Best Tent Camping near Hinsdale, NH
The Connecticut River Valley surrounding Hinsdale, New Hampshire offers several tent-only camping options within a 30-mile radius. Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston, Massachusetts, approximately 25 miles southeast of Hinsdale, provides walk-in tent campsites with waterfront access. Barton Cove Campground in Gill, Massachusetts, about 20 miles south, features tent platforms with views of the Connecticut River. Maple Ridge Farm in Vermont, located northwest of Hinsdale, offers walk-in tent sites with ample privacy between campsites. Federated Women's Club State Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts provides more primitive tent camping experiences with minimal facilities.
Most tent campgrounds in the region require campers to park in designated lots and transport gear to their sites. Tully Lake provides wooden wheelbarrows to help transport camping equipment from the parking area to individual campsites, which range from a few yards to nearly a mile away. According to reviews, "keeping gear to a minimum is a good idea" when using these carts on uneven terrain. Barton Cove features a more complex access system requiring campers to check in, obtain a gate key, and make multiple trips between the office and campsite during setup. Tent sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary by location. Cell service is limited throughout the region, particularly at Federated Women's Club State Forest and Tully Lake, making offline map downloads advisable.
Walk-in tent sites create a notably quieter camping experience compared to drive-up campgrounds. One camper at Tully Lake noted the absence of cars at campsites "made for a super quiet stay" and provided peace of mind for families with children. Sites at Maple Ridge Farm offer substantial privacy between tent areas, with staff providing ATV transport for gear to more distant sites. Waterfront tent sites at Tully Lake fill quickly when reservations open, sometimes months in advance. The island site at Tully Lake provides exceptional seclusion for backcountry tent camping enthusiasts. Primitive tent camping areas throughout the region offer varying levels of facilities, from composting toilets at Federated Women's Club State Forest to full bathhouses with coin-operated showers at Tully Lake.