Best Campgrounds near Shutesbury, MA

Campgrounds surrounding Shutesbury, Massachusetts provide a mix of rustic and developed camping experiences throughout the central Massachusetts region. Tully Lake Recreation Area offers tent-only sites with picnic tables and fire rings, while Erving State Forest Campground features access to Laurel Lake with swimming and fishing opportunities. The area includes several state-managed forests and recreation areas within a 30-minute drive, including Federated Women's Club State Forest and Lake Dennison Recreation Area, providing accommodation for tent campers, RV users, and those seeking cabin rentals. Most established campgrounds in the region maintain facilities like vault or flush toilets, with some offering showers.

Many campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, particularly during the peak summer season from Memorial Day through Labor Day. As one visitor noted, "Cell phone coverage is pretty close to absent or poor in most of the area, so download any maps you might want before you arrive." Road quality varies significantly between sites, with some requiring navigation along narrow, winding forest roads. Several campgrounds, such as Tully Lake, use a cart system rather than allowing vehicles directly to campsites. The region experiences typical New England seasons with cold, snowy winters limiting camping options, while summer brings moderate temperatures ideal for outdoor recreation. Most campgrounds close between mid-October and early May, though specific dates vary by location.

The campgrounds near Shutesbury feature varied terrain and water access that appeal to different camping preferences. Waterfront sites at places like Tully Lake and Barton Cove tend to book quickly due to their popularity for swimming, fishing, and paddling. A camper at Tully Lake shared that "sites closer to the water that we saw were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out." More secluded options exist in areas like Federated Women's Club State Forest, where primitive sites offer greater solitude but fewer amenities. Mixed-use campgrounds such as Pine Acres Family Camping Resort and Northampton/Springfield KOA provide full hookups for RVs alongside tent sites, catering to families seeking more comforts. The abundance of trails and water access points throughout the region makes these campgrounds popular bases for hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing in central Massachusetts.

Best Camping Sites Near Shutesbury, Massachusetts (161)

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

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

    $40 / night

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

    "Volleyball and horseshoes are near the entrance. You may purchase firewood. The bathrooms offer flush toilets and a single shower on each site, plus a dishwashing sink outside."

    2. Erving State Forest Campground

    3 Reviews
    Erving, MA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 544-7745

    $17 / night

    "Situated by a beautiful lake and access to several hiking trails. "

    "Friends told me about this little gem in north central Massachusetts, not far from Rt 2. The big draw here is the pond, with the public beach on one side and lined with private cabins on the other. "

    3. Otter River State Forest

    14 Reviews
    Baldwinville, MA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 939-8962

    $17 - $55 / night

    "Swimming in a pond or a short drive to a bigger lake (camping pass covers both). One of my favorites. It's kind of a hidden gem in north central Massachusetts."

    "I loved it here, it was a great little campground for massachusetts"

    4. Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

    14 Reviews
    Foster Lake, OR
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 297-1609

    $17 - $35 / night

    "The loop closer to the entrance has a lot of private sites. Although if you have one closer to the main road, it is quite noisy with road sounds. But many of the sites in the middle are more quiet."

    "As a caveat, waterfront in this instance was more of a water view as the lake was on the other side of the campground road and a large open area with trees."

    5. Pine Acres Family Camping Resort

    15 Reviews
    Rutland, MA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 882-9509

    $70 - $115 / night

    "Miles and miles of country/forests surrounding pine acres, however pulling in you’ll soon realize how much goes on inside the campground."

    "Although the tent sites are a distance from anything, the main areas of the campground are fantastic. With a full calendar of events (some free, some cost $) you will never be bored."

    6. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest Campground

    10 Reviews
    Goshen, MA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 268-7098

    $17 - $35 / night

    "There is a campers only beach on upper highland lake that was easy walking distance from the campsite and fishing opportunities there as well."

    "Public beach area is small but you can find your own quiet spot away from the crowd. sites book up quick so reserve early!"

    7. Northampton / Springfield KOA

    12 Reviews
    Southampton, MA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 527-9862

    "We stayed in the cabins and they were clean, and we liked our proximity to the pool."

    "I’m more of a quite, in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind of camper, so I tend to shy away from commercial campgrounds, but it was easier for me to commute from the KOA than from home when work was crazy because"

    8. Federated Womens Club State Forest

    1 Review
    Petersham, MA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 939-8962

    9. Barton Cove Campground

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

    $22 - $30 / night

    "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"

    10. White Birch Campground

    1 Review
    Whately, MA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 665-4941
Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 161 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Shutesbury, MA

735 Reviews of 161 Shutesbury Campgrounds


  • Keith L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Jamaica State Park Campground

    Great Camping Experience at Jamaica State Park

    This was our second stay at this Vermont State Park. It was a great three days. The park rangers were tremendous in ensuring we had a great visit. They worked with us to get the right site. The bathroom facilities, while rustic, were clean. There is a plethora of things to do in the park itself and in the local community. Nonetheless, it starts and ends with the management of the campground. Lauren, the campground manager, and her team of professionals, do a great job. We will definitely return.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Ashuelot River Campground

    Nice ‘n Easy campground

    We stayed for 3 days off season so not busy. Sites located along the river are wooded, field sites are very open great for seeing the stars at night. Sites have fire rings with excellent airflow for good burning with low smoke. Hook ups are in great condition for power, water, sewer. Showers and bath house on site. Laundry and game room at office area. Office staff was very helpful and they’re open later into the day til 7 PM. Good firewood and large bundle delivered for $15 to your site. We passed over this site on our first trip to the area but are glad we came here and we’re planning to return. Follow the website directions to get here as there are covered bridges in the area with low Clearance and low weight limits.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    NF 83 - riverside

    NF83

    Great camping site. The road into the site was pretty rough.

  • Rae-Ann W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Ashuelot River Campground

    Another great trip to Ashuelot River Campground

    We spent another great weekend at the Ashuelot River Campground. We recently purchased a new-to-us camper and wanted to get in a trip or two before putting it away for the winter. This was our 2nd visit to Ashuelot.

    We were in site 59, a pull-through with water and 30/50 amp service. The site was level and easy to get into and park. We were in a fully wooded area on the left side of the campground, which we prefer. They have sites located in fully open areas, as well as some that are partially wooded and have river access. There is a nice mix.

    Having good weather, we took a lazy tube ride from one side of the campground to the other. It has been quite dry in the area, so they are experiencing a drought. However, a little rain in the week got the river moving a bit. We were able to enjoy a nice, slow drift around the campground.

    We thoroughly enjoyed our time again and will definitely be back.

  • Rachael K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Gus's Gardens Camping

    Nice weekend getaway

    This place was really nice. Easy to pull our 20ft camper in. Two minutes drive to the very cute town of Wilmington. Good places to eat there. The campsite was really private. Had a picnic table and fire pit. The pond was sweet and the Deerfield Valley Trail is right off the campsite. We would definitely like to stay there again.

  • Michael
    Sep. 20, 2025

    The Quarry Campground

    The Quarry Campground

    Very quiet. At night all you can hear is the crackling of the campfire.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park

    Good Campground

    Stayed for over a week off season , mid September. Very quiet during the week , weekend is Party Time when the gang pulls in on Friday Night. Very loud until after 10:00 on Friday / Saturday. 50 percent or more is seasonal camp sites. Sites in back are ok with trees and different levels. Sites are a little closer than I usually find. Neighbors are very considerate on site privacy. Owners are exceptionally helpful and work hard to keep the site functioning and clean. Coin operated showers with hot water, mostly nice and clean except after a crowd gets packed and checks out Sunday AM. Laundry room takes quarters for machines. Small store at office which was open every day. Game room with wi fi. Pool , playground , volleyball area. Good size wood bundle for $10 , delivered directly to your site. Lake access with kayaks , some local hiking. Major grocery store nearby along with Walmart.

  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Grout Pond Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    Grout Pond Loop

    Camping Grout Pond Loop is truly nice after Labor Day (Sept 5-7). Campsites 15 & 16 offer pull-out space to turn around truck campers --we lucked out w/ 4 wheel camper pop-up). Over hanging trees would make it difficult for larger equipment, plus saw posting that excludes trailers from certain roads. We reserved well in advance; however many fellow campers were trying to find first come sites and ended up hiking in to camp around pond sites. Sites are in eye-site of each other but you don't feel crowded. Temps during day around 65-70 F. Nights dipped to 45-55F.
    We saw deer & turkeys driving the surrounding woods after short hikes.
    We love chatting w locals and learned of a special shrine that was faithfully built from stone to resemble original in modern day Turkey. What a special & serene place.

  • Kenneth P.
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fort Dummer State Park Campground

    Not So Bad

    We spent one night at site #20 and enjoyed our stay.  It was rather peaceful other than the hum of I-91. The staff was friendly and helpful. The sites were generally wooded, pretty level, and fairly spread apart from one another.  I saw no signs of the problems identified in the June 2025 review.  Yes, I must agree that the restrooms are old, but they were clean.  The other problems might happen anywhere and were obviously brought under control.  Clearly, the writer of the June 2025 post knew way more than any weekend camper would be aware of and this shows that is more to their story that should have been revealed in their post.


Guide to Shutesbury

Camping sites near Shutesbury, Massachusetts range from rustic, minimalist locations to more developed facilities across varied terrain. Situated within the undulating highlands of central Massachusetts at elevations between 600-1,100 feet, the region experiences dramatic seasonal changes with July average temperatures around 80°F and winter nights regularly dropping below 20°F. Many campgrounds maintain significant tree cover, creating natural shade during summer months.

What to do

Paddling opportunities: Tully Lake Recreation Area offers various water activities on its man-made lake. "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. It's a beautiful area right in your own back yard," notes Ben P. The campground provides rentals for those without equipment: "Canoe, kayak & padddleboard rental available. Lots of islands & places to explore on the lake," shares Sa R.

Hiking trails: Multiple trail systems connect campgrounds throughout the region, ranging from easy walks to more challenging terrain. At Daughters of the American Revolution State Forest, "Hiking is beautiful and there is a fire tower you could climb to get a great view," according to Alan. The forest offers varied hiking options: "The hike from site 44 to the fire tower is only 0.6 miles and gets you a great view. Hike back via the Long Trail and it's 1.6 Miles back."

Swimming locations: Several campgrounds provide swimming access in natural lakes. At Lake Dennison Recreation Area, "The lake is clean and the beach is clean and soft(ish)," reports Alan. Bonnie B. adds that Lake Dennison is "a gorgeous campground with clean facilities and responsive rangers. The lake is perfect for swimming, kayaking, and fishing."

What campers like

Spacious, private sites: Campers frequently mention appreciating the space and layout at certain campgrounds. At D.A.R. State Forest, one camper notes, "Site #44 is HUGELY HUGE. Seriously, you could put down three tents and a couple of campers and not feel crowded." The campground features "very roomy and wooded" sites according to Dawn E.

Tent-only areas: Federated Women's Club State Forest offers a rustic camping experience with walk-in only sites. Jean C. explains, "Some of the sites are definitely walk-in, with a narrow trail leading from the road. It's possible to park at other sites; I'm guessing the gate at the beginning of the road toward the campground is open when the campground is open." This limited access creates a quieter atmosphere without vehicle traffic.

Family activities: Several campgrounds organize regular structured activities. Jason A. reports that at Northampton/Springfield KOA, "There are plenty activities for everybody. They have a fire truck ride that brings you around the campsite and hay-less rides. There is a pool, there is a playground, there are games of all ages." Another reviewer notes they "offer some interesting activities for kids with weekend fire engine rides, a gem panning center, seemingly well maintained playground/pool and a small haunted house for October."

What you should know

Limited cell service: Connectivity is limited throughout the region. At Erving State Forest, Tim S. warns, "There is also zero cell service (there is an operational pay phone at the showers) which is fine... but wished we knew ahead of time." Similarly, at D.A.R. State Forest, "Cell phone coverage is faint to nonexistent on Verizon. You may want to download offline maps before you head out here."

Cart systems: Some campgrounds require carrying gear from parking areas to campsites. At Tully Lake, Sa R. explains, "No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts." Another camper elaborates, "Though they provide carts the trails can make hauling them tough. Keeping gear to a minimum is a good idea."

Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance planning, especially for prime sites. Kris M. shares about Tully Lake, "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."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection matters: When camping with children, choosing the right site location can significantly impact your experience. At Tully Lake, Miguel B. advises, "The sites near the water or on bluffs are further away, and though they provide carts the trails can make hauling them tough." For families with young children, sites closer to bathrooms may be preferable as "Our site was fairly far from services, long run with small kids in the middle of the night," notes Lauren A.

Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer specific features for younger campers. At Pine Acres Family Camping Resort, Rob L. notes they have "AWESOME pools (very kid friendly), parks, dog park, hiking trails and even sections off of the trails to find your own private beach on the water." The resort also maintains "a full calendar of events (some free, some cost $) you will never be bored."

Car-free camping: Some campgrounds restrict vehicles at campsites, creating safer environments for children. Megan G. appreciated that Tully Lake had "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."

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: RV campers should research site dimensions and access routes. At Erving State Forest, Jean C. notes, "Sites are large, wooded, generally level," but adds that "It's a bit of an uphill hike from the beach to the campsites." Some campgrounds have limitations - at Otter River, one camper mentioned "Very narrow parking areas on the sites."

Full-service options: For those wanting comprehensive amenities, Pine Acres provides extensive services. Shawn D. reports it's "extremely well taken care of" with "plenty of activities to keep kids and adults busy all weekend and then some." Another camper notes "if you have a boat, you can rent a dock slip too," making it versatile for RVers with watercraft.

Out-of-state fees: Non-Massachusetts residents face significantly higher camping fees at state parks. At D.A.R. State Forest, Lucy P. notes, "I don't mind paying a little extra some places because of being out of state, but paying $54 a night for not even any hookups when MA residents pay $17 is insane." Budget accordingly when planning trips from neighboring states.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Shutesbury, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Shutesbury, MA offers a wide range of camping options, with 161 campgrounds and RV parks near Shutesbury, MA and 11 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Shutesbury, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Shutesbury, MA is Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Shutesbury, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Shutesbury, MA.

What parks are near Shutesbury, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Shutesbury, MA that allow camping, notably Tully Lake and Westville Lake.