Tent camping near Sunderland, Massachusetts centers around the Connecticut River Valley with elevations between 200-500 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping months. Fall camping brings colorful foliage but requires warmer sleeping gear as overnight temperatures can drop to 40°F in October.
What to do
Paddling at Tully Lake: Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards available for rent directly at the Tully Lake Recreation Area between May and September. One camper noted, "We take our canoe and spend the whole day at the lake. You can find lots of private areas to swim, pick blueberries and relax."
Hiking at Doane's Falls: Located within walking distance of Tully Lake campground, this trail features a series of five waterfalls. "If you'd like to hike with children, there is an easy hike close to the entrance, along Doane's Falls, a series of 5 waterfalls along an ascending path through a wooded area."
Explore historic sites: The area surrounding Federated Womens Club State Forest contains remnants of towns flooded in the 1930s to create Quabbin Reservoir. "This website provides some general information about hikes and exploration in the area that surrounds the Quabbin Reservoir. You'll find cellar holes throughout, remnants of the towns lost in the 30s to create the reservoir."
Wild berry picking: Summer campers can forage for seasonal berries at several campgrounds. "In mid-August we collected handfuls of blackberries as we explored Peddocks."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing and layout at Barton Cove Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "There was only 1 other occupied campsite so it was very quiet and private."
No vehicle traffic: Several camping areas limit vehicle access, creating a more peaceful experience. At Tully Lake, a camper explained: "No cars at all at the campsites, which was great for peace of mind as our toddler roamed around. It also made for a super quiet stay."
Spacious tent sites: Some campgrounds offer unusually large camping areas. "We stayed at site 1, which was HUGE and extremely private. Sites closer to the water that we saw were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out."
Clean facilities: Despite being remote, many sites maintain well-kept amenities. At Camp Nihan Education Center, "A recently renovated bathroom and shower facility makes clean ups easy."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Most campsites have limited connectivity. At Federated Womens Club State Forest, "Cell phone coverage is faint to nonexistent on Verizon. You may want to download offline maps before you head out here."
Advance planning required: Popular tent camping areas fill quickly, especially for summer weekends. For Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground, "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance."
Water access varies: Not all campgrounds provide running water. "Peddocks has running water available, but otherwise you'll need to bring gallon of water/person."
Gear transport considerations: Most tent sites require carrying equipment some distance. "If you have a folding wagon, you may appreciate having it to carry items on and off the ferry and to your site on the island."
Tips for camping with families
Consider ease of access: For young children, choose sites with shorter walks from parking. "The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods."
Look for shallow swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer kid-friendly water access. Camp Nihan is "adjacent to Breakheart Reservation, which had a great shallow pond with life guard on duty as well as bike trails and a range of different hikes."
Plan for bathroom proximity: When camping with children, check bathroom distance. "Our site was fairly far from services, long run with small kids in the middle of the night. Not our favorite place, but to be fair mostly based on our site and neighboring campers."
Pack entertainment: Some areas offer minimal structured activities. At Buck Hill Campground, "Thos is the type of campground to just come and unwind, fish, cook, etc don't expect much else."
Tips for RVers
Most sites tent-only: The majority of campgrounds near Sunderland accommodate tents exclusively with no hookups for RVs. Areas with tent platforms cannot accommodate RV camping.
Limited water access: RVers seeking partial hookups should look beyond the immediate Sunderland area. Most sites within 20 miles provide only tent camping with no RV accommodations.
Consider alternate locations: The few RV-friendly options require advance planning. Some tent campers note the lack of RVs as a benefit: "If you enjoy 'old fashioned' family tent camping, without the noise and presence of cars and RV's near your camp site, (or cell phones!) this is the place for you."
