Tent Camping near Ashford, CT

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    The forested landscapes surrounding Ashford, Connecticut offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Primitive tent campsites can be found at Onion Mountain Park, approximately 30 miles northwest of Ashford, where walk-in tent sites provide a secluded camping experience. For tent campers seeking water access, Selden Neck State Park Campground and Chapman Pond Preserve offer tent-only camping along the Connecticut River, though these require boat access. Buck Hill Campground in nearby Rhode Island provides established tent camping with pond access and is suitable for groups needing multiple tent sites.

    Most tent-only campgrounds in the region have basic amenities with varying access requirements. Onion Mountain Park features primitive tent sites accessible via hiking trails rather than direct vehicle access, with campers reporting a short but definite hike required to reach the camping area. Sites typically include established fire rings but limited other facilities. Campers should bring their own water, as most primitive tent camping areas lack potable water sources. The terrain at many sites consists of uneven forest floor with roots and natural obstacles, requiring careful tent placement. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with restrictions common during dry summer months.

    Tent campers frequently note the peaceful atmosphere at these locations. According to reviews, Onion Mountain Park offers "very peaceful overnight camping" with sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. One camper advised bringing a smaller tent as "the spot is not very big" but mentioned the convenience of finding "a firepit already set up." At Selden Neck State Park, tent platforms provide stable surfaces for camping with "plenty of flat area to pitch a tent, nice picnic table and fire pit." The island location creates a unique backcountry tent camping experience with minimal development beyond the four designated campsites. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with many backcountry tent sites having limited or no connectivity.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Ashford (16)

      1. Buck Hill Campground

      4.0(1)18mi from AshfordTents

      "All the sites are in large clusters (each can accommodate 10+ tents). many of the sites are also along Wakefield Pond (big enough lake for canoe/kayak/etc."

      2. Ginny B Camp Grounds

      Be the first to review21mi from AshfordTents

      from $46 - $50 / night

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      3. River Highlands State Park River Campground

      3.0(2)32mi from Ashford2 sitesTents

      "We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."

      from $5 / night

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      4. Onion Mountain Park

      4.5(4)38mi from AshfordTents

      "We arrived at the parking lot of Onion Mountain Park at around 2 pm and proceeded to get our bags packed for the hike."

      "Very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required. Small campsite, first come first served basis. Other posts claim you can park right the site, but you can not."

      5. Gillette Castle State Park Campground

      4.0(2)34mi from Ashford1 siteTents

      "There's a few sites close to each other, so it is nice to go with enough people to occupy them all at once to keep it personal. You can swim and fish and relax all day!"

      from $5 / night

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      6. Chapman Pond Preserve

      5.0(1)34mi from AshfordTents

      "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view. Good site"

      7. Frontier Family Camper Park

      5.0(1)34mi from AshfordRVs, Tents

      "Spots are hard to find.dorothy gave us a great spot near rest rooms and showers for the kids. Every single person we met was a delight and overly generous to us and our kids."

      8. Arcadia Backpack Camping Area

      Be the first to review26mi from Ashford1 siteTents

      9. Selden Neck State Park Campground

      3.0(2)36mi from Ashford4 sitesTents

      "Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites. You have to kayak or boat in."

      from $5 / night

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      10. Sodom Mountain Campground

      4.0(1)35mi from AshfordTents

      "I wasn't going to come back again but it is very close to my grandkids. All roads are dirt and all potholes have been repaired.  The clubhouse is being renovated and activities are now back. "

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Ashford, CT

    10 Photos of 16 Ashford Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers


    Tent Camping Reviews near Ashford, CT

    785 Reviews of 16 Ashford Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 28, 2026

      Lake Compounce Campground

      Amusement Park Camping

      This campground is associated with a large amusement park. We were there in the fall when the amusement park was closed so the campground was not very busy but image it would have a very crowded feel if you were there during the summer. The RV sites are buddy sites which is never our favorite set-up (unless we are traveling with friends). Luckily, there was no one in the site next to us during our stay. The campground is big rig-friendly with roads and sites wide and long enough to accommodate any size RV; however, the road and roundabout you encounter when entering the campground is tight. There was very little traffic when we entered so navigating the entrance booth and roundabout was doable. The RV slots you pull into to check in at registration are far too short to accommodate large RVs with their tow vehicles and we ended up taking up four spaces. The tent sites are set away from the cabins and RV sites. Some are nicely tucked up against the tree line while others are in a grassy area and others are sandy nestled under some scrubby pine trees. One of the problems with the location of the tent sites is that they are far away from the bathrooms. Garbage cans are scattered throughout the campground so you don’t have to walk very far to dump your trash. There is no sewer but the electric (50-amp) worked well. There is cable but the channels were not HD so we switched to our over-the-air antenna and got great HD reception with about 60 channels. There is wifi but we could not get it at our site so we just used our Verizon hotspot (which had great reception). The water pressure is very high so we dialed our regulator back to around 45.  Roads and sites are gravel. All the sites are level and have a picnic table and fire pit.  We noticed that some of the fire pits needed to be cleaned out because rude campers littered them with water bottles, cans, and other garbage in the fire pits. One of the downsides is the noise from local recycling/transfer station. There is a dump station set to the side as you enter/exit. It was a little tight for us getting our 45’ RV in there but it was doable. There is only one sewer dump so we can image that it can be pretty backed up on Sundays when everybody checks out.

    • Joseph R.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      A Really Enjoyable Camping

      After a busy summer, we wanted somewhere we could just park the camper and slow down for a few days. Sterling Park worked out great for that. We spent one morning fishing, walked the trails later in the day and finished the evening around the fire. Nothing complicated, just a really enjoyable camping weekend.

    • Kai F.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Did Some Fishing

      After a busy few weeks, this was exactly the break we needed. The kids went swimming, we did some fishing, and everyone came home tired in a good way lol.

    • Evan W.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Around The Sites

      We came with another family and had a blast. The kids disappeared together for half the day while the adults hung around the sites. Between fishing, the pool and the other activities, everyone found something they liked. Would definatly come back.

    • T
      Oct. 23, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Bunch Of Extra Trips

      White Pines made a really good home base for our trip. We spent most of the days checking out different spots around northwest Connecticut and came back here in the evenings. Made dinner outside, had a fire, and just relaxed. The campground itself had everything we needed without having to make a bunch of extra trips into town.

    • Zachary P.
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Just Sat Back

      Our kids are already asking when we can go back. They loved the pool, playground and all the space to run around. We mostly just sat back and enjoyed having a few days off.

    • H
      Oct. 21, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Some Actual Downtime

      We brought our camper up for the weekend and the kids immediately wanted to go to the pool.😂 They also loved the fishing pond and exploring around the campground. There was plenty to keep them busy while we got some actual downtime.

    • J
      Oct. 20, 2026

      GrandView CampResort & Cottages

      Friendly staff and very clean facilities. They have sites with sewage hookups along with water and electric. Sites are small and very close together. I liked how many dog waste receptacles were available all over the property.

    • S
      Oct. 17, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Room To Relax

      Brought our camper up for a long weekend and had plenty of room to relax. The campground store was also super handy when we realized we forgot a few things.

    Guide to Ashford

    Tent camping options near Ashford, Connecticut extend beyond the immediate area into neighboring Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Campsites in this region range from primitive walk-in sites to boat-accessible river locations across eastern Connecticut. The topography features typical New England woodland terrain with mixed hardwood forests, rocky outcroppings, and multiple water access points along the Connecticut River. Winter camping is limited at most locations due to seasonal closures from November through April.

    What to do

    Paddle to island camping: Chapman Pond Preserve provides tent platforms with Connecticut River views. According to Ben L., there are "good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view," making this a convenient base for water activities.

    Hiking with overnight stays: Onion Mountain Park offers primitive campsites accessible via hiking trails. Marshall S. notes, "My BSA troop has been going here for years to help new scouts learn to camp. It is a very casual site and good for your first trip."

    Riverside recreation: Gillette Castle State Park Campground features water-access camping with swimming opportunities. Jackie G. reports, "We have camped on the south end of Hurd Park several times via boat access. You can swim and fish and relax all day!"

    What campers like

    Natural isolation: Tent campers frequently mention the peaceful environment at Selden Neck State Park Campground. Jason S. describes it as "an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites," creating a remote experience despite relative proximity to towns.

    Pond access: Buck Hill Campground in Rhode Island offers group camping with water recreation. Greg R. describes, "The water is clean and fine for swimming with a few areas that make for easy entry into the water (including the 'beach')."

    Convenient primitive camping: Multiple sites provide basic amenities without requiring extensive backcountry experience. Ricky H. found Onion Mountain Park offered "very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required. Small campsite, first come first served basis."

    What you should know

    Access limitations: Many tent camping areas require specific transportation methods. Jason S. explains that for Selden Neck: "You have to kayak or boat in. There's a boat launch across from the island on the west side of the river at Deep River Landing where you can leave your car."

    Site size constraints: Expect compact tent sites at most primitive locations. Nora S. advises about Onion Mountain Park, "The spot is not very big so make sure to bring a smaller tent (no group sites)."

    Wildlife awareness: Natural settings come with their inhabitants. River Highlands State Park River Campground visitor Alicia B. warns, "the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)."

    Tips for camping with families

    Scout-friendly locations: Several campgrounds are regularly used by youth organizations. At Buck Hill Campground, Greg R. notes, "I'm pretty sure this is a scouting campground (Cub Scout). All the sites are in large clusters (each can accommodate 10+ tents)."

    Beginner-friendly options: Sodom Mountain Campground has seen recent improvements making it more family-accessible. Brad N. shares, "This campground has improved with the new owners as of 2021... Great Wi-Fi now, store has been redone and grands are much nicer."

    Water safety considerations: River and pond access points require supervision. At Gillette Castle State Park, Jackie G. mentions being able to "watch the sunrise and sunset" over the water, but families should note river currents and boat traffic.

    Tips from RVers

    Limited RV access: Most tent camping areas near Ashford do not accommodate recreational vehicles. The primitive nature of sites like Chapman Pond and Onion Mountain makes them tent-only destinations.

    Nearby alternatives: For RVers seeking campgrounds close to Ashford tent camping areas, consider improved sites with dedicated RV facilities. Sodom Mountain has addressed infrastructure concerns, with Brad N. noting, "All roads are dirt and all potholes have been repaired."

    Seasonal consideration: Weather impacts site conditions significantly. Jason S. recalls at Selden Neck, "In the morning, we were completely socked in with fog which would have been an issue if we had to get back early. But it burned off before long and we headed back."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ashford, CT?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ashford, CT is Buck Hill Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Ashford, CT?

    TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Ashford, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.