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Best Tent Camping near Wellesley HIlls, MA

644 Reviews

Tent campers near Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts can access several established campgrounds within reasonable driving distance, including Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground and Camp Nihan Education Center. These tent-friendly locations offer varied camping experiences from coastal island settings to more traditional woodland environments, with most sites requiring reservations during the peak summer months.

Most tent sites in the region feature natural terrain with minimal site development. At Boston Harbor Islands State Park, tent camping requires boat transportation, as noted in reviews from The Dyrt: "Getting to the island was a bit of a hassle... we found all kinds of bunkers and a brick house... sitting on the beach watching the sun set over Boston was awesome and made everything entirely worth it." Campers should plan to bring adequate water supplies, especially when camping on the islands where resources are limited. While some locations like Camp Nihan provide amenities such as picnic tables, showers, and toilet facilities, others offer more primitive experiences with minimal infrastructure.

The wooded tent sites at Camp Nihan Education Center provide a surprising sense of seclusion despite their proximity to urban areas. A camper observed that the terrain is "rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods," making it ideal for families seeking accessible backcountry camping experiences. Tent campers in the greater Boston area benefit from these locations that balance natural settings with relative convenience. Most tent campgrounds in the region experience higher visitation during summer weekends, so midweek camping often provides quieter experiences. Sites at Cape Ann offer more privacy with tent sites described as "surrounded by trees so it felt pretty private," making them suitable for those seeking a more secluded tent camping experience within reach of coastal attractions.

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Best Tent Sites Near Wellesley HIlls, Massachusetts (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wellesley HIlls, MA

21 Photos of 9 Wellesley HIlls Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Wellesley HIlls, MA

644 Reviews of 9 Wellesley HIlls Campgrounds

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

    Fearing Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    Wooded sites near a pond

    There are 2 Fearing Pond loops at Myles Standish State Forest, the H & I loops. The H loop entrance is closer to the Charge Pond loops and is higher above pond. This loop is better suited to the larger trailers/tents with more space to drive around a loop , but some spots have slopes. The I loop's best feature is a small beach that is easily accessible from all sites. They've done a lot of site restoration and the fact that it didn't open in 2020 helped. In spite of that, many of the sites have awkward approaches and there is a large parking lot closer to the bathroom. There are no hookups, but there is a dump station available. Water is available, but no electric hookups. Fire rings and picnic tables provided.

    The forest has miles of biking trails, ponds for swimming, fishing, and boating, and even cranberry bogs to explore (though harvest is late in the camping season and this section is not open at that time).

    Cell phone coverage is poor to absent in the forest, so download maps for offline use prior to your arrival.

    Plymouth is nearby for a any forgotten provisions and for sightseeing. Erickson's ice cream cafe is near the entrance if you need a treat!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Meg T.
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Salisbury Beach State Reservation

    Seagulls hungry for Egg Rolls and sunsets galore!

    Stayed here with my partner for her birthday while we were up in the Plum Island/Rockport area. Beautiful ocean access and great facilities. We stayed in a site right next to a large bathhouse with showers, plentiful stalls, and water bottle fill-up and rinse off station. We were situated next to a kind family who lent us fire starter and offered us some of their snacks they were making when we arrived, while we were setting up we did lose some egg rolls to a hungry seagull but I think he needed them more than we did. Not very private and sites are packed close together, but that is what I expected based off the map! I would absolutely return again, this time to check out the beach and surrounding area!

  • D
    Jul. 6, 2022

    Otter River State Forest

    Some sites are hit or miss with privacy

    My site (number 1) was good for not being on top of my neighbor but it was next to the tanger station. Some sites are pretty out in the open, close to the campsite road so they feel less like the woods. I would say the best site that feels most like you are in the woods and have the most space is 28. I would book there. The pond is kind of deceiving. There are 2 roped off spots where you can swim and those spots are small and not deep.  You cannot have floats. So its better for a quick dip than a hang out. Bathrooms are fine. Could use one more as its a hike in the morning when you really have to go(!) depending on your site. One thing with my site (1), it was listed as a shaded site but it absolutely was not a shade site. During mid day there is no shade at all. In the morning, as the sun rose (when I took the pics) there was some shade but thats because the sun was still rising. It was big enough to fit a 10 and 12 person tent with a canopy. Not all sites are that big but this one worked. Verizon service was limited to none depending on location, ATT was good

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2020

    Wolf Den Campground — Mashamoquet Brook State Park

    Basic campground with hiking trails in the area.

    This small state park campground offers basic campsites with running water and showers, open Memorial Day to Columbus Day.  This is NOT Wolf's Den Family Campground in E. Haddam, CT. Also, be aware there are 2 campgrounds at this State Park; the other one, Mashamoquet Brook, does not offer running water/showers, so if you want these amenities, be sure to select a campsite 1-35.

    There's a small playground in the middle of the loop, a number of hiking trails throughout the park along with a few geocaches (download details for offline use a phone connection is spotty), a swimming pond, and a small brook with an old mill and blacksmith shop that is sometimes open on weekends for tours. It's a nice place to explore and have a picnic. In 2020 with Covid, there were restrictions on visitors to the campground, reservations required, and swimming was not allowed. 

    The parking pads are paved and a few have overhanging branches, but the trees provide  separation and some shade on largely open sites that tend to open up toward the back with open areas for pitching tents. Sites have fire rings with grills and picnic tables. Site 20 is the only one with electric. The ones toward the back of the loop back up toward the woods and give you some more privacy. 

    They don't allow hammocks in the trees or pets. For some reason, silly string also makes the list of prohibitions.

Guide to Wellesley HIlls

Tent camping near Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts requires planning for seasonal New England weather patterns, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The region's topography features modest hills with elevations between 100-300 feet, creating varied camping terrain between coastal and inland options. Campgrounds within driving distance of Wellesley Hills typically experience peak visitation from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

What to do

Kayaking at Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground: Explore the harbor via watercraft, with rental options at Georges Island or bring your own. Jean C. notes, "While you're out on the islands, take time to explore one of the others...go for a swim or kayak. In mid-August we collected handfuls of blackberries as we explored Peddocks."

Historical exploration: Tour military installations and former fortifications on multiple islands. Martha H. shares, "The island is beautiful and has an old fort to explore as well as a lot of Rocky shoreline and trails. You can build bon fires and see gorgeous sunsets."

Swimming at Cape Ann Camp Site: Access nearby beaches with expansive tidal flats and clear water. According to Dan, "We had a great time camping and going to the beach. The camp ground is full of beautiful boulders and fire pits."

What campers like

Island seclusion at Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground: The remoteness provides a unique escape despite proximity to Boston. Tim S. reports, "It's back open and lovely," while Walter C. describes it as an "Oasis in the middle of the city."

Wooded campsites at Cape Ann Camp Site: Sites are well-spaced and surrounded by natural features. Cristina P. explains, "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."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer chances to spot local fauna in natural settings. John S. from Cape Ann Camp Site mentions, "Very nice folks, great sites with A LOT of space between them. Spectacular views and wild turkeys, deer, etc."

What you should know

Transportation logistics: Several campgrounds require planning for boat access or parking. Jean C. from Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground advises, "Pack as lightly as possible and plan to carry or wheel it to your site. 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."

Limited facilities: Many sites offer rustic experiences with minimal amenities. Jess G. warns, "Make sure that you bring enough drinking water and that you are ok with using the composting bathroom or going in the woods."

Reservation requirements: Popular sites book quickly, especially for summer weekends. Martha H. recommends, "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance. That said, you can also look for last minute openings."

Tips for camping with families

Choose accessible terrain at Camp Nihan Education Center: The site balances wilderness feel with practical amenities. Michael V. shares, "We went camping here with our SpiralScout Circle, kids aged 4-8. 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."

Plan for bathroom facilities: Some family-friendly sites offer upgraded amenities. Michael V. continues, "A recently renovated bathroom and shower facility makes clean ups easy."

Consider educational opportunities: Several sites incorporate environmental learning components. Michael V. also notes, "The camp is also 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."

Tips from RVers

RV access varies widely: Some sites accommodate larger vehicles while others are strictly tent-only. Lajaun C. from Cape Ann Camp Site reports, "All size RVs and tents are welcome. They have water, sewer, and electric hookups."

Limited connectivity: Many sites have minimal or no internet access. Lajaun C. also mentions, "No wifi. There is a nice little store on-site for anything you forgot."

Beach proximity for RVs: Some campgrounds offer both developed sites and beach access. Ben E. notes, "Nice beach nearby. Close to many towns and activities. We paid $60 a night for a 30 amp spot with water."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wellesley HIlls, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wellesley HIlls, 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 Wellesley HIlls, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Wellesley HIlls, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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