USCG Cape Cod MWR RV Park

Very secluded area, but quiet, relaxing and clean. There are really no amenities but for a self-contained RV it was perfect. It is a good spot to venture out to visit the western Cape and to get the ferries to Islands. If you have dogs, be prepared for them to get excited over the 100's of turkeys and numerous deer wandering the RV sites. Well worth the price and we will be back when we are in the area.

We were here to re-explore Cape Cod as we had been here many years ago. This location is Great for touring this area as it is approximately a one hour drive to Hyannis, Wood Hole and Plymonth. Hyannis is a good place to take a day ferry to tour Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. Also about two hour drive to Provincetown. Although the sites are basic W/E/S no wyfi or cable it is a great value as other campgrounds with more amenities in the area are $50-$100. Grass is cut weekly but its been a long time since weeds around the utilities have been trimmed. Hopefully this will improve with the new MWR manager and new base CO. There also are plans for the future to increase the number of sites.

Pictures do not do reflect current condition. The green grass is gone and weeds are abundant which was in need of cutting. The base dining is on the other side of the air field but has decent food at extremely low price. I had breakfast there and was 1 of three patrons. The drive to any off base dining is quite a trip, not exactly around the corner. The exchange and mini-mart personnel are extremely nice and even delayed closing while I shopped for a few items. Overall, the RV site is pitiful but considering the price and being on Cape Cod then can't gripe to much. We would have stayed longer but Hurricane Arthur changed our plans early. We will return.

The RV Park at Air Station Cape Cod is located on the grounds of the former Otis Air Force Base closed in 1973. Until recently the base has lived under the name of the Massachusetts Military Reservation / Camp Edwards. That was changed in July of this year. It’s now called Joint Base Cape Cod. It is a huge piece of real estate totaling more than 23,000 acres or 13 square miles. There are four major tenants here and many smaller ones. Obviously there is a lot going on every day, but the character of the base is very quiet. It is so big much of the activity is not in sight or within earshot. If you are interested in learning more about the base and its mission check www.mmr.org. The RV park is operated by the Coast Guard, one of the major tenants, and it is is a small gem. At present there are only 5 parking spots, but the office tells me that they hope to add another 5 in the future. There are many good things to talk about. There is a small, but amazingly well stocked Exchange / Commissary. The base gas station is just adjacent (no diesel fuel), and both are within 1.5 miles of the RV park. There are no facilities at the RV park, but there are two free washers and dryers and a free ice machine in the same building with the RV / Coast Guard Quarters office where you will check in. The base is a paradise for walkers, runners, and cyclists. You will never run out of places to explore. There is a golf course which is a little rough, but where else on Cape Cod can you play 9 holes for $21, cart included? 18 holes are available if you desire. There is a base pool, and a cafe called the Crosswinds. The cafe has limited hours. Ask about their hours when you check in. You can eat at the Coast Guard chow hall located across the base in their air operations area. Ask the RV office for directions and a menu when you check in. There is a good MWR travel office that can help you set up things to do on Cape Cod. If you are the tourist type you will not run out of things to do while at the cape. One piece of advice though. Be prepared for heavy traffic any day during the summer, and stay in the park on weekends. It’s just plain nuts on Saturday and Sunday. That is the beauty of this park. It is a welcome respite from the world outside the gate. You won’t hear anything but the breezes. It is sooooo quiet ! The park itself is gravel. The spots are level if you position your rig correctly. All 5 spots are pull throughs and can easily handle the biggest rigs. 50 amp power and full services are available in all spots. There is no shade at all. The temps climbed into the high 80’s while we were there, but the lack of humidity and the near constant ocean breezes kept it pleasant. Wifi is available in the RV office area. Verizon Jetpack works well at the RV park. Pets are allowed with the usual restrictions and “pick up after” rules. There are a few things on the negative side. As noted earlier there are no facilities at the park. There is no onsite manager or host. It is a very small park and probably won’t grow much. The beaches are a 1/2 hour drive off base and parking on weekends is very limited. They do not allow RV washing at the park, and there is no car / rig wash on the base that I could find. In my opinion you will find no better RV facilities on Cape Cod without first mortgaging your house and your bird dog. It is a perfect base of operations for exploration. Call early though. The word is now out on this park and it will be tough to get reservations. Our visit was in August of 2013.

This park is brand new (only one month old), and it looks it. It's basically a field with five gravel sites. The grass around the sites is kept well mowed, but the surrounding fields are overgrown. All hookups (30/50 amp, water, sewer) worked well. No shade trees (but we like that for good satellite reception). You register at the Wings Inn (guest quarters) office, and they direct you to the RV park about a mile away. (As of this date the park is too new to show up on Google Maps.) The published directions above have one error: the first turn to the right after entering the gate is W. Hospital Rd, not E. Hospital St. You then immediately take the left fork onto E. Hospital Rd. Office personnel are helpful and friendly, and they give you a personalized plastic binder with several pages of park/base information. Nice touch. (You turn it back in when you leave.) There is no bath house at the park. Free laundry and wi-fi is available at the Wings Inn, with two washers and two dryers and a nice lounge with soft couches and chairs. The park is very convenient to all the sightseeing locations of Cape Cod, and Boston is only 1 1/2 hours away. You occasionally hear coyotes howling at night. Bottom line: the park is not much to look at, but you can't beat the price and location.