Hanscom AFB FamCamp, Bedford, MA

Overview

Address

499 South Rd, Bedford, MA 01730, USA

Phone

(781) 225-3953

Website

http://www.hanscomfss.com/

Operating Hours

Sunday Closed
Monday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

About

Introduction / Overview

For eligible members of the military community in Massachusetts and those traveling through New England,

Hanscom AFB FamCamp

represents a unique and highly convenient camping opportunity. Located near Bedford, this facility serves Active Duty Military, Reserves, Retirees, DoD Cardholders, and their families, offering a much-needed, affordable base for exploring one of the most historically rich regions in the United States. It functions as a recreational camp managed by the 66th Force Support Squadron of Hanscom Air Force Base.

The primary appeal of

Hanscom AFB FamCamp

is its unbeatable location. As one patron noted, the location is "perfect," offering proximity to Boston and various points of interest while maintaining a wooded, recreational feel. It’s an ideal place for service members and veterans to stay while on travel, visiting family, or taking a vacation focused on the historic heart of Massachusetts. The camp accommodates a range of needs, from long-term seasonal RV sites to partial hookups and secluded tent camping, all at affordable rates compared to commercial parks in the high-cost Boston area.

While the camp receives praise for its friendly staff, its affordability, and essential amenities—such as laundry and a community room—it is crucial for prospective visitors to manage expectations regarding maintenance and the presence of seasonal guests. Recent management is reportedly working on improvements, but the facility is known to host both short-term travelers and extended-stay personnel, which can affect the overall tidiness of the sites. It remains, however, a reliable and well-positioned option for those who qualify.

Location and Accessibility

Hanscom AFB FamCamp

is situated at the end of a flight line, offering a distinct environment that some find lively and others note as noisy. Critically, it is not actually located behind a main gate, but rather accessed via an unmanned gate near the flightline perimeter, providing easy ingress and egress without having to navigate typical base security checks.

Address:

499 South Rd, Bedford, MA 01730, USA

Its location is what truly makes it special for Massachusetts-based users:

Boston Access:

The camp is located approximately 18 miles west of downtown Boston, making day trips to the Freedom Trail, USS Constitution, and the Aquarium highly feasible. Visitors are often advised by staff on the best public transportation options to streamline these trips. -

Historical Sites:

It is immediately surrounded by the historic towns of Lexington and Concord, and is just five minutes from the Minuteman National Historical Park, providing unparalleled access to Revolutionary War history. -

Regional Hub:

It serves as an excellent launch point for exploring the wider region, including Salem (about 45 minutes away), Gloucester, and other New England destinations.

The proximity to major routes, combined with the convenience of not having to navigate heavy base traffic for camping access, ensures that it functions perfectly as a logistical hub for regional Massachusetts exploration.

Services Offered

The FamCamp offers a variety of essential services, many of which are provided at an exceptionally low cost to enhance the value for the military community.

Campsite Varieties: Offers 73 RV sites and 10 tent sites during the summer season, including Full Hookups (water, electric, sewer), Partial Hookups (water and electric), and Primitive Tent Sites.
Extended Stay Options: Management permits eligible campers, particularly those on long-term or permanent duty, to stay for extended periods (up to 6 months), addressing local housing scarcity challenges.
Affordable Laundry: A well-equipped laundry room is available with highly affordable rates (as low as $1.00 to wash and/or dry), a significant saving compared to off-base services.
Honeywagon/Dump Service: Honeywagon service is provided for campers in partial hookup sites, allowing tanks to be emptied without moving the RV to the central dump station—a major convenience.
Community Room: Features an indoor recreation room with a television, couches, games for children, and tables, offering a clean, dedicated indoor space for relaxation and socializing.
Firewood: A great fire pit is centrally located and guests are provided with plenty of free wood.
Supportive Staff: Patrons consistently praise the helpful and kind staff, particularly the managers, for their excellent customer service and helpful local trip advice.

Features / Highlights

The facility’s highlights focus on its functional, family-friendly, and convenient aspects, providing a valuable service within the greater Boston area.

Cost-Effectiveness: By far one of the most affordable camping options for military-affiliated individuals in the high-cost Boston region, making extended stays or multi-day tourism feasible.
Family Amenities: Includes basketball hoops and balls, an outdoor pavilion, and a grassy area, offering simple, accessible recreation for all ages.
Wooded and Shady Sites: Despite its location near the flight line, many sites are situated among beautiful trees, providing welcome shade and a more traditional camping ambiance.
Year-Round Operation: The camp is open year-round, with a reduced number of full-service RV sites available during the winter season, catering to both summer vacationers and winter travelers.
Access to Base Facilities: Authorized patrons also have convenient access to Hanscom AFB facilities, including the Base Exchange (BX) and Commissary, a major benefit.
Pet-Friendly: The campground welcomes pets, though owners are expected to adhere to standard regulations.

Contact Information

For reservations, eligibility questions, or current rate information, please use the contact details below. Reservations are generally taken no more than 30 days prior to arrival for non-long-term guests.

Address:

499 South Rd, Bedford, MA 01730, USA

Phone:

(781) 225-3953 or +1 781-225-3953

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For eligible Massachusetts residents and traveling military personnel,

Hanscom AFB FamCamp

is exceptionally suitable as a primary base for two key reasons: affordability and location. In a state where the cost of living and lodging can be prohibitive, the FamCamp provides an essential, low-cost option that allows military families and retirees to stay in the heart of New England.

Its location in Bedford—a literal stepping stone away from Boston, Lexington, and Concord—means you can spend the day exploring the nation's most important historical sites or enjoying a city adventure, and still return to the safety and security of a military-affiliated, family-friendly environment. While some sites may show wear and tear, and management continues to address the challenges of high demand and turnover, the core offering—affordable, amenity-rich camping with unparalleled access to Boston and the historical towns of Massachusetts—makes it an indispensable resource for the local military community. The highly praised staff also ensure that a Massachusetts trip is logistically sound, providing expert local advice that enhances the overall vacation experience.

Hanscom AFB FamCamp Details

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom

Offerings
RV camping

Amenities
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Public shower
Restroom
Tent sites
Wi-Fi

Payments
Camping fee
Credit cards
Debit cards

Children
Good for kids

Parking
Free parking lot
On-site parking

Pets
Dogs allowed

Reviews

Positives: 1. It’s affordable! 2. The location is perfect. It’s close to Boston and other points of interest. 3. There are basketball hoops and balls for something to do. 4. Community room with a tv, couches, games for the kids, and tables. 5. Two sets of bathrooms and a laundry room. It’s only $1 to wash and/or dry. 6. Many beautiful trees and shady spots. 7. Great fire pit centrally located for anyone to use with plenty of free wood. 8. There are tables & chairs scattered around the park to use. 9. Honeywagons are provided in case you’re in a spot with partial hookups and need to empty your tanks without having to drag your trailer over to the dump station. 10. It’s family friendly and felt safe! Negatives: 1. The bathrooms, laundry room, and community room were all dirty. 2. It’s clear to see who’s been there a while. Their spots are cluttered and messy. 3. It’s noisy, but it didn’t bother us too much. (It’s at the end of a flight line.) 4. It’s not actually on base. You just drive through an unmanned gate. 5. Unfortunately, this is the most run down and dirtiest FamCamp we’ve ever stayed at.

Jun 15, 2024 · J Mill

Wow, really mixed thoughts about this place and my hopes are that this review will alert those in charge of changes that NEED to take place here. First the Good. Staff was amazingly helpful and can not say enough good things about Jen and Lydia. We spoke with Lydia a few times by phone in making our reservation and she was KEY in giving us advice on how we should do our visit in to downtown Boston. We followed here plan to the last detail and had such an amazing day, so thank you Lydia. Jen, the head manager also super in helping us while we were there an also explained to me why and how things are what they are now. By the time we arrived here Jen had no help as they had all left for school and was trying to manage this place solo while also doing other duties on base leaving her a very small window to help campers. Laundry room was big and very affordable as compared to rates outside the base. Now the bad. Place overall looks and feels like a dump because of the SQUATTERS that are allowed to stay and JUNK up the place they way they do. Jen explained to me that (higher management) allows campers to stay here for up to 6 months. Folks, this is NOT camping but a change of address and ridiculous. There needs to be a limit, 14, maybe up to 30 days and then its time to MOVE ON! The place was packed when we arrived and saw a few that could not get in because of these squatters. Jen explained that permanent duty can live here and I can accept that but while there saw no one in uniform or fitting this description. The second part to this is the filthy conditions these squatters have allowed their rig and their site to become. In order to stay here I thought we all had to have served and so should have an idea of how to keep our areas up to standard. Including one photo of just ONE camper (but there were several) that were on blocks, had grass growing up the side of the rig, had broken down wood furniture outside the rig and some even had rabbits in cages....SERIOUSLY!!!!!!! My hope is that senior management will read this review and do something about this. Even if folks are allowed to move in for six months ( ridiculous) at least make them....FORCE THEM to keep their area up to standard. It should not be tolerated or accepted, they should be kicked out. I also respectfully ask that you consider keeping a portion of spots as first come first serve so that the rest of the campers can have a place to stay while we move across the Country. I know of other Fancamps that offer this and its is a huge help.

Sep 25, 2024 · Mike Greene

Wow, what a great discovery ! Jenn is lovely, kind and so understanding. There is always a place for you. I love my experience there and definitely come back in the future. Clean showers, met a lot of great people, had good conversations. The fees are so affordable ! And you have the view on the landing road 😍 Wonderful job Jenn, thank you !

Mar 11, 2024 · Nate's Trip

Had a spot for two nights. Checked in after hours so had to go next morning to the office to register is not at campsite so had to go on base. It wasn’t a big deal but inconvenient. The bathrooms were so bad I complained. They just came in and sprayed the whole room down with a hose - no scrubbing/cleaning that I could tell. They removed the moldy mat in the shower. But they left the doors open and lights on so it was completely infested with bugs by the next day. The camp host came by but didn’t seem to know what to say. A neighbor was more friendly than the camp host with suggesting my awning stay in with the winds. It is obvious people are there long term as their sites are cluttered and messy. The mosquitos are horrible at sunset. There is a community firepit that seemed to be lit at random but never anything organized for the campground. It is extremely run down and not cared for other than someone changing the trash bags out. If you are touring and just want a place to sleep, this could work.

Jun 10, 2025 · CMarie

No reservations allowed, but always a place to park for military. Enjoy the community campfire and wash clothes for $1 each wash and dry. I would stay here again for $26 FHU.

Jul 25, 2019 · shelley richardson

More Parks Near Me