Season

Most New England campgrounds, both public and private, are open from sometime in May through mid- or late October, though a few private campgrounds stay open all year.

In summer, most campsites fill up quickly on weekends, and they may also be full on weekdays during July and August; this includes even some fairly remote forest campsites.

Reservations

It is usually easy to find a vacant campsite on weekdays in late spring and early autumn (when schools are in session), but weekends in these seasons may be as crowded as summer.

Fees for using public campsites range from $18 to $35 per site.

Reservations can be made at some public and virtually all private campsites; usually you must send a deposit to secure the reservation.

If you don't (or can't) reserve in advance, plan to arrive early on a weekday to find and hold a spot. For weekends, arrive by mid-morning Friday or, even better, Thursday afternoon.

One strategy, used by frequent campers, is to send one or two people to claim a campsite early in the day, with others following later. This may work at some sites, but others, such as the extraordinarily popular Nicholson State Park on Cape Cod, are fully booked weeks or months in advance.

Facilities

Public-Park Campsites

Campsites in public parks are usually basic and simple, consisting of a place to park your car, a picnic table, a stone fireplace (if fires are permitted), and flat ground upon which to pitch a tent. Some public campsites have facilities for hot showers; most have at least sinks with hot and cold water, and flush toilets.

Some forest campsites are very basic, with just parking places, tent sites, a drinking water tap, and chemical or composting toilets.

Commercial Campsites

Often there are commercial campgrounds near popular public (government-supported) ones; for example, there may be several commercial campgrounds just outside a state or national park which offers camping.

Commercial campgrounds tend to have less open space, fewer shade trees, more facilities, and higher fees.

Some commercial "resort" campgrounds have elaborate facilities such as children's playgrounds, swimming pools, game rooms, cable television and VCR movie rooms, lake swimming and boating facilities.

Virtually all commercial campgrounds provide hot showers and hook-ups (connections fo electrical, sewage & water services) for recreational vehicles and trailers (caravans). Fees can range from $25 to $50 or more, depending upon the number of people in your party, and the facilities used.

Among the ranks of hook-up-equipped parking slots at private campgrounds, there is usually a small grassy area set aside for the few tent campers who arrive by car, motorcycle or bicycle and who prefer to camp simply.

Beware of Tick-Borne Illness!

Whenever you're camping in forests, in meadows or fields, be aware of tick-borne illness. More...

Find Your Campground

Click here to find the public or private campground you want.

—by Tom Brosnahan

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