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Best Tent Camping near West Tisbury, MA

342 Reviews

Tent camping near West Tisbury, Massachusetts offers coastal options within driving distance. Washburn Island Campsites in Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Reserve provides tent-only camping on a small island with water views. Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites offers beach-adjacent tent camping along Cape Cod. Both locations provide unique coastal tent camping experiences within reasonable distance of West Tisbury.

Washburn Island features ten tent campsites with water views, accessible only by boat. Campers need to bring their own watercraft or arrange transportation to reach these secluded tent sites. The camping season runs from mid-May through Columbus Day, with fire pits at each site and firewood available for purchase from rangers. One composting toilet serves the entire island. Sites can be reserved up to six months in advance, with shoulder seasons offering greater availability than peak summer months.

Sandy Neck Beach Park offers both drive-in beach camping for self-contained vehicles and hike-in backcountry tent camping. The backcountry sites require a challenging 3-4 mile trek through sand without shade cover, but provide greater seclusion. These non-reservable tent sites are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at park headquarters. Amenities include picnic tables and an outhouse, with park staff delivering water and firewood (for a fee) so campers don't need to carry these supplies. The tent sites are positioned away from the beach in brush areas that provide windbreaks. A camper noted, "This is a 5 star primitive spot because it's secluded, requires a bit of leg work and has a great view."

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Best Tent Sites Near West Tisbury, Massachusetts (2)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near West Tisbury, MA

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Tent Camping Reviews near West Tisbury, MA

342 Reviews of 2 West Tisbury 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!

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 27, 2020

    Scusset Beach State Reservation

    Coastal campground open late in season

    Scusset Beach offers an extended camping season, although the extended season is restricted to self-contained units as the restrooms are turned off.  Also, there are only 5 designated tent sites during the peak season, so if you want to tent camp here, you'd best make a reservation well in advance.. You cannot reserve an RV site for a just a tent, though if you have a trailer, you may also have a tent on the site. The 5 tent sites have their own fire pits, but the RV sites must use a community fire pit, though in mid-November, just before the campground closed for the season, RVers used the firepit at a tent site that provided some additional protection from the wind.

    The RV sites have paved parking pads and picnic tables, but the area to the side of the parking pads sometimes slopes away, so it's less usable for chairs, etc.  In the 2020 camping season, every other campsite was closed (thus the picnic tables across the entrance of the parking pad). Some of the sites, 32 34, 36, are along the back of the campground closer to the trees/scrub, and so have some degree of privacy and protection as compared to the others in the wide open park.

    The campground is on the north shore of the Cape Code canal and provides access to a sandy beach, a jetty, and the Cape Cod Canal Trail for biking and walking. There's a nice playground for youth. You can fish from the shore or jetty, No need to cross the bridge to the Cape. Plymouth is also nearby to explore.

  • K
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Fort Getty Campground

    No shade no rule enforcement. Great place for a big group to party if that’s what you want.

    Loud campers in large groups.

    Rules regarding quiet hours, no generators, number of tents per site and late arrival and setups were not enforced.

    People next to us crammed 8 tents on 3 sites. I counted a group of at least 20.

    There is no privacy, people were constantly walking through our site and stepping over our tent guy lines.

    People partied until 2:00am and woke up at 5:30am shining headlights and idling cars.

    Bathrooms were dirty, sites boundaries not marked and crammed together. No shade.

    Beautiful location, rangers were nice.

    RV folks were surly, seemed like a lot of them stay there for the entire season. One said hi, the rest stared when we drove by.

    We booked and paid for two nights and left first thing after just one night.

  • Our Greight Escape ..
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Bourne Scenic Park

    Wonderful campground!

    We stayed here for a season and loved it! The staff from the front desk to the front gate are incredibly friendly and welcoming!

    Pros-

    Front office is open late (9pm)

    Offers wood, ice, fire starters, hoses and adapter cap for gray water drain.

    Country Store

    Ice Cream

    Amazing views of the canal.

    Bike path along the canal, easy access.

    Lots of playgrounds for different ages

    Bounce pad (in-ground)

    Pool

    Stair access to canal bike path.

    Dump station

    Inexpensive to have visitors\

    Located near so much! Walmart, Market Basket, Target all within 15min.  

    Cons-

    No on site drainage for black water (grey takes an adapter). You will need a poop tote.

    Lots of tight spaces

    Anyone can pay to access canal, so they can access any campsite even without staying there. 

    Highway noise.

    BRIDGE TRAFFIC- if you know you know.

  • 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.

  • Anna C.
    Jun. 11, 2019

    Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites

    Backcountry Camping at Cape Cod

    This is a really cool option for those interested in visiting Cape Cod and also backpacking. The park has 5 dispersed sites located 3-4 miles from the trailhead with picnic tables and an outhouse. The hike in to the sites can be particularly difficult because it requires trekking through sand without any sun coverage and with all of your gear. It’s also a bit of a gamble because the sites are not reservable ahead of time. In order to secure a spot, you must show up at the park headquarters where sites are handed out on a first come first served basis. A nice amenity is that the park staff will send someone to the sites to deliver 5 gallons of water for free as well as firewood for a small fee so you don’t have to carry those resources. The sites are tucked away from the beach a bit into the brush which provides a nice relief from the wind. Fires are permitted at the beach and I was lucky to witness a really beautiful beach sunset. I did not encounter too many bugs during my time of visit but I’ve been warned that it can get quite buggy in mid to late summer. Overall, this is a 5 star primitive spot for me because it’s secluded, requires a bit of leg work and has a great view.

  • Alicia F.
    Aug. 15, 2018

    Marthas Vineyard Family Campground

    I love this campground!

    Pay $300-$500/night for a hotel or this campground for $35/night? I’ll take the campground any day. Several years now I’ve packed a suitcase w a tent, tarp, air mattress and sleeping bag and had some of the best weeks of my life! The bus picks up and drops off just outside the campground and with a weekly bus pass you can be anywhere on the island within minutes. Every day was a new adventure to Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, Menemsha etc. Large shared male and female bathroom/shower complex next to the camp store and office as well as an outdoor shower for those more adventurous. Most sites have electric and water nearby. The management/owner takes pride in the campground and loves what he does. It’s the best way to experience Martha’s Vineyard!

  • Rachel P.
    Jun. 30, 2019

    Scusset Beach State Reservation

    An RVer’s Paradise

    Scusset Beach Reservation overlooks Cape Cod Bay and accommodates a multitude of RV sites. The campgrounds aren’t the most attractive, but the pull here, of course, is the beach- which is actually pretty amazing.

    Not nearly as crowded as a majority of the nearby Cape beaches and rather quiet- especially shocking for the weekend just before the July 4th holiday- Scusset Beach has all the amenities you could really want for a low-key beach outing. The beach is clean, with beautiful, white, rock-free sand. There’s a small snack bar with basic food options, bathroom and locker room facilities, picnic tables and plenty of parking. Lifeguards begin their work around 10am and are pretty serious about announcing all the rules.

    In the grounds, you’ll find rows and rows of RV sites. Not much in terms of privacy- basically a glorified parking lot with the occasional tree and nearby nature center. The Park, however, also has 5 tent sites towards the back that are really your best bet if you want anything close to a true camping experience. Tent sites 1, 4 and 5 are the most attractive options, offering shade and a fair amount of privacy. Each is set up with a grill, fire pit and picnic table and are pretty decently sized.

    Additionally, there are several trails around the Reservation. A nice bike path along the waterway is literally feet away from the tent sites; and there also seemed to be smaller paths dispersed throughout.

    If you’re a fan of the Cape and ocean, definitely give Scusset Beach a try- especially one of the tent sites. You can literally walk to the shore and stores and restaurants are a quick car ride down the street.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 16, 2020

    Shawme Crowell State Forest Campground

    Stay here because you want to explore the area

    This state forest campground is located just over the Sagamore bridge, across the Cape Cod canal. It's a basic, no-frills campground, with more than half the sites designated as tent only; a few of the sites are designated for tent/pop-up. The tent sites tend to be on short spurs that may be hilly and uneven, so would be difficult to navigate with a trailer or larger vehicle. If you don't have camping gear, there are 6 yurts available for rent, though they were not available during the 2020 covid season. The bathrooms offer showers and are undergoing some renovations in 2020. No hookups, but there is a dump station. 

    If you have young kids, they'll love the new playground area. That's really about the only attraction within the campground, though there are some hiking and biking trails. The Cape Cod Canal Bikeway is nearby and provides easy biking and exploration. If you're looking for a beach experience and you'll be there a few days, consider buying a weekly parking pass. During the week, it may be worthwhile to cross back across the Sagamore bridge to visit Scusset Beach State Reservation, but weekend summer traffic will likely make that prohibitive.

    If you forgot food, Market Basket is a short distance away.

Guide to West Tisbury

Tent camping near West Tisbury, Massachusetts provides access to unique coastal environments with distinctive maritime conditions. The region experiences moderate Atlantic coastal weather with summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak camping season from June through September. Most tent sites in the area require preparation for salt air exposure, which can affect camping equipment.

What to do

**Beach exploration: Washburn Island Campsites offers exclusive island shorelines. "Small island with 10 camp site (one group) all with views of the water very quiet at night," notes Tim C., who recommends visiting during shoulder seasons for greater site availability.

Wildlife observation: At Sandy Neck Beach Park Primitive Campsites, campers can spot coastal birds and occasional marine life. "The sites are tucked away from the beach a bit into the brush which provides a nice relief from the wind," reports Anna C., making it ideal for nature watching.

Sunset viewing: Beach camping permits evening fire rings with spectacular ocean views. "Fires are permitted at the beach and I was lucky to witness a really beautiful beach sunset," mentions a Sandy Neck camper who recommends planning evening activities around sunset times.

What campers like

Seasonal flexibility: The camping options near West Tisbury offer varying availability windows. "Camped there May 20-25 2018 and there were only 1-2 other sites being used," reports a visitor to Washburn Island Campsites, highlighting the advantages of off-peak camping.

Water proximity: Direct beach access ranks highly among tent campers' priorities. "This is one of the few places where you can sleep on the beach! It's a great place. The water is on the cold side but it's worth it," shares Matt R. about the coastal camping experience.

Seclusion factor: The effort required to reach remote sites creates better camping experiences. Anna C. explains why she values Sandy Neck Beach: "This is a 5 star primitive spot for me because it's secluded, requires a bit of leg work and has a great view."

What you should know

Transportation requirements: Boat access limits some camping options but increases privacy. For Waquoit Bay Nat Estuarine Reserve, Tim C. advises, "You need a boat or a ride out there, close to the main land so a canoe/kayak would work."

Reservation systems: Some locations require advance planning while others operate first-come, first-served. "Campsites can be reserved 6 months in advance so it is tough to get one during the summer months but great camping in May, September, and October as well," notes a Washburn Island camper.

Supply logistics: Managing water and equipment transport requires planning. Sandy Neck provides some assistance: "A nice amenity is that the park staff will send someone to the sites to deliver 5 gallons of water for free as well as firewood for a small fee so you don't have to carry those resources."

Tips for camping with families

Weather preparation: Coastal conditions can change rapidly and affect comfort. "Took one more trip down for the end of the season, great weather but VERY windy," warns Matt R. about late-season camping at Sandy Neck Beach.

Difficulty assessment: Consider children's hiking abilities before booking remote sites. The Sandy Neck backcountry experience "requires trekking through sand without any sun coverage and with all of your gear," which may challenge younger family members.

Timing considerations: Off-peak visits offer both advantages and limitations. The camping season at Washburn Island "runs from mid May to Columbus Day" with significantly different availability and weather conditions throughout that window.

Tips from RVers

Self-containment requirements: Some beach locations restrict camping to fully equipped vehicles. "You need a sandy neck ORV pass and a self contained camper (toilet) to camp here, but it's very worth it," explains Matt R. about the drive-in options at Sandy Neck Beach Park.

Cost considerations: Beachfront sites often command premium pricing. "It can be pricy but it's worth the price," advises an experienced RVer about coastal camping near West Tisbury.

Seasonal access: Vehicle camping areas may have different operational dates than tent sites. Several campgrounds near West Tisbury reduce or eliminate RV access during shoulder seasons, requiring advance verification of site availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near West Tisbury, MA is Washburn Island Campsites — Waquoit Bay Reserve with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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