Winter Island Park

About

Winter Island Park is owned and managed by the historic city of Salem, Massachusetts. It is situated on the waterfront of Salem Harbor, a short distance from the downtown area. It is the closest campground to Boston, Massachusetts on the North Shore. The campground offers 22 tent campsites and 28 RV campsites.  Park facilities include a public boat ramp, dinghy rack spaces, gift and camping store, a public beach, historic Fort Pickering Lighthouse, and a function space.

The location of Salem’s first tavern and first shipyard, Winter Island has a long and rich history! A fort was erected here as early as 1643 and the site was in continuous use as a fort from that time until, during the 1930’s, the US Coast Guard created a Search and Rescue Base here. The Frigate USS Essex, which served General George Washington in the US Navy, was built and launched from Winter Island in 1799.  The fort was renamed Fort Pickering after Colonel Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State and War in Washington’s Cabinet.  There are three bunkers in Fort Pickering that stored ammunition as early as the Civil War.  The Coast Guard Station closed in 1968 and the City of Salem claimed the land in 1972 for public use, and developed it into a public park and urban campground.

RV and tent camping, May 20-November 1. Camping reservations must be made exclusively on reserveamerica.com. Campers may also check availability and view our interactive campsite map. Reservations can be booked online up to six (6) months in advance of their scheduled ‘First Night’ by going to reserveamerica.com.