Cabin camping options near Northfield, Massachusetts span from rustic forest settings to lakeside retreats. Most locations sit between 600-900 feet in elevation, creating moderate temperature shifts between day and night. The camping corridor along the Connecticut River Valley offers several forested campgrounds within a 30-minute drive radius, with most access roads remaining passable for medium-sized vehicles.
What to do
Trail exploration around Tully Lake: The 4-mile loop trail around Tully Lake Recreation Area offers scenic waterfall views. "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," notes Nancy R.
Water sports on Ashuelot River: Tube floating and kayaking are popular at Ashuelot River, with gentle current suitable for beginners. "We spent another great weekend at the Ashuelot River Campground. Having good weather, we took a lazy tube ride from one side of the campground to the other," shares Rae-Ann W. "Make sure to bring tubes for relaxing on the river. We brought our kayaks and had no problem kayaking on the flat surface river," adds Karen O.
Disc golf near the dam: Located near Tully Lake, the disc golf course sees regular use throughout summer months. "From the main entrance, collect a cart, load your gear, and following the appropriate divergent path from the parking lot or bath house (they are color coded). Near the dam is a larger boat launch with parking. A disc golf course is also near the dam and was seeing a fair amount of activity," reports Jean C.
What campers like
Private woodland sites: Fort Dummer State Park Campground offers secluded campsites within wooded settings. "Beautifully wooded campground. We stayed on site 41 and there was plenty of privacy. There are 3 nice and short trails, 2 with a great view and the other that is quite steep down to a swimming hole," says Lilia W.
Clean facilities: Hidden Acres Camping Resort (now Kampfires) maintains well-kept bathrooms and showers. "The bathrooms are beautifully redone and clean. The laundry room is pretty good too. Its close to Brattleboro and Putney and just across the border to New Hampshire," comments Sammii D.
Lakefront access: Many sites at Lake Dennison provide direct water access. "This is a gorgeous campground with clean facilities and responsive rangers. The sites on the North side are spacious & quiet. The lake is perfect for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. There are ample trails for hiking and kids can ride their bikes," notes Bonnie B. at Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground.
What you should know
Variable cell service: Many campgrounds in the region have limited connectivity. "Download your maps for offline use! Cell connection was horrible heading up here," warns Jean C. about Erving State Forest. "There is also zero cell service (there is an operational pay phone at the showers) which is fine... but wished we knew ahead of time," adds Tim S.
Booking windows: Securing sites at popular campgrounds requires advance planning. "The sites fill up weeks out (and can completely fill the day registration opens, which is date-dependent each year...Booking for Memorial Day meant I booked in April), so you have to be on your game," advises Kris M. about Tully Lake.
Site selection matters: Choose locations based on privacy needs and noise levels. "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," explains Jean C. about Otter River State Forest.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with recreational options. "This is a cute campground biking distance from Brattleboro. The store and ice cream are cute, prices are very reasonable. The mini-golf course is in kind of rough shape, ask for a few extra balls because a few holes are going to eat them," advises Michael K. about Hidden Acres.
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas. "We stayed in site #57 at Lake Dennison August 30 2020 and had a wonderful time. The lake is clean and the beach is clean and soft(ish)," reports Alan.
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "There is a large playground for kids <12 and a wide open day use area for picnicking. It would be a great place to run around and play games," notes Jean C. about Monadnock State Park's Gilson Pond Area Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site access considerations: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger vehicles. "Follow the website directions to get here as there are covered bridges in the area with low Clearance and low weight limits," warns John L. about Ashuelot River Campground.
Hookup availability: Full-service RV sites exist but vary by location. "We were in site 59, a pull-through with water and 30/50 amp service. The site was level and easy to get into and park. We were in a fully wooded area on the left side of the campground, which we prefer," explains Rae-Ann W.
Off-season camping: Some RV-friendly campgrounds remain open into October. "What a wonderful campground. Even though it is off season, there are several units throughout but dispersed so no one was right next to us. The site was somewhat level with a gravel base. FHU at each site made hook up easy," shares Ralph L. about Hidden Acres.
