Situated along the northeastern Massachusetts coastline, the Salisbury area experiences mild summers with average temperatures of 70-80°F and coastal breezes. The camping landscape around Salisbury includes options ranging from oceanfront locations to inland wooded sites with varying levels of tree cover. Camping near Salisbury provides access to diverse water bodies including the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton River, and inland ponds.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds near Salisbury offer fishing access to different water bodies. At Hampton Beach State Park Campground, campers can fish from a jetty where "you can sit on and fish from or watch the sunrise." The park's location at the mouth of Hampton River provides access to both fresh and saltwater fishing.
Paddleboarding and kayaking: Water recreation beyond swimming is popular in the area's various waterways. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers canoe and kayak rentals with lake access right from the campground. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water," explains a camper.
Day trips to coastal towns: The location provides easy access to historic coastal towns. "Boston and Salem are very close and you can take a train which is only 5 minutes away from the campground," notes a visitor to Beach Rose RV Park. Another camper recommends that "you can take a day trip to Maine you're a two hour drive away. Boston is an hour, Salem is also an hour."
What campers like
Waterfront campsites: Several campgrounds offer direct water access sites. At Cape Ann Camp Site, "Beach down the street was big, beautiful and low tide was unexpected as you could walk for ever." Pawtuckaway State Park features premium lakefront sites that "book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!"
Entertainment options: Many campgrounds provide on-site activities and entertainment. The Pines Camping Area offers a pool that campers describe as "awesome in the morning." At Tuxbury Pond RV Campground, visitors enjoy organized events including live music and comedy shows: "the band was good & the stand up comedy was awesome."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the region maintain well-kept facilities. At Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort, one camper noted it's "one of the cleanest, most meticulously maintained campground we have been to." Another visitor described it as having "brand new equipment" in the laundry facilities.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Peak season requires advance planning. Hampton Beach State Park Campground is "extremely crowded in high season, empty in off season" with a camper noting that "reservations are usually made a year in advance."
Site privacy variations: Campground layouts differ significantly in terms of privacy. At Wakeda Campground, sites are described as having "great spread out sites" while Cape Ann Camp Site offers tent sites that are "secluded" compared to their RV sites which are "not as secluded."
Seasonal restrictions: Some facilities have important seasonal limitations. Pawtuckaway State Park does not "allow dogs anywhere in the campground during summer months" though they are permitted in off-season, which differs from many other area campgrounds that welcome pets year-round.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. Sea Coast Camping has "a very large playground" while Wakeda Campground provides activities including "miniature golf(fee)" that families appreciate.
Swimming options: Beach and pool access varies by location. Tuxbury Pond RV Campground has both "pool and playground" that are "open and well maintained." The Pines Camping Area features "a creek right behind you which gave us beautiful views right outside our RV window(s)."
Bug preparation: Coastal marsh areas can have significant insect activity. A family at The Pines Camping Area reported: "The con of this camp ground was the misquote, we went through 3 deep woods cans in just the first night. They were crazy and kids were eaten alive."
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: RV site layouts vary significantly between campgrounds. Beach Rose RV Park offers "level concrete pad full hookups" though sites are described as "close together but quiet."
Off-peak advantages: Visiting outside summer months provides different experiences. Hampton Beach State Park offers "oceanfront NE style summer camping" with one RVer noting they "caught the tail end of the season last year and the beach was super peaceful and much quieter than in high season."
Large rig accessibility: Several campgrounds accommodate larger RVs with varying site configurations. Sea Coast Camping recently "added new 50-amp full hook-up sites (some of which are pull-thrus) so there are plenty of options for big-rigs" according to a visitor who noted the campground's practical layout improvements.
