Best Tent Camping near Wayland, MA

State parks and conservation areas surrounding Wayland, Massachusetts offer several tent camping options within a reasonable drive. Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston provides tent-only camping with walk-in sites about 70 miles northwest of Wayland. Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground offers a unique island tent camping experience with sites on Peddocks, Lovells, Grape, and Bumpkin islands, accessible by ferry from Boston or Hingham. Cape Ann Camp Site in Gloucester features wooded tent campsites approximately 45 miles northeast of Wayland, operating from May through mid-October.

Most tent campgrounds in the region require advance planning, particularly for weekend stays during summer months. Walk-in tent sites at Tully Lake require campers to park at a central lot and use provided carts to transport gear to their sites, with distances ranging from 50 to several hundred yards. Federated Womens Club State Forest offers primitive tent camping with minimal facilities and requires check-in at Erving State Forest. Boston Harbor Islands requires ferry transportation and bringing all supplies, including drinking water. Fire regulations vary by location, with most campgrounds providing fire rings but requiring purchase of firewood on-site or from certified vendors to prevent spread of invasive species.

Tent campers at Tully Lake report spacious sites with good separation between neighbors. According to reviews, the absence of vehicles at campsites creates a quieter, more natural camping experience. One camper noted, "Sites closer to the water that we saw were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out." At Boston Harbor Islands, visitors appreciate the rustic experience despite the logistical challenges. A reviewer mentioned, "Make sure you bring enough drinking water and are comfortable using composting toilets." Cape Ann Camp Site receives positive feedback for its tent areas, with one camper stating the sites are "clean and secluded enough but close enough to others to meet and greet if you wanted." Cell service varies significantly across these backcountry tent camping locations, with most remote sites having limited or no connectivity.

Best Tent Sites Near Wayland, Massachusetts (13)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Wayland, MA

655 Reviews of 13 Wayland Campgrounds


  • Sa R.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Beautiful lake

    First time staying there. Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them. Canoe, kayak & padddleboard rental available. Showers & bathrooms by the parking area. Lots of islands & places to explore on the lake. Buggy in June so bring your repellent. Dogs allowed...that’s all I got for now :)

  • Nancy R.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    Tully Lake Campground is perfect to enjoy traditional family camping!

    Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border. It is a State managed campground, and reservations must be made through Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made, if you want one of these!

    This is a "Carry In" campground. You park at the entrance, register with Ranger. Large wooden wheelbarrows are provided to bring your gear to your camp site. (This means no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites.) There are individual sites, and 2 group sites, if you are camping with a group. Canoes are available to rent to explore Tully Lake. Most parts of the lake are suitable for swimming, and some camp sites offer direct entry into the lake for swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. 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. The views are beautiful, and it's not unusual to spot professional nature photographers at various points along the waterfalls. Bring your cameras or smart phones to capture some of these breathtaking views! And of course there are longer, more challenging trails for more experienced hikers. There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only. Cell service is spotty to non-existent for some providers within the campground. But a short walk or drive away from the campground you can get connected again.

    The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7. There are sinks beside the building, where campers are asked to wash their dishes, rather than at the camp site. A fire ring and picnic table are provided at each camp site. If you've forgotten any gear or need groceries, there's a Walmart just a 15 minute drive away, open until 12 midnight.

    The staff are quite friendly, helpful and informative. 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. Enjoy!

  • Migdalia G.
    May. 29, 2019

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Nice Wooded Campground in Awesome Area

    We stayed at Harold Parker State Forest Campground during Memorial Day Weekend. Reservation through Reserve America was a breeze. Check in till 9:00 pm was convenient. Checkout by 11:00 am but we paid for an additional night to be able to leave at night the day we checked out. Totally worth it!

    Nice large campsites. The sites’ privacy is very diverse. You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size. All sites have water which is a plus. All have a fire pit/box, charcoal bbq and a picnic table. Most of them are drive in. 

    Quiet hours from 10 am to 7 am. No alcohol allowed (although I didn’t see an actual enforcement of this rule and guess it’ll happen only if people act out). Rangers are constantly patrolling. Felt pretty safe at night. You can’t bring wood. Bundles are $5 each and it burns really well. 

    Lots of biking/hiking/walking trails, a nice small pond/beach, boat access, a few basketball courts, a volleyball court and a common huge fire pit added to the fun. A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike. 

    Bathrooms were fairly clean although small and showers were free! Some sites were right in front of a lovely pond and there were many group sites available as well. 

    The location is pretty good. Salem, Andover, Boston Are accesible while staying here. Close proximity to Richardson Ice Cream which you CANT miss if you decide to stay.  They have cheap but amazing ice cream, mini golf and battling cages which was entertaining for my whole crew. 

    It rained a lot during one night of our stay and the site (301) did not flooded at all. All sites seemed in pretty good shape the morning after as well. 

    Beautiful and will recommend to families with small kids, groups and couples too.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Cape Ann Camp Site

    25 cents for a shower

    The aerial photos of this place are very deceiving. This camp ground is the foreground of the main house which, is situated on the top of the hill. The sites are all dirt. There is no concrete pads. There is no WIFI. There is no sewer hook up however, near the street there is a "dump station."  The camp ground is run down and unmaintained. Our site had a fire ring which, was filled with ash. Our first night we woke up to a trailer filled with smoke because, someone near by had a fire in 92 degree heat. Most campers are full time residents. There is no sight of them during the day light hours but, at night they are up and about on bikes and mingling with each other. 

    25 cents per 5 minute hot shower is offered in the public restroom. Some shady people immediate started to hover near the public restroom once we drove up the hill to use the public restrooms. For $70/nite for a view it's not worth it. I was glad to leave- very creepy.

  • Sable W.
    May. 16, 2018

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Spacious, Quiet, Clean and Conveniently Located

    Five friends and I decided to compete in Questival, which came to Boston for May 11-12, 2018. There aren't many campgrounds open in Massachusetts this early in the season, but Harold Parker State Forest was! I snagged a group campsite since we'd have four tents. We had to set up after dark, so we wound up congregating in one corner of the group site. When we woke up we could see just how HUGE the group site was! We had 4 two-person tents; you could easily fit 3x that number of tents. PLENTY of flat ground to set up on, and we were far enough back from the road that we never heard or saw other campers arriving, even though we know most other Questival competitors stayed at this campground. It was about a 5 minute walk to the bathrooms and showers, and potable water was available right on the site. Even though it was early in the season and not very leafy, we could only occasionally see our neighbors' headlamps. There were 4 or 5 fire pits, 5 large picnic tables, and 3 driveways that could fit two cars each. Great value for the cost! We were pleased with the privacy, space, cleanliness, and amenities.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Greenfield State Park Campground

    Loved it here

    We stayed here for a night in mid October, as they were getting ready to close for the season, so more than half of the campground was closed off. But the part that we did see was awesome. Each site was huge, separated from its neighbor, private, mostly flat, and beautiful. No hookups in the campground, and sites are hit or miss with tree coverage, some sites may have enough opening for solar or starlink, but I wouldn’t count on it. 

    There are hiking trails throughout the campground, but our dog got covered in ticks so watch for that. There are water spigots throughout the campground and a dump station. Showers were free and nice and clean, and you can control the temperature and let the water run (no button to push). 

    The dump truck driver was there picking up garbage and I asked him about recycling and he said they have their own transfer station where the waste is sorted, so all recycling and garbage goes into the dumpster. 

    We paid $23 for a site because it was primitive season, but I think normally it’s $25. No other taxes or fees were charged. There’s a little store in the ranger office with basic supplies and gifts, ice cream, fire starters, ice, etc. There’s also a little free library exchange behind the office. And to top it off, we had cell service here. Great stay, highly recommend! Beware of ticks!

  • Jessica N.
    Sep. 13, 2021

    Greenfield State Park Campground

    Great Park, big sites

    Stayed for a weekend (1 night). 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. Very respectful drivers made biking feel fun and safe for kids. Campers beach was lovely. Sure the water was a little weedy, but we didn’t mind. The lake is a great spot for kayaking (although it is a little bit of a walk from the parking lot with a heavy boat) and the sunset on the lake definitely didn’t disappoint. Nice partially shaded and level site with good access for backing in our small trailer. Playground, camp store, convenient check-in at office, firewood available for $6, lots of trails and fairly level for easy biking. State park camping (no hookups) but there’s a dump station near the exit and water spigots dispersed around the campsites. Absolutely would go again.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 2, 2021

    Barretts Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    Small campground near a small pond at Myles Standish

    This campsite loop at Myles Standish State Forest is closest to the headquarters and borders a small pond with beach. In addition to tent/RV sites, there are 3 yurts available with bunks. Sites that appear to be near the pond are pond view rather than pondside. Approaches to Yurt JC and J5, J 26, J27 are sloped. J14 is a little awkward. J33 is probably among the largest and nicest with a pond view. The sites aren't as large as those in the Charge Pond loops, but it's a smaller campground.

    The loop has flush toilets and showers. Water is available, but no electric hookups. Fire rings and picnic tables provided. Cell phone coverage throughout the forest is poor to absent; download maps for offline use if you want to be sure to know where you are or find directions. There are miles of bike trails and ponds for fishing, swimming, and boating. There's a larger beach and picnic area at College Pond.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Tidewater Campground

    Large campground near, but not on the beach

    First of all, the location is a little quirky and I think I only arrived once without a wrong turn! Watch the GPS carefully. That said, it’s very close to Hampton Beach and you can easily drive or bike over. The campground is parallel to US1, so there is some road traffic noise. Some of the tent sites overlook the marsh. The tent sites are definitely tighter than trailer sites. Some sites back up to each other and it takes a moment to understand where one ends and the next begins. 

    I was here early in the season and placed in a seasonal site with water/electric. Site was level. Neighbors were friendly. The bathroom was a short walk away and spotless. I did notice that in the tent areas, the main bathrooms are supplemented with portable toilets. Sites are mostly wooded, which will offer nice relief from the heat. It's a nice base for exploring the area.

    There’s a gated entry and turtle-speed limit that they take seriously. The pool was not yet open. There’s a small store onsite for ice and essentials. All the big box stores and a number of restaurants are nearby. For a change of pace from seafood, I picked up Shane's Texas Pit BBQ and brought it back to my site. 

    You may request a reservation online, but you have to confirm and pay for it via the phone. You’ll need to arrive before 9pm to check in. Bring $10 for a cash deposit on the gate card. Only 1 vehicle and 1 camping unit (tent or trailer) allowed on a site.

    Downside: They charge for showers, the amount and duration is unclear and the duration varies depending on which shower you choose! Given the rates they charge, this seems petty.


Guide to Wayland

Tent camping near Wayland, Massachusetts encompasses a mix of wooded conservation areas and coastal camping options. The region sits in the eastern Massachusetts watershed at elevations between 100-500 feet, with summer temperatures typically ranging 65-85°F. Most tent camping locations require between 30-70 minute drives from Wayland, as the immediate area has limited camping facilities within town boundaries.

What to do

Paddle the lake waters: At Tully Lake Recreation Area, visitors can rent canoes and kayaks for exploring the lake. "We rented kayaks right at the campground for a paddle around Tully Lake," reports one camper, highlighting the easy access to water activities.

Beach activities: Cape Ann Camp Site puts campers within quick access of local beaches. "Beach down the street was big, beautiful and low tide was unexpected as you could walk for ever," notes a visitor who enjoyed the coastal proximity.

Island exploration: Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground offers opportunities to visit multiple islands during your stay. "While you're out on the islands, take time to explore one of the others...look for sea glass on Spectacle Island and climb the hill for a view of the Boston skyline," suggests a camper who maximized their harbor experience.

Forest hiking: Trail systems connect many campgrounds to surrounding conservation areas. "We hiked the 4-mile loop around Tully Lake. The highlight was Doane's falls, a very quick walk from the campground area," reports a camper who enjoyed the natural features.

What campers like

Cart-based camping: Tully Lake Recreation Area offers a car-free camping experience. "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," notes a family who appreciated the safety aspects.

Private wooded sites: Tent campers value the natural surroundings at many local campgrounds. At Cape Ann Camp Site, visitors report, "It doesn't look like much but it is absolutely lovely when you actually pull in! We had a nice perfectly level site in a beautiful wooded area."

Island camping solitude: Many campers appreciate the remote feel of harbor island camping. "Camping at Boston Harbor Islands requires some planning, but you get the benefit of a remote island with minimal company," reports one visitor who valued the seclusion despite proximity to Boston.

Wildlife viewing: Natural settings provide opportunities to see local fauna. "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," shares a visitor to Tully Lake.

What you should know

Cart transport logistics: Tully Lake requires planning for gear transport. "You park & walk in but they provide carts. Large wooden wheelbarrows are provided to bring your gear to your camp site," explains a visitor who appreciated the system despite the extra effort.

Water requirements: Some campgrounds require bringing your own drinking water. At Federated Womens Club State Forest, visitors are advised, "Bring your own water. There is a composting toilet located near the group site in the field."

Shower facilities: Shower arrangements vary between campgrounds. Cape Ann Camp Site provides pay showers, with one camper noting, "25 cents per 5 minute hot shower is offered in the public restroom."

Communication limitations: Cell service varies significantly between locations. "Cell coverage is pretty close to absent or poor in most of the area, so download any maps you might want (driving, trail, geocaching) before you arrive," suggests a Tully Lake visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly spaces: Camp Nihan Education Center offers accessible group camping for families. "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," reports a parent who camped with children ages 4-8.

Swimming options: Families should research swimming conditions before arrival. At Tully Lake, "There's no formal swimming area and you can't swim at the boat launches, but you are able to swim from your campsites if you so desire," notes a visitor who explored the options.

Educational opportunities: Boston Harbor Islands offers learning experiences for children. "While you're out on the islands, take time to explore...earn a Junior Ranger badge from the National Park Service," suggests a visitor highlighting the educational programs available.

Bathroom proximity: Consider facilities when selecting sites with children. At Tully Lake, "The bathrooms offer flush toilets and a single shower on each site, plus a dishwashing sink outside. From some of the sites, this will be a long walk during the night," cautions a camper.

Tips from RVers

Site restrictions: Military Park New Boston Air Force Station and other locations have specific limitations. Some campgrounds are tent-only, while others like Cape Ann Camp Site accommodate both tents and RVs: "Love this campground. The staff is awesome. Very helpful. The sites are nice and wooded. All size RVs and tents are welcome."

Utilities availability: Check utility hookups when planning your trip. At Cape Ann Camp Site, campers report, "They have water, sewer, and electric hookups. No wifi."

Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds in the region operate seasonally. "We paid $60 a night for a 30 amp spot with water," reports an RV camper at Cape Ann Camp Site, indicating the basic utility options available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wayland, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wayland, MA is Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Wayland, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Wayland, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.