1) Can anyone recommend a good Cape Cod campground for home base for a short bike tour? I would be departing from Brewster and heading east. I've camped at Nickerson State Park before and didn't enjoy it---it was huge and crowded.

Criteria: treed sites; privacy; not too crowded; near good biking and a beach.

2) Any good stealth camping on Cape Cod? I'm actually not a big fan of campgrounds.

I would doubt there would be much opportunity to camp for free there. It is a beach and tourist destination. My only advice is to check yourself for ticks daily.

Never been to Cape Cod so I thought it would be fully developed like most coastal areas along the eastern US. Google Earth view and street view show something very different. I was surprised by the amount of forest on Cape Code. Certainly looks like stealth camping would be possible there. Will be curious to view comments from those experienced with the area.

1. Shady Knoll in Brewster. Mid cape, not far bay beaches and trail trail
2. Atlantic Oaks in Eastham. quick access to rail trail, close to Salt Pond Visitor Center and cape ocean beachs and bike shops. Orleans not to far has shopping center. P'town campgrounds are nice but more expensive.
I have seen the rail trail patrolled so stealth camping is probably out and watch out for ticks.
only 1 campground on Martha's Vineyard and none on nantucket. Get the MAss. campground guide
There is a site in Trurp and 1( i think ) in wellfleet

Nickerson is big, but note it is several campgrounds in one. The section that is the far-est from the main section has a very different feel from the rest. I say forget about stealth camping on the Cape.

Mass Audubon has a small CG in Wellfleet. In high summer they rent by the week only, in fall you can rent for a weekend. You are supposed to be a member for more than a year to make a reservation.

the "North of Highland" campground generally gets good reviews. Shawme Crowell, just barely on the Cape is an option. Personally, I'd go with nickerson because the central location and being right on the bike path.

JR

The campground (area 5?) was very nice when I was there. I had a site that overlooked the lake.
The toilets wer close by but the showers were 1 mile away near the camp store.

I thought I would resurrect this thread instead of starting a new one... Does anyone one have any other campground recommendations for the Cape? I'm planning to do a short tour out and back mainly on the rail trail - probably spending about 3 - 4 nites out. The first and last nights will be at Nickerson (if we can get a site), but I don't have experience with any of the campgrounds further out on the cape.

Thanks -

Sorry, I don't have direct experience, but looked into this last year when I did a mini-weekend Cape Cod tour, from off cape Fri night to Wellfleet and return. (We wound up staying at a friend's place). North of Highland was recommended to me. I suggest you investigate review and their website https://capecodcamping.com/ After your trip - report your experience back here!

Thanks - that may be a good option. I'll report back with what we end up doing.