Camping spots near Worthington, Massachusetts are primarily distributed across state forests and parks, with most situated between 1,200-3,500 feet elevation. This mountainous terrain creates temperature variations that can reach 15°F cooler at higher campsites compared to valley locations. Winter access to certain campgrounds requires snow chains or 4WD vehicles, while summer camping permits must be reserved through the Massachusetts reservation system.
What to do
Geocaching adventures: The DAR State Forest offers abundant geocaching opportunities throughout its trail system. "We spent some time on the hiking trails and found plenty of geocaches, which was awesome," notes a visitor to Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest Campground, who also mentioned that cell reception is limited for most carriers with no wi-fi available.
Fire tower hiking: Several campgrounds provide access to fire towers with panoramic views. At October Mountain State Forest, the hike from site 44 to the fire tower is only 0.6 miles. As one camper at Mohawk Trail State Forest Campground described their experience: "Great trails (including accessible), nature center, staff were present and circulated often."
Rail trail excursions: Multiple rail trails run through the region near Worthington. The Mt. Greylock Campsite Park is located close to a popular rail trail. One visitor remarked, "There is a nice shop just around the corner, north on Rte 7, with all sorts of food, drink and locally made gifts."
What campers like
Wildlife observation: Black bears inhabit several of the forest campgrounds, with rangers taking preventive measures. "They do run dogs through the campground once a week or so to scare the poor critters away, but they say they have never had an issue in the last fifteen years," explained a camper at October Mountain State Forest Campground.
Weekend entertainment: Several private campgrounds offer scheduled activities during weekends. One visitor to Mt. Greylock Campsite Park mentioned, "They also has great live music on a Saturday night," while another noted, "The band on Saturday night was fun and we brought our chairs and a cooler up there after dinner. The kids enjoyed just running around the open field while we enjoyed the band."
Free shower facilities: Unlike some commercial campgrounds, many state facilities offer free shower access. As one camper at Mohawk Trail State Forest Campground observed, "FREE hot showers! Only two showers for the whole camp, but there's almost no one camping in October, so there was never a wait."
What you should know
Out-of-state cost difference: Non-Massachusetts residents pay substantially higher camping fees at state parks. One reviewer at DAR State Forest Campground stated, "I don't mind paying a little extra some places because of being out of state, but paying $54 a night for not even any hookups when MA residents pay $17 is insane."
Environmental noise factors: Some campgrounds have nearby infrastructure that creates ambient noise. October Mountain has "a HUGE power station near the RV sites" that "emits a hum constantly." A reviewer called it "Super annoying and an eyesore" but noted it "makes for great white noise when sleeping."
Campsite privacy variations: Campsite privacy levels vary significantly across and within campgrounds. At Fernwood Forest Campground, "Large sites with trees give lots of privacy," while at Mohawk Trail, "The campsites are very close together without much brush for privacy, so you should expect to see your neighbors up close and personal."
Tips for camping with families
Pool access options: Several private campgrounds offer swimming pools for families. At Bonnie Brae Cabins and Campsites, "Fun little and safe park and we also used the pool which was great," and one visitor noted the campground is "located off a dead end street" with "a lake right down the street."
Weekend scheduling: Popular family activities occur primarily on weekends at many campgrounds. A visitor to Mt. Greylock Campsite Park explained, "There were activities planned for the weekends that we took advantage of too. The band on Saturday night was fun and we enjoyed it. The kids enjoyed just running around the open field."
Bathroom proximity considerations: When camping with children, bathroom locations become important. At October Mountain, one visitor advised, "Avoid any site next to the bathroom as the lights stay on all night and will shine directly into your tent. 49 looked really nice and seemed dark."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the mountainous terrain require leveling equipment. At Bonnie Brae Cabins and Campsites, one RVer noted, "I could have used leveling blocks because it was hard to find a great spot that was level side to side. Sites 27 & 29 each seemed a little more level and 29 was larger."
Tiered camping layouts: Some campgrounds organize sites by accommodation type on different elevation levels. October Mountain State Forest "has 3 sections, located on different tiers of a hill. The lower level has RV sites, middle has tent sites, and upper has a few yurts."
Compact campground configurations: Several campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. One visitor to Daughters of the American Revolution State Forest Campground noted, "Not sure I'd try a really big rig here, but our little 16' trailer fit in great. I don't see any pull through sites, but I didn't see them all."
