Glamping options near Orange, Massachusetts range from forested cabins to lake-adjacent accommodations throughout the region. The area sits at elevations between 500-1000 feet in north-central Massachusetts, creating distinct seasonal camping experiences. Winter overnight lows often drop below freezing from November through March, while summer temperatures typically reach the 80s.
What to do
Hiking trails at Lake Dennison: Otter River State Park connects to additional hiking opportunities at nearby Lake Dennison. "The dump station and additional swimming/water activities are a little farther down the road at Lake Dennison," notes Jean C. about Otter River State Forest.
Local breakfast options: Several campgrounds provide convenient access to local dining. "If you drive they have a great breakfast place about two miles from the camp ground," writes Jamal C. about his stay at Otter River State Forest.
Swimming at Walker Pond: The campers' beach at Wells State Park offers a peaceful swimming spot. "It is absolutely lovely in the fall, especially on the water at the campers' beach. Quite calm and scenic. Site 2, right nearby, is a great spot. Fairly large and literally feet away from the beach," explains Rachel P.
River tubing: Several area campgrounds feature water activities beyond swimming. At Ashuelot River Campground, visitors can enjoy the river. "Make sure to bring tubes for relaxing on the river. We brought our kayaks and had no problem kayaking on the flat surface river," advises Karen O.
What campers like
Clean, updated facilities: Many campgrounds in the Orange area feature renovated bathrooms. "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," shares Lauren C. about Wells State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region's rivers and lakes support diverse wildlife. "Saw a bald eagle this past weekend while paddling up past the campground," Michael M. mentions about Ashuelot River Campground.
Rail trail access: Some campsites connect directly to regional trail systems. "You can pick up the Ashuelot Rail Trail at the campground. They have canoes and kayaks on site, plus a shuttle service for water sports or biking," notes Carry M.
Proximity to Treehouse Brewery: Molly Stark State Park offers hiking with brewery access. "You can continue on the hiking trail to a cute brewery/pizza place or even a distillery. If hiking is not for you it's a 3 minute car ride away," reports Kitty.
What you should know
Cell phone coverage varies: Connectivity can be spotty in some locations. "Download your maps for offline use! Cell connection was horrible heading up here," warns Jean C. about Erving State Forest.
Site selection impacts privacy: Campground layouts vary significantly across the region. At The Pine Campground, "Most of the daily/weekly sites back up to a stream, which is nice. You can hear the water running, especially at night," describes Ian H.
Quiet hours enforcement differs: Some campgrounds maintain stricter quiet policies than others. "After midnight I called the office and emergency line but got only the office answering machine. There was a host in a site 2 down from the party and nobody came to address the noise," reports Angie G. about her experience at one campground.
Covered bridge restrictions: Some area campgrounds have access limitations. "Follow the website directions to get here as there are covered bridges in the area with low clearance and low weight limits," advises John L.
Tips for camping with families
Check playground proximity: Family-friendly campgrounds offer different playground arrangements. "Our site was across from the playground, and backed up to a stream. Playground was a bit older but it was maintained well, and the kids had fun," notes Joe D. about The Pine Campground.
Consider seasonal activities: Many campgrounds offer special programs. "They had hayless rides and fire truck rides. This time they had a haunted house walk through," Jason A. shares about his fall visit to Northampton/Springfield KOA.
Look for water features: Lake and stream access points differ by site. "The sites that are near the small pond are generally larger and have better space for pitching a tent," explains Jean C. about Otter River.
Plan for varying site sizes: Family camping requires adequate space. "Sites are a bit small. The hiking in the area isn't great. There are a few trails but not a lot of interesting features and very little elevation change. The biggest pro is that it's only an hour from Boston," explains Taylor R.
Tips from RVers
Request specific sites: Some campgrounds have challenging RV sites. "Although he advised against the tricky back-in site 'up on the hill' that we had originally selected, we thought we would at least give it a shot! We are SO glad that we did!" shares Lisa D. about her experience.
Check electric service types: Electric hookups vary across the region. "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," notes Jean C.
Consider pull-through availability: Late arrivals benefit from easier access sites. "We drove back to the camp office to hand our tag back in, ready to find a cheap motel for the night. Much to our delight, they had a pull-through site (#15), that had just been vacated minutes before we got there," explains Jen V. about Wells State Park.
Verify campsite leveling needs: Some sites require significant leveling. "No pictures of individual campsites on the ReserveAmerica booking site, so we were kind of winging it. We unexpectedly arrived at the campground around 10pm, after a long and grueling day on the road. The site seemed nice, but was very un-level, with a steep, narrow driveway."
