Camping certainly isn’t for everyone, but these locations might persuade even the most obstinate. They offer beautiful sights, safety, and family-friendly activities. That means you should start planning your weekend away right now because these are experiences offering the best camping in Connecticut that you won’t want to miss! Here are 10 spots that are the best campgrounds in Connecticut.

1. Hopeville Pond State Park (Jewett City)
Brian S./Yelp
929 Hopeville Rd, Griswold, CT 06351, USA
Sheila P./Yelp
This idyllic site is alcohol-free, so not for adult-only trips, but with fishing and swimming it's perfect for the kids. You get to sleep right on the shore!

Get an aerial view of this beautiful park:

2. Macedonia Brook State Park (Kent)
Zolange Y./Yelp
159 Macedonia Brook Rd, Kent, CT 06757, USA
Zolange Y./Yelp
Here you can hike the Blue Trail across Cobble Mountain for views of the Taconic mountains. With 51 camping sites to choose from you don't have to worry about big crowds.
3. Pachaug State Forest (Voluntown)
Rafael Medina/Flickr
06384, Glasgo, CT 06384, USA
Rafael Medina/Flickr
One of the local favorite woods, the Green Fall Area will have you right beside the water. At 24,000 acres, this is a hike lover's dream. Plus, there are horses!
4. Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison)
caren_ep/Flickr
1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443, USA
Jay McAnally/Flickr
With 550 campsites, the hardest part will be deciding if you're there for the beach or the forest. Take a whole weekend and do both at Hammonasset Beach State Park!

Enjoy the natural beauty of this beach park:

5. Kettletown State Park (Southbury)
Peter Galvin/Flickr
1400 Georges Hill Rd, Southbury, CT 06488, USA
Jack Zalium/Flickr
The wooded camping settings at Kettletown State Park are great, and being near the Housatonic River is a big plus.

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6. Black Rock State Park (Watertown)
Safi I./Yelp
2065 Thomaston Rd, Watertown, CT 06795, USA
Teresa C./Flickr
Explore the hills of the Western Highlands and enjoy the large open areas for field sports. Also, if you love trout, this is where you can go to get them!

Take a look at the scenic views you’ll find here:

7. West Thompson Lake Campground (North Grosvenor Dale)
Paul M./Yelp
449 Reardon Rd, North Grosvenor Dale, CT 06255, USA
Paul M./Yelp
Younger folks love this wonderful campground because there is so much to do! Swim, fish, kayak, disc golf, hike, climb giant rocks, or even just visit the playground. It's practically a woods theme park.
8. Mashamoquet Brook State Park (Pomfret Center)
Voluntown Pack 74 Cub Scouts/Facebook
276 Mashamoquet Rd, Pomfret Center, CT 06259, USA
Chiltern Mountain Club/Facebook
Home to Wolf's Den, this lovely place is rich with history and some excellent stream fishing. You can also sign the kids up and dump them if you're so inclined.
9. Devil's Hopyard (East Haddam)
Athina L./TripAdvisor
366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423, USA
D D/TripAdvisor
Devil's Hopyard is perfect for birding. Definitely a great choice for a lone trip or couple's day out. Grill yourself a burger and take it to the waterfall.
10. Austin F. Hawes Memorial Campground (Barkhamsted)
Katiedid80/TripAdvisor
198 W River Rd, Barkhamsted, CT 06063, USA
Katiedid80/TripAdvisor
Located in American Legion and Peoples State Forests, this snowmobiling site is also great for warmer days. For the more experienced hikers, there are a couple of challenging routes hidden here.

Are you planning to pitch a tent at any of the best campgrounds in Connecticut this year? Do you have any other favorite spots? Let us know in the comments. If you’d like even more places, here are 11 more spots with the best camping in Connecticut.

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More to Explore

The Natural Beauty of Connecticut

William Suphan | April 12, 2023

What are the most incredible natural wonders in Connecticut? 

The most incredible natural wonders in Connecticut include:

  • Thimble Islands near Branford. This is an archipelago of about 100 tiny islands with only a few residents. Many of them only contain wildlife.
  • Sleeping Giant near Hamden. This is a traprock mountain that looks like a man sleeping on his back.
  • Kent Falls. There is a multitude of waterfalls in this beautiful area. There are stairs and observation decks to grant you a great view.
  • Bluff Point State Park near Groton. This is an 800-acre peninsula near the Long Island Sound with utterly gorgeous scenery and beautiful sunsets.

Find out more about the most incredible natural wonders in Connecticut. 

What are some bucket list natural attractions in Connecticut?

Bucket list natural attractions in Connecticut include:

  • Hammonasset Beach State Park near Madison. This serene shoreline attracts about 1 million people to visit it every year.
  • Case Mountain Recreational Area. This area contains 640 acres of natural beauty. Get a panoramic view from the trail to Lookout Mountain.
  • Cathedral Pines in Cornwall. This is a forest of hemlock and white pine which has grown back since tornadoes hit the area in 1989.
  • Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum. You'll find dinosaur tracks here that are over 200 million years old.

Discover more about bucket list natural attractions in Connecticut. 

What are some hidden gem natural attractions in Connecticut?

Hidden gem natural attractions in Connecticut include:

  • Squantz Pond. This lush area is surrounded by beautiful mountains that are especially vivid during the fall when the foliage is awash with color.
  • West River. This serene river is a perfect place for kayaking and taking in many scenic breathtaking views.
  • Charles Island. This lovely, tiny island is only accessible by a sandbar which disappears with the rising tide.
  • Mianus River. This area is filled with lovely, rushing waterfalls and swimming holes. It is the perfect place to visit during the summer months.

Learn more about hidden gem natural attractions in Connecticut. 

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