Near West Hill Dam in Massachusetts, camping options blend wooded settings with access to water features. The area sits at approximately 400 feet elevation within the Blackstone River watershed, where temperatures average 70-85°F in summer months. Sites often feature gravel pads and fire rings, with most campgrounds remaining open from April through October.
What to do
Hiking through Douglas State Forest: Campers at Douglas Forest RV Resort enjoy immediate access to Douglas State Forest trails directly from the campground. "You're literally steps away from Douglas State Forest, which made morning hikes and evening strolls absolutely magical. It's pet-friendly too, and our dog loved the wooded trails and open areas," reports Tye G.
Fishing at Walker Pond: Wells State Park offers shoreline fishing opportunities with several sites positioned near the water. "This is a great campground located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on walker pond. Brand new bathroom/shower facility this year. Offers hiking, biking, swimming, fishing. Nice and quiet also," notes John L.
Disc golf courses: West Thompson Lake Campground provides on-site disc golf for campers seeking recreational activities. "We were able to see some boat races and played a round of disc golf on property. Once the boat races finished each day the camp was very quiet and peaceful," explains Jason L.
What campers like
Swimming access: George Washington State Campground features a designated swimming beach that families appreciate. "There is a nice beach for children. The water was warm and clean. You can kayak or canoe. The dogs cannot go on the beach, but they can go in the boats," shares Jessica W.
Spacious campsites: Visitors to Circle Campground Farm consistently note the generous site dimensions. "We absolutely LOVED IT. Also the sites are HUGE and it feels like I have plenty of room for my vehicle and travel trailer. Felt like a private oasis," reports Donya B.
New bathroom facilities: Recent upgrades at several campgrounds, including Wells State Park Campground, have improved the camping experience. "Wells State Park camp grounds recently got new bathrooms and they are so clean! The campsites are a nice size to drive your car up to and still have ample tent/picnic table/fire space," according to Lauren C.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the area operate from spring through fall, with Kings Campground running "May 1 to September 15" according to their listing information.
Varied pricing structures: Some state parks charge different rates for residents versus non-residents. "If you're not a Rhode Island resident the fee for most sites is $36/night. Is it worth it? Eh, probably not unless you're really jonesing to camp for a weekend in the Ocean State," notes Ryan A. at George Washington State Campground.
Limited access hours: West Thompson Lake Campground has specific entry restrictions. "Large campsites, Nice basketball court, Decent bathrooms for a state campground, only complain is that they close the gate to enter at 9pm," Cameron F. mentions in his review.
Tips for camping with families
Pond activities: Sutton Falls Camping Area provides water-based recreation for children. "Stayed on an rv site for 1 week this past summer. Had a great time, kids had a blast with the boat rentals and fishing. Saw they have 2 yurts for rent as well," shares Dr. D.
Bathroom proximity: When booking with children, select sites near facilities. "We chose site #39 online, based on proximity to bath house (at least, it looked that way on the map). No pictures of individual campsites on the ReserveAmerica booking site, so we were kind of winging it," Jen V. advises about Wells State Park.
Seasonal programming: Some campgrounds offer themed activities during holiday periods. "We stayed here for a few nights when they celebrated Halloween. It is super easy to get around. They had tons of festive activities. They have an indoor and an outdoor pool," reports Liz W. about Normandy Farms.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Stateline Campresort & Cabins offers various site options for different rigs. "The sites are very well set up. You have your pick of shady sites or sites with no trees," notes Mike.
Pull-through availability: Some campgrounds have limited pull-through sites that require advance booking. "Much to our delight, they had a pull-through site (#15), that had just been vacated minutes before we got there. So, we drove over to said site, and it was much better. We were able to pull in and get leveled relatively easily," describes Jen V. regarding her experience at Wells State Park.
Pet-friendly facilities: RVers with dogs appreciate Circle Campground Farm's spacious sites and nearby trails. "We planned a brief stop in the Boston area with the intent of seeing the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and Normandy Farms appealed to us for various reasons. One reason was the fact that they have dog walkers that will come to your site and take care of your precious pooch while you are away," shares Nancy W.
