Wompatuck State Park
Quick Facts
Why Hingham & the South Shore
Wompatuck State Park spans over 3,500 acres across four South Shore towns, just 35 minutes from downtown Boston, with 260 campsites and one of the best mountain biking trail networks in the state. Once a WWII-era naval ammunition depot, the park has since returned largely to nature, with painted turtles, yellow warblers, and mountain laurel now filling the forests and wetlands.
The park’s proximity to Nantasket Beach and Hingham’s charming harbor town, along with easy access to Boston via car or public transit, makes it a genuinely versatile base for both city and outdoor days.
What Makes It Special
- Location: Hingham, 35 minutes from downtown Boston
- Setting: 3,500-plus acres of forest, wetlands, and old military roads
- Site type: State park campground, half of sites with electricity
- Amenities: 40+ miles of trails, free hot showers, dog-friendly, close to Boston via car or transit
- Recreation: Hiking and water activities
Pro Tips for Booking
Bring bug spray in warmer months. Reviewers consistently mention this as worth packing given the wooded, wetland terrain.
Visit Nantasket Beach for ocean swimming. The park itself has no swimming, but the beach is a short drive away.
Explore World’s End. This nearby Trustees of Reservations property offers coastal views and carriage roads along the Hingham shoreline.
What to Do Around Here
- 40-plus miles of hiking and mountain biking trails
- Fishing and canoeing on the Aaron River Reservoir
- Nantasket Beach, a short drive for ocean swimming
- World’s End, a scenic waterfront reservation nearby
- Downtown Hingham’s harbor and restaurants
