Campground Reviews › Massachusetts

Wells State Park

State Park Massachusetts

Visited September 2007

Entrance sign for Wells State Park

Wells SP is located in central MA just outside Sturbridge. Nearby attractions include Old Sturbridge Village, the thrice-yearly Brimfield Flea Market, and Boston is only an hour away.

The main attraction at Wells SP is Walker Pond, which offers swimming, boating, and fishing. — The main attraction at Wells SP is Walker Pond, which offers swimming, boating, and fishing. It's a beautiful spot in the early morning sun as the fog slowly lifts off the water. In addition, there are several miles of hiking trails in the park.

Greetings from

Wells State Park

The main attraction at Wells SP is Walker Pond, which offers swimming, boating, and fishing. It's a beautiful spot in the early morning sun as the fog slowly lifts off the water. In addition, there are several miles of hiking trails in the park.

Ribbit! The WxToad

Around the campground

Wells offers 60 shaded sites, located in two camping loops. — Wells offers 60 shaded sites, located in two camping loops. A number of them, such as Site C at left, are pull-throughs. No hookups are available, but there are fresh water spigots and a dump station.Most recent visit: Jun 2010

Sites 26 through 55 are located up the hill from the lake. — Sites 26 through 55 are located up the hill from the lake. Most of the sites in this loops are for smaller rigs, such as tents, pop-ups, vans and small motorhomes. This is Site 34.

The lower loop, near the lake, offers sites that a little more open and sunny than those up the hill. — The lower loop, near the lake, offers sites that a little more open and sunny than those up the hill. These sites can accomodate larger rigs.

Site 25 is plainly the best site in the park. — Site 25 is plainly the best site in the park. It's located right on the shore of Walker Pond. On our last visit in Sep '07, we were lucky enough to get one night on it!

The morning view from our rig, on Site 25.

Site 18 overlooks Walker Pond. — Site 18 overlooks Walker Pond. However there is no direct access to the lake from the site, thanks to the steep banking. It's not far to walk, though, to spots with water access.

Absaroka is the full-time home of friend Susan. — Absaroka is the full-time home of friend Susan. We spent three days at Wells to take care of her four-footed pal Gus while she had to be away for a couple of days. This is Site 1.

Bruce and Betty, fellow members of the Northeast Lazy Daze Caravan, were here on Site 4.

Andy & Deb from Kentucky happened to be here during on of our visits; here they are on Site 19.

Site 7 is a very nice spot. — Site 7 is a very nice spot. It's fairly level, offers a view of the lake and has a nice open area in front of it.

In 2009 the park added two new yurts in the upper camping loop.

Each of the two loops has an older bathhouse, which offers hot showers.

There's a large pavilion available for rent. — There's a large pavilion available for rent. Our NorthEast Lazy Daze group used this for a pot luck supper during a weekend caravan.

Across from the picnic pavilion is a small interpretive center. — Across from the picnic pavilion is a small interpretive center. It has some interesting exhibits for the kids. Closed for a couple of years due to budget problems, the building has been completely renovated and is open once again.

The park has a very nice beach for swimming. — The park has a very nice beach for swimming. With the trees nearby, it's a great place to spend a hot summer afternoon. Only campers are allowed to swim here, so it doesn't get too crowded.

Site 2 is a great place for a family, since it's only a few steps away from the beach.

There are several miles of hiking trails within the park, along with several beaver ponds.

One of the trails leads up to Carpenters Rock, with a great view out over the park.

The site of Wells SP was once farmland owned by the Walker family. — The site of Wells SP was once farmland owned by the Walker family. Walking through the park, one sees the ubiquitous New England stone walls all through the woods.

Autumn is an especially beautiful time to visit Wells SP. — Autumn is an especially beautiful time to visit Wells SP. We live just a couple of miles from the park and go there to walk several times a week, even when the campground is closed.

As soon as the park closed in the fall of 2017, work began on a new bathhouse in the lower campground. — As soon as the park closed in the fall of 2017, work began on a new bathhouse in the lower campground. Before winter settled in, the foundation had been laid. Early in the spring of 2018 the building itself was erected. At the same time, tree crews were busy removing dozens of dead trees that posed danger to campers.

By the time the park opened in May, the new bathhouse was completed and ready for campers. — By the time the park opened in May, the new bathhouse was completed and ready for campers. This facility replaced an old bathhouse, similar to the one shown above in the upper campground. Unfortunately the former dump station was removed during the project and there are no plans to replace it.

Nearby campgrounds

West Thompson Lake COECT · 16 miles away

George Washington State ParkRI · 22 miles away

Otter River State ForestMA · 33 miles away

Lake Dennison Recreation AreaMA · 35 miles away

Back on the roadSee all 402 campgrounds