Best Campgrounds near Osterville, MA

Camping near Osterville, Massachusetts encompasses a mix of state parks, private campgrounds, and RV resorts throughout Cape Cod. Nickerson State Park Campground in Brewster stands as one of the most popular destinations, with wooded sites and access to freshwater kettle ponds for swimming and boating. Shawme Crowell State Forest Campground in Sandwich provides year-round camping options, while Scusset Beach State Reservation offers oceanfront camping with views of Cape Cod Bay. These established campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring the Cape's beaches, historic towns, and recreational trails.

Most Cape Cod campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October, with peak season running from late June through August. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Massachusetts state parks charge higher fees for out-of-state visitors. Fire regulations vary by location, with some campgrounds restricting fires to designated fire rings or prohibiting them entirely during dry periods. The Cape experiences moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F with occasional humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. Traffic congestion can be significant during summer weekends, particularly near the Sagamore and Bourne bridges.

Cape Cod camping accommodates various preferences, from tent-only areas to full-service RV resorts. Private campgrounds like Bay View Campground in Bourne and Cape Cod Campresort in East Falmouth offer extensive amenities including swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities. According to reviews, Bourne Scenic Park provides "amazing views of the canal" with "easy access to the bike path along the canal." State parks generally offer more natural settings with basic facilities. Campers at Nickerson State Park note the "good amount of space between sites" and proximity to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which connects to both bay and ocean beaches. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Sandy Neck Beach Park offers primitive tent camping with beach access and limited facilities.

Best Camping Sites Near Osterville, Massachusetts (54)

    1. Shawme Crowell State Forest Campground

    21 Reviews
    Sandwich, MA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 888-0351

    $17 - $55 / night

    "I like this campground because it is close to home.  There isn't much to do here within the campground.  It has two areas.  The one nearer the camp entrance is smaller than the second. "

    "We have stayed here during our exploration around cape cod. It's a but farther away from the main location, but we loved the quiet and tranquility of this campground."

    2. Nickerson State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Orleans, MA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 896-3491

    $22 - $55 / night

    "It is at the edge of the Cape Cod Rail Trail bike Path from where you can access both bay side and ocean beaches by bike. it is also walking distance to a bayside beach."

    "We even got the Massachusetts resident discount with his home address. When we arrived, it was a very easy check in. They gave us directions to our site and even to the store to buy fire wood."

    3. Cape Cod Campresort & Cabins

    11 Reviews
    North Falmouth, MA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 548-1458

    "Nice campground, but need to get sites away from the backside of the pool, street noise is too loud"

    "That being said, we use this mostly as a location to do other things- Old Silver Beach is 10 minutes down the road as is the Shining Sea Bike path."

    4. Peters Pond RV Resort

    7 Reviews
    Forestdale, MA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 477-1775

    "Convenient location, beautiful pond on beautiful cape cod, Ma. My family has gone there for years with neighbors and always enjoyed our stay."

    5. Bourne Scenic Park

    13 Reviews
    Buzzards Bay, MA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 759-7873

    "Bike path along the canal, easy access.

    Lots of playgrounds for different ages

    Bounce pad (in-ground)

    Pool

    Stair access to canal bike path."

    "Bourne Scenic Park is conveniently located near many of Cape Cod’s attractions including beaches, golf courses, historic landmarks, restaurants and shopping. "

    6. Sweetwater Forest

    16 Reviews
    Brewster, MA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 896-3773

    "Walking my dog late at night or early in the morning was absolutely silent. The camp store was well stocked and offered hot coffee and a variety of grocery items."

    "Nothing but positive things to say, if you haven’t tried it, defintely do. C loop sites our favorite, but really not a terrible site in the place, depending on what you camp in."

    7. Shady Knoll Campground

    16 Reviews
    Brewster, MA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 896-3002

    $50 - $88 / night

    "There’s a great walking trail connected to the campground. They have good access to the bay beaches and the Cape Cod Rail Trail- although you do have to drive ona busy road to get there."

    "Well situated within Brewster, with a great small grocery store a two minute walk from the campground entrance."

    8. Bay View Campground

    7 Reviews
    Buzzards Bay, MA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 759-7610

    "We had originally reserved Site 98 but there was a large rock and tree roots making it challenging to position our van. We were able to move to Site 95 which was much better."

    "Nice spot, close to the canal for fishing and some local ponds."

    9. Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites

    4 Reviews
    West Barnstable, MA
    8 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "The park has 5 dispersed sites located 3-4 miles from the trailhead with picnic tables and an outhouse."

    "All around a great place to camp"

    10. Scusset Beach State Reservation

    7 Reviews
    Sandwich, MA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 888-0859

    $22 - $34 / night

    "It's located close to the Sagamore Bridge on the mainland side. Traffic can be messy in the summer, especially on weekend days!

    The campground itself is a haven for RVs."

    "State run campground located at beginning of cape cod route 6. The sites can accommodate large rvs and tents. They are dog friendly however, not allowed on beach during peak summer season."

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Recent Reviews near Osterville, MA

439 Reviews of 54 Osterville Campgrounds


  • SkipperAllen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Wompatuck State Park Campground

    Very nice stopover

    Good place to spend the night.It was quiet comfortable and plenty of room between campsites

  • G
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Coastal Acres Campground

    Favorite campsite of all time

    Absolutely adore this campground. Much of what others have said in the reviews is true – the sites are small and there’s not a ton of privacy in many spots (although you certainly can find more private spots if you know which to book). But none of this is really matters given the location. Less than 10 minute walk to downtown Provincetown, and an extremely safe, enjoyable walk. You cannot beat the access to one of the best towns in the world. The campground also felt very safe and incredibly quiet.

  • Matt S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Atlantic Oaks Campground

    Great home base for Cape Cod

    We spent a week in Cape Cod at Atlantic Oaks Campground and so glad we did. We paid $113 per night plus fees for a FHU 50 Amp Pull-thru site(#A6). 

    This campground makes a great home-base while touring Cape Cod. 

    THINGS I LIKED: 

    • Great location in Eastham— with access to National Seashore, Provincetown, several great beaches and lighthouses, and much more 
    • Beautiful park setting with well-kept natural landscaping including lots of mature shade trees 
    • Access to Cape Cod Rail Trail right from the campground— bring your bikes 
    • Our hookup utilities all worked fine 
    • This may seem like a silly thing to comment on, but I like how they installed mini picket fences to block the view of the sewer connections from the neighbors— this is a great idea I wish other campgrounds would do too(see the photos) 

    THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH: 

    • Just one thing that bothered me— the sites were all sandy dirt which made everything dirty and dusty(gravel would be an appreciated improvement) 

    WOULD WE COME BACK? 

    Absolutely, this is a nice place with plenty to do 

    WANT A FUN TIP? 

    Check out Wellfleet Drive-in Theatre, just a couple minutes away. We saw Jaws(Jaws~ in Cape Cod!) and had a great evening.

  • Eric LeBoeuf
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Wompatuck State Park Campground

    Meh its ok

    Bathrooms are out dated showers have tiles falling off very small showers also quiet hrs are enforced on Friday nights only it seems

  • R
    Jul. 3, 2025

    Jellystone Park™ Cranberry Acres

    Warning…total bug infestation from our stay

    I was not going to write a review because I truly believe in giving places a fair chance. But after speaking with the district manager I feel I need to give a warning to anyone planning their vacation here. Today is Thursday, we were at cranberry acres from last Thursday until Monday. Our stay was awesome. We did it all the campground offered and had a blast. We stayed with our friends who rented the cabin next to us. Today we discovered that the brand new paper towels I bought from Shawn’s last week and kept(open) under the sink in our cabin were completely infested with what our exterminator says are weevils. The bugs poured out of the bag in a hallway downstairs, are all over the floor, in the guest room and in the bathroom. So now on top of this vacation we are now having to have an exterminator come treat our house for these bugs. We are avid“glampers” with our friends. This is something we do all summer all over New England for years now and this is the very first time we’ve ever experienced something like this. The manager at the campground was wonderful and apologized profusely and called the district manager to call me. This is where things went off the rails. He stated“how do we know they didn’t come from Shaws?”.“Well the unit has been rented and we have had no complaints“. which seeing that this is now three days later I’m sure there isn’t yet.“well thank you for letting us know, we will keep an eye out.”. In all fairness the resort was great, lots to do and we filled every day. The infestation from this vacation does not feel worth the experience. If you stay please keep everything sealed and wash every thing that you bring thoroughly when you get home so you do not wind up in the situation we are in.

  • A
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Charge Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    Quiet and spacious sites

    We stayed in loop b south, which is really not a loop but a dead end. Very quiet, and we were the only people in the loop for a couple of days. Sites are nice and level and large. Vegetation between sites for privacy.


Guide to Osterville

Camping near Osterville, Massachusetts, offers a great mix of nature, fun activities, and family-friendly spots. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Swimming: Many campgrounds are near beautiful kettle ponds perfect for swimming. One camper mentioned, "Hikes around the ponds and swimming is lovely" at Nickerson State Park Campground.
  • Exploring Cape Cod: Campgrounds like Normandy Farms Campground are great for exploring Cape Cod. A reviewer said, "This state park is a family favorite located on the cleanest and most beautiful kettle ponds."
  • Family Activities: Many campgrounds offer activities for kids. One visitor at Normandy Farms Campground noted, "It has so many things for the kids to do."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate clean bathrooms and showers. A reviewer at Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground said, "Bathrooms are very nice."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a good amount of space between them. One camper at Shawme Crowell State Forest mentioned, "The privacy, facilities, and nearby local places to go and explore exceeded our expectations."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention helpful staff. A visitor at Boston/Cape Cod KOA said, "Staff and Management are available to help."

What you should know:

  • Busy in Summer: Campgrounds can get crowded during peak season. One camper at Nickerson State Park Campground noted, "This campground gets very busy in summer."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A reviewer at Wompatuck State Park Campground mentioned, "There isn't much to the RV sites but an electric plug."
  • Pricing for Non-Residents: Non-Massachusetts residents may find higher fees. A camper at Massasoit State Park Campground said, "If you are out of state, you definitely don’t get what you pay for."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities for kids. A parent at Normandy Farms Campground said, "Everyone is so friendly. Can't wait to go back for the 4th of July."
  • Pack Bug Spray: Mosquitoes can be a nuisance. A camper at Shawme Crowell State Forest advised, "Bug spray and fans are a definite when sitting outside due to mosquitoes."
  • Plan for Activities: Bring games and outdoor toys to keep kids entertained. A visitor at Shady Knoll Campground mentioned, "The kids loved the playground but missed a swimming pool."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Some sites may not be level. A reviewer at Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground noted, "Our fifth wheel front jacks are on the ground and two of the four wheels are off the ground."
  • Bring Leveling Blocks: Be prepared for uneven sites. A camper at Normandy Farms Campground suggested, "Bring plenty of leveling blocks!"
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Use your campground as a base to explore local attractions. A visitor at Boston/Cape Cod KOA said, "Great place to use as a base to explore Cape Cod and Eastern MA."

Camping near Osterville, Massachusetts, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the beautiful surroundings!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Osterville, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Osterville, MA is Shawme Crowell State Forest Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 21 reviews.