Hello all. Our theme for this year's summer adventure is "Early American History". We will be visiting some of the most historic sites from Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and of course the District of Columbia. 1.Right now I am focused on the Boston area and am looking for advice on finding a good RV park to spend a few days while visiting the sites in Charlestown and Boston. Any good ones we should consider?2. I was told that I may not want to bring our F250 tow vehicle anywhere near Boston for visiting because of narrow streets and limited parking. Should we call an Uber or what?We are retired and plan to spend two/three months on the road this summer so we are not in a rush to see things. As a diehard westerner, I'm not really all that familiar with challenges associated with RVing along the Eastern Seaboard.

If you're eligible, there's Hanscom AFB outside the loop NNW of Boston and Fourth Cliff Recreation Area on the coast SE of Boston (both military campgrounds). We have also stayed at Pinewood Lodge Campground in Plymouth, MA, while exploring the area. https://www.rvparky.com/ can be quite useful, too.Rob

While waiting try searching for Boston in the RV Parks section of this Forum.

Well.......... A couple of places close to the commuter rail are KOA Middleboro and Normandy Farms in Foxboro. That said, taking a pickup truck into the city is not that big a deal, as long as you find a parking garage and leave it there for the day (albeit a bit expensive to park). Boston is a very walkable town if you can physically deal with walking. If not, the subway is easy to navigate.Normandy Farms is higher priced as it is a 5-star resort. KOA is decent as far as KOA's go, nothing fancy. Either one has parking at the nearby commuter rail station. Another option is to drive up to the Quincy rail station and take the train in from there. Easy drive and there are a lot more train schedule options from/to that station.Coming from out west, prepare for some sticker shock with CG rates.

2. I was told that I may not want to bring our F250 tow vehicle anywhere near Boston for visiting because of narrow streets and limited parking. Should we call an Uber or what?I'll have to disagree with Paul above a bit on this. It IS a big deal to take a large vehicle into the city. There is limited parking for larger vehicles and negotiating the small streets can be very difficult especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. And we Yanks are not patient with those that are "from away" and add to an already bad traffic situation. Save yourself some stress and take the T or commuter rail into the city. It is indeed a very walkable city plus you do have the option of taxis or Uber if you wish.

We've used Boston Middleman RV Park at Littleton, just outside the I-495 loop. It's a fairly short drive to an MTA station for a ride to downtown.

Looking for RV parks near Boston MA | Good Sam Community

Second_Chance
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2020
If you're eligible, there's Hanscom AFB outside the loop NNW of Boston and Fourth Cliff Recreation Area on the coast SE of Boston (both military campgrounds). We have also stayed at Pinewood Lodge Campground in Plymouth, MA, while exploring the area. https://www.rvparky.com/ can be quite useful, too.

Rob
Dick_B
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
While waiting try searching for Boston in the RV Parks section of this Forum.
paulcardoza
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
Well.......... A couple of places close to the commuter rail are KOA Middleboro and Normandy Farms in Foxboro. That said, taking a pickup truck into the city is not that big a deal, as long as you find a parking garage and leave it there for the day (albeit a bit expensive to park). Boston is a very walkable town if you can physically deal with walking. If not, the subway is easy to navigate.

Normandy Farms is higher priced as it is a 5-star resort. KOA is decent as far as KOA's go, nothing fancy. Either one has parking at the nearby commuter rail station. Another option is to drive up to the Quincy rail station and take the train in from there. Easy drive and there are a lot more train schedule options from/to that station.

Coming from out west, prepare for some sticker shock with CG rates.
Crowe
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
2. I was told that I may not want to bring our F250 tow vehicle anywhere near Boston for visiting because of narrow streets and limited parking. Should we call an Uber or what?

I'll have to disagree with Paul above a bit on this. It IS a big deal to take a large vehicle into the city. There is limited parking for larger vehicles and negotiating the small streets can be very difficult especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. And we Yanks are not patient with those that are "from away" and add to an already bad traffic situation. Save yourself some stress and take the T or commuter rail into the city. It is indeed a very walkable city plus you do have the option of taxis or Uber if you wish.
RoyF
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
We've used Boston Middleman RV Park at Littleton, just outside the I-495 loop. It's a fairly short drive to an MTA station for a ride to downtown.
mdcamping
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
Yeah I wouldn't be driving in Boston... not brave enough :B

We live close enough to take day trips in so taking the T would be my suggestion as it will almost get you almost everywhere in Boston

Not saying you have to do this but we have taken the green line in many times, Riverside station exit 22 grove street, directly off I95.(relatively easy to get to) you will need to download a parking app to pay for parking https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-river

Though we have never been to Boston Minuteman I hear it is also popular with the RVers for visiting Boston

Good Luck
Mike
Dave5143
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
Thanks for your input, it is much appreciated. I'll check out the Boston/Cape Cod KOA. I like the idea of taking a train. Is the "T" near the KOA?
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
We've stayed at Winter Island in Salem. Basically just a marina parking lot with RV sites around the perimeter and tent sites.

Two caveats: (1) the directions to the campground will take you over city streets with fairly low weight limits, better to follow truck route. (2) if you will be out in the evening be sure to ask for a gate key as they lock it up fairly early in the evening! (don't ask!)
lampooner
Explorer
Jan 20, 2020
Lived in Boston area for 20 years in the town of Harvard. I would recommend Minuteman RV park in Littleton MA. It is a relativey small park in Westford MA. This is near Lexington and Concord which you can drive to. Also near two commuter train stations where you can catch a train to downtown Boston.

You do not want to try driving your truck into Boston unless you really enjoy total frustration!
DrewE
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2020
Dave5143 wrote:
Thanks for your input, it is much appreciated. I'll check out the Boston/Cape Cod KOA. I like the idea of taking a train. Is the "T" near the KOA?

I don't think there are any campgrounds near the T proper, but if I recall the KOA (and a few others) are not far from commuter rail, which can take you to the T.

One suggestion: get a CharlieCard as soon as practical for riding the T. It's a decent savings over the paper CharlieTickets, and the cards themselves are free...it's just not always obvious where you can get them. Certain stations do have them available if you find and ask an MTBA employee to get you one; their web site does have a list of those stations. You might think they could have some of the ticket vending machines stocked and able to spit them out, as in several other transit systems, but you'd be wrong.