Connecticut might not be the largest state, but it still offers a lot of outdoor activities and great camping spots. In fact, some of the best campgrounds in Connecticut are surrounded by hiking trails, lakes, and waterfalls. Along the coast, you’ll find both big cities and sleepy beach towns, perfect for learning more about the state and its people.
Connecticut also has some awesome RV rental deals, so you can road trip across the state even if you don’t have your own rig. In your rental, you can visit some of the prettiest state parks and beaches and stay in a variety of campgrounds in Connecticut. There are RV resorts with incredible amenities, boondocking opportunities, and everything in between.
Something important to note about Connecticut State Parks is that they don’t allow visitors to bring alcohol, pets, or firewood into their campgrounds. Pets on a leash are permitted in most state parks and forests if they’re just visiting for the day. Firewood can be bought on-site.
So if you’ve fueled up your RV, gone through your RV packing list, and are ready for the best camping in Connecticut, keep reading. We’ve listed campgrounds all around the state that are perfect for your outdoor adventure.
Where to camp in Connecticut
Mystic KOA Holiday
One of the best Connecticut campgrounds is the Mystic KOA Holiday on the eastern side of the state. It’s just off of Interstate 95, so it’s easy to get to and has amenities like a pool, mini-golf, outdoor pavilions, basketball courts, two fishing lakes, and multiple playgrounds. There is also complimentary WiFi and Cable TV.
Some must-do things in the area include Mystic Seaport with the world’s last wooden whaling ship and the Mystic Aquarium. If you’d like to spend some time on the water, Ocean Beach Park is only a 30-minute drive from the campground. Here you’ll find beautiful sugar sand beaches, a boardwalk, games, and waterslides.
Niantic I95 Exit 72 CT KOA
One of the best campgrounds in Connecticut along the coast is the Niantic KOA. This peaceful and relaxing campground is next to Rocky Neck State Park. Inside the park are beautiful beaches and miles of hiking trails. Fishing is also a popular pastime here, and common catches include winter flounder, bluefish, blackfish, and striped bass.
At the campground, RV camping sites feature different hookup options and electrical specifications for different RV types. There are also amenities like laundry facilities, bathrooms, showers, a Kamping Kitchen, communal fire pits, and a camp store.
Foxwoods Resort and Casino 24
If you’re RVing on a budget and don’t mind being without hookups or amenities, then Foxwoods Resort and Casino 24 is a great option. Located in Mashantucket, the casino offers 28 free RV overnight sites. Remember to register your vehicle when you arrive; there is a phone number provided to call the transportation manager. You can stay a maximum of ten days.
This free campground is barebones, but it’s in a great location. It’s only 25 minutes from Pachaug State Forest, the largest state forest in Connecticut. With an area of 26,477 acres, there are many opportunities for hiking, fishing, and even hunting. You’ll also have access to miles of horseback riding trails, as well as a 58-mile motorcycle trail that takes you through the forest and surrounding areas.
Mohegan Sun Casino
Another free campground in Connecticut can be found at Mohegan Sun Casino. It is located outside the city of Uncasville and you can stay up to ten days. This is dry camping, so make sure you have everything on your camping checklist before you get there. Casino security will help you register your RV and show you where to park.
If you’d like to spend time at the casino, there are shuttles that take you there about every 20 minutes. The casino is also about a 45-minute drive southeast from Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. There you’ll find great museums like the Mark Twain House & Museum, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Grandview Camping Resort
Another of the best Connecticut campgrounds is Grandview Camping Resort. The resort is located in central Connecticut in the town of East Haddam. You’ll find grassy lawns, picnic tables and fire rings, and full hookups with water, electric, and sewer connections. There is also a playground, basketball court, and an in-ground pool.
Just a 15-minute drive from the resort is Gillette Castle State Park. It is home to the ruins of the magnificent Gillette Castle, once owned by famed stage actor William Gillette. In nearby Cromwell, you’ll also find one of the best RV rentals in Connecticut.
Mineral Springs Family Campground
Some of the best camping in Connecticut can be found in the northern part of the state. Mineral Springs Family Campground is a family-friendly campground near Stafford. There are full hookups available and there are also designated sites for tent camping. The campground also offers bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and a large campground store.
Nearby, visitors will love how many state forests there are to explore in the area. Shenipsit State Forest, Nye Holman State Forest, and Nipmuck State Forest are all a short drive away. Those looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush should visit the Stafford Motor Speedway. It holds weekly racing every Friday night from May to September.
Branch Brook Campground
Out west, you’ll find another of the best campgrounds in Connecticut. Branch Brook Campground is located in the rural countryside, just outside of Thomaston. It is equipped with a variety of private and spacious campsites that can accommodate both RVers and tent campers. Most of the sites are set up with electric and water hookups, as well as cable TV and wireless internet.
Some must-do things in the area include visiting Black Rock State Park and Mattatuck State Forest. Both offer hiking, swimming, rock-climbing, and fishing opportunities. If you’d like to head into town, Thomaston has historical sites, old colonial-style homes, and locally-owned shops and restaurants.
Kettletown State Park
If you’d like to try some Connecticut state park camping, we recommend Kettletown State Park in southwest Connecticut. The park has 61 campsites within walking distance to the beach along Lake Zoar. The sites do not have hookups, but there are restrooms and water stations throughout the campground. There is also one dump station.
During the winter months, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular activities. During the summer, visitors will enjoy swimming, hiking, and fishing. The park is also a good base if you’d like to head into New Haven, which is only a 45-minute drive south.
Macedonia Brook State Park
Another great option for Connecticut state park camping is Macedonia Brook State Park. This breathtaking park has over 2300 acres and is home to rivers, streams, forests, and steep cliffs. At an elevation of over 1000 feet, you’ll have amazing views of Cobble Mountain, New York State’s Catskills, and Taconic mountain ranges.
The park is open from April through September for camping and has 51 campsites. Twentytwo of the sites are standard non-electric sites meant for RVs and trailers while the rest are tent sites. There are picnic tables, grills, and fire pits. Sewage hookups and toilet facilities are also available within the park.
Hammonasset Beach State Park
One of the best beach campgrounds in Connecticut is located in Hammonasset Beach State Park. The park has over 550 campsites to choose from, 50 of which have electric hookups. There are also bathhouses, dishwashing stations, potable water, and dumpsters. This popular campground is only open from Memorial Day to the beginning of October, so be sure to make a reservation.
Only minutes from Connecticut’s largest beach, visitors can go swimming, collect seashells, or walk along the boardwalk. Further inland, you can go hiking and biking along the park’s many trails. Be sure to also visit the Meigs Point Nature Center which has interactive programs, nature walks, and even a touch tank!
Rent these 5-star RVs in Connecticut
When planning your road trip around Connecticut, if you’re in need of an RV, we have some great options. Below are some of our favorite 5-star options in Connecticut:
- 2014 Mercedes Sprinter in Cromwell. Take this professionally custom built and designed camper van with you wherever your heart desires! This easy to drive (large enough to be comfortable yet small enough to be stealthy) camper van is equipped with all the features of home.
- 2021 Thor Motor Coach Gemini in Waterbury. A dream to drive at 23.5 feet! Fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator and freezer. Two burner cooktop, convection/microwave oven, plates, bowls, cutlery, and glasses are all included. Queen Murphy bed with fresh linens, full bathroom with large shower, and lots of storage.
- 2005 Airstream Westfalia in Prospect. It is great for people worried about driving something big but want all the comforts of home. This 18-foot camper van fits in a standard parking space. Fully self-contained, not only with screens, venting, hot water, heat and air conditioning but also with a bathroom, inside shower, kitchen with counters, microwave, inside dining room table (front seats turn 360) and over 7 1/2 feet of headroom!
- 2019 SylvanSport GO in Bethany. The SylvanSport GO is known as THE Coolest Camper Ever, it is a pop-up camper (dry), toy/gear hauler, and travel trailer! The GO is for those adventure seekers who want to experience and enjoy nature as it should be, while having the ability to be off grid and off the ground!
- 2017 Mercedes Coachmen Prism in Glastonbury. High efficiency Diesel engine gives you 14 mpg and has everything that you need in a nice small package. Sleeps 6 and has one slide. Main bed has an organic latex foam mattress topper and organic sheets. Dinette becomes a bed and we have a topper on the overhead bunk as well. Comes with pots, pans, coffee maker, towels, fresh bed linens, beach umbrella, outdoor throw rugs, games puzzles and kites.
Ready to experience the best camping in Connecticut?
We hope that reading about these campgrounds in Connecticut has inspired you to plan a road trip around the state. From mountains to beaches, the state has a little bit for everyone. There is also a lot of history about the first native people and about colonial times, all of which can be learned about in the state’s larger cities.
So why not rent an RV today and hit the road? Explore both rural and urban Connecticut, all from the comfort of your RV!
