Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter)
Buffumville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Charlton, MA, MA
Price: From $50 per night
Price range: $50–$70 per night
Rating: 5 out of 5 (8 reviews)
Season: Year-round
Army Corps of Engineers built Buffumville Dam in Charlton, Massachusetts to provide flood risk management for downstream communities. Flood waters due to large amounts of rainfall or spring snow melts are stored on 480 acres of land. The lake is also managed for recreation and environmental stewardship.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/buffumville-lake-group-shelter to be notified when sites open up.
Buffumville Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area offering year-round activities on 480 acres with excellent boating, fishing, and water sports opportunities. Park rangers are available to assist visitors during your stay.
Wildlife alert: Eastern Gray Squirrel, Common Raccoon, American Beaver, Eastern Chipmunk, American Robin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, and Baltimore Oriole are present in the area.
Insider tips for Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter): Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand. Year-round ranger availability provides assistance and interpretive programs. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, and guided interpretive walks.
Skip Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter) if: You need hookups—no hookups available at this group shelter site.. You prefer unlimited availability—federal campgrounds require advance booking..
Best time to visit Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter): Year-round — Campground operates year-round with seasonal operations; winter activities include snowshoeing and ice fishing..
Nearby campgrounds: Westville Recreation Area (Fiskdale, MA), West Thompson Lake Campground (N. GROSVENORDALE, CT), West Hill Park (Uxbridge, MA), Tully Lake Recreation Area (Ma) (Royalston, MA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter)
Cell signal at Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter) (Charlton, MA): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Army Corps of Engineers built Buffumville Dam in Charlton, Massachusetts to provide flood risk management for downstream communities. Flood waters due to large amounts of rainfall or spring snow melts are stored on 480 acres of land. The lake is also managed for recreation and environmental stewardship.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with high demand.
Year-round ranger availability provides assistance and interpretive programs.
Activities include boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, and guided interpretive walks.
Campground operates year-round with seasonal operations; winter activities include snowshoeing and ice fishing.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From the Massachusetts Turnpike, take the Sturbridge exit and follow Route 20 to Charlton. Turn right on Route 31 and follow the brown signs to the park. From I-290, take exit 7B to Oxford Center and follow brown signs to park
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Buffumville Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Buffumville Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter) cost per night?+
What season is Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter) open?+
Does Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter) have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter)?+
How do I make reservations at Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter)?+
What is the cell service like at Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter)?+
What season is Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter) open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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