Best Tent Camping near Sharon, MA
Tent campsites in the greater Sharon, Massachusetts area primarily consist of established campgrounds within parks and conservation areas. Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground offers tent camping on multiple islands, including Lovells, Grape, and Bumpkin islands, with sites requiring ferry transportation from Boston or Hingham. Cape Ann Camp Site, approximately 35 miles northeast of Sharon, provides wooded tent sites with varying levels of privacy and access to nearby beaches.
The tent camping experience at Boston Harbor Islands involves bringing all supplies, including drinking water. Sites are rustic with minimal amenities, though some islands offer composting toilets. Reservations open six months in advance and fill quickly during summer months. At Cape Ann, tent sites feature dirt surfaces with fire rings and picnic tables. Shower facilities require quarters (25 cents for 5 minutes), and bathroom facilities are clean but basic. Both locations enforce seasonal operating periods, with Boston Harbor Islands open from June through Labor Day weekend, and Cape Ann typically open from mid-May through mid-October.
Several tent-only sites exist in the region that offer more secluded experiences than RV-focused campgrounds. The wooded sites at Cape Ann provide natural separation between campsites, creating a sense of privacy despite being relatively close to amenities. Sites at Boston Harbor Islands offer a unique opportunity to camp on remote islands with views of the Boston skyline and marine environments. These locations require more planning but reward tent campers with distinctive experiences. According to one visitor, "Sitting on the beach watching the sun set over Boston was awesome and made everything entirely worth it." At Buck Hill Campground, approximately 25 miles southwest of Sharon, tent campers can enjoy heavily wooded sites along Wakefield Pond, perfect for paddling and swimming in a more rustic setting.