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Camping
on the Boston Harbor Islands |
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Directions |
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| To
Boston Long Wharf: |
 From the south, take I-93 to exit 23
(Atlantic Avenue & Northern Avenue) |
Follow signs to Atlantic Avenue and the
New England Aquarium |
| From the north, take I-93 to exit 23
Purchase Street/South Station |
| Take first left on Congress, then immediate
left on to Atlantic Avenue |
| Follow signs to the New England Aquarium |
Parking is not possible at Long Wharf
(passenger drop-off only), and
you will
have to park nearby, at Rowes
Wharf, The Mariott Hotel, The Garage at Post
Office
Square, The Boston Harbor Garage,
or
Quincy Market. Traffic can be
heavy in the area because of the Big Dig, so
arrive early to find a spot without hurrying.
Average
parking fee for a day is about
$25
(off-street parking is free on Sunday,
but
spaces are difficult to find) |
| To
Quincy: |
| From Boston, take I-93 South |
Take exit 12 towards Neponset/Quincy;
drive under the I-93 overpass
and take right to the Neponset River bridge |
| Continue straight on Hancock Street |
| About 2 miles after the bridge, take
left on 3A South |
Entrance to the terminal is off the next
rotary |
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Good to know in advance |
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Reservations are required to camp on
the islands and can be made
online at
www.ReserveAmerica.com
or call toll-free
877-422-6762 |
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Your camping
reservation is not site
specific. At check-in an island ranger
will assign you a campsite or area
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| Camping is limited to 14 cumulative days |
| The camping season runs from June 25
to the Labor Day weekend |
Water shuttle round trip fee Mon-Wed:
$10 round-trip per adult, $7
per child age 3-11, free for children under
3, senior (65+): $7, Family Four pack (2 adults
and two
children): $28; inter-island
shuttle is free |
Water shuttle round trip fee Thus-Sun:
$9
round-trip per adult, $7
per child age 3-11, free for children under
3, senior (65+): $7, Family Four pack (2 adults
and two
children): $32; inter-island
shuttle is free |
| To schedule your camping trip, download
the water shuttle schedule
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There are no showers, fresh water,
electricity or telephone,
and no food or
camping supply stores on
the islands – plan
accordingly; restrooms
are composting
toilets |
Campers should bring one gallon of drinking
water per person for each
day on the
islands |
On-island rangers are equipped with
emergency communications
and first aid
supplies |
For information on moorings for private
boats, call 617-223-8666 |
For more information:
www.bostonislands.com
or call
617-223-8666 |
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Etiquette |
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| No pets
allowed |
| Carry-in/carry-out policy, trash
receptacles are
limited |
Campsite cooking is allowed
with camp
stoves
only |
Bonfires allowed below the high
tide line;
campfires
are not allowed at campsites
or anywhere
above high tide line |
| Alcoholic beverages prohibited
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Amplified sound (radios, boom
boxes)
prohibited
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| E-mail this
page to a friend
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| Have
a question about this
destination? |
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| If you
are searching for a different camping experience,
look no further than… the Boston harbor.
Four of the Boston Harbor Islands, Bumpkin, Grape,
Lovells and Peddocks have campgrounds, all with
an unparalleled location within sight of the Boston
skyline – across the water! |
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Staying on
the Islands overnight means going back to the
days where backcountry camping was the norm:
these islands offer a rustic experience, with
no drinking water nor food available, and a
primitive infrastructure. What you get in return
for hauling more gear than usual is complete
isolation for the night, and the many sights
and sounds of coastal Massachusetts: fishing
boats and merchant ships on the horizon, faraway
horns, birds circling overhead, and the sound
of the waves nearby. Not a bad backdrop to pitch
a tent.
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Though the
four islands all have a different character,
they have some things in common: all islands
are accessible only by water shuttle, either
from the South Shore in Quincy, or from Boston,
or by personal watercraft; all the islands have
trails and shorelines for hiking and exploring;
Lovells has a swimming beach supervised by lifeguards
during summer, and swimming is also possible
on Bumpkin and Grape islands, but at your own
risk since there is not lifeguard. All islands
feature composting toilets, picnic tables, and
benches.
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| Each island also
has a particular character, and is worth
a visit: |
| Bumpkin Island |
| Shell beaches
and open fields provide a relaxing atmosphere
for camping on this 35-acre island. |
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Click here for a map
of the island |
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To get there, take the water
shuttle departing from Quincy at the T boat
terminal in Quincy Shipyard (see sidebar
for directions) |
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| Grape Island |
| Once inhabited
by Native Americans and colonial farmers,
the island's 50 acres are a haven for wildlife.
Wild blackberries, bayberries and rose hips
proliferate on the island, providing food
for a wide variety of birds and hours of
delight for naturalists. One group and 10
individual camp sites are available. The
island includes many wooded trails. |
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Click here for a map
of the island |
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To get there, board the shuttle
from Quincy at the T boat terminal in Quincy
Shipyard |
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| Lovells Island |
| Characterized
by its curved beaches and diverse wildlife,
Lovells is a peaceful island escape. In
season, Lovell's sandy beaches are supervised
by lifeguards. Along its shores are rocky
tidal pools, sands dunes and some of the
best views of the outer harbor. Beach goers
can also explore the remains of Fort Standish
and walk along trails that pass by the dunes
and salt-marsh woods. Available Ranger tours
bring alive the military history, folklore,
geology, and biology of the island. |
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Click here for a map
of the island |
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To get there, take the ferry
to Georges Island from Boston Long Wharf,
one block from Faneuil Hall, between the
Marriott and the New England Aquarium; then
take the inter-island shuttle to reach Lovells
(be sure to check the shuttle schedule to
plan your trip – see sidebar) |
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| Peddocks Island |
| Peddocks is one
of the largest and most diverse islands
in the national park area. The Island's
east head contains the remains of Fort Andrews,
active in harbor defense from 1904 to the
end of World War II. The island has 10 campsites
and its trails pass by a salt marsh, a pond
and mature coastal forests. Peddocks Visitor's
center has educational displays on the island's
natural and military use, folklore and natural
history of the island and Boston Harbor.
With the longest shoreline of any harbor
island, Peddocks is composed of four headlands,
connected by sand or gravel bars called
tombolos. |
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Click here for a map
of the island |
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· To get there, take
the ferry to Georges Island from Boston
Long Wharf, one block from Faneuil Hall,
between the Marriott and the New England
Aquarium; then take the inter-island shuttle
to reach Lovells (again, be sure to check
the shuttle schedule to plan your trip –
see sidebar) |
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