LeGrand Reynolds Horsemen's Camping Area provides tent camping specifically for equestrians with electric, water, and sewer hookups at each campsite. Located within the larger Arcadia Management Area in Rhode Island, this specialized facility is approximately 70 miles from West Bridgewater. Equestrian campers will find fire rings and picnic tables at their sites, creating a basic but functional base camp for trail riding adventures.
What to do
Trail riding access: At Myles Standish State Forest, riders can explore "several miles of bike trails" that one camper described as "very enjoyable." The forest offers extensive paths suitable for both horses and hikers.
Pond exploration: Take advantage of the kettle ponds throughout the region. As one visitor noted, "We kayaked one morning and enjoyed watching the people catching good sized fish around us." Multiple ponds are spring-fed with clear water.
Historical day trips: Use campgrounds as staging areas for exploring nearby attractions. A camper mentioned Myles Standish State Forest is "a great staging area for day trips to Plymouth and all its history as well as being an easy bike ride to the upper cape."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Ponkapoag Camp, campers appreciate the rustic experience with cabins spread throughout wooded areas. One reviewer noted, "The camp is on a beautiful piece of wooded land surrounding a large pond/lake. There are about 25 rustic cabins, and a few tent sites dispersed throughout the camping area."
Clean facilities: Normandy Farms Campground maintains excellent bathrooms that consistently impress visitors. A reviewer stated, "Bathrooms are best of any campground. Highly recommend," while another mentioned, "It is super easy to get around. They had tons of festive activities. They have an indoor and an outdoor pool. The restrooms are clean."
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds offer special events throughout the camping season. One camper at Normandy Farms shared, "We stayed here for a few nights when they celebrated Halloween 🎃. They had tons of festive activities."
What you should know
Varying amenities by location: Each campground offers different levels of facilities. At Charge Pond Campground, "The sites are large and shady but don't have water or electric. The bath houses are clean and accessible."
Alcohol policies: State parks have different rules than private campgrounds. One camper pointed out, "When you are sitting by the campfire, sometimes, chilling with a beer or another adult beverage is nice. Not in Massachusetts State Parks. No alcohol allowed."
Weekday vs. weekend crowds: Consider timing your visit for less crowded experiences. A camper observed at Myles Standish, "The one thing you may notice is that if you stay on a Friday or Saturday night, the campground may be to capacity... But the Sunday, and Monday nights, the 7 closest spots to us were empty, it was like having the woods to ourselves."
Tips for camping with families
Look for activity centers: Normandy Farms Campground offers extensive recreation options. As one visitor described, "There is a really long list of amenities for this campground....four pools (include an indoor heated one), fitness room, creative arts center, camp store, 20,000 square-foot activities building, restaurant, huge off-leash dog park, BMX bike park, horse shoe pits, baseball diamond, volleyball, fishing pond, shuffleboard, disk golf, and playground."
Consider cabin options: For families new to camping or during unpredictable weather, cabins provide comfort. At Ponkapoag Camp, "Each cabin has between 2-6 beds. The mattresses in our large cabin were brand new dorm style mattresses, which were slippery but comfortable. The cabins have assorted dressers and shelves for storage."
Plan for swimming: Most campgrounds near West Bridgewater offer swimming options. One visitor to Ponkapoag noted, "The kids can hang out in the clubhouse if it's raining or swim in the pond if it's hot."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: At Normandy Farms Campground, RVers have multiple options. "There are plenty of sites to choose from the 'premium' full hook-up (50 amp) to basic with just water and electric and many others in between. Both back-in and pull thrus are available as are sites with shade and full sun."
Navigation considerations: Road quality impacts larger rigs. One RVer noted about Normandy Farms, "Roads are paved and plenty wide enough for big RV's to navigate. We chose a paved full hook-up pull thru with paved patio. Our site was easy to navigate in and out of and was definitely big rig-friendly with ample space for our motorhome and tow car."
Dump station availability: Not all horse campgrounds near West Bridgewater, Massachusetts offer full facilities. At Myles Standish, "The campground doesn't have hook ups, but there is a dump station with water and water available around the loops."
Traveler
