Camping on Cape Cod, Campgrounds, RV and Tent Camping Review, Cape Cod

Camping on Cape Cod, Campgrounds List, RV and Tent Camping Review, Cape Cod

Biking on the Cape Cod Canal offers 
paved trails that run for 7 miles 

on each side of the sea-level 

Cape Cod Canal

Updated 2013

Mid Winter is a good time to look at the list of Cape Cod campgrounds for a summer vacation.  We offer this list of campgrounds we like for Cape Cod Camping with reviews of a few of the sites.

The earlier you search and book the better when planning for a summer vacation on Cape Cod.  The campsites can fill in July and August.  Best to shop and book a site early.  Of course there are always cancellations so last minute booking of a day or two is sometimes possible.

Kayaking in Eastham and Orleans near the Salt Pond 

Visitors Center.  The Nickerson State Park Campgrounds in
 nearby Brewster gives good access by bike or auto
to this area. 

• Recreation

State and private campgrounds on Cape Cod offer an abundance of recreation opportunities such as bike riding, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and beaching along with gallery hopping, history museums, antiquing, and nature walks. 
Nickerson State Park and Miles Standish State Reservation also offer equestrian trails.

The boardwalk in Sandwich.
The Village of Sandwich is noted for its museums
including the Sandwich Glass Museum.
 Shawme-Crowell State Forest is a favorite
campgrounds  in this area

• Favorite Campgrounds

The State sites limit the duration of a stay to two weeks (each park) but the State sites are the best option if you want a woodsy site with a fireplace and some elbow room
Shawme Crowell State Forest (link to details) in Sandwich is a favorite on the Upper Cape because of its large treed sites and its proximity to the Cape Cod Canal Bike and Walking Trail (link). The Cape Cod Canal offers fourteen miles of flat, paved trail beside the eight-mile, sea level waterway. 
  
Free Parking For Cape Cod Trails (Link to Parking Info)

Shawme Crowell State Forest gives a short drive or bike ride to the Heritage Museum and Gardens, its rhododendron collection , art museum, and its antique auto museum.  You can also bike to Sandwich Center for the Sandwich Glass Museum and the nearby Hoxie House, the oldest house on Cape Cod.  Bike to the Cape Cod Canal for 14 miles of flat, paved, off-road bike and walking trails.   Wheel chair access, skateboard, rollerblade.
These bike trails are family friendly, off-road, safe trails that are without hills.  Find free parking along the way.  See free parking link above.

• Scusset Beach State Park 

Scusset is another favorite near Upper Cape and it also fills in the summer months.  Scusset is open year round to self-contained campers and can make a great early Spring weekend getaway for biking along the Cape Cod Canal.  Scusset Beach also offers fishing on the Cape Cod canal.  Visitors can obtain a salt water fishing license online and fish for striper and bluefish..
 The Cape Cod Canal  is a salt water canal that runs through at sea-level and is summer feeding grounds to some big fish.  Stiper fishing is a favorite of local fishermen and women here and you will see many along the shore at the eastern end of the canal on the incoming tide.

Cape Cod sand dunes

•  Nickerson State Park 

Another of our favorites of the State parks on Cape Cod is Nickerson State Park  (link to details) in Brewster, about mid way along the peninsular that is Cape Cod.
 Nickerson offers the Cape Cod Rail Trail which runs through the park on its way from Dennis to Wellfleet.  Nickerson also offers fresh water ponds, walking trails, and equestrian trails.
From Nickerson State Park, it is a short drive or bike ride to Orleans Village center where you find an antique windmill, art galleries, and shopping.  The road where you find the park entrance is The Old Kings Highway, famous for its antique shops. Sea Captains of the China Trade had their homes in Brewster and they returned from voyages with many exotic items that find their way into the shops along route 6 A.

Upper Cape Cod includes villages with lots of history and encompasses several full-service parks and includes four bike trails.

See below a list for Parks on Mid and Upper Cape Cod with websites and email contact info for Camping on Cape Cod with RV and Tent sites at State Parks and Private Parks (includes tent sites)

Looking west along the Cape Cod 

Canal Bike Trail from the top of the

 Bourne Bridge

State Parks

• Nickerson State Park,   508-896-3491  

Brewster, Cape Cod, MA

418 sites, no hookups, dump station only,  Open April through October
This is our favorite Cape Cod Campgrounds because many of Cape Cod's historic sites are nearby.  Bike trails, two beaches nearby. Woodsy Tent Sites and RV sites.  Near Orleans, Windmill, 25 mile Rail trail, Dunes trails not far; Skaket Beach, Orleans Rock Harbor Beach, and First Encounter Beach within a bike ride.  (Warm water beaches, no waves)  Rock Harbor sport fishing charters, seafood restaurants, art galleries, antique shops.

•  Scusset Beach State Reservation  Cape Cod Canal   508-888-0859

Scusset Beach Road, Sandwich, MA

98 sites with elect and water hookups, dump station available, April through October

Winter camping for self-contained units, salt water beach (cold water) and bike trails

Near the Cape Cod Canal Bike Trail, 14 miles of flat paved bike trail, wheel chair, baby carriage, walking, roller blade, salt water fishing (Fishing license required, order online) Striped Bass, Bluefish, Flounder, Cod.

The grist mill in the center of Sandwich is a short bike ride
from Shawme  Crowell campgrounds

• Myles Standish State Forest      508-866-2526

Plymouth, MA

475 sites, no hookups, dump station only,   April-October

Fresh water beach, bike trails, fishing, (license required) equestrian trails, proximity to the historic town of Plymouth, the home of the Pilgrims

Kayaking near the Salt Pond Visitors 

Center, Eastham, looking towards Coast Guard Beach.  

• Shawme-Crowell  State Forest, (link)   508-888-0351

At Cape Cod Canal, 742 Acre Park, 285 Campsites, no hookups, dump station only

Rt 130, Sandwich, MA, Beach and bike trails nearby; woodsy sites, Tent and RV.

History museums of Sandwich, Sandwich Glass Museum, Heritage Museum and Gardens, Cape Cod Canal bike trails, Hoxie House, oldest house on Cape Cod.
This park rates as a favorite because of its large, wooded sites and its proximity to many museums and bike trails

Cape Cod Private Parks:

• Bayview Campgrounds, Rt. 28, Bourne, 1-508-759-7610 Full Hookup, www.bayviewcampground.com

• Bourne Scenic Park, Route. 6 Buzzards Bay, 1-508-759-7873, www.bournescenicpark.com

Beside the Cape Cod Canal, bike walking, wheel chair, carriage accessible trail.  This park offers great access to the Cape Cod Canal for fishing or bike riding.  

• Cape Cod Campresort &Camp; Cabins, East Falmouth, 1-508-548-1458 www.capecampresort.com  full hookups

• Peters Pond RV Resort, Sandwich, MA, 1-508-477-1775  Full hookups,  www.peterspond.com/

Link to Hiking and biking trails parking in the Sandwich area of Upper Cape Cod

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Views above Coast Guard Beach, Eastham

Reserve sites online ($12-15. USD  fee)

Cape Cod Map


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