RV camping near Westfield, Massachusetts offers access to seasonal campgrounds located within the Connecticut River Valley and surrounding foothills. The region features hardwood forests and small lakes with elevations ranging from 125 to 1,300 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach the 80s while fall camping brings cooler 50-70°F days with colorful foliage displays from mid-September through October.
What to do
Hiking trails at Douglas State Forest: The area near Douglas Forest RV Resort provides access to nature trails. "You're literally steps away from Douglas State Forest, which made morning hikes and evening strolls absolutely magical," notes one visitor who appreciated the wooded setting.
Swimming and boating: Prospect Mountain Campground offers water activities during warmer months. "They have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing," writes one camper who visited with their family. Another visitor mentions, "The lake is beautiful and clean. Expect to pay $15 fee to use your paddleboards/kyacks etc. Worth every penny."
Fall foliage tours: The region transforms during autumn with peak colors typically from late September through mid-October. A visitor to Northampton/Springfield KOA noted, "We went to this campground during fall foliage time. Very peaceful and very great staff. They had hayless rides and fire truck rides."
What campers like
Wooded sites with privacy: Several campgrounds offer tree coverage that creates natural separation between sites. At Lake Taghkanic State Park, one camper observed, "The sites on the hill, nearest to the bathrooms, seemed to be generally very well maintained."
Convenient location: Campgrounds in the region provide strategic positioning for exploring western Massachusetts attractions. A visitor appreciated that "This is a really interesting campground that's situated on a hill overlooking Rudd Pond in Taconic State Park."
Recreation facilities: Many parks offer on-site activities for visitors. At Prospect Mountain Campground, a camper shared, "Prospects mountain is a great campground for families with younger kids. They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides."
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most RV parks close by mid-October. As one camper at Rudd Pond Area noted, "Camper van off the grid. Large site with privacy, but not many campers early season. New bath house with multiple shower rooms."
Site spacing varies: Campground density differs significantly between locations. A visitor at Northampton/Springfield KOA observed, "Very little privacy between campsites even in wooded areas. A smaller operation with a high percentage of seasonal residents."
Cell reception challenges: Connectivity can be unreliable in more remote locations. One camper at Thousand Trails Sturbridge mentioned, "Cell reception is not great. Camp link Wifi for a fee is workable unless you need to do zoom calls."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated children's activities. "Prospect mountain is a great campground for families with younger kids. They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing," shared one parent.
Playground access: Most family-oriented campgrounds include play structures. At Thousand Trails Sturbridge, a visitor noted, "The playground was a hit for our kids! We had a great time relaxing around the campfire with another family."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer learning activities for children. A camper at Northampton/Springfield KOA mentioned, "They do seem to offer some interesting activities for kids with weekend fire engine rides, a gem panning center, seemingly well maintained playground/pool."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For better experiences, research specific site locations. A visitor at Lake Taghkanic State Park advised, "We are SO glad that we did!" when choosing to try a tricky back-in site rather than accepting a front pull-through spot.
Electrical considerations: Power reliability varies between campgrounds. At Westover ARB Military FamCamp, a camper noted, "Sites are water/electric but some are 30 amp, others are 50 amp. Dump station available. Open year round. Water is turned off October 15-April 15."
Size restrictions: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. A visitor at Rudd Pond pointed out, "The road system requires maintenance- while some fresh gravel has been applied, many intersections remain challenging for larger trailers due to poor grading."
