When it comes to state parks, Massachusetts is well stocked.
Comprising of over 450,000 acres, it features more than 2000 miles of trails, 87 beaches, 37 pools for swimming or wading, 62 children’s playgrounds, 145 miles of paved rail and bike trails and some 55 ballparks. So there really is something for everyone!
To support this, there are also 30 camping facilities across all of Massachusetts state parks. All of which offer a range of amenities from flush toilets and showers, to RV sites with electricity and water hook-ups. In addition, other accommodation options include island camping, cabins, yurts or hike-in areas too.
Whether you’re looking to camp under the stars, hike through a forest, bike up a mountain, or simply enjoy a relaxing afternoon fishing for trout, if you live near Worcester there are plenty of options available to you.
With that in mind, here are 5 state parks near Worcester we highly recommend you visit.
Map of State Parks Near Worcester MA
Here is a map of the Massachusetts state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Worcester
The five state parks near Worcester showcased below can all be reached within just over a couple of hour’s drive from the city, so they can be easily visited as a day trip destination.
If you would prefer to stay here for a few days however, they all provide plenty of opportunities for camping and overnight stays too.
1. Clarksburg State Park
Location: 1199 Middle Rd, Clarksburg, MA 01247
Situated a 2 hour and 15 minute drive south east from Worcester, Clarksburg State Park is a 368-acre park that is known for its unblemished northern hardwood forest.
Offering terrific views of the Hoosac Range, as well as Mount Greylock and the Green Mountains, people come here to hike, ski, fish and go boating.
The park has over 9.5 spectacular miles of foot trails that surround a nearby pond, which provides you with plenty of opportunity to observe wildlife including moose. In the winter cross-country skiing is a popular activity here too.
Onsite their are 45 spacious, wooded campsites that include restrooms and showers for you to stay at. There are also a number of scenic picnic areas dotted around the park to enjoy, as well as a pavilion too.
2. Massasoit State Park
Location: 1361 Middleboro Ave, East Taunton, MA 02718
Encompassing more than 1200 acres of heavy woodland, Massasoit State Park is a wonderful place to visit from Worcester.
Reached via a drive south east that takes just over an hour, the park features six lakes and ponds, as well as numerous cranberry bogs. So its a perfect spot for fishing, swimming, kayaking, non-motorized boating, paddleboarding and canoeing.
An excellent place to explore on foot or by mountain bike, Massasoit State Park is an especially nice park to visit in the fall when the colors are spectacular. In winter it also provides lots of opportunities for cross-country skiing too.
Set within a fabulous forest setting, the campground here accommodates trailer and RV hookups. These include 20, 30 and 50 amp electric sites, as well as tent sites and a camping generator free area.
Other amenities include accessible flush toilets, showers, a charcoal pedestal grill and a dumping station. While there is also a boat ramp and a playground for kids to enjoy too.
3. Nickerson State Park
Location: 3488 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631
Nestled on Cape Cod, the 1,900-acre Nickerson State Park offers a picturesque landscape of woodland trails and scenic ponds to explore.
Located just over a 2 hour drive south east of Worcester, the park is a renowned spot for fishing, boasting no less than 8 freshwater ponds, most of which are stocked year round with trout.
There are plenty of stunning hiking trails to explore, as well as an 8 mile bike path which also connects you to the 22-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail. A convenient paved trail that meanders its way through 6 Cape Cod towns.
Other popular activities in the park include horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking and, in the winter, cross-country skiing.
One of the larger facilities within the Massachusetts state park system, Nickerson State Park accommodates over 400 campsites, which are set up for tent, trailer, or RVs and also feature restrooms and showers.
4. Pearl Hill State Park
Location: 105 New Fitchburg Rd, Townsend, MA 01474
Pearl Hill State Park is one of the nearest destinations to Worcester on this list.
Situated just a 40 minute drive north from the city, the 1,000-acre park lies adjacent to the magnificent Willard Brook State Forest, which can be best explored via hiking or biking.
A number of trails lead through the park which are also good for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
Fishing and swimming in the Pearl Hill Brook Pond is also popular here, as is hunting. While the campground offers 50 sites which feature a bathhouse as well as grills, dumpsters, picnic areas, restrooms and showers for your convenience.
5. Wells State Park
Location: 159 Walker Pond Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566
Established in 1968, Wells State Park is only a 30 minute drive south west from Worcester.
Comprising of 1400 acres, the park features more than 12 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and cross-county skiing. Many of which take you through eye-catching woodlands of eastern white pine, oak-hickory forest and northern hardwood forest, that is interspersed between lush wetlands.
If you love fishing then the 104 acres of Walkers Pond’s gives you plenty of opportunity to catch yellow perch, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, brown bullhead and bridled shiners.
Boating is also a popular activity on the water, as well as canoeing and kayaking, while there is a fascinating nature center onsite too, as well as a boat ramp and a pavilion.
In terms of camping facilities there are 60 sites situated around the pond which can accommodate tents, trailers, or RVs. They don’t have a dump station at this facility, but they do have restrooms and grills.
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