Camping near Southwick, Massachusetts offers diverse camping options across southwestern Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. The region sits at elevations ranging from 270 to 1,000 feet, with the summer season bringing average temperatures between 70-85°F during the day and 50-65°F at night. Thunderstorms frequently roll through during summer afternoons, affecting campground operations at higher elevations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Farmington River at Austin Hawes Memorial Campground offers trophy trout fishing. "Excellent campground for tent campers. Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots," notes Tom C. The river has catch-and-release requirements.
Mining activities: Kids can enjoy gem mining at Prospect Mountain Campground. Sandra S. explains, "They also have a mini golf course and a mining area where kids can 'mine' 'gems'. Kids had a blast!"
Movie nights: Just 10 minutes from Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, you'll find a drive-in theater. "There is a drive in movie theater 10 min away (we always tailgate a movie as tradition)," shares Austin S., making it a popular evening activity for campers.
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Many campers appreciate lake access at Tolland State Forest Campground. "We have brought out kayaks and took off right from the site. There are rocks to get into the water but the water is clean and not mucky," according to Rebecca D. The campground sits on a peninsula in Otis reservoir.
Pool access: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools that campers frequently mention in reviews. At Prospect Mountain Campground, Stephanie notes, "We liked this campground a lot! Lots of trees and shade. Great pool. The sites on the water looked nice- hoping to try for that next time!"
Wildlife encounters: Campers report seeing wildlife at multiple campgrounds. At Onion Mountain Park, visitors recommend bringing a bear bag as precaution. "We did put a bear bag about 100 feet away," reports Nora S., showing awareness of wildlife presence in the area.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Beyond what's mentioned in the existing description, campers note specific cell service issues at White Pines Campsites. Katherine P. advises, "Last but not least - no cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it."
Bathroom availability: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At White Pines, Laura W. noted potential safety issues: "We found broken glass on the walking trail near our tent and by our fire pit which was really dangerous for our dogs."
Site privacy considerations: Privacy between sites differs significantly. At Tolland State Forest, C.R. observed: "We stayed at site 70 which was very spacious and set back from the road so had more privacy, although site 71 is very close by so had we had neighbors in that site privacy would have been much less."
Tips for camping with families
Weekend activities: Prospect Mountain offers structured activities that families appreciate. "They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing," according to Sandra S.
Kid-friendly amenities: Campgrounds with dedicated children's facilities receive positive reviews. Megin F. reports about Prospect Mountain: "The grounds were absolutely beautiful and very well maintained! Pool was lovely and refreshing... The kids had a blast fishing and riding their bikes around."
Noise considerations: Some campground areas are noisier than others. At Northampton/Springfield KOA, Angie G. experienced challenges with late-night noise: "We had other campers arrive back at their tent sites across from ours at 11pm and they were inconsiderate of all the sleeping campers with their lights already out."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Northampton/Springfield KOA, Lisa D. suggests carefully considering the campground's recommendations: "Although he advised against the tricky back-in site 'up on the hill' that we had originally selected, we thought we would at least give it a shot! We are SO glad that we did!"
Seasonal considerations: For RVers seeking longer stays, some campgrounds offer seasonal options. John M. shares about Prospect Mountain: "We did a three month seasonal Site. Staff is super nice and helpful. We had a nice quite spot even though we where in the road to the lake."
Dumping facilities: RVers should note dumping station availability. Frank L. explains that Westover ARB Military FamCamp has "sites are water/electric but some are 30 amp, others are 50 amp. Dump station available."
