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Best Tent Camping near Wilmington, MA

668 Reviews

Tent camping options near Wilmington, Massachusetts include several established campgrounds within an hour's drive, offering a mix of rustic and developed sites. Camp Nihan Education Center provides tent sites in a wooded environment less than 15 miles from Wilmington, while Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground offers a unique island camping experience accessible by ferry from nearby Hingham.

Most tent sites around the Wilmington area feature natural terrain with minimal improvements. At Camp Nihan, the tent sites are situated in forested settings with access to recently renovated bathroom and shower facilities. Cape Ann Camp Site, located in Gloucester, provides more developed options with drinking water, showers requiring quarters (25 cents for 5 minutes), and picnic tables at each site. Fires are allowed at most locations, though Boston Harbor Islands restricts fires to below the high tide line. One visitor noted that Cape Ann has "beautiful tent sites surrounded by trees so it felt pretty private."

The tent camping experience varies significantly between inland and coastal options. Camp Nihan offers a blend of rugged terrain while remaining accessible, with one camper describing it as a "perfect blend of rugged and convenient." The forested setting provides natural shade and separation between sites. Boston Harbor Islands offers a more adventurous experience requiring planning and ferry transportation. According to reviews, campers should "make sure that you bring enough drinking water" as resources are limited on the islands. Sites at Boston Harbor Islands provide unique views of the Boston skyline at sunset and opportunities to explore historic structures like old bunkers. While Cape Ann offers easier access with drive-in sites, the Boston Harbor Islands provide a true wilderness escape despite being close to the city.

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Best Tent Sites Near Wilmington, Massachusetts (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wilmington, MA

38 Photos of 7 Wilmington Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Wilmington, MA

668 Reviews of 7 Wilmington 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!

  • D
    Jul. 6, 2022

    Otter River State Forest

    Some sites are hit or miss with privacy

    My site (number 1) was good for not being on top of my neighbor but it was next to the tanger station. Some sites are pretty out in the open, close to the campsite road so they feel less like the woods. I would say the best site that feels most like you are in the woods and have the most space is 28. I would book there. The pond is kind of deceiving. There are 2 roped off spots where you can swim and those spots are small and not deep.  You cannot have floats. So its better for a quick dip than a hang out. Bathrooms are fine. Could use one more as its a hike in the morning when you really have to go(!) depending on your site. One thing with my site (1), it was listed as a shaded site but it absolutely was not a shade site. During mid day there is no shade at all. In the morning, as the sun rose (when I took the pics) there was some shade but thats because the sun was still rising. It was big enough to fit a 10 and 12 person tent with a canopy. Not all sites are that big but this one worked. Verizon service was limited to none depending on location, ATT was good

  • 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

Guide to Wilmington

Tent camping options near Wilmington, Massachusetts are most accessible from May through October when temperatures range from 45-85°F. The region sits at approximately 100 feet above sea level with a mix of suburban development and small woodland patches. Campers typically travel 25-45 minutes from Wilmington to reach established campgrounds, with the closest tent sites located in neighboring communities rather than within Wilmington proper.

What to do

Explore historic bunkers: At Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground, visitors can discover abandoned military structures. "On Peddocks island there is plenty of drinking water available and a ranger station... The island is beautiful and has an old fort to explore as well as a lot of Rocky shoreline and trails," according to Martha H.

Swimming at nearby beaches: When camping at Cape Ann Camp Site, take advantage of local beaches. "The camp ground is full of beautiful boulders and fire pits. We were tent camping and were very happy with our site," notes Dan, who adds they "stayed an extra night" to enjoy the beach access.

Hiking at Breakheart Reservation: The trails adjacent to Camp Nihan Education Center provide various difficulty levels for hikers. "The camp is also 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," writes Michael V.

What campers like

Natural privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the seclusion at many tent sites. "Cape Anne is beautiful. Perfect location with access to Rockport - a beautiful place to visit, shop, eat & a great little trail with great views," shares Ron C. about his experience at Cape Ann Camp Site.

Boston skyline views: Lost Boys Hideout offers improved amenities with "Nice new tents provided at Sleepy Hollow site. Improvements to the firepit, area all mulched, even some games and water are provided!" according to Steve K.

Level tent sites: Finding flat ground for tents can be crucial. A Cape Ann camper notes, "We had a nice perfectly level site in a beautiful wooded area. Definitely recommend it!" The campground often appears unassuming from the entrance but impresses once inside.

What you should know

Ferry logistics: Access to Military Park New Boston Air Force Station requires planning. Shuang W. describes it as a "Great Outdoor Place! Nice scenery with fresh air and freedom sunshine!"

Limited facilities: Many campgrounds have minimal amenities. At Boston Harbor Islands, "Make sure that you bring enough drinking water" as one camper advises, "When we got to the island we found that all of the sites had already been taken even though we had booked online months ahead."

Shower considerations: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. At Cape Ann, "Clean Bathrooms and pay showers (5 cents). The owners are very helpful. Call and they will help you find a spot if you have questions," reports Della S.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly terrain: The best tent camping near Wilmington, Massachusetts for families offers accessible yet engaging environments. "We went camping here with our SpiralScout Circle, kids aged 4-8. 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," shares a Camp Nihan Education Center visitor.

Plan water activities: Families enjoy swimming options during summer months. "The campground is clean but very rustic. Facilities are on the old side. Great beach access and friendly staff," mentions Rebecca S. about Cape Ann.

Pack extra supplies: Beyond standard camping gear, bring quarters for showers and additional water. One Boston Harbor Islands camper advises, "We ended up making a fire pit on the beach and a flat rock 'grill' to make our burgers" after finding their reserved site unavailable.

Tips from RVers

Site conditions: For RV campers considering tent camping near Wilmington, prepare for variable terrain. "Cape Ann Campground is located close to Gloucester and Rockport. The campground is clean and quiet with beautiful tent sites. The RV sites are not as secluded as the tent sites," observes Della S.

Seasonal planning: Country Barn Motel & Campground and other area campgrounds have limited availability outside peak season. Some only operate from Memorial Day through early October, with Boston Harbor Islands specifically open "June to Labor Day weekend."

Utility access: While primarily an RV consideration, tent campers should note varying electricity access. Ben E. reports about Cape Ann: "Nice, clean campground with several bathroom locations throughout. The showers require payment with quarters. I don't know how many quarters it takes because I don't carry change."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wilmington, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wilmington, MA is Camp Nihan Education Center with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Wilmington, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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