Where To Go Camping in Connecticut
The Constitution State draws hoards of RV and tent travelers during the fall for its colorful autumn foliage, however, it’s an incredible outdoor destination the rest of the year too. Connecticut, though not a robust state for camping, certainly has spots to make outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes excited.
As with New England in general, Connecticut is best enjoyed in spring and fall. If visiting during the summer, you may be better off sticking to the coastal sections of the state to stay cool with the breeze.
However, since the seashores have higher humidity and may feel warmer, even though they’re roughly the same temperature as the rest of the state. There’s always the beach and playing in the ocean to cool you down.
Best Times to Go Camping in Connecticut
Spring and fall are really the times to be here, though. In terms of spring, the latest part of the season is the most comfortable. May and June tend to be the best spring months to visit Connecticut. The daytime highs are still in the 70s, and it only drops to the 50s overnight, making for great hiking and camping weather.
September and October tend to be the best fall months. The early part of the season is still warm, though slightly cooler overall with temperatures dropping into the 40s overnight by October. That said, if you time the fall colors right, you’re in for a treat. RV campers, of course, are going to be more comfortable, but tent campers can enjoy the early fall without too much trouble.
Winter camping isn’t exactly advisable in New England. Can you? Sure, in a few select places, but most campgrounds are closed by late fall. Do you want to? Probably not, unless you’re in an RV and/or you really enjoy the cold. Otherwise, most campers should plan to be here between early May and late October.
National Park Service Sites in Connecticut
Like much of the Northeast, the National Park Service (NPS) sites here tend to revolve around the history of the state. There are five NPS sites in Connecticut, with one offering camping. The other four, while interesting and historically focused (for the most part), are day-use only.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) is the only camping option here. For hikers, a weekend hike on the AT is a must. Expect others on the trail, especially around July and August, when many thru-hikers are going to be hitting the Connecticut section of the trail. You can either pitch a tent or find one of the AT shelters and spend a night there.
National Forests in Connecticut
Connecticut doesn’t have any national forests, but it does have 32 state forests. Of those state forests, however, only two offer camping. Of course, the other state forests are still great for day trips. Of the two, American Legion has slightly better accommodations, offering rustic cabin stays as well as traditional tent sites.
- American Legion State Forest
- Pachaug State Forest
Best Free Camping in Connecticut
Bad news on this front. Connecticut isn’t exactly overflowing with federal land, so free camping is anything but plentiful. The federal government manages less than 1% of the state, and state forests don’t offer free camping. In fact, Connecticut has the lowest percentage of federally managed land (0.28%) in the country. Thus, free camping is effectively non-existent in Connecticut.
While free camping isn’t an option, drivers do have a handful of places they can pull over for the night. While it isn’t exactly camping, the rest areas in the state of Connecticut tend to be friendly to overnight stays. The same goes for the state’s Cracker Barrel’s and casinos. While only the rest stops will give you access to some amenities, any of them are a safe and reliable option if you need a place to pull over.
Connecticut State and Public Parks
Connecticut is certainly an interesting state when it comes to state parks. It’s the third-smallest state in the country but has the 10th-most state parks! With just a touch over 5,500 square miles, there are 110 state parks in the Constitution State. The next state ahead? Alaska, with 119 state parks.
So, even though there are 110 state parks, only 10% of them offer camping. That’s right, just 11 parks in Connecticut offer camping, while the other 99 are day-use. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of great state parks to see during the day. There are tons of incredible parks here, but these 11 are the only ones to offer overnight accommodations.
- Black Rock State Park
- Devil’s Hopyard State Park
- Hammonasset Beach State Park
- Hopeville Pond State Park
- Housatonic Meadows State Park
- Kettletown State Park
- Lake Waramaug State Park
- Macedonia Brook State Park
- Mashamoquet Brook State Park
- Rocky Neck State Park
- Salt Rock State Park
RV Resorts and Unique Stays
Most of the stays in Connecticut tend to revolve around glamping and wilderness-inspired (though thoroughly comfortable) experiences. For the most part, you’ll find that glamping and camp resorts tend to be the majority of the options in the state, though plenty of resorts offer RV parking options as well. When making your list of stays, keep these six in mind.
- Tamarack Lodge & Glamping Resort
- Odetah Camping Resort
- Sun Outdoors Mystic
- Sticks and Stones Farm
- Strawberry Park Resort Campground
- Getaway Machimoodus Cabins
The Constitution State has a lot of that classic New England beauty but is certainly an under-appreciated camping destination. Whether you want to head here for a summer trip or to enjoy the fall colors, Connecticut is a place everyone should see at least once.
