Nickerson Campground Reservations

Nickerson State Park campsites and yurts are reserved only through ReserveAmerica, DCR's booking system, online or by phone at 1-877-422-6762, up to 4 months before your arrival date. From April 1 through Labor Day, new dates open at 8 a.m. Eastern every day. Walk-in camping isn't allowed, but you can still book online the same day until 2 p.m. on the day you arrive.

When Your Dates Open

The window is a rolling 4 months. Each day, one more day of inventory becomes bookable. ReserveAmerica says that between April 1 and Labor Day Monday the new day opens at 8 a.m. Eastern. In the off season it opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.

In practice, that means a mid-July arrival opens in mid-March. If you want a particular site on a summer weekend, be logged in to ReserveAmerica before the release time on the morning your arrival date comes into the window.

How to Reserve, Step by Step

1. Create a ReserveAmerica account ahead of time, in the name of the person who will be camping. The reservation has to be in the primary occupant's name, and that person must be at least 18.
2. Open the Nickerson State Park campground page, enter your arrival date and number of nights, and choose a camping area from the Loop menu. Our campsite map page lists the site numbers in each area.
3. Filter by Camping Spot type (tent, RV, trailer, yurt, group) so you only see sites that fit your setup.
4. Pick a site and pay. A non-refundable transaction charge is added to every reservation.
5. Bring a photo ID that matches the name on the reservation. You'll need it at check-in.

Who Can Be on a Site

• Up to four adults, or two adults and the children in their care.
• Up to two tents, or one tent and one trailer or RV.
• Two vehicles at most, and a towed trailer counts as one.
• Pets are allowed at standard sites, up to four per site, with a rabies certificate. They aren't allowed in yurts.

The 14-Day Summer Limit

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, campers and their camping equipment can occupy sites in any one Massachusetts state park for no more than 14 days in total. That's a cumulative limit, not just a single stay, and DCR may cancel reservations and ask violators to leave.

Changes and Cancellations

• Changing or cancelling a reservation costs $10. The transaction charge isn't refunded.
• Cancelling on the day of arrival has to be done by phone to the campground, and you lose the first night's fee plus the $10 fee. The park number is (508) 896-3491.
• If you book dates beyond the 4 months window, you can't change or cancel that reservation until 18 days after you made it.
• Refunds of $5 or less can't be processed.
• Leaving early? Check out at the contact station so staff know the site is free.

DCR's statewide camping fees page has the full policy.

If You're Running Late

Check-in is 1 to 9 p.m.. If you can't make it on your arrival date, call the campground. ReserveAmerica says a reserved site is held until 8 a.m. the morning after your scheduled arrival; if the park hasn't heard from you by then, the site can be given to someone else and you forfeit what you paid. Check-out is by 11 a.m..

When the Campground Is Open

ReserveAmerica lists the 2026 season as April 16 to October 25, 2026. Because the window is four months, dates for next spring start opening in the winter. Prices and site amenities are on our camping page.

Tips for Getting a Summer Site

• Count four months back from your arrival date and put the release time in your calendar.
• Have two or three backup sites or camping areas picked before the release.
• Check again in the days before your trip; same-day booking stays open until 2 p.m. on your arrival date.