Vermont's Green Mountains and southern New Hampshire's Monadnock region define the natural landscape around Northfield, Massachusetts. Nestled in the Connecticut River Valley at elevations ranging from 300-1600 feet, the area experiences distinct seasons with warm summers, cold winters, and colorful fall foliage. Most campgrounds near Northfield operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with minimal winter camping options available.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Jamaica State Park Campground offers access to Hamilton Falls via a 3-mile trail from the campground. "There is plenty of trails in the area and you can go to the waterfall/rock slides and take a dip in the pools. The area is beautiful and good food across the street!" notes Jackie G.
Mountain climbing: Gilson Pond Area Campground serves as a base camp for hiking Mount Monadnock, a prominent 3,165-foot peak. One visitor advises: "First tip, camp at Gilson Pond Campground the night before so you can get up early to beat the heat, if that applies, and the crowds."
Lake recreation: Sandy Beach Campground offers water activities on their sandy beach. "Sandy beach by the water has plenty of room to relax out in the sun as well as launch areas to set out in a paddle boat, canoe or row boat, all available on site," shares Robert M.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Hidden Acres Camping Resort (now Kampfires) receives consistent praise for maintenance. "The bathrooms are beautifully redone and clean. The laundry room is pretty good too," notes camper Sammii D.
Level sites: Many RV campgrounds near Northfield, Massachusetts feature flat camping areas. At Dorset RV Park, "Our site was level but some definitely were not," mentions a reviewer, highlighting the importance of site selection.
Privacy between sites: Jamaica State Park Campground offers wooded campsites with good separation. Chris D. notes, "Our tent site was very spacious, you could of easily accommodated a family of four with a large tent. Some sites, however, were a little close together, so if you're looking for total privacy choose your site wisely."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Just like the mountainous areas mentioned in the existing description, connectivity remains challenging throughout the region. At Hidden Acres, one camper mentions the convenience of being able to receive packages—important when staying connected is difficult.
Weather considerations: Be prepared for mud and insects during rainy periods. One camper at Monadnock State Park warns, "This is one of the quietest and most peaceful campgrounds I've ever stayed at. The sites are super private, the rangers are friendly, and the mosquitoes are ferocious."
Wildlife awareness: Kampfires (formerly Hidden Acres) has reported bear activity. "SURPRISE- when I went to hook up the water, a pile of fresh bear scat was right there! They did say there was wildlife in the area!" reports Ralph L.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: Woodmore Family Campground offers numerous recreation options. Tara K. states, "We had a wonderful time tent camping. The grounds were beautiful and the sites were a good size."
Swimming options: Many campgrounds feature swimming areas for children. At Jamaica State Park, Meike W. shares, "For us, they also had a playground to play at, and a boat dock to kayak. The bugs were not fun in the summer."
Look for ice cream: Dorset RV Park is near local treats. One camper mentions, "Loved the area, the Green Mountains are beautiful so there is plenty of sightseeing to do. Dorset is a cute tiny town that is beautiful in the fall."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When choosing RV campgrounds near Northfield, Massachusetts, consider tree clearance. At Dorset RV Park, Katie E. cautions, "Larger rigs might want to avoid loop 6-14, especially for sites 8-12. Tree placement and a pretty sharp 110+ degree turn makes it challenging to maneuver."
Electrical systems: Check voltage protection for your rig. At Camp Coldbrook Golf & RV Resorts, Glenn M. warns, "The electrical system has claimed countless rv components and 2 total losses. Instead of fixing it, they simply run generators for years. If you go take every precaution from the electrical."
Seasonal considerations: Field and Stream RV Park offers year-round camping for winter adventurers. "They offer all year round camping. Great site right next to the water. Sites are clean and well equipped," reports Jeanine S.
