Leighton O.
Guide
GuidePawtuckaway State Park Campground
Very nice campground! Some sites right on the lake. Have camped there several times. Lots of space between sites.
Camping near Townsend, MA
5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Camping near Townsend, Massachusetts ranges from developed campgrounds with RV hookups to cabin rentals and wooded tent sites within a short drive of town. Pearl Hill State Park Campground offers wooded tent and RV sites with access to hiking trails and a small pond for swimming. Nearby Willard Brook State Forest Campground features tent sites, RV spots, and cabin rentals beneath towering pines. Both state parks provide a natural setting with basic amenities while remaining accessible to visitors seeking outdoor recreation opportunities in north-central Massachusetts.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter camping options. Pearl Hill State Park typically opens mid-May and closes mid-October, while Willard Brook has a shorter season from late May to early September. "A nice and quiet campground with trails that offer some great scenic vistas," noted one camper about Pearl Hill State Park. Road access is generally good for standard vehicles, though larger RVs may find limited suitable sites. The campgrounds have designated a small number of sites for RVs up to 35 feet, with most sites accommodating smaller 15-20 foot units. Cell service can be spotty, particularly at Willard Brook, so downloading maps before arrival is recommended.
The mixed-use campgrounds in the area feature primarily wooded sites with varying levels of privacy. Pearl Hill campers appreciate the pine forest setting, though some mention the sticky pine needles can be problematic. "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! #18 is right next to a ravine, so it was wooded on one side," shared one visitor. Bathroom facilities receive mixed reviews, with Pearl Hill generally rated higher for cleanliness. Both state parks offer hiking trails directly from the campgrounds, with Pearl Hill connecting to Willard Brook via trail systems. Swimming is available at both locations, though water quality at Pearl Hill's pond occasionally faces bacterial closures during hot summer periods.
Best Campgrounds near Townsend (149)
1. Spacious Skies Minute Man
"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."
"Easily accessible by car to shopping, groceries, etc. but no hiking or good walking paths from the campground."
Check Availabilityfrom $44 - $999 / night
2. Berry's Grove Campground
"We had plans on both sides of the state line, so the location worked really well for our trip."
"We stopped at Berry’s Grove while traveling through Massachusetts and were really happy with our stay."
Check Availabilityfrom $1950 / night
3. Pearl Hill State Park Campground
"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. "
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $17 - $35 / night
4. The Pine Campground
"Small river/ brook rind behind the campground. Some shots have nice sound of river right behind the sites. No pond or pool for swimming."
5. Field and Stream RV Park
"Great site right next to the water. Sites are clean and well equipped. Coin laundry with nice machine. Nice people."
Check Availabilityfrom $47 - $80 / night
6. Willard Brook State Forest Campground
"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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $14 - $55 / night
7. Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground
"It was fine, but not near the water. This time, we chose a site near the water, but it's literally surrounded by three other sites. It's not shown like that on the map."
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $17 - $35 / night
8. Otter River State Forest
"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"
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $17 - $55 / night
9. Greenfield State Park Campground
"Easy access to a bathroom (which was very clean). Quiet neighbors, everyone around us observed the quiet hours (10p-7a) and even during the day no one was super loud."
"Nice views of the lake, swimming, wide open sites, not too over crowded! I'd definitely go back!"
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $35 - $105 / night
10. Gilson Pond Area Campground — Monadnock State Park
"Campsites are well shaded but if you have an RV take the time to rent an RV site otherwise backing in will put you in and awkward position as the mixed use “standard” sites are oriented towards tent camping"
"The campsite is big and away from another site. You can easilly access to hiking trails. The staff there are friendly and helpful. It's definitely a plus."
35 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $29 / night
Drive Time
- 35 min from Worcester, MA
- 37 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 3 min from Boston, MA
- 1 hr 14 min from Amherst Center, MA
Recent Camping Photos near Townsend, MA
335 Photos of 149 Townsend Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Pearl Hill State Park CampgroundA
Willard Brook State Forest Campground
Spacious Skies Minute ManM
Woodmore Family Campground and RV ParkJ
Lake Dennison Recreation Area CampgroundA
Otter River State Forest
Friendly Beaver Campground
Greenfield State Park CampgroundQ
Gilson Pond Area Campground — Monadnock State Park
Lamb City CampgroundK
Spacious Skies Seven MaplesR
Hanscom AFB FamCamp
Recent Reviews near Townsend, MA
814 Reviews of 149 Townsend Campgrounds
- Leighton O.Guide
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Great location if you find a site within walking distance of the beach. Sites are very close together and get pretty noisy. You have to really like people to enjoy this camping area. Bathrooms and shower are very clean though.
- Leighton O.Guide
Winter Island Park
Nice location if enjoy walks by the ocean. Staff is very friendly. Bathrooms and showers could use some work.
- jjulie N.
ScoutNormandy Farms Campground
Amazing amenities and activities here. Staff is great. Lots of room for big rigs. Tent spots are shady while other ones are sunnier. They have rentals such as log cabins/ A-frames to rent also. Hot tubs and pools too!
- PPatrick
TravelerPawtuckaway State Park Campground
Great spot with all types of different campsites.
- kkevinTraveler
Spacious Skies Minute Man
Beautiful place about an hour from Salem Boston and Plymouth. Be careful getting in Sharp Hill coming up and down lots of scrapes on the ground tight navigation through sites lots of beautiful trees.
Nancy W.
LegendWinter Island Park
Basically a parking lot but with great views!
I’m not going to lie this was a little tricky for big rigs to get to, but with lots of patience and skillful driving, it is doable. Salem is an old New England town so there are many narrow streets and some low clearances. Follow the directions on the parks website as they are designed for RVs– don’t use Google Maps unless you are a small camper. Even getting into the park is kind of challenging because of the way the entrance is laid out with the entrance booth and some low hanging trees. This campground is in a municipal park with a marina, beach, a short walking trail, and picnic areas. The campground has different sections and totally different feels to them. We arrived on a weekend and section we were in the section which is in the parking lot of a busy marina. The parking lot was half full which made for navigating our 45’ bus into our site pretty hard.
No sites have fire pits but you can have a fire if you bring your own above ground pit. Tent sites have picnic tables but nothing else. Some sites you can drive to and have a car onsite and others are non-vehicle access sites (11, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27& 38) in which you have to park in a parking lot. Some RV sites have great water views and others are in a back gravel lot. In my opinion, the best RV sites are 12-16(A-D) because they have a water view. Sites 16B-D are a little tricky for big-rigs to get into because of the tight space. Our site (#13) had a slight downhill slope. We pulled in forward so we could have a view of the harbor which meant the utilities (water electric only) were in the front of our site but we were able to reach without an extension cord. We loved watching the action in the harbor. There is a gazebo by the water which we enjoyed siting under and watching boats go in and out of the harbor while it rained.
There is a nice sandy beach onsite which attracts a lot of day use vistors. The grounds are interesting to walk around as the water views are nice and there is an old fort to explore. Nearby town of Salem Willows is(about½ mile away) is a cute old seaside town with restaurants and arcades. They have a Bluebike rental station which is an easy way to get downtown and explore the area if you don’t have a car.
- Nancy W.Legend
Seacoast Camping and RV Resort
Nice Campground, Love the area!
This is a nice, clean, well-maintained campground for RV and tenting. The campground is located on Route 1 which means you are convenient to a lot of things but there is lots of traffic. Half the campground is seasonal/long term campers and the other side is mostly transients. The roads and campsites are fine crushed gravel with nice grassy patios. The campground is very well maintained (the best part being that the mower collects they cut the grass so no clippings get tracked in your camper). There are some mature trees that provide shade but don’t impede navigating in and out of sites or impacting slide outs.
Campsites range from tent with water/electric to RV water/electric and RV full hook-up 50-amp and full hook-up 30-amp. There are three bathhouses on the property (one of which has a dishwashing sink) and laundry. Tent sites 50-55 are in an are set away from RV sites and more private. They are also close to a large bathhouse with multiple toilets and showers. Tent sites 90-100 are across from a large playground which can be quite chaotic, but if you have kids, this is a great spot.
Our site (#147) was a long pull-thru with a descent amount of space between our neighbors. We got about half a dozen over-the-air channels (one being a major network station) and were able to connect with eastern arc satellites with our Dish Satellite. The 50A electric was good as was the water pressure.
The campground does not have much in the way of amenities except for a game room, basketball court, and playground. The game room is pretty cool with lots of arcade-style games, a pool table, foosball, and table tennis. While we were there, they just finished putting in all new playground equipment and enlarged the size making it really big and a hit with the kids in the park. Once convenience is that maintenance picks up garbage at your site (between 8am– 3pm). Unfortunately, people leave them out after hours and animals got into them and scattered garbage everywhere. We've stayed here before and always enjoy being in the area as it is close to the fun cities of Portsmouth and Newburyport.
Briggs M.ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
Nice Place To Relax
We were visiting family around Nashua and needed somewhere to park the RV nearby. Berry’s Grove ended up being a really good fit. We could come and go easily and still have a nice place to relax at the end of the day.
Guide to Townsend
Camping options near Townsend, Massachusetts include year-round access at several locations within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at approximately 400-600 feet elevation with forested terrain dominated by pine and oak trees. Winter camping requires preparation as temperatures routinely drop below freezing from December through March, with most facilities reducing services during off-season months.
What to do
Hiking the White Mountains: Take a day trip from Spacious Skies Minute Man to experience scenic mountain trails. "The White Mountains, New Hemisphere, is a must, worth the short drive especially if you can go in early October, when the leaves are changing," notes Adam P.
Historical exploration: Concord's revolutionary sites make excellent day excursions from campsites near Townsend. "Concord is only 30 minute drive away with two full days of revolutionary historic sites, and famous people home tours such as Louisa May Alcott," shares Ann B. about her stay at Spacious Skies.
Swimming options: Greenfield State Park Campground offers swimming when conditions permit. However, be aware of potential closures: "When we went (July 2025) the water was closed due to Cyanobacteria Blooms, hence the 1 star deduction. We are grateful that they are honest about it," explains Hailey D.
Wildlife viewing: The small wetland areas adjacent to campsites provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Lake Dennison, "There was a little trail from our site that went down to a marsh. That was absolutely beautiful," according to Rachael K.
What campers like
Natural water sounds: The Pine Campground offers sites with relaxing stream acoustics. "Most of the daily/weekly sites back up to a stream, which is nice. You can hear the water running, especially at night," shares Ian H.
Privacy levels: Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground offers various site configurations. "The sites with higher numbers by the lake are all on top of each other with little to no trees or shrubs between sites... Sites 1 through 5 on the first loop are pretty quiet and peaceful," notes Rachael K.
Seasonal advantages: Visiting in autumn provides exceptional experiences. "Very pretty and historical trails to walk on. Not too far from the city," says Caitlin B. about Minute Man in the fall. The region's foliage typically peaks in mid-October, with colors beginning to change in late September.
Clean facilities: Multiple campers mention well-maintained bathrooms at Greenfield State Park. "Comfortably Isolated... Restrooms are easy to reach throughout the campground and there is a shower house near the entrance to the campground (no quarters necessary)," reports Jade B.
What you should know
Water quality considerations: Swimming areas may close temporarily. At Lake Dennison, one camper reported: "Nice quiet place for all the sites showers could be better bathrooms were clean but out dated," according to Eric LeBoeuf.
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in this region have limited operating seasons. Monadnock State Park runs "May 19 to October 28," which offers a slightly longer camping season than some others in the area.
Pine needle issues: Pine forests create specific camping conditions. "One word of caution however, our site and many others were completely covered with sticky pine needles. They get stuck on your shoes to a depth of almost a half-inch!" warns Alan about his experience.
Cell service variability: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. "I lost cell coverage (Verizon) as I approached the campground, so you may want to ensure you have maps downloaded for offline use if you'll be out exploring," advises a camper about trails in the region.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple pool options: Friendly Beaver Campground provides swimming facilities for all weather conditions. "They have 3 outdoor pools (sports, toddler, regular) plus an indoor pool for rainy or chilly days. They have a few animals the kids can feed," reports Kate C.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play areas for younger visitors. Gilson Pond Campground at Monadnock State Park features "a small playground, and a loop trail around Gilson Pond that leads right from the campground," according to Tara S.
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds offer small petting zoos or animal viewing areas. "We enjoyed their small but nice petting zoo of a few goats and a horse," mentions one camper about Friendly Beaver, providing entertainment for children during campground days.
Camp store convenience: Facilities like Friendly Beaver maintain well-stocked stores. "Store has all you need," notes Kate C., while another camper calls it the "best I have ever seen. Well stocked with everything you could need."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Otter River State Forest accommodates smaller rigs better than large ones. "Site 33 is large and level, suitable for an RV, but Group B site is right behind it, which may or may not be an issue," reports Jean C.
Hookup limitations: Most campgrounds in the area offer only partial hookups. "Dump station and additional swimming/water activities are a little farther down the road at Lake Dennison," notes one RVer about Otter River's facilities.
Road navigation: Access roads present challenges for larger vehicles. "You can get in here with a smaller RV, but the campground isn't built for larger units with the turns and curves. They've only designated 3 sites for 35' rigs; everything else is 15-20'," explains a camper about site limitations.
Level site availability: Finding flat parking areas can be difficult. "Sites are a bit on the smaller side and not very private. Great location to see some of the historical sites in the area," notes Stephanie about Minute Man, indicating the tradeoff between location and site quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Townsend, MA?
Which is the most popular campground near Townsend, MA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Townsend, MA is Spacious Skies Minute Man with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What parks are near Townsend, MA?
What parks are near Townsend, MA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Townsend, MA that allow camping, notably Edward MacDowell Lake and Tully Lake.
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