Best Campgrounds near Sterling, MA

The Sterling area contains several established campgrounds offering a range of accommodation options from tents to RVs and cabin rentals. Spacious Skies Minute Man Campground, located approximately 12 miles northwest of Sterling, features wooded sites with full hookups among mature pine trees. Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham provides 300 campsites with options for tent camping, RV sites with utilities, cabin rentals, and glamping accommodations. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with the majority open from May through October, though a few locations like The Pine Campground remain open year-round.

Seasonal considerations significantly affect camping availability in the Sterling area, with most state park campgrounds only open from late May to early October. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when facilities frequently reach capacity. "For being in an urban area, you don't feel it once in the campground. You might hear a distant train, but not too much else. The location was perfect to see so much in the area," noted one visitor about Spacious Skies Minute Man. Several campgrounds maintain shower facilities, electric hookups, and water access, though amenities vary considerably between locations. State parks like Pearl Hill and Otter River offer more rustic experiences with fewer amenities compared to private campgrounds.

Campers consistently mention the heavily wooded settings as a highlight of camping near Sterling. The developed campgrounds feature mature trees providing ample shade and natural privacy between many sites. Reviews indicate mixed experiences regarding site spacing and noise levels. A camper wrote, "Nestled among tall pines is this hidden gem. Sites are moderately sized in good condition and we experienced no noise issues during our week here." However, others note that some campgrounds have tightly packed sites with limited privacy. Several camping areas provide recreational amenities such as swimming pools, game rooms, volleyball courts, and hiking access. Most developed campgrounds near Sterling remain within convenient driving distance to shopping, historical attractions, and urban amenities while maintaining a natural forest setting.

Best Camping Sites Near Sterling, Massachusetts (123)

    1. Spacious Skies Minute Man

    28 Reviews
    Ayer, MA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 772-0042

    $39 - $999 / night

    "The pool is huge and clean and there is a ton of seating around. The shop has everything you could need. There are horseshoes, can jam, basketball, and bocce. There’s a playground and a rec room."

    "The location was perfect to see so much in the area (Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston, Salem, Plymouth, Cape Cod, Providence etc)."

    2. Pine Acres Family Camping Resort

    15 Reviews
    Rutland, MA
    15 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."

    3. Pearl Hill State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    West Townsend, MA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 597-2850

    $17 - $35 / night

    "We really lucked out with getting one of a few sites left on Memorial Day weekend - after walking the campground, I think we would have chosen the same one again! "

    "It was like walking with fur on the bottom of our shoes. The dog also got needles stuck all over and we had to use our COVID alcohol gel to get the glue off. "

    4. Otter River State Forest

    14 Reviews
    Baldwinville, MA
    21 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"

    5. Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

    14 Reviews
    Foster Lake, OR
    22 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."

    6. The Pine Campground

    7 Reviews
    Ashby, MA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 386-7702

    "Small river/ brook rind behind the campground.   Some shots have nice sound of river right behind the sites.  No pond or pool for swimming."

    7. Pout and Trout

    4 Reviews
    Hubbardston, MA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (774) 441-3248

    "This campground is located near two beautiful disc golf courses and the reason we stayed. The campground itself was fantastic, the owner at the front building was very helpful and so sweet."

    8. Willard Brook State Forest Campground

    4 Reviews
    Ashby, MA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 597-8802

    $14 - $55 / night

    "This small state forest campground in north/central Massachusetts is just up the hill from Damon Pond. I suggest downloading maps before you head out because cell service is iffy in the area.  "

    "This campground is small - but its conveniently located near a larger city if you decide you want to venture back to civilization. The trails in the park are nice and well maintained."

    9. Wells State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Sturbridge, MA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (508) 347-9257

    $17 - $55 / night

    "Beautiful campground in a nice central location nearby several nice towns in Central Massachusetts."

    "This is a great campground located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on walker pond. Brand new bathroom/shower facility this year. Offers hiking, biking, swimming, fishing. Nice and quiet also."

    10. Camp Coldbrook Golf & RV Resorts

    4 Reviews
    Barre, MA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 355-2090

    $28 - $58 / night

    "The campground was large enough to tire out the dogs walking around, staff was friendly, helpful and welcoming!"

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Recent Reviews near Sterling, MA

643 Reviews of 123 Sterling Campgrounds


  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 2, 2025

    Hinsdale Campground At Thicket Hill Village

    Great quiet place!!

    I stayed at the camp for about 2 months while working up in NH. And it was wonderful big pool and playground for the kids. Plenty of trails close to everything you need. Full hookup site was awesome

  • 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.

  • Kathleen S.
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Normandy Farms Campground

    Loud and crowded!

    Know what you are getting... This is a family resort that charges$20/per night, per person, OVER the two people rate. It is loud, crowded, with golf carts and kids running around. It is a resort campground with pools, frisbee court and etc... This is not a quiet, restful place to stay to visit Boston and the surrounding area or to visit family in town. Entry is gated and controlled. Want to bring your college daughter back after dinner- forget it,$20 for her and$20 her friend, for 1-2 hour visit after 7:00 PM at night! When we return, we will stay at Spacious Skies CG or the state park. The cost and inconvenience is not worth it!

  • 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.

  • Mindie C.
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Hanscom AFB FamCamp

    Great stop

    Lovely campground. Clean, good WiFi. Kind campers. Will be back

  • 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.

  • SkipperAllen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Wompatuck State Park Campground

    Very nice stopover

    Good place to spend the night.It was quiet comfortable and plenty of room between campsites


Guide to Sterling

Campgrounds near Sterling, Massachusetts provide a mix of wooded experiences within the central region of the state. Notable options include Spacious Skies Minute Man Campground in Ayer and Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham, both offering tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Several state-managed areas like Pearl Hill State Park and Otter River State Forest add diversity to the camping landscape with their cabin options and seasonal availability. Most campgrounds in this region operate within a 20-mile radius of Sterling, creating a concentrated area of mixed-use campgrounds that serve various camping preferences.

The camping season in central Massachusetts typically runs from mid-May through October, with some facilities extending into early September or mid-October. Many developed campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when occupancy reaches peak levels. "Forest like setting, clean well maintained. Felt private and secluded," noted one visitor about Minute Man Campground, highlighting the wooded character common to sites in the region. Facilities vary widely from primitive sites with basic amenities to full-hookup RV sites with water, electric, and sewer connections. Weather conditions can change rapidly in spring and fall, making campground selection important for comfort. Road access is generally well-maintained, with most camping areas accessible via paved roads leading to gravel internal campground roads.

Campers frequently mention the mature pine trees that characterize many camping areas in this part of Massachusetts. The tall tree canopy provides ample shade during summer months but can create muddy conditions after rainfall due to limited direct sunlight reaching the ground. According to a visitor at Minute Man, "We watched chipmunks, squirrels, hawks and other birds from our windows," highlighting the wildlife viewing opportunities common throughout the region. Proximity to historic sites represents another draw, with several campgrounds situated within 30 minutes of Revolutionary War landmarks in Concord and Lexington. Noise levels vary by location, with some campgrounds affected by nearby highways, train lines, or industrial areas despite their forested settings. Campgrounds near water features like Lake Dennison tend to receive higher ratings from visitors seeking recreational opportunities beyond the campsite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Sterling campgrounds located?

Sterling area campgrounds are primarily located in north-central Massachusetts. Otter River State Forest is situated in Winchendon, near the New Hampshire border in north-central Massachusetts, offering a clean and well-kept camping environment. Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake is located in Royalston, MA, also in the northern part of Central Massachusetts close to the New Hampshire border. These campgrounds provide access to various lakes, ponds, and hiking trails while still being accessible from Boston and surrounding areas.

What amenities are available at Sterling camping areas?

Sterling area campgrounds offer diverse amenities to enhance your camping experience. Willard Brook State Forest Campground provides level sites around a small loop with towering pines, though cell service can be iffy. Wells State Park Campground features brand new bathroom and shower facilities, plus access to Walker Pond for swimming and fishing. Many campgrounds in the area include hiking trails, water access for paddling and swimming, clean restrooms, and shower facilities. Some sites offer waterfront access, while others are nestled among wooded areas providing shade and privacy.

Do I need reservations for Sterling campsites?

Yes, reservations are generally recommended for Sterling area campgrounds, especially during peak season. Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest, located less than 25 miles north of Boston, requires advance booking to secure a spot. For Ponkapoag Camp, which is conveniently located in the Boston area, reservations are essential due to its popularity and limited sites. Tully Lake Campground must be booked through the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. Securing reservations well in advance is particularly important for weekend stays during summer months and holiday periods when these campgrounds fill quickly.