Glamping sites near South Deerfield, Massachusetts close seasonally during winter when temperatures drop into the 20s and snowfall averages 40-50 inches annually. Most camping facilities operate from mid-May through mid-October, with peak foliage occurring in early October. Water temperatures at swimming areas typically reach 68°F by late June.
What to do
Hiking trails and waterfalls: Visit Savoy Mountain State Forest for waterfall exploration. "Went to Tannery Falls, beautiful waterfall. About a 20 minute drive away, worth a visit," notes Lauren from Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground.
Kayaking and swimming: The Ashuelot River provides calm water for beginners. "Beautiful river to float down or paddle up. Saw a bald eagle this past weekend while paddling up past the campground," shares Michael M. from Ashuelot River Campground.
Biking rail trails: Access converted railway paths directly from campsites. "You can pick up the Ashuelot Rail Trail at the campground. They have canoes and kayaks on site, plus a shuttle service for water sports or biking," explains Carry M. at Ashuelot River Campground.
Autumn festivals: Experience fall foliage events at local campgrounds during September-October. "We went to this campground during fall foliage time. Very peaceful and very great staff. They had hayless rides and fire truck rides. This time they had a haunted house walk through," reports Jason A. from Northampton/Springfield KOA.
What campers like
Proximity to attractions: Many campgrounds offer central access to regional highlights. "This campground provides a nice base if you're in the area for a while and want to explore North Adams, Mt. Greylock, or rafting/tubing out of Charlemont. Each of these places is 20-45 minutes away," notes Jean C. about Erving State Forest Campground.
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and showers receive consistent maintenance. "Bathrooms at a distance for most sites. They could use some updating but served their purpose," Lauren comments about Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple ponds and rivers allow for various fishing experiences. "The big draw here is the pond, with the public beach on one side and lined with private cabins on the other. Swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking will keep you busy," says Jean C. about Erving State Forest.
Seasonal baked goods: Some campgrounds offer fresh food options. "Don't forget to buy your homemade donuts and other baked goods. They go fast," advises Jason A. from Country Aire Campgrounds.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many forested campgrounds have spotty connectivity. "Download your maps for offline use! Cell connection was horrible heading up here," warns Jean C. about Erving State Forest Campground.
Bear precautions: Some areas require food storage preparation. "Bear boxes are provided, but I question how serious they are about the bear problem because the dumpster was not at all secure," notes Jean C. at Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Water quality varies: Swimming areas may have different conditions. "North Pond was a very peaceful area to enjoy while we stayed at Savoy, but when we attempted to swim at South Pond, we didn't stay very long due to the debris such as broken glass and nails," shares Brian T.
GPS issues: Navigation systems sometimes direct to wrong locations. "Don't rely on GPS to get you there it will put you on the wrong end of the park in the middle of a rural neighborhood," warns Bill K. about Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with structured programming. "This campground is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor," reports Jason A. about Woodford State Park Campground.
Playground options: Several campgrounds feature recently updated play areas. "Pros- warm clean bathrooms, warm cinnamon buns in the am, great playground, pool and pirate ship. We were there with the Scouts and took up a huge grassy area with tents," writes Cindy about Country Aire Campgrounds.
Biking loops: Internal campground roads offer safe cycling for children. "Campground has a nice loop for the kids to bike. North Pond has a small beach for swimming," explains Lauren about Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Site selection for privacy: Corner locations often provide more space. "If you have kids, they have a lot of things for them to do, but when you want to get sleep, it wasn't the beat place to stop," cautions Angie G. about Northampton/Springfield KOA.
Tips from RVers
Access routes: Covered bridges may restrict larger vehicles. "Follow the website directions to get here as there are covered bridges in the area with low Clearance and low weight limits," advises John L. from Ashuelot River Campground.
Site orientation: Position matters for comfort and privacy. "We camp with a pop up and reserved site 11, the orientation of the site did not work and we switched to site 10. 10 & 11 are connected by a path, good for people traveling in a group," shares Lauren about Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Hookup limitations: Many state parks lack full utilities. "There are RV sites and there is a dump station/potable water fill station available at the park entrance, but no RV hook ups of any kind," explains Bill K. about Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Electrical capacity: Check amperage before booking. "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," reports Rae-Ann W. about Ashuelot River Campground.
