Tent camping near Plainfield, Massachusetts offers primitive, rustic camping experiences with varying levels of accessibility. Located in the Berkshire Mountains at elevations ranging from 1,200-1,600 feet, the area experiences cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands, with overnight lows frequently dropping into the 40s even in summer months. Most sites require hikers to transport gear without vehicle access, with distances ranging from 50 yards to over 2 miles depending on location.
What to do
Paddling adventures: At Tully Lake Recreation Area, canoes and kayaks are available for rental to explore the lake. One visitor noted, "We take our canoe and spend the whole day at the lake. You can find lots of private areas to swim, pick blueberries and relax."
Hiking trails: Numerous woodland trails surround camping areas within a 30-minute drive of Plainfield. One camper at Seth Warner Shelter mentioned, "While hiking the Long trail i stopped at the seth warner shetler for one night. Its .2 miles off the Lt/At and sleeps 6-7 people." The shelter offers access to multiple trail systems.
Whitewater adventures: Water activities are popular during summer months. A visitor to Zoar Outdoor explained, "The campground is connected to an adventure/outing company that provides white water rafting, tubing and other water activities on a nearby river. It's close to where locals jump off outcrops into the lazy river and hang out on the river side."
Waterfall exploration: Several cascades are accessible via short hikes from camping areas. A camper described, "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."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many tent campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. A camper at Maple Ridge Farm stated, "Very lush campground, plenty of space and privacy between sites. They'll drive you in an ATV up to some of the sites that are further away from the parking lot."
Vehicle-free camping: The absence of cars creates a more peaceful experience. One reviewer at Tully Lake observed, "No cars at all at the campsites, which was great for peace of mind as our toddler roamed around. It also made for a super quiet stay."
Unique accommodations: Some locations offer unusual lodging options. A visitor to Chester Railway Station wrote, "It is a really fun place to spend a night, especially for a train enthusiast. The caboose is stationed on a big grassy field, near a real railroad. It sleeps 4 and you can set up tents outside too. You hear the trains running at night."
Island camping: Several sites offer water-surrounded camping options. One camper described their Tully Lake experience: "I stayed on the island site, which was absolutely amazing. The views are to die for, and it's really meant for people who want to be outdoors in the woods."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Popular sites book extremely early. At Tully Lake, one camper advised, "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."
Transportation challenges: Getting gear to sites requires planning. A Barton Cove Campground visitor explained, "Only real annoyance was dealing with set up and take down of the campsite- you check in at the office, grab a key to unlock the gate, drive to the campground, unlock gate, drive through gate, lock gate, unload your stuff, drive to gate, unlock gate, drive through gate, lock gate, return key, drive back to campground, walk to your site."
Limited facilities: Bathroom access can be inconvenient from some sites. One camper noted, "The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7. From some of the sites, this will be a long walk during the night."
Quiet hours enforcement: Noise regulations vary by campground. A Zoar Outdoor camper mentioned, "Their quiet hours are quite oppressive," while other campgrounds report minimal enforcement during holiday weekends.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection matters: Choose locations with bathroom proximity for young children. At Tully Lake, one family noted, "Our site was fairly far from services, long run with small kids in the middle of the night. Not our favorite place, but to be fair mostly based on our site."
Wheelbarrow availability: Some campgrounds provide equipment for transporting gear. A Zoar Outdoor visitor mentioned, "Overall had a wonderful experience at zoar campsite in charlemont ma. Staff was awesome, went out of their way to tAke care of our group from camping to rafting."
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with planned programs. One parent shared, "There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only."
Limited connectivity: Cell service is minimal or non-existent. A camper advised, "Cell coverage is pretty close to absent or poor in most of the area, so download any maps you might want (driving, trail, geocaching) before you arrive."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV facilities: Most campgrounds near Plainfield primarily accommodate tent camping, with minimal or no RV hookups. RVers seeking full hookups need to travel 30+ miles from Plainfield for suitable options.
Rustic expectations: RVers should prepare for primitive conditions. As one camper at tent-focused campgrounds explained, "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.)"
