Camping in Connecticut is famous for its stunning beaches and rolling green meadows, so it’s no wonder that there are magnificent campgrounds all around the state.
The adventurous may canoe into the boater’s campsite at Hurd State Park or get lost in the majestic Pachaug State Forest.
At the same time, families can visit the Odetah Camping Resort or the Water’s Edge Family Campground.
Here are the greatest campgrounds in Connecticut if you’re ready to pitch a tent and start a campfire.
Summary
| Guide | Camping in Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Things To Bring | First aid, Tent, and more |
| Campgrounds | Odetah Camping Resort, and more |
| Best Places near Connecticut | Yale University Museums, and more |
| Situated | New York |
Camping In Connecticut
1. Salt Rock State Forest
The Salt Rock State Forest, which covers 149 acres of wooded property formerly a farm, is home to a tranquil campground with little over 70 spots for tents and RVs.
There are also picnic tables and fire rings at all sites, and unlike most other Connecticut state campsites, the park offers a wide range of contemporary facilities.
Address: 173 Scotland Rd, Baltic, CT 06330
2. Odetah Camping Resort
The Odetah Camping Resort is the ideal spot to bring the whole family for a stress-free vacation, with a private sandy beach, a hot tub, and lots of games and activities for people of all ages.
There is a range of campsites to choose from, including simple tent sites to RV sites with full connections and yurts and cottages to rent.
Address: 38 Bozrah St Ext #1300, Bozrah, CT 06334
3. Water’s Edge Family Campground
The Water’s Edge Family Campsite on the southern point of a ten-acre lake is another family-friendly campground with enough activities to keep you occupied for a weekend, a week, or the entire summer.
The lake is excellent for swimming and canoeing, and it’s well-stocked with fish. However, fishing is only authorized catch-and-release.
Popular pastimes are playing bingo and pool, resting on the beach, and partaking in the campground’s potluck dinners.
Address: 271 Leonard Bridge Rd, Lebanon, CT 06249
4. Tamarack Lodge & Indie Glamping
The Tamarack Lodge & Indie Glamping, a historic property with lots of room to pitch a tent or park an RV, is an attractive combination of old and contemporary.
There are a few 1950s-style cottages for rent, making them ideal for family reunions, girls’ retreats, and other groups.
Address: 21 10 Rod Rd, Voluntown, CT 06384
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5. Witch Meadow Lake Campground
The Witch Meadow Lake Campground is a resort-style campground with plenty of facilities, taking its name from its location near Salem, the town famed for its 17th-century witch trials.
The woodland site has several lovely walking routes and clean, contemporary facilities and showers available to all campers. Address: 139 Witch Meadow Rd, Salem, CT 06420
6. Charlie Brown Campground
The Charlie Brown Campground is a gorgeous campground with more than 12,000 acres of state woods and parks.
It gives convenient access to some of Connecticut’s most stunning wildlife.
The grassy sites are large enough to accommodate a large RV and include picnic tables, fire rings, communal bathrooms, showers, and laundry facilities.
Address: 98 Chaplin Rd, Eastford, CT 06242
7. Pachaug State Forest
The Pachaug State Forest is Connecticut’s biggest state forest, with over 27,000 acres of woods to explore and three distinct campgrounds to select from.
Mt. Misery Campground and Green Falls Campground are tiny campgrounds with quiet woodland tent sites.
Address: Voluntown, CT 06384
8. Gillette Castle State Park
While visiting Gillette Castle on a day trip is feasible, it is much better to spend the night camping at the Gillette Castle State Park, which actor William Gillette himself built.
The campgrounds are on the Connecticut River, and the only access is by boat, albeit there are no mooring facilities.
Address: 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423
9. Black Rock State Park
Black Rock State Park is a beautiful spot to rest and unwind, nestled amid the rolling hills of Connecticut’s Western Highlands.
It’s called after the graphite lead found in the region. The primitive campsite has 78 sites.
While the amenities are only bathrooms and picnic tables, the surrounding region has an abundance of hiking routes ranging from simple strolls to full-day activities.
Address: 2065 Thomaston Rd, Watertown, CT 06795
10. Hammonasset Beach State Park
The Hammonasset Beach State Park is Connecticut’s longest public beach, stretching for more than two miles along Long Island Sound.
During the summer, the beach may get rather crowded, although there is plenty of room to swim and sunbathe, as well as a gorgeous promenade.
There are around 550 campsites to pick from as well.
Address: 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
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Best Places to visit near Connecticut
Mystic Seaport
As part of one of the country’s most well-known maritime museums, Mystic Seaport recreates a historic seaport hamlet.
The museum’s excellent collection of floating vessels, including the world’s only intact wooden whaling ship, Charles W. Morgan, highlights (1841).
The Joseph Conrad, the schooner L.A. Dunton, and several steamboats are among the other historic ships.
The structures on the 19-acre grounds hold not just a tiny village’s residences and stores but also sailmakers, shipbuilders, and others who supplied the ships.
Ship figureheads, nautical art, the history of shipping, and ship models are all on display in several museums.
Yale University Museums
The Yale University Art Gallery and the Peabody Museum of Natural History are two of the most notable museums on the Yale University campus, in the heart of New Haven.
The art museum’s holdings are particularly strong in the ancient Mediterranean and African art, as well as art from the ancient Americas.
The galleries also feature paintings by John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer, George Bellows, John Singer Sargent, and other notable American painters.
Checklist Before Camping in Connecticut
Before you go, think about the weather, activities, camping facilities, and the length of your stay.
These factors will determine the type of equipment you carry and any further preparation you may need to perform.
If you do not know Connecticut well, bringing in the wrong gears might be a problem.
- First aid
- Radio
- Sleeping gear (sleeping pad, bed, etc.)
- Tent
- Pillow
- Chairs
- Blankets
- Bags of ice
- Stove
FAQ
Can you camp anywhere in Connecticut?
If you do not do anything illegal and stay within the limits of the rules, you can camp most of the places where it is explicitly forbidden.
Can you bring pets for camping in Connecticut?
It depends on the campground, but if you are camping outside of a campground, yes, you can.
Are campgrounds in Connecticut Free?
Nearly all campgrounds have a fee, but some national parks might be free.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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- https://www.visitconnecticut.com/state/campgrounds/[↩]
- https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/connecticut-usct.htm[↩]
- https://rvshare.com/blog/boondocking-in-connecticut/#:~:text=Free%20Camping%20in%20Connecticut,-When%20you%20are&text=Travelers%20are%20welcome%20to%20camp,areas%20along%20the%20major%20thoroughfares.[↩]
- https://rvshare.com/blog/boondocking-in-connecticut/#:~:text=Free%20Camping%20in%20Connecticut,-When%20you%20are&text=Travelers%20are%20welcome%20to%20camp,areas%20along%20the%20major%20thoroughfares.[↩]