that we never heard or saw other campers arriving, even though we know most other Questival competitors stayed at this campground. It was about a 5 minute walk to the bathrooms and showers, and potable water was available right on the site. Even though it was early in the season and not very leafy, we could only occasionally see our neighbors' headlamps. There were 4 or 5 fire pits, 5 large picnic tables, and 3 driveways that could fit two cars each. Great value for the cost! We were pleased with the privacy, space, cleanliness, and amenities.

  • D
    Jun. 7, 2019

    Green Falls Campground

    Small but cozy

    Great off the beaten path place to camp. Sites are large but close together. Each contain a rock built fire ring. There are toilets but no showers. Good parking for camper but limited for guests. Reservations are required in advance. Stones throw to beach/pond area

  • D
    Jul. 6, 2022

    Otter River State Forest

    Some sites are hit or miss with privacy

    My site (number 1) was good for not being on top of my neighbor but it was next to the tanger station. Some sites are pretty out in the open, close to the campsite road so they feel less like the woods. I would say the best site that feels most like you are in the woods and have the most space is 28. I would book there. The pond is kind of deceiving. There are 2 roped off spots where you can swim and those spots are small and not deep.  You cannot have floats. So its better for a quick dip than a hang out. Bathrooms are fine. Could use one more as its a hike in the morning when you really have to go(!) depending on your site. One thing with my site (1), it was listed as a shaded site but it absolutely was not a shade site. During mid day there is no shade at all. In the morning, as the sun rose (when I took the pics) there was some shade but thats because the sun was still rising. It was big enough to fit a 10 and 12 person tent with a canopy. Not all sites are that big but this one worked. Verizon service was limited to none depending on location, ATT was good

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2020

    Wolf Den Campground — Mashamoquet Brook State Park

    Basic campground with hiking trails in the area.

    This small state park campground offers basic campsites with running water and showers, open Memorial Day to Columbus Day.  This is NOT Wolf's Den Family Campground in E. Haddam, CT. Also, be aware there are 2 campgrounds at this State Park; the other one, Mashamoquet Brook, does not offer running water/showers, so if you want these amenities, be sure to select a campsite 1-35.

    There's a small playground in the middle of the loop, a number of hiking trails throughout the park along with a few geocaches (download details for offline use a phone connection is spotty), a swimming pond, and a small brook with an old mill and blacksmith shop that is sometimes open on weekends for tours. It's a nice place to explore and have a picnic. In 2020 with Covid, there were restrictions on visitors to the campground, reservations required, and swimming was not allowed. 

    The parking pads are paved and a few have overhanging branches, but the trees provide  separation and some shade on largely open sites that tend to open up toward the back with open areas for pitching tents. Sites have fire rings with grills and picnic tables. Site 20 is the only one with electric. The ones toward the back of the loop back up toward the woods and give you some more privacy. 

    They don't allow hammocks in the trees or pets. For some reason, silly string also makes the list of prohibitions.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2020

    Otter River State Forest

    Mixed bag at this campground

    This is a smaller campground with a few loops of campsites. The sites that are near the small pond are generally larger and have better space for pitching a tent. The sites on the first two loops/spur roads are smaller and most of them are designated for tents only or tents/popups. Site 33 is large and level, suitable for an RV, but Group B site is right behind it, which may or may not be an issue.  Group A & C sites are also in the first two loops.

    65, 67, 68 are walk-in sites, with the tent area lower, closer to the water.  At the top of the hill, there are several yurts available.

    Dump station and additional swimming/water activities are a little farther down the road at Lake Dennison .


Guide to Northbridge

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.

What to do

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.

What campers like

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.

What you should know

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.

Tips for camping with families

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.

Tips from RVers

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.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Northbridge, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Northbridge, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.