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Best Tent Camping near West Boxford, MA

648 Reviews

In the wooded surroundings of West Boxford, Massachusetts, tent campers can find several established campgrounds within reasonable driving distance. Notable options include Cape Ann Camp Site in Gloucester, which offers wooded tent sites with fire pits, and Camp Nihan Education Center, which provides a more rustic tent camping experience with basic amenities. Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground presents a unique option for backcountry tent camping on several islands accessible only by ferry.

Sites at these tent campgrounds typically feature dirt or gravel surfaces with varying levels of privacy. Most tent-only areas provide picnic tables and designated fire rings, though amenities differ significantly between locations. Camp Nihan offers recently renovated bathroom and shower facilities despite its primitive tent setup atmosphere. At Cape Ann, quarters are needed for five-minute showers, and campers should bring sufficient drinking water, especially when using walk-in tent sites. Seasonal operation varies, with most campgrounds open from May through October, closing during winter months when primitive tent setups would be challenging in the New England climate.

The tent camping experience near West Boxford provides access to varied natural settings from coastal environments to woodland areas. According to one visitor, Camp Nihan offers "a perfect blend of rugged and convenient" tent camping with "terrain rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods." Areas closer to the coast like Cape Ann provide unique experiences where tent campers can enjoy beach access while maintaining a forest campsite. A review noted that the "sites are nice and wooded" with sufficient spacing between tent sites for privacy. Boston Harbor Islands offers the most primitive tent camping experience, requiring careful planning as campers must carry all gear via ferry and bring their own water supply, but rewards with stunning sunset views over the Boston skyline from remote tent sites.

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Best Tent Sites Near West Boxford, Massachusetts (11)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near West Boxford, MA

36 Photos of 11 West Boxford Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near West Boxford, MA

648 Reviews of 11 West Boxford Campgrounds

  • 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
    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!

  • Anna C.
    Oct. 15, 2019

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Red Ledge Rebel Shell Rain Pants at Pawtuckaway State Park

    *CAMPGROUND REVIEW*

    This campground is definitely a dazzler and I was fortunate to visit on a quieter weekend. I was able to enjoy an especially picturesque sunset over the lake and I would definitely visit this spot again, especially with how accessible the campground is. There is a nice stretch of sandy beach at the campground as well as canoes and kayaks for rent. The convenience store at the campground had essentially everything you would need for a good camping trip. Definitely do your research on the different site numbers because some sites are much more private and scenic than others. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire pit as an added bonus.

    Pros: 

    -Within a short driving distance from the Boston area 

    -Lakefront sites available 

    -Canoe and kayak rentals available 

    -Well stocked convenience store 

    -Reasonable cell reception

    Cons: 

     -Can get busy during peak camping times 

     -Some sites have a lack of privacy

    *PRODUCT REVIEW*

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. During this trip, I took out a pair of Red Ledge Rain Pants. While it didn’t rain during my camping stay (great from a camper perspective, not so great from a reviewer perspective), I was able to try out the general fit of the pants. They have a nice stretch fit to them and a certainly one of the more stylish options as far as rain pants go. As is true for most waterproof gear, they run on the warmer side and don’t have a ton of ventilation so they may not be the best choice for hotter weather. Although I didn’t get to test out the pants in a camping setting, I did wear them a few days ago while making the 1.5 km evacuation route trek from my apartment to the flood shelter during one of the biggest typhoons to make landfall in Japan. After about 25-30 mins of walking in record breaking-ly heavy rain, the pants started to saturate around the knees and the upper thigh area started to get a bit soggy. That being said, this is probably the most extreme possible test setting and they did hold up reasonably well. Due to the aforementioned, I would recommend using these pants as a waterproof option when skiing/snowboarding in warmer weather where you still want a snow barrier but may not necessarily need the insulative warmth offered by actual snow pants.

    Pros: 

    -Stylish look 

     -Stretch fit 

     -Waterproof 

     Cons: 

     -Trap heat 

     -Not typhoon proof

  • Emma N.
    May. 24, 2018

    Greenfield State Park Campground

    Secluded Sites

    The night before hiking Mount Monadnock, my husband and I camped here. Monadnock State Park is about a 25 minute drive from the campground, and provides a beautiful hike. The RV sites at Greenfield State Park were relatively secluded, as it is a very wooded area. We visited very early in the season, so the main tent camping loops were blocked off for maintenance. Our site had a picnic table and a fire ring. We drove by a shower facility and a building with restrooms. The restrooms were still locked for the winter, so there were a few port-a-potties right outside- these were absolutely disgusting. It looked as though they had not been cleaned out all winter. Otherwise, the campground seemed nice! Just don’t forget to bring some bug-spray for those New Hampshire mosquitos!

Guide to West Boxford

Tent campsites near West Boxford, Massachusetts sit approximately 30 miles north of Boston at elevations between 100-200 feet above sea level. The region features a mix of coastal wetlands and inland forests with typical New England weather patterns including humid summers reaching the mid-80s and cold winters. Most camping facilities operate seasonally from May through October due to the harsh winter conditions that make primitive camping impractical.

What to do

Beach access from camp: Cape Ann Camp Site provides campers with proximity to coastal activities while maintaining a forested setting. The campground is "close to a nice beach too" according to Lajaun C., making it convenient for day trips to the shore without sacrificing the woodland camping experience.

Explore harbor islands: Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground offers unique island exploration opportunities. "During the day you can take small ferries to a variety of other islands to go swimming or explore. This is a great adventure for kids," notes Martha H. The interconnected ferry system allows visitors to experience multiple islands during their stay.

Water recreation options: Families camping near West Boxford can enjoy multiple water activities at Salmon Falls River RV Resort. Samantha N. reports, "Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun!"

What campers like

Beach proximity with forest privacy: Many campers appreciate the combination of woodland settings with nearby beach access. Rebecca S. mentioned that while Cape Ann Camp Site is "clean but very rustic," it offers "great beach access and friendly staff."

Secluded tent sites: Tent campers often prefer more secluded spots compared to RV areas. Della S. observed, "The campground is clean and quiet with beautiful tent sites. The RV sites are not as secluded as the tent sites."

Waterfront sunset views: Several campgrounds offer memorable sunset viewing opportunities. At Boston Harbor Islands, campers can build "bon fires and see gorgeous sunsets," according to Martha H., who appreciates the combination of natural beauty and urban views.

What you should know

Variable shower facilities: Shower availability and cost vary significantly between campgrounds. At Cape Ann Camp Site, Ben E. notes: "The showers require payment with quarters. I don't know how many quarters it takes because I don't carry change. So I washed my hair in the sink."

Island camping logistics: When camping on Boston Harbor Islands, preparation is essential. Jess G. advises, "Make sure that you bring enough drinking water and that you are ok with using the composting bathroom or going in the woods."

Ferry scheduling challenges: Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground requires careful transportation planning. "Getting to the island was a bit of a hassle... We took all of our gear on the T to the harbor by the aquarium. We then took the ferry to Georges Island. After that we waited and got on a much smaller island to Lovells," explains Jess G.

Tips for camping with families

Environmental education opportunities: Camp Nihan Education Center offers educational experiences in a convenient setting. Michael V. explains, "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. A recently renovated bathroom and shower facility makes clean ups easy."

Nearby swimming options: Family-friendly swimming areas are available near several campgrounds. Michael V. notes that Camp Nihan is "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."

Family-friendly activities: Some campgrounds offer structured activities for children. At Salmon Falls River RV Resort, Aaron G. appreciates that they "have great activities daily for the kids a nice store onsite."

Tips from RVers

Site levelness considerations: RV campers should check site leveling before booking. Aaron G. found that at Salmon Falls River RV Resort, "Campsites are level and site is fairly easy to maneuver with bigger rigs."

Seasonality impacts: Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally. Cape Ann Camp Site operates from "May 15 - Oct 15," making advance planning necessary for RV travelers who need hookups during their stay.

Variable hookup options: Campgrounds near West Boxford offer different levels of RV services. John S. noted while staying at Cape Ann Camp Site that the campground provides "great sites with A LOT of space between them," which is particularly valuable for RV camping when privacy can be limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near West Boxford, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near West Boxford, MA is Cape Ann Camp Site with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near West Boxford, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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