Salisbury Beach State Reservation sits directly on the northern most shoreline of Massachusetts in Salisbury, MA. The main attraction of this campground is the incredible beach access and low nightly rates for in state residents. There are only a few campgrounds in Massachusetts, where you can walk from your rig to the beach, and this is one of them. 

The campground is very large, offering 484 sites for RV’s and tents. The RV sites have 50/30/20 amp electric and water. There is a large, multi-lane dump station at the front of the campground. The sites range is length, but there are plenty that will fit large rigs (40’+). Be sure to check the site details when you book your stay on ReserveAmerica.com for site lengths. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring as well. 

Sites here are very tight and offer very little to no privacy between you and your neighbors around you. The few trees that the campground has, are short and don’t offer any shade. They’re basically there for direction. With that said, it is a beach campground, so lots of sun is to be expected during the summer in the north.

Our stay at Salisbury Beach was for a long (non-holiday) weekend. It was close to full, if not completely full Friday to Sunday. After the weekenders left though, it was relatively empty. It also helped that some areas were beginning school that same week. I would imagine that during the height of summer, it’s fully occupied the majority of the time. 

Most Massachusetts state parks are not known for having any frills. Sailsbury is no exception. There is a playground near the beach that is open to anyone who is using the beach, not just campers. However, it is large, and our son enjoyed it for a good amount of time. 

There is a camp store located in the middle of the campground. They have a few essentials, food, and sell firewood. A couple of rows from the camp store are the restrooms and showers. Since there are no sewer hookups the showers seem to be a popular alternative. We did not use them or go in them. We used our portable waste tank and used the dump station instead. From other’s review on RV Life, the showers are well maintained though. 

Despite not having much regarding amenities, the beach is the main draw, and it does not disappoint. The best part is, there are two different beaches. You can go to the main beach, which is a true, ocean beach looking out into the Atlantic Ocean. The water is beautiful, the beach is sandy and not rocky, and the waves are great. Beware, the rip current is strong so watch the little ones and yourself if you’re not sure footed or a strong swimmer. 

The second beach is on the Merrimack River side. This area is great for little ones who want to play in the water. The current is not very strong and there are no waves besides the wake left by boats heading to and from the open ocean. The beach on the river side is also sandy providing a great play space. Dogs are allowed on the river side beach as well, but not on the ocean side. We were able to enjoy both, but we definitely felt more comfortable with our son swimming on the river side, and we got to have our dog with us as well, rare for Massachusetts beaches in the summer. 

If you’re looking to explore the area, Newburyport is only a few minutes away from the campground. There you will find shops and restaurants lining the streets that take you back hundreds of years. You can walk along the port, watch the boats go by, and catch the sunset. There’s plenty of public parking lots, so if you’re driving a big vehicle, you won’t have to street park. We ate at Agave Mexican Bistro on State Street and have been craving it ever since!

Overall, Salisbury Beach State Reservation is a good campground for anyone looking to have a relaxing beach vacation with the comfort of their RV or tent. For Massachusetts residents the price is right at $35/night. For out of staters, it’s more about location at $65/night. There are only a couple of places in Mass where you can get this close to the beach with your RV or tent and a few of those other places are Mass State Parks as well. 

I have been going to Salisbury Beach since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed brining my son there as well and can’t wait to go back. Again, it’s no beach resort but, being just steps from this beautiful beach is all I need to be happy. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. Please feel free to leave a comment below and share your experience if you’ve visited before.

Thank you for reading. Stay safe and God bless.