Camping in CT – 15 Best Campgrounds in Connecticut
There is no shortage of campgrounds in Connecticut. Whether you’re looking to camp at a luxurious RV resort or pitch a tent in a state park, you’ll have plenty of options in CT.
That’s why I decided to scout out every Connecticut campground myself to see which ones are the best. So without further ado, these are the top places to go camping in CT.
Top Campgrounds in CT
1. Hammonasset Beach State Park – Madison
William F. Miller Campground at Hammonasset Beach State Park is one of the best campgrounds in CT. The campground has 556 total campsites that can accommodate both RVs and tents, plus there are 8 cabins that are available for reservation.
Some of the facilities available for campers here include bathhouses with hot showers, potable water faucets at each site, and a general store. There are plenty of fun activities available on the campground, including access to the beach. This is the nearest campground for residents of the greater New Haven area.
- Location: 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT
2. Nelson’s Family Campground – East Hampton
Nelson’s Family Campground is another top place to go camping in Connecticut. The sites at this campground are spacious and come equipped with a ton of amenities like RV hookups, free Wi-Fi, restrooms with showers, a propane station, laundry facilities, and a dump station.
In addition to that, this camping spot has plenty of attractions including an outdoor pool, a kid’s playground, a fishing pond, an arcade, hiking trails, volleyball courts, basketball courts, bocce ball, and horseshoes.
- Location: 71 Mott Hill Rd, East Hampton, CT
3. Rocky Neck State Park – Niantic
Rocky Neck State Park is a great place to go camping on the Connecticut shoreline. The campground offers 160 sites which are available from May to September, however, there are no hookups for RVs and trailers.
Some of the camping amenities offered here include bathrooms, picnic tables, beach access, fire rings, hiking, and fishing.
- Location: 228 W Main St, Niantic, CT
4. Odetah Camping Resort – Bozrah
Odetah Camping Resort is one of the best campgrounds in Connecticut located in New London County. Whether you have a Class A motorhome or a tent, there are a variety of camping sites available.
This campground has a wide range of activities for both kids and adults, including boating on the lake, fishing, swimming, mini golf, movie night, a pool, a jacuzzi, volleyball, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, and live music events.
- Location: 38 Bozrah St Ext #1300, Bozrah, CT
5. Lake Waramaug State Park Campground – New Preston
Lake Waramaug State Park Campground is a popular campsite near Litchfield. The campground has 76 sites in wooded and open settings, many of which offer views of the beautiful lake.
Some of the facilities at the campsite include restrooms, showers, a dumping station, and access to water. There are plenty of fun activities available as well, like, swimming, picnicking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, field sports, and mountain biking.
- Location: 30 Lake Waramaug Rd, New Preston, CT
6. Wilderness Lake Campground & Resort – Willington
Wilderness Lake is an RV park, campground, and recreational area just off I-84 in Willington. This is one of the private campgrounds in Connecticut offering over 100 acres of cool family activities.
Wilderness Lake Campground & Resort offers attractions like freshwater lake swimming, boating, hiking trails, horseshoe pits, a lodge, a playground for kids, volleyball courts, and a game room. This New England campground is great for both overnight camping and longer-term stays.
- Location: 150 Village Hill Rd, Willington, CT
7. Black Rock State Park – Watertown
The campground inside Black Rock State Park is an excellent spot to go camping in western Connecticut. This 439-acre property has 78 campsites, which are surrounded by a dense forest of large trees and a lake.
This is one of the parks where you can really enjoy nature. While camping here, you’ll get access to amenities like bathrooms, showers, a dumping station, firewood, and cabins. For fun, you’re able to swim, fish, hike, and have campfires.
- Location: 2065 Thomaston Rd, Watertown, CT
8. Pachaug State Forest – Voluntown
Pachaug State Forest is a great place to camp in Connecticut if you live in the New London area. There are about half a dozen campgrounds in the park, so you have plenty of camping options to choose from.
Green Falls Campground is one of the places to camp here. It’s a small campground with only 18 campsites, but there are plenty of things to do, like swimming, boating, off-roading, and hiking.
- Location: Trail 1 Rd, Voluntown, CT
9. Hopeville Pond State Park – Griswold
Hopeville Pond Campground is another highly-rated campground in CT found in a state park. Located in Griswald, this 544-acre campground has 80 campsites, some of which have water & electric hookups for RVs.
Hopeville Pond State Park also has showers, picnic tables, a boat launch, a dump station, fire pits, and a concession stand. Some of the camper activities here include picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating, biking, and hiking.
- Location: 929 Hopeville Rd, Griswold, CT
10. Devil’s Hopyard State Park – East Haddam
Devil’s Hopyard State Park is one of the Connecticut campgrounds found near the center of the state. Although it’s home to one of the best waterfalls in Connecticut, this campground is pretty bare as far as amenities go.
Be prepared for some real camping if you decide to visit one of the 21 wooded campsites on the property. For activities, you can go hiking, fishing, biking, and bird watching. Swimming is not allowed in the campground’s river.
- Location: 366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT
11. Lone Oak Campsites – East Canaan
Lone Oak Campsites is one of the better spots to camp in CT if you live in northern Litchfield County. The family campground sprawls out over 250 acres and has 469 campsites, many of which have full hookups for campers.
If you decide to go camping here, some of the amenities include Wi-Fi, cable hookups, showers, laundry facilities, and a hot tub. You’ll also get access to a range of activities like basketball courts, fishing, boating, volleyball, tennis, hiking, golf, swimming, and kayaking. The campground is pet friendly as well.
- Location: 360 Norfolk Rd, East Canaan, CT
12. Bigelow Hollow State Park – Union
Bigelow Hollow State Park is a fantastic campground in Connecticut located in the northeastern part of the state. It’s not a traditional campground, it’s more of a backpack camping site (meaning you need to hike to get to the campground because there’s no road).
There are no traditional campground amenities like showers or hookups, so it’s a great place to go camping if you want to enjoy nature. The forests here a beautiful, and certainly take your mind away from the stresses of everyday life.
- Location: 298 Bigelow Hollow Rd, Union, CT
13. Kettletown State Park – Southbury
Kettletown State Park is one of Connecticut’s top campgrounds if you live in the Danbury-Waterbury area. There are 56 campsites to choose from on the 605 acres, plus they have bathroom facilities available to campers.
Some of the best activities here include hiking and fishing. There’s a small fee for parking along with a campsite fee at Macedonia Brook State Park. However, that’s a small price to pay to set up camp at this beautiful park.
- Location: 1400 Georges Hill Rd, Southbury, CT
14. Harkness Memorial State Park – Waterford
Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford has a unique campground called Camp Harkness. The campsite has seasonal tent sites available, along with year-round cabins and cottages.
Campers here can enjoy access to attractions like swimming on the beach, fishing, botanical gardens, horseback riding, picnic grills, campfires, a playground for kids, bathroom & shower facilities, and a dining hall. The one downside to this 102-acre park is that it is only open to campers with disabilities.
- Location: 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT
15. Macedonia Brook State Park – Kent, CT
Macedonia Brook State Park is one more Connecticut campground found on public land. The park consists of 51 campsites sitting on 2,300 acres of natural woodlands. There aren’t many facilities at the park, but campers do get access to vault toilets, drinking water, and fire pits.
The campsites can house RVs, trailers, and tents, but RV sites are limited. Things to do here include hiking, picnicking, and fishing.
- Location: 159 Macedonia Brook Rd, Kent, CT, United States
Other Notable Connecticut Campgrounds
There are so many great places to go camping in the state of Connecticut that it’s difficult to list them all here. But here are a few other notable campgrounds in Connecticut:
- Indianfield Campground in Salem
- White Memorial Family Campground Bantam
- Wolf’s Den Family Campground in East Haddam
- Salt Rock State Campground in Baltic
- Little City Campground in Higganum
Best Places to Camp in Connecticut – Final Thoughts
Those are the best campgrounds in Connecticut. Camping is a great way to get out of the city and have fun with your family.
It’s tough to say which campgrounds are the best, but private campsites typically have better amenities. However, you’ll end up paying higher prices at private campgrounds.
The public campgrounds found inside Connecticut’s state parks have lower fees, but there are usually fewer attractions and things to do. Although, this can be a good thing since it is camping after all.
