Camping options near Taunton, Massachusetts sit approximately 50 feet above sea level in Bristol County's glacial terrain. This southeastern region experiences average summer temperatures of 75-85°F with frequent evening cooling. Yurt accommodations in the area provide insulated shelter during spring and fall seasons when nighttime temperatures can drop into the 40s.
What to Do
Fishing access points: Bourne Scenic Park offers fishing directly on the Cape Cod Canal, where anglers can watch large vessels pass while casting lines. "If you like fishing this is your place," notes Rick R. in his review of the Bourne Scenic Park.
Mountain biking trails: Myles Standish State Forest features multiple trail systems across its 12,000+ acres with varying difficulty levels. "Great camping spot to road ride from. Nice park. Good access to surrounding new England towns," explains Mike M. in his review of Charge Pond Campground.
Blackberry picking: During mid-August, campers can collect wild blackberries throughout Peddocks Island in the Boston Harbor Islands State Park. "In mid-August we collected handfuls of blackberries as we explored Peddocks," shares Jean C. who camped at the islands.
Kayaking opportunities: Multiple kettle ponds at Myles Standish State Forest provide calm waters for paddling. "We kayaked one morning and enjoyed watching the people catching good sized fish around us," notes Kim R. who camped at the forest.
What Campers Like
Off-season tranquility: Barrett's Pond Campground offers a quieter alternative to busier campgrounds from mid-September through October. "This campsite loop at Myles Standish State Forest is closest to the headquarters and borders a small pond with beach," explains Jean C. about Barrett's Pond Campground.
Youth activities: Boston/Cape Cod KOA provides scheduled events for children throughout their camping season. "They had a big store and plenty of supplies and souvenirs, from sweatshirts to stickers. 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," notes Samantha S. in her review of the Boston/Cape Cod KOA.
Dog-friendly amenities: Pinewood Lodge Campground provides dedicated dog parks for four-legged campers. "Two dogs parks are a huge benefit for us as well. This is an exceptionally well maintained campground," shares Jim and Kim P. in their review of Pinewood Lodge Campground.
Water recreation: Multiple ponds at Myles Standish State Forest offer swimming and boating options. "Swimming, fishing, camping, hiking, trails, boating and more await. Forest staff are so nice, extremely helpful, and take any issues seriously," writes Katie D. about her experience at the forest.
What You Should Know
Site selection matters: At Ellis-Haven Family Campground, site location impacts your experience significantly. "The park was very busy and we never saw grounds staff in the park. Our area wasn't well marked, and because of that our spots were really squashed. Our spot was also never mowed so we had more than ankle high grass in our spot," reports Eric S. about Ellis-Haven Family Campground.
Water and shower facilities: Pay showers are common at state parks in the region. "Nice campground with big private spots. Nice bathhouse with pay showers. Pretty, man made lake with a beach area for swimming and paddling," mentions Michelle H. about George Washington State Campground, adding "only one bathhouse so port-a-potties along the road."
Transportation planning: When staying at Shawme Crowell State Forest, expect traffic noise. "It is also very close to Rt 6 so the traffic noise is almost constant especially friday nights. Not recommended for light sleepers but very convenient," advises Tim C. about the campground.
Alcohol restrictions: Massachusetts state parks prohibit alcohol consumption. "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," notes Randy R. about Myles Standish State Forest.
Tips for Camping with Families
Theme weekends: Normandy Farms Campground runs special themed events for families. "We stayed here for a few nights when they celebrated Halloween 🎃. It is super easy to get around. They had tons of festive activities. They have an indoor and an outdoor pool. The restrooms are clean," explains Liz W. about her stay at Normandy Farms Campground.
Swimming options: Ellis-Haven Family Campground offers a pond with swimming platforms. "Very nice beach on the pond, with lots of docks and rafts to swim out to. They also rent paddle boats," notes Mike K. about his experience at the campground.
Playground facilities: Shawme Crowell State Forest recently upgraded its children's play area. "The playground is being revamped and looks awesome so far," observes Paula T. about the campground's family facilities.
Yurt camping alternatives: Families interested in yurt camping near Taunton can find options at Boston Harbor Islands. "The yurts have bunk beds, a floor lamp, a table inside, a picnic table outside and a grill. Just getting to the island is a fun adventure," shares Martha H. about the Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: At Bourne Scenic Park, prepare for significant leveling requirements. "Leveling was not an issue for us in our site (C-25) but the majority of sites would be a problem for a motorhome to get level without the aid of blocks. In fact, some sites were ridiculously unlevel and took a scary amount of blocks," warns Nancy W.
Gray water disposal: Some campgrounds provide gray water disposal stations throughout the property. "No sites have sewer; however, grey water dump stations are randomly placed throughout the campground and can be accessed with a garden hose," notes a reviewer about Bourne Scenic Park.
Reservation timing: For premium sites, book well in advance. "We chose a paved full hook-up pull thru with paved patio (Site E1). Our site was easy to navigate in and out of and was definitely big-rig-friendly with ample space for our motorhome and tow car," shares a reviewer about their stay at Normandy Farms.
Site upgrade value: At Boston/Cape Cod KOA, consider paying for upgraded sites. "I have belong to KOA's for quite a few years and I have learned that you really need to upgrade to the better campsites to enjoy your stay. With that being said I did not take my own advice and I booked a basic 30 amp fullhook up campsite and it was so tight that unfortunately I did not enjoy it as much as I wanted to," advises Janet P.
