Best Campgrounds near Wendell Depot, MA

State parks and forests surrounding Wendell Depot, Massachusetts feature diverse camping options within the scenic north-central region of the state. Tully Lake Recreation Area, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and operated by the Trustees of Reservations, offers walk-in and boat-in tent sites with waterfront access. Nearby Erving State Forest provides a small, wooded campground with 27 sites situated along a pond with swimming beach access. Otter River State Forest in Baldwinville accommodates tents, RVs, cabins, and yurts with hookup options for larger vehicles. The camping landscape extends into southern New Hampshire and Vermont with additional options at Monadnock State Park and Fort Dummer State Park, all within an hour's drive of Wendell Depot.

Massachusetts state parks typically operate from mid-May through mid-October, with peak season running Memorial Day through Labor Day. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for waterfront sites at popular destinations like Tully Lake. As one camper noted, "There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day reservations can be made." Cell service is spotty throughout the region, particularly at Erving State Forest and Tully Lake, where campers should download maps before arrival. Non-Massachusetts residents should be aware of significantly higher camping fees, sometimes three times the resident rate. Many campgrounds feature limited bathroom facilities that may require substantial walks from certain campsites.

Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the region, with several campgrounds offering swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. At Tully Lake, visitors appreciate the unique car-free camping experience where gear is transported via provided carts. "This means no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites," explains one reviewer. Hiking trails are abundant throughout the area, with Doane's Falls near Tully Lake offering a series of five waterfalls along an ascending wooded path. Wildlife viewing opportunities include beaver sightings along water-adjacent trails and various bird species. Families particularly enjoy the quieter atmosphere of these campgrounds, with most enforcing quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and offering spacious sites with standard amenities like fire rings and picnic tables.

Best Camping Sites Near Wendell Depot, Massachusetts (163)

    1. Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

    9 Reviews
    Royalston, MA
    8 miles
    +1 (978) 249-9150

    $40 / night

    "Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border."

    "Volleyball and horseshoes are near the entrance. You may purchase firewood. The bathrooms offer flush toilets and a single shower on each site, plus a dishwashing sink outside."

    2. Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

    14 Reviews
    Foster Lake, OR
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 297-1609

    $17 - $35 / night

    "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."

    "As a caveat, waterfront in this instance was more of a water view as the lake was on the other side of the campground road and a large open area with trees."

    3. Otter River State Forest

    14 Reviews
    Baldwinville, MA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 939-8962

    $17 - $55 / night

    "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"

    4. Ashuelot River Campground

    18 Reviews
    West Swanzey, NH
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 357-5777

    $47 - $70 / night

    "We had easy access to trails that went along the river behind some of the sites with a few paths down to the river. Everyone we encountered was friendly and respectful."

    "Large, open campground surrounded by the Ashuelot River. Friendly owners who go around delivering wood and ice to guests given the pandemic right now."

    5. Erving State Forest Campground

    3 Reviews
    Erving, MA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (978) 544-7745

    $17 / night

    "Situated by a beautiful lake and access to several hiking trails. "

    "Friends told me about this little gem in north central Massachusetts, not far from Rt 2. The big draw here is the pond, with the public beach on one side and lined with private cabins on the other. "

    6. Gilson Pond Area Campground — Monadnock State Park

    19 Reviews
    Jaffrey, NH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 532-2416

    $29 - $35 / night

    "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."

    7. Fort Dummer State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Brattleboro, VT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 254-2610

    "There are 3 nice and short trails, 2 with a great view and the other that is quite steep down to a swimming hole."

    "We had site 30, which looked to be one of the best sites available (and the lean-tos next to site 30 also looked great). Most sites on this side of the loop were private, forested, and spacious."

    8. Barton Cove Campground

    2 Reviews
    Greenfield, MA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 863-9300

    $22 - $30 / night

    "Only real annoyance was dealing with set up and take down of the campsite- you check in at the office, grab a key to unlock the gate, drive to the campground, unlock gate, drive through gate, lock gate"

    9. Travelers Woods Of New England, Inc

    1 Review
    Greenfield, MA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 648-9105

    "This is a campground close to where we live. It’s right off interstate 91. The owners are very friendly and courteous. Had a small store a small tv room, clean bathrooms and showers ."

    10. Shir-Roy Camping Area

    1 Review
    Warwick, MA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 239-4768

    $34 - $47 / night

    "Good bathroom ,nice people, great lake."

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Recent Reviews near Wendell Depot, MA

717 Reviews of 163 Wendell Depot Campgrounds


  • Keith L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Jamaica State Park Campground

    Great Camping Experience at Jamaica State Park

    This was our second stay at this Vermont State Park. It was a great three days. The park rangers were tremendous in ensuring we had a great visit. They worked with us to get the right site. The bathroom facilities, while rustic, were clean. There is a plethora of things to do in the park itself and in the local community. Nonetheless, it starts and ends with the management of the campground. Lauren, the campground manager, and her team of professionals, do a great job. We will definitely return.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Ashuelot River Campground

    Nice ‘n Easy campground

    We stayed for 3 days off season so not busy. Sites located along the river are wooded, field sites are very open great for seeing the stars at night. Sites have fire rings with excellent airflow for good burning with low smoke. Hook ups are in great condition for power, water, sewer. Showers and bath house on site. Laundry and game room at office area. Office staff was very helpful and they’re open later into the day til 7 PM. Good firewood and large bundle delivered for $15 to your site. We passed over this site on our first trip to the area but are glad we came here and we’re planning to return. Follow the website directions to get here as there are covered bridges in the area with low Clearance and low weight limits.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Branch Pond on National Forest Hwy

    Amazing camping spots with fire pits!

    Tons of different styles of camping spots (if you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river). No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    NF 83 - riverside

    NF83

    Great camping site. The road into the site was pretty rough.

  • Rae-Ann W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Ashuelot River Campground

    Another great trip to Ashuelot River Campground

    We spent another great weekend at the Ashuelot River Campground. We recently purchased a new-to-us camper and wanted to get in a trip or two before putting it away for the winter. This was our 2nd visit to Ashuelot.

    We were in site 59, a pull-through with water and 30/50 amp service. The site was level and easy to get into and park. We were in a fully wooded area on the left side of the campground, which we prefer. They have sites located in fully open areas, as well as some that are partially wooded and have river access. There is a nice mix.

    Having good weather, we took a lazy tube ride from one side of the campground to the other. It has been quite dry in the area, so they are experiencing a drought. However, a little rain in the week got the river moving a bit. We were able to enjoy a nice, slow drift around the campground.

    We thoroughly enjoyed our time again and will definitely be back.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    Amazing Numerous Free Dispersed Camping!

    Easy to get to, had service the whole time, fire pits for every spot. I did see a huge blackbear. I didn’t see any bathrooms.

  • Rachael K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Gus's Gardens Camping

    Nice weekend getaway

    This place was really nice. Easy to pull our 20ft camper in. Two minutes drive to the very cute town of Wilmington. Good places to eat there. The campsite was really private. Had a picnic table and fire pit. The pond was sweet and the Deerfield Valley Trail is right off the campsite. We would definitely like to stay there again.

  • Michael
    Sep. 20, 2025

    The Quarry Campground

    The Quarry Campground

    Very quiet. At night all you can hear is the crackling of the campfire.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park

    Good Campground

    Stayed for over a week off season , mid September. Very quiet during the week , weekend is Party Time when the gang pulls in on Friday Night. Very loud until after 10:00 on Friday / Saturday. 50 percent or more is seasonal camp sites. Sites in back are ok with trees and different levels. Sites are a little closer than I usually find. Neighbors are very considerate on site privacy. Owners are exceptionally helpful and work hard to keep the site functioning and clean. Coin operated showers with hot water, mostly nice and clean except after a crowd gets packed and checks out Sunday AM. Laundry room takes quarters for machines. Small store at office which was open every day. Game room with wi fi. Pool , playground , volleyball area. Good size wood bundle for $10 , delivered directly to your site. Lake access with kayaks , some local hiking. Major grocery store nearby along with Walmart.


Guide to Wendell Depot

The Wendell Depot area sits at the transition between Massachusetts's Berkshire foothills and Connecticut River Valley, with elevations ranging from 500-1100 feet throughout the region's state parks and forests. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, with higher humidity near water bodies. Nighttime temperatures can drop into the 50s even during summer months, requiring campers to pack layers regardless of season.

What to do

Kayaking on Tully Lake: Bring your own craft or rent from the campground to explore the many islands and coves. "We rented kayaks right at the campground for a paddle around Tully Lake. Great trip! We will be returning," shares Megan G. from Tully Lake Recreation Area.

Tubing on Ashuelot River: The river provides a gentle current perfect for relaxing tube rides. "We took a lazy tube ride from one side of the campground to the other. It has been quite dry in the area, so they are experiencing a drought. However, a little rain in the week got the river moving a bit," notes a reviewer at Ashuelot River Campground.

Summit Mount Monadnock: For more challenging terrain, this peak offers extensive views across multiple states. "The White Dot Trail starts off flat, but that's very short-lived. The trail begins to climb steeply pretty early on. The second half of the trail is very steep with lots of rock scrambles," explains a hiker who stayed at Gilson Pond Campground.

Mushroom hunting: The forested areas around Fort Dummer State Park provide excellent mushroom foraging opportunities in late summer and early fall. "Plenty of woodlands to explore! 🍄🍄🍄," notes one camper who visited in September.

What campers like

Car-free camping experiences: Without vehicles at campsites, the atmosphere changes dramatically. "Sites are car-free which was great for peace of mind as our toddler roamed around. It also made for a super quiet stay," writes a family at Tully Lake Recreation Area.

Waterfront access for paddling: Direct water access ranks high on camper priorities. "We've been coming here for 3 years and we always have a blast. It is so convenient to camp right on the lake. We can drop our paddle boards in any time and explore the lake," shares Juliet P. about Lake Dennison Recreation Area.

Clean facilities despite rustic settings: Many campgrounds maintain high standards despite remote locations. "The bathrooms are immaculate. The showers take coins but the facilities are some of the best I've seen while camping on State Park grounds," reports a visitor to Gilson Pond.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings and evenings provide excellent wildlife spotting. "We hiked the 4-mile loop around Tully Lake. We saw beavers along water-adjacent trails and various bird species including hawks and herons," notes a camper.

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Coverage is spotty throughout the region. "There is zero cell service (there is an operational pay phone at the showers) which is fine... but wished we knew ahead of time," reports Tim S. about Erving State Forest.

Non-resident fee differentials: Non-Massachusetts residents pay significantly higher camping fees. "Fees in 2020 are only $17 for MA residents, but $55 for out-of-staters," warns a camper about Erving State Forest's pricing structure.

Coin-operated showers: Most state campgrounds require quarters for hot showers. "The showers take coins and the facilities are some of the best I've seen while camping on State Park grounds," explains a visitor to Gilson Pond.

Limited site availability during peak weekends: Popular weekends book months in advance. "This campground has two sides. The side we stayed on didn't have a dishwashing station. The nearest one was over a mile away in the other half of the campground making it very inconvenient," notes Nicole P. about planning limitations.

Tips for camping with families

Choose north side sites at Lake Dennison: The quieter section offers better family camping. "The sites on the North side are spacious & quiet. The other side of the campground (east) has a lot of noise pollution from the nearby road which is used by logging trucks," advises Bonnie B. from Lake Dennison Recreation Area.

Book site #4 at Erving State Forest: This specific site offers exceptional privacy. "We stayed at site 4 and we think that it was one of the best sites in the campground. We didn't have neighbors on either side of us. We only had neighbors across from us," recommends Rachael K.

Consider Otter River for balanced amenities: The campground offers family-friendly facilities without being overly developed. "I loved this little campground, it was relaxing, beautiful, and had enough to keep us busy!" shares Matt R. about Otter River State Forest.

Reserve waterfront sites early: Sites with direct water access book quickest. "There are only 27 sites, but in 2020 many of the ones served by composting toilets are closed. You need reservations in advance," advises a camper at Erving State Forest.

Tips from RVers

Ashuelot River Campground accommodates larger rigs: The campground has suitable sites for big RVs. "We were in site 59, a pull-through with water and 30/50 amp service. The site was level and easy to get into and park. We were in a fully wooded area on the left side of the campground," explains Rae-Ann W. from Ashuelot River Campground.

Limited RV options at state parks: Most state campgrounds have few RV-suitable sites. "Only 7 sites are suitable for a trailer/RV, 4 of them with electric hookups (add $10 to the site rate), but none with water," advises a camper about Monadnock State Park.

Site 33 at Otter River works for RVs: This specific site offers needed space and access. "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," notes Jean C. about Otter River State Forest.

Download maps before arrival: GPS and cell service frequently cuts out. "Download your maps for offline use! Cell connection was horrible heading up here," warns a camper about navigation challenges in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Wendell Depot, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Wendell Depot, MA offers a wide range of camping options, with 163 campgrounds and RV parks near Wendell Depot, MA and 15 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Wendell Depot, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Wendell Depot, MA is Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Wendell Depot, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Wendell Depot, MA.

What parks are near Wendell Depot, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Wendell Depot, MA that allow camping, notably Tully Lake and Edward MacDowell Lake.