2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Myles Standish State Forest offers diverse glamping accommodations across its Barretts Pond and Charge Pond campgrounds, with yurts being the standout luxury option. The yurts feature comfortable bunks and provide prime views of the surrounding forest and ponds. Located just outside Cape Cod and accessible from Boston, the forest's glamping areas include amenities like shower facilities, filtered drinking water, and picnic areas. Visitors can choose between various accommodation loops depending on their needs, with some sites offering electric hookups for added comfort. The pond-view yurts provide a perfect balance of nature immersion with convenience, particularly at Barretts Pond where three yurts are available. One guest shared, "The campsite loop at Myles Standish State Forest borders a small pond with beach. In addition to tent/RV sites, there are 3 yurts available with bunks."
Several ponds throughout the forest create ideal settings for glamping enthusiasts seeking both comfort and natural experiences. Hiking and biking trails crisscross the property, with miles of paths suitable for all skill levels, including a scenic 3-mile trail around East Pond. Water activities abound with swimming beaches at multiple ponds including Barrett's and Charge Pond, plus fishing and boating opportunities in crystal-clear spring-fed waters. The forest maintains clean facilities with bathhouses, though cell phone coverage is limited throughout the property—making it ideal for those seeking a digital detox while still enjoying comfortable accommodations. A visitor noted, "The bike trails through the park are great and we enjoyed them. We also enjoyed the various kettle ponds. We kayaked one morning and enjoyed watching the people catching good sized fish around us."
"The campground doesn't have hook ups, but there is a dump station with water and water available around the loops. The lower part of the camp ground is set up in different loops."
"The staff were really friendly and helpful, gave us a map to our site and sold us a couple of bundles of chemical free wood to burn for only about $5."
from $17 - $35 / night
"Had a gas grill, table and chairs, a glider and fire pit."
"Site 309 Pull thru with fire-pit , cement pad gas grill , chairs and table ,level site with grass for dog not all sandy Lots shade trees"
"I like this campground because it is close to home. There isn't much to do here within the campground. It has two areas. The one nearer the camp entrance is smaller than the second. "
"We have stayed here during our exploration around cape cod. It's a but farther away from the main location, but we loved the quiet and tranquility of this campground."
Available next weekend
from $17 - $55 / night
"Hot showers were awesome (.25 cents per 3 minutes) and the stone fire pits were a hit."
"Our patio area was fairly large with no other sites next to it, just a road. We chose a 50A/water pull thru site and the electric was good at 124 volts on each leg."
from $50 - $110 / night
"The staff from the front desk to the front gate are incredibly friendly and welcoming!"
"Bourne Scenic Park is conveniently located near many of Cape Cod’s attractions including beaches, golf courses, historic landmarks, restaurants and shopping. "
"Overall, a well maintained campground with clean bathrooms and clean clear pond to swim in. Tent sites were good sized and not right on top of other people."
from $32 - $60 / night
"They did not require booking 1+ days in advance as some other campsites and they even upgraded our site from just water and electric to include sewer and a pull through!"
"Close to Plymouth Center and Cape Cod. Just a 1/2 mile away is a great nature walk to the ocean. We have been here 4-5 times now as for us it’s a great little weekend getaway location."
from $35 - $75 / night
"The 5 tent sites have their own fire pits, but the RV sites must use a community fire pit, though in mid-November, just before the campground closed for the season, RVers used the firepit at a tent site"
"It's located close to the Sagamore Bridge on the mainland side. Traffic can be messy in the summer, especially on weekend days! The campground itself is a haven for RVs."
Available next weekend
from $22 - $34 / night
from $29 - $85 / night
"This campsite loop at Myles Standish State Forest is closest to the headquarters and borders a small pond with beach. In addition to tent/RV sites, there are 3 yurts available with bunks."
"The stuff further out tends to feel more remote, facilities clean and pretty good, camp staff great all around. This is a nice site, I'll be back."
from $17 - $55 / night
ScoutAmazing amenities and activities here. Staff is great. Lots of room for big rigs. Tent spots are shady while other ones are sunnier. They have rentals such as log cabins/ A-frames to rent also. Hot tubs and pools too!
LegendI’m not going to lie this was a little tricky for big rigs to get to, but with lots of patience and skillful driving, it is doable. Salem is an old New England town so there are many narrow streets and some low clearances. Follow the directions on the parks website as they are designed for RVs– don’t use Google Maps unless you are a small camper. Even getting into the park is kind of challenging because of the way the entrance is laid out with the entrance booth and some low hanging trees. This campground is in a municipal park with a marina, beach, a short walking trail, and picnic areas. The campground has different sections and totally different feels to them. We arrived on a weekend and section we were in the section which is in the parking lot of a busy marina. The parking lot was half full which made for navigating our 45’ bus into our site pretty hard.
No sites have fire pits but you can have a fire if you bring your own above ground pit. Tent sites have picnic tables but nothing else. Some sites you can drive to and have a car onsite and others are non-vehicle access sites (11, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27& 38) in which you have to park in a parking lot. Some RV sites have great water views and others are in a back gravel lot. In my opinion, the best RV sites are 12-16(A-D) because they have a water view. Sites 16B-D are a little tricky for big-rigs to get into because of the tight space. Our site (#13) had a slight downhill slope. We pulled in forward so we could have a view of the harbor which meant the utilities (water electric only) were in the front of our site but we were able to reach without an extension cord. We loved watching the action in the harbor. There is a gazebo by the water which we enjoyed siting under and watching boats go in and out of the harbor while it rained.
There is a nice sandy beach onsite which attracts a lot of day use vistors. The grounds are interesting to walk around as the water views are nice and there is an old fort to explore. Nearby town of Salem Willows is(about½ mile away) is a cute old seaside town with restaurants and arcades. They have a Bluebike rental station which is an easy way to get downtown and explore the area if you don’t have a car.
GuideHard to beat being right on the water with a lighthouse! But it's kind of a kooky campground.
Pros:
- Gorgeous views.
- Cute little trails.
- Super friendly staff.
- The bathrooms were always being cleaned (which is nice), but the bathrooms are dilapidated, so it's kind of like putting lipstick on a pig.
Cons:
- It's just an odd arrangement of sites. The RV area is a parking lot. Some tent sites don't allow cars on them. Our site #37 was cool, but right by the busy entrance.
- As we stayed in October, the entire area is Halloween central. There were tour trolleys coming in all day, and since we were near the entrance we felt like animals in a zoo.
- As mentioned previously - the bathrooms could use a serious upgrade.
GuideThis property is huge and the staff is very accommodating. Restrooms with showers are clean. And there is a pickleball court!
ScoutClose to town and beaches
GuideI can understand why this place is rated one of the best campgrounds in the country. This was my first time camping here with my own RV and it did not disappoint. Our site was spacious, and centrally located within the campground, they have all the amenities you can imagine living up to that “resort” title. Ranging from multiple pools, hot tubs, courts, pavilions, playgrounds, etc. the cell service was great, they offer WiFi, and much more. I love the store, it gives off that Great Wolf Lodge feel, and it has everything inside you may need. Including a little hidden café that surprisingly made good lattes. This place is massive, and I’ve never seen a campground that had as many million dollar RV’s in one place. That atmosphere is just great here. There is so much to do. It’s so big you need an e-bike just to get around. Resort-style campgrounds like this come at a steeper price compared to others, but in my opinion, Normandy was well worth the cost. We look forward to revisiting, often!
GuideBest part of our Salem trip by far. We spent Sunday evening out here after walking around downtown and this was a completely different experience. Kids loved the playground and just running around exploring the beach and rocks. Way more interesting than the shops.
Quiet, actual waterfront, old fort and lighthouse right there. The young lady in the office was really nice and super helpful too.
A couple things to know: the RV field spots are really close together. Like 15-20 feet from my trailer to the neighbor. In my opinion the parking lot spots with the ocean view are better. And when they warn you about the raccoons, they’re not joking. They shredded my trash.
If you’re in Salem with kids, still worth coming out here. This is the part they’ll remember.
Scout조용하고 편한 캠핑장임니다.
ScoutAnother wonderful month long vacation at Coastal Acres Campground! Anna and the wonderful staff made our visit a pleasure. We needed an air conditioner repaired/replaced during our stay. Anna and Rob gave us a list of local mobile RV repair Companies. They also lended a fan to us to use until the repair was completed. We can't thank them enough for everything they did to help make our stay comfortable and fun! We will be back!!
Myles Standish State Forest and surrounding campgrounds provide glamping near South Carver, Massachusetts in varied settings across southeastern Massachusetts. This coastal region sits just inland from Cape Cod Bay at elevations under 100 feet, creating a distinct microclimate with warm summers and crisp autumns. The area's kettle ponds formed during glacial retreat and create crystal-clear swimming spots throughout the region.
Biking on dedicated trails: Miles of well-maintained trails wind through Myles Standish State Forest and connect to broader regional paths. "Great camping spot to road ride from. Nice park. Good access to surrounding new England towns," notes Mike M. about Myles Standish State Forest.
Fishing in multiple bodies of water: Several campgrounds offer fishing access in ponds and the Cape Cod Canal. At Bourne Scenic Park, "If you like fishing this is your place," according to Rick R. The canal provides excellent opportunities for catching sizeable fish with easy access.
Walking the Cape Cod Canal: The paved path along the canal offers scenic walks with maritime views. "Stair access to canal bike path" is available at Bourne Scenic Park, where "the path to walk or bike was well kept," according to Paige R.
Swimming in spring-fed ponds: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming areas with clear water. At Pinewood Lodge Campground, "There was great views from our site of the pond. On the site there was also a path down to a little dock on the pond that you could sit and relax on," shares Laurie.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing and natural buffers. At Barretts Pond Campground, "generally good spacing and great views" can be found according to Mike T., who notes "the stuff further out tends to feel more remote."
Multiple loops with different characteristics: Campgrounds offer various settings to match preferences. "There are many loops here. Some spots run closer to main road than others so you can hear the cars go by. Nice ponds," notes Desiree M. about Myles Standish State Forest.
Extended season options: Some campgrounds remain open beyond summer. At Scusset Beach, "extended season is restricted to self-contained units as the restrooms are turned off," explains Jean C., making it ideal for late-season camping when crowds thin out.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain their bathhouses well. "The showers are clean, free and the water is hot," mentions Michi P. about Scusset Beach State Reservation.
Alcohol restrictions: Massachusetts state parks have specific rules. "When you are sitting by the campfire, sometimes, chilling with a beer or another adult beverage is nice. Not in Massachusetts State Parks. No alcohol allowed," cautions Randy R. about Myles Standish State Forest.
Site levelness varies significantly: Many campsites require preparation for uneven terrain. At Shawme Crowell State Forest, "The tent sites tend to be on short spurs that may be hilly and uneven, so would be difficult to navigate with a trailer or larger vehicle," warns Jean C.
Seasonal crowding patterns: Weekends and holidays see higher occupancy. "The Sunday, and Monday nights, the 7 closest spots to us were empty, it was like having the woods to ourselves," reports Kyle C. about midweek stays at Myles Standish State Forest.
Cell service limitations: Coverage can be spotty or nonexistent. "Cell coverage is iffy in a lot of spots," notes Desiree M., making it important to download maps and information before arrival.
Playgrounds and recreation: Several campgrounds have dedicated children's areas. At Boston/Cape Cod KOA, "As we pulled around the office we saw all kinds of activities for kids. Bouncy 'pillow', pool, bounce pad, sluice, miniature golf, and a playground," reports Samantha S.
Beach access considerations: Pond beaches often have family-friendly features. "The beach at Charged Pond had a nice sandy section and a bathhouse," notes Kim R. about Myles Standish State Forest.
Planned activities at select locations: Some campgrounds schedule events. "The activities for kids is the draw for this campground for sure. My kids loved the train rides, movie night, flash light candy hunt, and arts and crafts," shares Amy G. about Boston/Cape Cod KOA.
Quieter sections for light sleepers: Different loops offer varying noise levels. "We stayed in loop b south, which is really not a loop but a dead end. Very quiet, and we were the only people in the loop for a couple of days," recommends Amie C. about Myles Standish State Forest.
Limited hookup availability: Electric and water access varies by campground and loop. "The campground doesn't have hook ups, but there is a dump station with water and water available around the loops," notes Kim R. about Myles Standish State Forest.
Dump station locations: Plan for proper waste disposal. Scusset Beach "RV sites have paved parking pads and picnic tables," according to Jean C., making setup easier but requiring dump station planning.
Reservation timing for prime spots: Popular waterfront sites book quickly. "I would say this campground is definitely better suited for RVers," shares Ashlee L. about Bourne Scenic Park, where canal-side sites are most desired.
Site selection advice: Review site maps carefully before booking. "I have learned that you really need to upgrade to the better campsites to enjoy your stay...I'll pay the few extra dollars to have a bigger site it's so worth it," advises Janet P. about Boston/Cape Cod KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near South Carver, MA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near South Carver, MA is Charge Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near South Carver, MA?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 glamping camping locations near South Carver, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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