The best camping near Otter River State Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Otter River adventure.

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Discover the natural charm of Otter River State Forest.

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Stay at a public campground in Otter River State Forest

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Otter River Campground

75 sites · RVs, Tents In Otter River State Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Otter River State Forest

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Salamander Hollow Healing Habitat

4 sites · Lodging17 acres · Warwick, MA

Best HipCamp Massachusetts 2023 Best HipCamp USA Finalist 2023 Best HipCamp Massachusetts Finalist 2022 THERE IS WIFI, PRIVATE HOT SHOWER and FLUSH TOILET. EXCEPT FOR THE RECENTLY ADDED TULLY 'THOREAU' ISLAND. Salamander Hollow is a private, evolving honeybee and human being sanctuary on 17 acres of land abutting Massachusetts State Forest. We currently have a one-room, wood stove warmed, cozy sleeping loft for one or two - with two benches below on either side of room - for two sleeping bags; plus, a separate 22 foot Sioux tipi with two cots. There are two chairs in the tipi, which if removed at night, make floor room for four other sleeping bags. 'Forest Bathing' for miles! If you're a larger group booking Salamander Hollow main camp with its Sleeping Library, Tipi & Slovenian Beehive House, you might consider renting this additional Tiny Cabin want to entertain all in glamping style, utilizing its amenities; as well, providing another bathroom/shower and guest bedroom for those who prefer being indoors while in the great outdoors. Note that Kula Bata Tiny Cabin abuts the wheelchair accessible larger bathroom/shower which is available to those at the Salamander Hollow main camp, yet you are secluded with your own private entry points and private bathroom. A ten minute drive takes you to the parking area to hike up Tully Mountain. There is a grill, wood fired pizza oven, two fire pits and a hygienic Incinolet electric toilet on the property for night convenience, with small camp sinks for washing & teeth brushing. Take a short hike off the property to organic Chase Hill Farm for milk, eggs, seasonal veggies, grass fed meat and other goodies. Say hello to their cows, chickens, pigs, goats, pups and kids. Nestled across the road from Salamander Hollow is Timber Haven Farm, where you can schedule your pickup of bacon and eggs, while loading up on delicious Owl Energy Bars for your adventurous excursions. For those interested in the glamping side of camping, you will enjoy a remote rustic experience with a few creature comforts to keep you well read, clean and fed. Please bring your own bedding - pillows, sleeping bags, comforter, teddy bears.There is a wall mounted blue tooth car radio/CD player in Sleeping Library, so bring your pre-digital favorites. Classical CDs to listen to. Lots of eclectic books to peruse.Walkie talkies, a set of 4, are available upon request. Chess & poker sets, too. Electric 2-burner stovetop and griddle upon request. Bring fire-starters/newspaper for tinder. We suggest if you are staying more than a night or two in winter, you bring supplemental wood or we can direct you to a nearby stand. Next season, our own cut and split wood will be seasoned and available on site. We ask that you carry out trash and recyclables. An established Western facing four point sacred Medicine Wheel site being established on Askari Ridge - our name for the slope starting with the two fire pits - 'Askari' being Swahili for night guard. Here is where we envision a great touch-point area for those leading groups to be for a base-camp by day or night, where eventually a multi-use tenting platform/performance stage will be constructed for outdoor entertainment, creating an authentic 'stadium style' seating on the hill. You will see on your way up to Salamander Hollow main clearing - the Kula Bata Tiny Kabin on the left of the dirt road- now available to rent with its small guest room for two, infrared sauna, hot shower, kitchenette, dishwasher and laundry.

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Poor-Sleeper Camp

1 site · Lodging39 acres · Orange, MA

We purchased land it is a dream come true ! We would love to share our dream land with others to enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of the land and what it has to offer others! Interested in staying Memorial Day can rent tents to you eight dollars a night come enjoy hiking fishing kayaking close to Tully pond and enjoy a stay near our river freshly stalked with trout.Can stay one night or as many as you would like to book Learn more about this land: 39 acres of open space, running river, stocked with trout, swimming in river, hiking, tents for rent relaxing hammock. 17 acres on other side of river to hike camp can kayak on river There is wetlands in areas there are meadows There is a mountain access across from property for hiking called Tully mountain There is a pond in walking distance can swim fish and boating. Directly across from pond across the street general store called Nana’s and a restaurant with Great food Bar called the Boiler!! It is a Peaceful land so much serenity to enjoy!! It is our dream to have such beautiful land !! We want others to enjoy it also!!

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Hammock Hallows

1 site · Tent2 acres · Belchertown, MA

Your private campsite is on the edge of a mixed-wood forest. Deer roam free and you will surely hear the call of coyotes and owls at night. Centrally located within 10 minutes of downtown Amherst, 15 minutes to downtown Northampton, this tent is the perfect base camp to access all that this region has to offer. Flea markets and farmers markets on the weekends, malls, museums and numerous restaurants in the area should you decide to venture out for a bite to eat. Holland Glen, a popular hiking spot with waterfalls and swimming holes is a quick 3-minute drive to the trail head. It is an easy 1-mile ride to the start of the Norwotuck Rail Trail a paved bike path through wetlands and rolling farmland. Or simply stay put, unplug, and relax in one of the hammocks or enjoy our one of a kind wood-fired hot tubs! Our guests are welcome to wander around our little homestead have your coffee in the pollinator patch and watch the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees do their thing. Feed the chickens, then nibble your way through our berry patches, fruit trees and gardens and experience what it is like to live simply in New England. Cook a meal over the fire, relax in the hammock and listen to the sounds of nature!

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SnugLife Camping

2 sites · Lodging, Tents52 acres · Wilton, NH

Keith & I are happy to share our 52-acre slice of paradise with campers and fellow dog-enthusiasts. Come enjoy the Souhegan River, the woods and the myriad activities that southern NH has to offer. We're only 65 miles from Boston, but feel like you've left the world behind... Find us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @snuglifecamping - because... The snuggle is real...

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Crooked Creek Hollow Farm

8 sites · Lodging, Tents85 acres · Richmond, NH

We are a small southern New Hampshire farm nestled away in Richmond, specializing in forest-fed pork and free range poultry. We take pride in our commitment to raise wholesome, nutritious food for our community and neighbors while protecting and nurturing the land we call home. We strive to create a beautiful and diverse farm environment, and have fun doing it. We are the stewards of an 85 acre farm which is mostly covered by forest with some pasture and several running brooks. The pigs are rotated through movable paddocks which allows them to be pigs. We have a ton of wildlife on the property. We have a ton of wild turkey, deer, moose, fox, mink, beaver, raccoon, porcupine, and the occasional bear.

Booked 1 time

Spacious Skies Minute Man Campground

100 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Littleton, MA

Escape the bustle without sacrificing convenience at Spacious Skies Minute Man. Nestled in historic Littleton’s pine forests, our campground offers a peaceful retreat steps away from iconic National Historic Parks and Walden Pond. Choose wooded or open sites for your RV or tent, enjoy modern amenities like our heated pool and rec hall, and let the kids and pups run free in the playground and dog runs. Need a break from cooking? Our camp store has you covered, plus local restaurants deliver! Cozy cabins are also available. Don’t miss out on this unique blend of nature and city access – book your stay today! Relax in the heart of history at Spacious Skies Minute Man. Our campground’s tranquil, wooded setting near legendary Walden Pond and National Historic Parks offers the perfect escape from everyday life. Whether you’re in an RV, tent, or one of our cozy cabins, you’ll find everything you need for a comfortable adventure: picnic tables, fire rings, full hookups, plus a heated pool, playground, rec hall, and even dog runs for your furry companions. Need a break from camp cooking? Our well-stocked camp store has essentials, and nearby restaurants offer takeout and delivery options for those lazy campground evenings. Explore the rich history of the region, immerse yourself in nature’s tranquility, or take a quick trip into Boston – the choice is yours! Spacious Skies Minute Man provides a unique blend of outdoor adventure and urban access. Don’t miss your chance to experience the best of both worlds! Our prime location and fantastic amenities mean sites fill up quickly. Book your getaway today and create memories that will last a lifetime at Spacious Skies Minute Man.

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Maple Ridge Farm

9 sites · RVs, Tents7 acres · Guilford, VT

Welcome 2024 and our 5th season! Our 7 1/2 acre farm is nestled along a country road and between several other farms, mostly horses and a special needs/therapy farm, we are hobby farmers/homesteaders. We have three sites open at anytime, during camping season (May thru October) its all three tent camping sites but after that closes down for the season (November 1st) we open up for camper vans and small trailers (also in early Spring). If there is any question please ask, we can modify the schedule but are only able to accommodate three sites at any given time. Thanks! The Guilford Fairgrounds is less than 1/4 mile away and has many hiking and biking trails. The land was originally part of a colonial Glebe Trust with the Church of England and divided up, the original 100+ year farmhouse and barn can be seen from many of the campsites. Guilford, Vermont is located in the southeast of Windham County, resting along the Massachusetts border to the south and New Hampshire not far to the east. A community with a long and interesting history, Guilford was actually Vermont’s largest town as long ago as 1790. Now, with a population of about 2,100, Guilford is by no means considered a large community. Yet with its beautiful old covered bridges, churches, and one-room schoolhouses, Guilford maintains an unmistakable sense of history while at the same time having a reputation as one of the truly unique small communities in southern Vermont. Guilford has some of the most quintessential small town landmarks in all of Vermont. Sites like the Christ Church, Broad Brook House, and Guilford Center Meeting House were all built in the early 19th Century and are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These buildings are found in what is considered the historic Guilford Center; shop for great local products at the Guilford Country Store, visit the charming Guilford Free Library, or even see some of the exhibits at the Guilford Historical Society Museum to learn more about the area and its history. Beyond the town center, venturing through the rest of Guilford will enable you to see the beautiful Vermont landscape of rolling hills and lush forests, with small family farms that have in some cases been in operation for generations. A visit to these farms will allow you to sample some of the best maple syrup, cheeses, and fresh produce in the area. Of course, being in a place like Guilford that is known for its natural beauty means it is always easy to escape into the woods to hike, run, or mountain bike, and in the winter months there is great skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. A bit more off the beaten path are the many tucked away swimming holes, such as those along Broad Brook, which despite sometimes being hard to find are well worth the effort of searching for. In fact, the same could be said for the town of Guilford as a whole. With its feeling of peaceful seclusion and gorgeous setting, this small community really has the feel of being a well-kept secret, tucked away in its own corner of Vermont. The city of Brattleboro is a 10 minute drive away and offers many amenities similar to a city twice its size; arts, entertainment, dining and shopping plus many historical and outdoor activities await!

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Souhegan Shores

2 sites · RVs, Tents21 acres · Merrimack, NH

21Apr'24 Update: The road in to the sites is drying out and the soft spots are firming up. All the same, if we get a lot of rain this May, please don't drive to Merrimack and book the site 10 minutes before your expected arrival? (I think somebody must have booked it from my driveway) Best to check first with your host to ensure the access road is passable to your type of vehicle. (back to our regularly scheduled camp description...) Camp alongside the tree lined bank of the Souhegan River. Fall to sleep to the sound of river flowing over the rocks up stream. In season, enjoy the swimming hole 100 feet from your campsite. Site-1 is located under the trees adjacent to a 3 acre meadow and Christmas Tree farm. Camp above the bank of the Souhegan River in the shade of white pine and shag bark hickory and listen to the river tumble over the ledges upstream. In season, enjoy the swimming hole 100 feet from your campsite. On the other side of the fence is a pasture where two horses graze. If you don't like friendly dogs then you'll be better off on site 2 where we can better keep our dog Wilson from dropping in to visit. He loves people too much not to want to greet folks on Site 1. Site-2 is located at the downstream end of the property and is completely private. You'll see nothing from your site but trees and the river. If you or your dog don't like dogs, this is the site you want. It's far easier to keep Wilson away from this corner of the property. The other side of the river is town conservation land so the only people you're likely to see will be passing by in canoes or kayaks. In the dry season, this is a great place to start a float trip and you'll likely have the next 1.5 miles all to yourself since the rapids upstream become unpassable in late July and August. Now that TENTRR has gone bankrupt, Site 2 is available year round. If planning a winter trip, just check ahead to ensure your host has finished plowing the access road. If southern NH gets really clobbered with snow, check with your host about the possibility of constructing snow caves.

Booked 1 time

Lucky's Off-Grid RV Park

2 sites · RVs24 acres · Ashby, MA

The new Off-Grid RV Park is now open in Ashby, Massachusetts that offers rock waterfalls, serene sites, and first-class service. 1802 Greenville Road, Ashby, MA 01431. 351-230-4576. The entire park is newly logged, stumped and graded. We are having our sites selected by our customers, so they can select sites that they like based on their personal preferences of privacy, openness, or proximity to the front. We are improving the sites as we build our customer base. After you come to our park, we landscape around your site, making the area the way you would like it to be. We want you to stay as long as possible. Pricing ranges from 500-750 per month plus electricity. Park Features: • New construction - Custom landscaping after site selection included. • Secure front gate with QR code access • Trash dumpster for park • Quiet Time 10pm-8am • Pet friendly • On-Site management on-call 7X24 Utilities Provided: WSWP • Water hookup • Sewer hookup • WiFi access • Propane service (through Suburban) Off-Grid Electricity: • You provide your own power. Why? We believe that when power is included people do not conserve it. • We recommend the Super Quiet Predator DF12000 from Harbor Freight. • We have these same generators to rent if you need one @ $7.50 per day. • Suburban Propane provides a large propane tank to site. o Dual Fuel generators can connect to propane tank. o Filled by Suburban Propane when low. o Cost of propane billed separately to site. 4 Easy Steps to coming to Off-Grid RV Park: Step 1: Make an appointment to come out and select your site at (978) 252-3809. Step 2: Provide 50% first period rental to secure your site. Cash or Check. Step 3: Schedule your Move to Off-Grid RV Park, we need (1) week to prepare your site. Step 4: Come early on your day, mgmt. will assist in settling you in your site. 2024 Guaranteed Lowest Rates! Weekly: $250 | Monthly: $750. Will not change for 2024.

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Blue Heron Camp

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Nelson, NH

I have been on this land for 40 years and have improved it but let nature reign. Animals that have passed through, and some have stayed: Birds, turkeys, owls, coyotes, bear , moose, deer, bobcat, squirrels, chip monks, voles and mice, raccoon, possum, fox, and fisher.

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Rosy Goat Farm

1 site · RV, Tent13 acres · Gilbertville, MA

Welcome to Rosy Goat Farm!! We are the quintessential family farm/homestead, our farmhouse was built in the 1840’s Bill and I bought this 15-acre property in 2012, It was overgrown with wild roses. We have worked with a limited budget, and used animals to clear the land. The goats love the roses, but they only eat the leaves. The pigs dig the roses up. Chickens rake it clean. Win win! Very interesting place here- lots to tell you, there’s quite a list of things to do and see around here! Did you know that Gilbertville has a covered bridge? It is one of the last covered bridges still in use in Massachusetts! First- a touch of History: Rev. Timothy Ruggles bought this land from the Native Americans for his family to live on, and work the land. His son, Brigadeer General Timothy Ruggles became unpopular after he introduced the Stamp Act, and was banished to Nova Scotia. His daughter Bathsheba became the first woman executed in the United States for the murder of her husband Joshua Spooner. (There’s a book about it called Murdered by his wife by Deborah Navas.) Want to know local eateries? For breakfasts and lunch there is The Whistle Stop diner, it was a former Boston & Albany Railroad station and now, The Mass Central Rail Trail runs through here; and Rose 32, a well known bakery that serves tea, coffee and sandwiches. There’s Hardwick house of Pizza- for tasty pizza and subs, which also serves beer. Feeling fancy? Try Hardwick Crossing Country Club (features a golf course), it has a restaurant with a full-service bar, gorgeous scenery! Its a 3 minute drive from hereMimi’s for your morning coffee and lunch, yum!Also check out Stone Cow Brewery in Barre -has a kids play area while you wait for your meal!Ware has Mexicali Grill, Theresa’s Restaurant for Italian foods, Hanna Devine’s for traditional American cuisine, and, Pig Park BBQ for comfort food! Farmer Mat in North Brookfield has take out meals- there are picnic tables available, beautiful views. Things to do: You can kayak, and fish, at Swift River in Belchertown.Hardwick is the home of the oldest agricultural fair in the US, held every year in August, and, every Sunday there’s a small farmers market on the common.Hardwick also has a winery- Hardwick Vineyard and Winery, and, check out Lost Towns brewery- the name is a throwback to the 4 towns that were submerged to create the Quabbin Reservoir!Medicine River Pow Wow is in August here in Gilbertville. River Run.The East Quabbin Land Trust has birdwatching and fabulous views, and the Central Mass Bike trail entrance is located here. Bike it or hike it! Quabbin Reservoir is close by for boating and fishing.There are free concerts in Grenville Park in Ware, (check for dates).Ware also has Janine’s Frostee ice cream and fast foods- and live music on weekend nights!Also check out these on line: Ragged Hill orchard and Rock House Reservation in West Brookfield, and Carter and Stevens farm in Barre, and the Leicester, and Mendon movie drive-in’s.Old Sturbridge village is 30 minutes away.Lake Siog in Holland has a lovely picnic area and beach for swimming. (30 mins South from here) Is this area great or what?!

Rail Trail Retreat

1 site · Tent1 acre · Rindge, NH

Nestled in a rural town in Southern New Hampshire our property abuts the well traveled Monadnock Rail Trail (a 7.5 mile gravel path). With an abundance of natural beauty and close to ponds and numerous other trail heads, we also offer the convenience of a grocery store and local pub within walking distance. Pitch your own tent or borrow one of ours. Only five minutes to Mount Monadnock. Bike rentals and firewood are available for an additional fee.

The best camping near Otter River State Forest guide

Overview

About

Explore the forested beauty of north central Massachusetts when you pitch your tent at Otter River State Forest. This place will have you singing sweet songs of freedom as you immerse yourself in the great outdoors. With prime spots right on the shore, you can wake up to the shimmering greatness that is Beaman Pond. Want to spice things up a bit? Snag one of the nomadic yurts of awesomeness to crash in. You get all the rugged escape you want with a zing of trendiness. Whether you're down for some fishing, buoy wading, or trail exploring, you’ll love your time at Otter River.

Notable campgrounds

Standard Campsites: Nestle into nature at one of the 76 campsites, perfect for tent and small RV camping.
Yurts: Experience a unique stay in one of the forest's yurts, blending rustic charm with a touch of comfort.
Group Sites: Gather your crew for a memorable group camping experience amid the forest's serene backdrop.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book early to secure your spot, especially during peak summer months when the forest's allure is at its zenith.
Consider mid-week stays for better availability and a quieter camping experience.
Keep an eye on cancellation policies; last-minute openings can be your ticket to an impromptu getaway.
Explore nearby camping options to maximize your chances of finding the perfect site.

When to go

The best time to visit Otter River State Forest is from late spring to early fall, when the park is fully accessible and activities like swimming and hiking can be enjoyed to the fullest. Winter brings a quiet beauty, though some facilities may be limited.

Know before you go

Check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly, as conditions can change rapidly in the forest.
Remember that parking fees apply from May 14 to Labor Day, with different rates for MA residents and non-residents.
Accessibility is a priority, with options available for accessible camping to ensure everyone can enjoy the park.
Adhere to the park's restrictions, including no alcohol, on-leash dogs, and swimming only in designated areas.
Facilities such as restrooms, showers, and picnic areas enhance your visit, providing convenience amid the wilderness.