National Seashore Park to Purchase the North of Highland Campground.

People who like to camp and hike at the National Seashore Park got some great news this morning. Our local paper, the Cape Cod Times, is reporting that the 58-acre North of Highland Campground will be purchased by the National Seashore Park for $1.75 million. There’s been talk of this happening for years.

The campground is completely surrounded by the National Seashore Park, so if it had been developed, it would have been a big impact. There are currently 237 campsites at North of Highland. The name North of Highland, comes because it is location north of the Highland Lighthouse - one of the oldest lighthouses in the country.  The campground has spectacular views and is great for birdwatching. It has been owned and operated by the Currier Family since 1954.

President John F. Kennedy signed the legislation in 1961 to create the National Seashore Park, the legislation he had sponsored as a Senator. The Park is about 27,000 acres, and includes land in several towns along its 40 mile route from Chatham to Provincetown. When created, it contained more than 500 private residences - which the owners now lease from the park service. So there’s always been this tension between public ownership and private investment.

CLICK HERE to see our list of Cape Cod Campgrounds

John’s Pond Campground in Mashpee is the perfect camping area if you love a wooded site and want access to a freshwater pond. This campground is located on 20 acres within Mashpee with a private natural beach leading to a 350-acre freshwater pond.  You can rent canoes, kayaks, or paddle boats. It is adjacent to a national wildlife sanctuary which contains hiking trails.

Amenities include clean restrooms in a rustic building, metered hot water showers, laundry with commercial washers and dryers, tables and fire places with cooking grill at each site. Firewood, propane, and ice are available.

The following campground rates given are for 1 or two persons per day. The family special includes one or two minor children with registered parents. Each additional minor child is an additional $5.00 per day.

Sites with hookups $45.00; Sites without hookups $35.00; Each Additional Adult $10. Day Visitors $5. Over Night Visitors $10.00.

If you would like to check out more Cape Cod Campgrounds, please click here!

If you’re looking for a private Cape Cod campground, you might want to consider the Cape Cod Campresort & Cabins in East Famouth.

Tent Sites Off Season Rates (From May 1 to June 23 and from September 8 to October 31) start at $34 a day  for a tent site. During the summer season this rate increases to $44 a day. Tent sites can hold two large tents and one vehicle. You’ll find fireplaces, picnic tables and water spigots. No electricity is available at the site, but electric sockets for charging cell phones and appliances are nearby.

There are several “more deluxe” camping sites available.

Small Sites are have a 35-foot minimum length with an area of about 1,000 square feet. These are great for pop-ups and small recreational vehcicles and conversion vants. These sites have utilities such as water, 20-amp electric, plus fireplaces and picnic tables. Off Season rates start at $39 a day. Summer Season rates start at $49.

Standard Sites have a 40-foot minimum length with an average area of about 1,600 square feet. You can fit a 32-foot vehcle on it. Utilities include water, 30-amp electric, sewer, cable TV and Wi-Fi plus fireplaces and picnic tables. Off Season rates start at $49 a day. Summer Season rates start $59.

Large Sites have a 50-foot minimum length with an average area of 1,800 square feet and will accommodate vehicles up to 38 feet in length. Utilities include water, 30-amp electrical, sewer, cable TV and Wi-Fi plus fireplaces and picnic tables. All large sites are paved. Off Season rates start at $59 a day. Summer Season rates start at $69.

Premium Sites have a 60-foot minimum length and an average area of 2,200 square feet and will accomodate any length Recreational Vehicle or Coach and an additional vehicle. Utilities include 50-amp electric, sewer, most have cable TV and Wi-Fi. Off Season Rates start at $69 a day. Summer Season rates start at $79.

Weekly and monthly rentals are avaible. Individual camp sites always vary at campgrounds and you should of course check with the campground for the particulars of your site in advance, so there aren’t any surprises.

Cape Cod Campresort and Cabins as a lot of amenties - three swimming pools, jacuzzi, two playgrounds, sports field, lake with beach for swimming, fishing and boating, paddleboat and rowboat rentals, store, game room, clubhouse, waterslide, and adult fitness trail. Wi-Fi is available.

If you would like to see more information about Cape Cod Campgrounds, please click here to see our Cape Cod Campgrounds Directory.

Scusset Beach State Reservation is located on the Cape Cod Bay end of the Cape Cod Canal on the mainland side. Because of its location is offers spectacular views of the Bay and boats and ships as they pass through the Canal.

It is a preferred location for trailer campers and fishermen. Many have made their summer vacations at Scusset Beach a tradition for decades. There is 1 1/2 miles of frontage along the canal, as well as a 1,500-foot breakwater, and an actual fish pier. All of these combine to make it a popular “fishing hole.”

Its 98 acres contains 103 campsites 98 of which have electric hookups and shared water hookups. Flush toilets, showers, dumping station, picnic tables, and fireplaces are available. Safari Camping is available for clubs. Only Self-contained units are allowed with a 100 unit maximum. The  camping season begins in late April and runs to mid-October. Off-season camping is permitted on weekends for self-contained units only.

As in all of the other Massachusetts State Parks, camping fees for state residents start at $15, non-resident fees start at $18. You may make your reservations up to 6 months in advance. Full payment is expected with 10 days. Believe me the prime spots at Scusset Beach go early so you should  make your plans as early as possible!

Affordable family vacations on Cape Cod should include a Nickerson State Park stay. It’s located in Brewster in the mid-Cape Cod region. It’s a large campground covering about 1,900 acres and includes 420 campsites. Nickerson State Park is really a fabulous place for outdoor lovers. It’s trail system included a bike path that connects to the 25-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail.

It’s heavily wooded and has a mountain feel to it. Cape Cod terrain is not as flat as you might think. There are lots of hills and inclines that were formed when the glaciers created us! Leo and I go birding there and you really get the feeling of being far away from everything. Even at the height of the summer tourist season.

As with with the Shawme-Crowell State Forest in Sandwich, you can even stay in a yurt. (I actually stayed in a yurt in Mongolia many years ago. I haven’t visited these to find out how similar they are).

If you stay at Nickerson State Park, you’ll have access to beaches and fishing and be able to paddle. Motorized boats aren’t allowed. There’s a boat ramp to use. That’s a real plus during summer months on Cape Cod. On a Saturday morning during July and August, it can be impossible to find legal parking near a boat ramp. And believe me, you will get towed.

There are restrooms and showers, and trailer and RV dumping.

I’ve hiked in Nickerson State Park many times and been cross-country skiing there once or twice. It’s always been a pleasurable experience.

Nickerson State Park Fees. Massachusetts residents pay only $15 and out-of-state visitors pay slightly more at $17.  A small yurt is $30 - A large yurt will set you back $40.  There is a $9.25 transaction fee for making a reservation.
Reservations can be made up to six months before and as late as the day before. Although if you want and affordable family vacation on Cape Cod during July and August, I would highly recommend that you make your reservations as early as possible.  Full payment within 10 days of making the reservation is required.

Cheap vacations on Cape Cod start at the Shawme-Crowell State Forest campground. I’m not ashamed to use the word “cheap.” In fact it’s one of my favorite words - and has been long before the latest economic woes. In fact I dislike it when people hide behind words like frugal.

I always like to plan cheap vacations. And then save out a little extra for a special meal, tour or music event. Staying on Cape Cod can be so expensive. Especially if you need more than one room. About 10 years ago Leo and I bought a conversion van so that we could visit areas that are very expensive. I prefer a conversion van to a tent because I like my sleep number bed and an ability to lock a substantial door between my sleep number bed and the outside world.

Honestly I didn’t think that I would enjoy staying at a campground, but I’ve met a lot of nice people and shared many stories out under the sky. In Sandwich, we have the Shawme-Crowell State Forest which has 285 camping sites. If you are a state resident it’s only $15 a night, out-of-sate residents pay $18. You can make reservations up to 6 months early and as late as the day before. But I would highly recommend that if you want to stay at the Shawme-Crowell State Forest during  July or August you better make your reservations as early as possible. You can stay up to 14 consecutive days. You must make a full payment within 10 days of making the reservation.  We have many friends who use this option and always have a wonderful time.

The nice perk included in the Shawme-Crowell State Forest fee is that parking access to the Scusset State Reservation Beach is included. Access to Cape Cod beaches can be quite expensive during summer months.

Shawme-Crowell State Forest is also near the Cape Cod Canal, the Stop and Shop grocery store (so you don’t have to pay the inflated prices at smaller convenience stores), and the Sandwich Historic Town Center.  Of course you’re on Cape Cod so you’re free to travel all the way to Provincetown. Go whale watching even!