Connecticut is a great place to go outdoors, with a long coastal line, islands, and inland lakes with small towns and rural areas. It's a great mix of natural beauty, a natural history museum, the Mystic Seaport, and the vast regions for camping and RVing. You have many options available in the state, including traditional campgrounds and backpacking lean-tos, and you also love the riverside spots only accessible by boat. Let us explore the best options for campgrounds in Connecticut.
Campgrounds In Ct
The campgrounds in CT are plenty in state parks and private settings. The 13 state parks and forests are primarily located in Mystic and Litchfield and are open from mid-spring through September. These campgrounds offer basic amenities; some may provide luxury arrangements and activities.
1. Hammonasset State Park - Madison
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Hammonasset-Beach-State-Park
Location: 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443, United States
Phone: +1 203-245-2785
Hammonasset State Park's 2 miles of beach offers many activities include, in swimming, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, or even a peaceful walk, strolling on the boardwalk, fishing, hiking, and boat launch ramps. Kids will also enjoy the playground here and then movies and activities on the weekends. Hammonasset has over 550 grassy campsites and many rustic cabins.
2. Water's Edge Family Campground - Lebanon
Website: https://watersedgecampground.com/
Location: 271 Leonard Bridge Rd. Lebanon, CT 06249-1923
Phone: 1(860)642-7470
Rates: Campsite Rate: $75.00 - $84.00
Camping Cabins: $150-$240
Water's Edge family campground offers all basic amenities whether you are looking for an RV seasonal site or a weekend getaway—the onsite store stocks basic groceries, souvenirs, camping essentials, and propane. The activities include fishing, boating, hiking, hayrides, etc. It also offers children's games & activities, bingo, potluck suppers, treasure hunts, live entertainment, and dancing.
3. Markham Meadows Campground
Website: http://www.markhammeadows.com/
Location: 9 Markham Rd, East Hampton, CT 06424, United States
Phone: (860) 267-9738
Rates: Nightly $65
Weekly $425
Markham Meadows Campground offers plenty of activities for adults and kids. It has two ponds for fishing, and paddle boating and kayaking are free. Kids can enjoy the playscape, arcade, and pool. Markham Meadows Campground in Connecticut offers many activities and entertainment on the weekends.
4. West Thompson Lake Campground
Website: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233476
Location: 449 Reardon Rd, North Grosvenor Dale, CT 06255, United States
Phone: +1 203-245-2785
Rates: Standard Electric $30.00
Standard Nonelectric $15.00
Days: 14 days
West Thompson Lake Campground in Connecticut is a year-round campsite. It is located on West Thompson Lake, which provides kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and boating. There is a boat ramp near the campground for easy access. The campground has 11 campsites with electric and water hookups, while the other 11 primary sites are without hookups.
West Thompson Lake is in a forest of Eastern white pine, Northern red oak, and Shagbark hickory—an excellent place for photographs.
5. Charlie Brown Campground
Website: https://www.charliebrowncampground.com/
Location: 98 Chaplin Rd #198, Eastford, CT 06242, United States
Phone: 860-974-0142
Rates: $72.50 - $88.00
Eastford is a beautiful place with rolling hills, rivers, state parks, and forests. It is an ideal place to camp and enjoy the natural beauty. The Charlie Brown campsite has 85 large campsites to accommodate even large RVs and campers. It offers Children's Area, fishing, hiking, and planned recreational activities.
6. White Memorial Family Campground
Website: https://whitememorialcc.org/family-camping/
Location: N Shore Rd, Bantam, CT 06750, United States
Phone: +1 860-567-0089
Rates: Tent Only Sites – $16.00/night/site -plus $4 processing fee
RV Sites $19.50/night/site -plus fees
White Memorial Family Campground is located in Litchfield and offers two campgrounds. Interestingly, it is the largest wildlife refuge in Connecticut, so that you can enjoy wildlife and birdwatching. The other activities include biking, hiking, boating, and fishing in Bantam Lake and Bantam River.
7. Acorn Acres Campground
Website: https://acornacrescampsites.com/
Location: 135 Lake Rd, Bozrah, CT 06334, United States
Phone: +1 203-245-2785
Rates: #60 - $85 +Electric
Acorn Acres is another campsite in Connecticut surrounded by scenic landscapes and well-equipped with all amenities. They offer camping cabins and campsites with water, electricity & sewer. It is a family camping site where you can enjoy paddle boating, a pond, tractor rides, mini golf, pickle ball, and water fun.
8. Beaver Pines Campground
Website: http://www.beaverpinescampground.com/
Location: 1728 CT-198, Woodstock, CT 06281, United States
Phone: +1 860-974-0110
Rates: $900/30 days
Beaver Pines Campground is a family-owned campground. The beautiful landscape gives you a break from monotonous city life. Like other campgrounds in CT, this site has basic amenities, including coin-op laundry, propane tank filling, and motor home filling. Activities include a rec field on the grounds for horseshoes, volleyball, whiffle ball, and a playground for children 12 and under.
9. Devil's Hopyard State Park
Website: https://ctparks.com/parks/devils-hopyard-state-park
Location: 366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423, United States
Phone:1-(860) 526-2336
Pet Friendly: Picnic Areas & Hiking Trails: Yes, on leash
Campground: Not permitted
The Devil’s Hopyard State Park has a mystery attached to it. You can also try to solve this mystery to learn more about pothole stone formations. Additionally, you can hike to the splendid waterfall vistas, enjoy bird watching and go fishing. The combination of spectacular landscape, historic identity, and modern facilities make this campground in Connecticut a perfect place to be.
10. Rocky Neck State Park
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/state-parks/parks/rocky-neck-state-park/
Location: 244 W Main St, Niantic, CT 06357, United States
Phone: +1 860-739-5471
Rocky Neck State Park is our last pick among the best campgrounds in CT. It is located in East Lyme and spreads over 710 acres with a beach. It is an excellent place for nature lovers with beautiful beaches, picnic areas, train watching, and salt marsh viewing platforms.
Best 3 Solar Generators For Campgrounds In Ct
The Jackery solar generators are compact, lightweight, and portable solar power generators. These generators use solar power, so you do not have to carry fuel. These tiny powerhouses are available in a range of sizes and capacities, starting from 100 Wh and going up to 3000+ Wh.
How do Solar Generators Work?
Solar generators combine an inverter and power storage batteries in a package. These generators are connected to foldable solar panels. The solar panels capture sunlight and harness its energy into electric current supplied to the inverter. The inverter then converts the DC electricity into AC, which can be used directly or stored in batteries. The generators are fixed with multiple output ports that allow you to connect multiple devices to run.
Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus (Backpacking)
Rated Watt: 300 W
Surge Watts: 600 W
Capacity: 288Wh
Battery Cell & Life Cycle: LiFePO4 Cycle life:3000 cycles to 80%+ capacity
Recharging Methods &Time: Solar Panel: 9.5 Hours
AC Adapter 2 Hours
Car Adapter: 5.5 Hours
Appliances: Drone (90W) 5 Times
Camera (8.4W) 12 Times
Mobile Phone (29W) 13 Times
Computer (80W) 3 Times
Gaming Console (18W) 10 Times
The Jackery solar generator 300 Plus is a lightweight and compact solar power generator you can take to any campground in Connecticut. It can charge and run your laptop, mobile phone, lights, and gaming console. It is waterproof and weather resistant, so it is generally safe for all weathers.
Review: “300PacksAPunch
I'm so glad I decided to get my jersey. It's small but mighty. During a recent power outage due to a freak cold streak in Georgia, I was able to keep my laptop and phone powered until my work was done. Thank you, Jackery!!
I'm looking forward to some adventures with my new Jackery.” - Anne Lindeman
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus (Vanlife)
Rated Watt: 2000W
Surge Watts: 4000W
Capacity:1264.64Wh
Battery Cell & Life Cycle: LFP (LiFePO4 battery)
Cycle life: 4000 cycles to 70%+ capacity
Recharging Methods & Time Solar Panel: 2 Hours
AC Adapter: 1.7 Hours
Car Adapter: 7 Hours
Appliances: Coffee Maker (1300W) 1.3H
Car Fridge (60W) 45H
Projector (100W) 9 H
Electric Cooker (900W) 1 H
Portable Air Conditioner 1150W (1150W) 1 H
Television (60W) 14 H
The Solar Generator 1000 Plus is a reliable and safe generator with an advanced battery management system to ensure a fluctuating-free power supply to keep the appliances safe. It is perfect for van life as you can run your lighting, digital gadget, electric cooker, car fridge, and small air conditioner.
Review: “Great option for backup power source
Power packs are easy to set up, charge, and move around. Weight and size make it easy for the units to move when and where needed. Easy to read display. Suitable for charging multiple devices. Excellent service from Jackery online. Quick shipping.” - Gary Way
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus (Full-Time RV Living)
Max Watt: 3000W
Surge Watts: 6000W
Capacity: 2042.8Wh
Battery Cell & Life Cycle: LFP (LiFePO4 battery)
Cycle life: 4000 cycles to 70%+ capacity
Recharging Methods & Time Solar Panel: 3-4 Hours
AC Adapter: 2 Hours
Car Adapter: 25 Hours
Appliances: Portable Air Conditioner(1150W) 1.9 H
Microwave (1050W) 1.5 H
Kettle(850W)1.9 H
Coffee Maker (550W) 2.8 H
Electric Oven (800W)2.1 H
The Solar Generator 2000 Plus comes with an expandable capacity. The basic setup provides you with 2042.8 Wh. If you want to expand, you can add more battery packs or connect two generators to achieve a powerhouse of 24kWh. You can run your electric oven, lighting, air conditioner, and multiple digital gadgets with it. Since it has various AC, DC, and USB output ports, different types of equipment can be plugged in.
Review:
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Fantastic customer service. Well-made unit with high-quality components. It reached full charge in 2 1/4 hours from the standard outlet.
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Buy a Jackery, and you'll agree." - Steve Maclachlan.
Campgrounds In Connecticut FAQ
How do I reserve a campsite in CT?
You have listed phone numbers and websites in the description of all the listed campgrounds in Connecticut. The CT government portal also allows one to select a campground from the map or the list. You can resit serve for all state campgrounds by calling toll-free 1-877-668-CAMP (2267).
Can I camp anywhere in Connecticut?
There are many campgrounds in Connecticut, so camping is only allowed on these sites, and dispersed camping is not permitted.
Where can you camp for free in CT?
Free camping is available at Cracker Barrel outside of Bridgeport and a few further East locations. The North Stonington Rest Area also allows overnight stays in their parking lot.
Can you drink in Connecticut state parks?
Drinking is permitted in many state parks and forests but not on beaches or boardwalks. Also, beer in containers larger than 1 liter is prohibited.
Conclusion
Connecticut is a popular camping and RVing destination, combining rural towns, picturesque natural scenery, beaches, rivers, lakes, and flourishing wildlife. We have listed the top 10 campgrounds in CT, which are well-equipped with amnesties and support fun outdoor adventures. You can enjoy swimming, kayaking, hiking, and birdwatching to relax and recharge.
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