Best Tent Camping near Rowe, MA

Tent campsites in the Rowe, Massachusetts region offer a mix of established and primitive options for outdoor enthusiasts. Tully Lake Recreation Area provides tent-only sites with picnic tables and fire rings, while Zoar Outdoor offers tent camping with access to water activities on the nearby Deerfield River. Barton Cove Campground, located in Gill, features tent platforms and waterfront views for those seeking a more structured camping experience.

Most tent campgrounds in the area require campers to park in designated lots and walk to their sites. At Tully Lake, wooden wheelbarrows are provided to transport gear from the parking area to campsites, which range from a short walk to nearly a mile from vehicles. According to one visitor, "You park and walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them." Many sites include basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary widely. Barton Cove features porta-potties and latrines that reviewers note are "very clean," while Tully Lake offers flush toilets and coin-operated hot showers in a central bathhouse.

The tent camping experience near Rowe emphasizes natural settings and water access. Sites at Tully Lake provide opportunities for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking, with some campsites offering direct water entry. A reviewer mentioned that "there are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake," though these fill quickly when reservations open. Tent campers at Barton Cove enjoy views between trees, though swimming is limited to those who rent watercraft. For more secluded backcountry tent camping, hikers can access the Seth Warner Shelter in Vermont, which offers both shelter space and tent spots about 6 miles from the nearest town. Most tent campgrounds in the region fill quickly during summer weekends, with holiday periods booking months in advance.

Best Tent Sites Near Rowe, Massachusetts (21)

    1. Zoar Outdoor

    3 Reviews
    Charlemont, MA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 339-4010

    2. Seth Warner Shelter

    1 Review
    Clarksburg, MA
    13 miles
    Website

    "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. There is a fire pit."

    3. Maple Ridge Farm

    1 Review
    Vernon, VT
    16 miles
    Website

    $25 - $30 / night

    "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."

    4. Peace Farm Rescue

    1 Review
    Hawley, MA
    8 miles
    +1 (413) 339-1002

    $50 - $100 / night

    5. Barton Cove Campground

    2 Reviews
    Greenfield, MA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 863-9300

    $22 - $30 / night

    "The office was super helpful when I called to make reservations, making sure to ask questions about how big my tent was, what kind of view/privacy we wanted etc so they could help me find the perfect campsite"

    6. Red Mill Brook

    1 Review
    Wilmington, VT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 362-2307

    8. Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    9 Reviews
    Royalston, MA
    35 miles
    +1 (978) 249-9150

    $40 / night

    "Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them."

    "Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border."

    9. Stratton Pond Shelter

    1 Review
    Manchester Center, VT
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "Cold, Snow, Wind, full moon in the middle of the woods with only the people I hiked in with. It was great!  The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter. "

    10. Chester Railway Station

    1 Review
    Chester, MA
    29 miles
    Website

    $50 - $100 / night

    "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. Very clean and comfortable."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Rowe, MA

541 Reviews of 21 Rowe Campgrounds


  • Sa R.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Beautiful lake

    First time staying there. Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them. Canoe, kayak & padddleboard rental available. Showers & bathrooms by the parking area. Lots of islands & places to explore on the lake. Buggy in June so bring your repellent. Dogs allowed...that’s all I got for now :)

  • Nicole G.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Tolland State Forest Campground

    Great Lakeside Campground

    This was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.

    The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.

  • Ryan A.
    Jun. 12, 2024

    Mohawk Trail State Forest Campground

    Great Campground in Western Mass

    This is a great campground located off of highway 2 in western Mass. I stayed in site 51 and luckily the campground was mostly empty(it was on a Thursday though and was supposed to be full for the weekend.) Each campsite has a bear box and fire ring, there is easy access to hiking trails and flush-toilet bathrooms with sinks are located throughout. There is only one dumpster though and it’s a walk to get to – store your trash in your car or drive it each night, or enjoy the walk. 

    The campsites are very close together without much brush for privacy, so you should expect to see your neighbors up close and personal. Some of the sites are on Cold River(which is more like a creek). The bugs were awful, especially the gnats and I did see a large tick on my fire grill, so be prepared. The best sites are on the lower loop around the water. Avoid any site next to the bathroom as the lights stay on all night and will shine directly into your tent. 49 looked really nice and seemed dark. The hike-in sites were also close together, 22 is the most private. There are baskets with wheels provided. 

    The rangers are friendly and sell firewood in case you need any. You’ll need to check in before going to the campsite, they’ll give you a map and they take good care of the sites. Would definitely camp here again.

  • Nancy R.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Tully Lake Campground is perfect to enjoy traditional family camping!

    Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border. It is a State managed campground, and reservations must be made through Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made, if you want one of these!

    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.) There are individual sites, and 2 group sites, if you are camping with a group. Canoes are available to rent to explore Tully Lake. Most parts of the lake are suitable for swimming, and some camp sites offer direct entry into the lake for swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. 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, and it's not unusual to spot professional nature photographers at various points along the waterfalls. Bring your cameras or smart phones to capture some of these breathtaking views! And of course there are longer, more challenging trails for more experienced hikers. There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only. Cell service is spotty to non-existent for some providers within the campground. But a short walk or drive away from the campground you can get connected again.

    The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7. There are sinks beside the building, where campers are asked to wash their dishes, rather than at the camp site. A fire ring and picnic table are provided at each camp site. If you've forgotten any gear or need groceries, there's a Walmart just a 15 minute drive away, open until 12 midnight.

    The staff are quite friendly, helpful and informative. If you enjoy "old fashioned" family tent camping, without the noise and presence of cars and RV's near your camp site, (or cell phones!) this is the place for you. Enjoy!

  • Erin B.
    Sep. 11, 2019

    Clarksburg State Park Campground

    low key and beautiful fall getaway

    Keep in mind that this review is written after camping sept 8th (the week that school started for many) so it might not be relevant to peak camping season. We were pleasantly surprised with our weekend getaway to Clarksburg State Park. Nestled in the Berkshires and basically walking distance to Vermont, Clarksburg State Park provides a comfortable and semi-private tent site. Several spots (including ours 6) were very close to the rather large pond. While the trees obstruct the views, the site was waterfront and we were able to walk a few yards downhill to the waters edge where we launched our kayaks (there is a designated launching spot elsewhere). No electric and water hookups are provided but we were totally okay with that. Bear boxes were provided on each site so that you don’t have to keep stinky food or garbage in your car! Each site also had a fire pit with a grate so that you can cook right there on the fire. The bathrooms were some of the cleanest campground bathrooms and showers i’ve experienced (no bugs or webs also) and there was a dishwashing station on the side. The sites were large and well spaced but they had trees in between so that you felt privacy. The campground itself had plenty of sites, firewood for sale in the front and a pavilion and beach area on the day use side. There are plenty of trails you can hop on right outside your tent site and very little light pollution for optimal star gazing. We really enjoyed our time here and will definitely be back!

  • Dawn S.
    May. 30, 2020

    Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground

    Clean

    My pup and I spent two nights here and were very happy. While this campground is bare-bones (no pool) it is perfect for anyone who wants to just chill and do nothing or hit the mountains / local area and do some hiking. The entire campground was very clean, as were the bathrooms. At check-in they will give you maps of hiking routes. Firewood is for sale onsite as are a few necessities. They also had bear boxes, picnic tables and fire rings at each site. We will go back.

  • Sara Q.
    Oct. 7, 2019

    Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground

    Small, loud, muddy

    Unfortunately, I was not a big fan of this small campground. Right from the start, upon checkin, I bought two $5 ea. bundles of wood after being assured they were "kiln dried".  The wood wouldn't catch no matter what I tried -- not even with the help of some fire starter.  The tent site itself was very small and barely fit my truck and tent.  It was made smaller still because of the mud and holes on the perimeter of the site. At night, there was a lot of traffic noise nearby and despite a posted quiet time, other campers were slamming car doors over and over and talking at the top of their lungs, making it difficult to sleep. The surrounding state forest was pretty and the trails were in decent shape.

  • Jessica D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 21, 2023

    Molly Stark State Park Campground

    Quiet, secluded & nestled in the woods

    We stayed here as a stopover on our way home to NJ from Maine. It's 5 min down the road from Wilmington, one of our favorite towns to visit. There are no hookups at any Vermont state parks (Molly Stark included). We stayed at site T16. It's a pull through RV site with a fire ring & picnic table. T16 is right next to bathrooms- unfortunately the map shows showers there too (there are not). We boondocked- there's a spot up top near the other bathrooms where you can fill your fresh water tank. We had a slight issue with our fresh tank overflow valve & the park worker was INCREDIBLE, helpful and so kind. I think his name was Jerry?. He came right over and even rigged up a fix for it in his workshop. We got him a 12pack as a thanks before we left :). Campground is quiet & nestled in the woods. We didn't see any bear, but it is an active bear area. Some tent sites have lean to structures as well. There's a large pavilion at the top of the campground for eating etc. If we stayed longer we would have definitely done the Mt Olga Fire-tower trail. This is no frills, primitive & refreshing camping. And yes- we would stay again!!

  • Christina W.
    May. 28, 2019

    Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation

    I go every year!

    Me and my friends get a group site at least once a year. It's an amazing place with really great staff that care about the safety of everyone and keeping the areas clean. We always have an amazing time here. The views are great and we have never had any issues. 

    First time I went it was intimidating because I had never camped in an all tent camping site with no running water or public restroom areas. However, as soon as I got acclimated, I loved it. There are outhouses stationed at different areas all around, and bear boxes for every group. There are bears around so use the boxes seriously. 

    There are a number of rivers and little waterfalls that are always nice to visit. I plan to go there again very soon!


Guide to Rowe

Tent campsites near Rowe, Massachusetts range from primitive backcountry sites to walk-in established campgrounds throughout the Berkshire Mountains region. The area sits in western Massachusetts at approximately 1,800 feet elevation with dense forest cover and numerous waterways. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during day and drop to 50-60°F at night, making spring through fall the primary camping season.

What to do

Whitewater adventures: Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont offers tent camping with access to guided water activities. According to Dominick V., "Staff was awesome, went out of their way to take care of our group from camping to rafting. Amenities are well maintained."

Hiking access: Seth Warner Shelter provides primitive tent camping along the Long Trail. Daniel S. notes, "Its .2 miles off the Lt/At and sleeps 6-7 people. There is a fire pit. The long trail is a very wet nasty trail but it can be dry so be careful having a fire."

Paddling exploration: Many tent campsites provide water access. At Tully Lake Recreation Area, Jean C. shared, "There's a canoe/kayak launch near the campground, so if you have a waterfront site you may choose to paddle your gear over." The lake offers approximately 200 acres of paddling area.

Waterfall viewing: Doane's Falls sits near Tully Lake, offering a quick hike with multiple waterfalls. Nancy R. describes it as "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 campers appreciate the spaciousness of tent sites. At Maple Ridge Farm, Les R. commented, "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 quieter experience. Megan G. said of Tully Lake, "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 sites offer distinctive options beyond standard tent pads. Chester Railway Station provides an unusual experience, as Esther L. noted: "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."

Waterfront options: Many tent campgrounds feature water access. Miguel B. shared about Tully Lake, "There is easy access to a man made lake which is quite beautiful, and you can paddle on it and explore its shoreline."

What you should know

Cart-hauling required: Many tent sites require transporting gear from parking areas. Kris M. explains about Tully Lake, "There is no parking at each site, but a parking lot, then you can use a cart to truck your things in, anywhere from a few yards to about a mile."

Bathroom distance: Centralized facilities mean planning for nighttime needs. Jean C. notes, "The bathrooms offer flush toilets and a single shower on each site, plus a dishwashing sink outside. From some of the sites, this will be a long walk during the night."

Limited cell service: Most camping areas have poor connectivity. Jean C. advises, "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."

Campfire restrictions: Rules vary by location. Seth K. mentioned about Zoar Outdoor, "They don't allow fires at the campsites though which is annoying and their quiet hours are quite oppressive."

Tips for camping with families

Gate access logistics: Barton Cove Campground requires a specific entry procedure. Brie B. explains, "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."

Early booking essential: Popular sites fill extremely quickly. Nancy R. advises about Tully Lake, "There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made."

Pack minimally: Due to cart requirements, consider what's truly necessary. Miguel B. recommends, "Keeping gear to a minimum is a good idea" at Tully Lake, where "though they provide carts the trails can make hauling them tough."

Swimming options: Not all waterfront sites permit swimming. Jean C. notes, "There's no formal swimming area and you can't swim at the boat launches, but you are able to swim from your campsites if you so desire."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: The Rowe area primarily offers tent-focused camping rather than RV sites. At Stratton Pond Shelter in nearby Vermont, Miccal M. describes a typical backcountry setup: "The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter. There are 2 tent platforms, 2 outhouses and at least 16 bunk spaces in the shelter."

Consider hybrid options: Some campgrounds offer cabin rentals alongside tent sites. Lauren A. noted about holiday weekends at Tully Lake, "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 and neighboring campers."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Rowe, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rowe, MA is Zoar Outdoor with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Rowe, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Rowe, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.