Best Tent Camping near Somerset, MA
Tent camping options surrounding Somerset, Massachusetts include established campgrounds across nearby coastal and inland areas. Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground offers unique island camping with tent sites that require a ferry ride to access. The Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites provide beachfront tent camping on Cape Cod, while Washburn Island Campsites at Waquoit Bay Reserve offers a peaceful camping experience on a small island with water views.
Most tent campgrounds in the region require advance planning and reservation. The Boston Harbor Islands sites must be booked months ahead and are accessible only by ferry from either Long Wharf in Boston or Hingham. According to one visitor, "Getting to the island was a bit of a hassle. We live in Boston and took all of our gear on the T to the harbor by the aquarium." Water access varies between campgrounds - Peddocks Island has running water available, but most primitive sites require campers to bring their own drinking water. Sandy Neck requires a 3-4 mile hike through sand to reach the tent sites, which feature picnic tables and outhouses but limited shade.
The tent camping experience in the region offers unique coastal perspectives not available to day visitors. Many sites provide fire pits or designated fire areas, particularly at Washburn Island where "sites all have views of the water" and are "very quiet at night," as noted in a review. Boston Harbor Islands campsites allow campers to build fires below the high tide line using scavenged wood. The island camping options provide remarkable seclusion despite proximity to urban areas, with Sandy Neck offering sunset views over the beach. Most tent campgrounds operate seasonally, with Boston Harbor Islands open from June through Labor Day and Waquoit Bay Reserve's season running from mid-May to Columbus Day. Limited facilities mean tent campers should bring all necessary supplies including water, though some sites like Sandy Neck will deliver water to backcountry tent sites for free.