Camping Permits & Reservations

Within sight of downtown Boston, the islands offer "remote" camping. Accessible by passenger ferries, three of the 34 islands provide camping opportunities.

Camping is available by reservation only on Grape, Bumpkin, and Lovells Islands. Lovells Island is available for camping beginning on May 24, 2008 for weekends only, except Memorial Day Weekend, during which Lovells Island will be available for camping through Monday, May 26, 2008. The camping season for Bumpkin, Grape, and Lovells Islands begins on June 21, 2008 and ends September 1, 2008. During the camping season, camping is available every day of the week. Camping on Lovells will continue to be available until October 12, 2008 on weekends only. The islands each have 6 to 10 individual campsites, and 2 group campsites.

Reservations Required

Reservations are required to camp on the islands and can be made online at ReserveAmerica.com or call toll-free 877-422-6762. Your camping reservation is not site specific. At check-in an island ranger will assign you a campsite or area. To ensure that many campers enjoy the park, campers and camping equipment are limited to 14 cumulative days of occupancy between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Important Information

Although part of metropolitan Boston, the remote and sensitive nature requires that the following are NOT allowed on any islands (unless part of a special permit): PETS, FIREARMS, FIREWORKS, ALCOHOL, and AMPLIFIED SOUND. Service dogs are the only pets permitted. Campsite cooking is allowed with camp stoves only. Campfires are not allowed at campsites or anywhere above high tide line. See General Rules at ReserveAmerica.com under Boston Harbor Islands campground search.

rustic Camping Facilities

• individual and group sites
• composting toilets, picnic tables, and benches
• some islands have trail-side shade shelters
• there is a carry-in/carry-out policy
• on-island rangers are equipped with emergency communications

There are NO flush toilets, showers, fresh water, electricity or telephones; and no food or camping supply stores on the islands. Plan accordingly. We recommend that campers bring one gallon of drinking water per person for each day on-island.

Fees and Service Charges

All camping charges include a non-refundable reservation transaction service charge and a per-night campsite fee. The 2008 non-refundable reservation transaction charge is $9.25. Questions concerning this charge may be addressed to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation at 617-626-1480 or by writing to email@reserveamerica.com.

The per-night camping fee for an individual campsite (1-4 people) is $8.00 for Massachusetts residents and $10.00 per night for non-Massachusetts residents; a group site is $25.00 per night for groups of 1 to 25 people. The fee for more than 25 people is $1.00/person per night, plus a $25 group charge.

Example of two-night camping trip during 2008 for a group of four Massachusetts residents transported by park ferry (rates are subject to change):

• Ferry = $42.00
  two adults (ages 12 to 64)
  two children (ages 3 to 11)
  (fares are round trip)
• Reservation transaction charge = $9.25
• Individual campsite = $8.00
  

• TOTAL = $59.25

The America the Beautiful Pass (National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass) may not be used on the Boston Harbor Islands.