Camping is great, I think that you will find that private campgrounds are used by folks that are looking to relax. The state campgrounds tend to have the folks from the cities who think that it is party time. Harold Parker is located in the vicinity of several cities and that is the crowd you get there. Willard Brook in Ashby is outside of Fitchburg. Then Otter River in Winchendon is near Gardner.
Having patrolled those areas as an Environmental Police Officer there was always some kind of problem. Domestics, loud noise complaints. There is not supposed to be any alcoholic beverages in the Mass. State parks but many show up with it and think that it is party time.
Ive seen this too the times I've been camping when my kids were younger and we had a small tent trailer.
Private campgrounds the owners are much more proactive. I've seen a few drunk a**h***s creating issues, get tossed in the middle of the night by owners. No police even involved.
That said, camping in the Northeast unless your really north in ME or NH pretty much sucks. The sites are generally too small and for a guy that lives with no neighbors daily, I feel more crowded than at home. The cost, (truck, gas, site cost) the small sites, people who don't watch their kids because they are lazy, and want to sit and drink, is why we quit camping.
That and kids really were into sports.....we never got to use it, which is really huge to me.
Now instead of hauling some big rig with a big trailer we would have a large depreciating 150K into, plus maintenance gas and winterizing and all the bs.....
We just do a week all inclusive beach vacation in one of the islands. 3-4Kyr and walk away, all meals, drinks included.
When we retire, maybe we will look into it again......but with gas at 5 a gallon, its hard to say its worth it. A 200 mile drive at 7mpg easily pays for a hotel room stay.
