One Tank Trip for Massachusetts Camping

As the epicenter of several major and important chapters in history, Massachusetts is something special. Visitors will find an abundance of New England charm and beauty to captivate them, major metropolitan areas that will overwhelm them with world-class art, and all the hustle-and-bustle they crave, while beautifully intermingling the past and the present. Speaking of charm, let's start our one tank trip in Sandwich. Welcome to the oldest town on Cape Cod! This beautiful New England town is home to some of the oldest buildings in the country, including the Hoxie House, the oldest surviving saltbox house. Built in the 1600s, the Hoxie House has been beautifully restored with the original furnishings and tools, and is open to the public for tours. At the Sandwich Glass Museum, not only will you be treated to exhibits from the 1800s, you'll also see wonderful glassblowing demonstrations. Both fascinating and enlightening, it's a museum you won't want to miss! Heading out of Sandwich, take Massachusetts 6A W for the short 15 minute trip to our next Massachusetts RV camping stop; Bourne. Known as a gateway to Cape Cod since the Cape Cod Canal split the town down the middle, Bourne offers travelers tremendous options for water sports and golf. This charming harbor town is widely known as the place to be during the month of September as it hosts the Bourne Scallop Festival, a celebration that attracts visitors from across the nation and beyond. Our next stop is East Falmouth. Take MA-28 S out of Sandwich, and merge onto MA-151 E. Turn right at Sandwich Rd, left at John Parker Rd and left at E. Falmouth Hwy/MA-28 S for the short half hour trip. This is the perfect jumping off point for a ferry trip to spectacular Martha's Vineyard, where visitors will find themselves surrounded by peaceful beauty, miles of beaches, and all the charm and allure Martha's Vineyard is known for. Barnstable is our next stop, and to get there, hop onto MA-28 S for the short, scenic drive through the beautiful New England countryside. In no time at all you will have arrived, and what an incredible stop! Barnstable lies just a few miles southwest of beautiful Wequaquet Lake, where all sorts of water activities lie at your fingertips; from swimming and fishing, to boating and lounging by the water, soaking up some sun. For our next Massachusetts RV camping destination, Hyannisport, return to MA-28 S, take a right at Pitchers Way and continue onto Scudder Avenue. Take a left at Marston Avenue, turn right to stay on Marston Avenue and take the 2nd left onto Edge Hill Rd. This trip should take you less than 20 minutes. Hyannis is the largest village of Barnstable, and probably best known as the Kennedy's favorite getaway location, and for good reason. In Hyannisport there is no shortage of ferries to be taken, fishing and sailing charters to hitch a ride on, and charming shops and restaurants to explore. Visitors can also find the JFK memorial here, and in no time at all, you'll understand why the Kennedy's were drawn back to the beauty and peace of this area. Leaving Hyannisport, take Ocean Avenue out of town, which turns into Sea Street. Continue on Sea Street, turning right at South Street, then a left at Lewis Bay Rd. Take the 3rd right onto Main Street, which should turn into MA-28 S. After several miles, take a right onto Sea Street, and in around a half hour, we will arrive at our next one tank trip location, Dennis Port. The Cape is a well-known haven for artists, and in Dennis Port travelers will find many galleries and stores that display local wares. From its location on the coast, Dennis Port is the perfect place to enjoy the mild New England weather, charter a fishing boat, dig your toes in the sand, or watch the surf. There are few things as peaceful and serene as grazing out into the ocean, and whatever daily stress you've brought with you is sure to melt away in this incredible town. Moving on, we're going to back-track a little on Sea Street and head back to MA-28 S/Main Street and head to our next location, Chatham. Located at the ragged elbow of the Cape, Chatham embodies the quintessential New England town with pristine beaches, sandbars, tidal shoals and saltwater inlets. Decidedly old fashioned, Chatham has gotten the reputation as a shopper’s paradise in recent years. For the curious, head down to the fishing pier for a first hand look at the backbone of this wonderful village. Leaving Chatham, take Old Harbor Road out of town, taking a left onto MA-28 S/Orleans Rd. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Mid-Cape Hwy/US-6 E. The portion of our one tank trip should take you around a half-hour, and before you know it, you'll have arrived in Eastham. Eastham may catch first time visitors a little off guard. With no discernable town center, and no formal Main Street, you can see that Eastham is made for those looking to get far from the craziness of everyday life. As one of the four original settlements on the Cape, Eastham still remains relatively undiscovered, and that's just the way locals prefer it. One of the wonders that draw travelers to this region (aside from the miles of beaches, cool New England breezes, and laidback vibe) is the National Seashore where visitors are free to explore and birdwatch. Also here is the Cape's oldest remaining windmill, the beautiful Swift-Daley House. For history buffs, take a trip to First Encounter Beach where Myles Standish and his Pilgrim scouts first came in contact with the Nauset Indians in 1620. From Eastham we continue to Wellfleet taking Mid-Cape Hwy/US-6 E out of town. Once a whaling port, Wellfleet still manages to uphold its reputation as a fishing village, while supporting a healthy art community. After exploring the several historical residences within the city, head over to the Wellfleet Oyster and dig into some of that famous New England cuisine. For the nature lover, Wellfleet has something for you, too, and you'll find it in the Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary. With 1,000 acres and several hiking trails, it's where you'll want to head to either work off all the calories you've just consumed or work up an appetite for more! Our last Massachusetts RV camping stop takes us back to US-6 E. Turn left toward Massachusetts 6A W/Shore Rd, and right at Massachusetts 6A W. This trip should take less than 30 minutes, and what better place to end our journey than Provincetown. If you're looking to truly get away from it all, this is about as far as you can get. As the last stop on the continent, Provincetown has drawn a number of different types; from Pilgrims and fishermen, to artists and beach lovers, all of them finding something beautiful and peaceful here. Well known as the spot where the Pilgrims first landed, travelers will find the tallest granite structure in the nation commemorating their landing. What better way to end our trip than in the place where it all began. Back to One Tank Trips for 2011 Woodall's Recommended Massachusetts RV Campgrounds