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Tent Camping near Avon, CT

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    Tent campsites near Avon, Connecticut provide several options for outdoor enthusiasts seeking primitive camping experiences in the region's natural settings. Onion Mountain Park offers free tent camping in a peaceful, wooded environment with established fire pits, while River Highlands State Park River Campground provides tent sites with the benefit of electric hookups along the scenic Connecticut River. Both locations are within a reasonable drive from Avon and offer distinctive outdoor experiences.

    Most tent campgrounds in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. At Onion Mountain Park, campers access sites via hiking trails rather than driving directly to their spots. As one reviewer noted, "It's up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take. However, it's not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite." Many locations lack facilities like drinking water, showers, or modern restrooms, so campers should prepare accordingly with adequate water supplies and sanitation equipment. Fire regulations vary by location, with several sites permitting campfires in designated rings or pits.

    The natural setting provides the primary appeal for tent camping in the Avon area. Sites at Onion Mountain Park feature existing fire pits and are described by users as "very peaceful" with good primitive spots found off trail routes. A review mentioned that "we ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain), where we settled down for the night." For those willing to venture slightly farther, Chapman Pond Preserve offers tent platforms with picnic tables and outhouses with views of the Connecticut River. These tent-only experiences typically provide more seclusion than developed campgrounds, though sites tend to be small and best suited for individual tents rather than group camping. Wildlife encounters are common, so proper food storage is essential, particularly at sites without bear boxes.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Avon (17)

      1. Onion Mountain Park

      4.5(4)4mi from AvonTents

      "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."

      2. River Highlands State Park River Campground

      3.0(2)16mi from Avon2 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

      Check Availability

      3. Sodom Mountain Campground

      4.0(1)17mi from AvonTents

      "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. "

      4. Windmill Hill - Connecticut White Memorial Campground

      5.0(1)21mi from AvonTents

      "Quiet woods atmosphere with trail’s. Wonderful place to camp. Very clean"

      from $25 / night

      Check Availability

      5. Chapman Pond Preserve

      5.0(1)32mi from AvonTents

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

      6. Gillette Castle State Park Campground

      4.0(2)33mi from Avon1 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!"

      Campground full this weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $5 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Chester Railway Station

      5.0(1)33mi from AvonTents, Cabins

      "The caboose is stationed on a big grassy field, near a real railroad. It sleeps 4 and you can set up tents outside too.  You hear the trains running at night. Very clean and comfortable."

      from $50 - $100 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Brassie Brook Shelter - Bear Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

      5.0(2)35mi from AvonTents

      "We started our hike at the under-mountain trailhead, located right off route 41, and climbed up the mountain. Be prepared for steep inclines, and lots of rocks."

      "The lean-to fit our small tens, and there is a picnic table. There's also a bear box near by. Room to camp your tent on the ground too if you wanted to or had more ppl along."

      9. Laurel Ridge — Mount Everett State Reservation

      4.5(2)36mi from AvonTents

      "We actually started this hike in by Race Brook Falls area, and ended it where the GPS coordinates are noted. See the map in my photos marked with yellow lines."

      "We packed on our backpacks early in the morning and arrived there mid-afternoon. Very beautiful view, and an awesome spot! No fires allowed, however."

      10. Riga Lean-To

      5.0(1)34mi from AvonTents

      "We absolutely loved this little lean-to next to Bear Mountain. I'll make this review short, as we also stayed at the Brassie Brook lean-to which is located only about a mile apart from each other."

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Avon, CT

    630 Reviews of 17 Avon 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • E
      Oct. 17, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Rest Of The Day

      One thing I really liked was having wifi when we needed it. Nice to be able to check in on work and then put the phone away and enjoy the rest of the day.

    • D
      Oct. 15, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Perfect Camping Day

      Nice campground with a good mix of activities. We went fishing one morning, spent the afternoon at the pool and had a fire that night. Pretty much a perfect camping day.

    • N
      Oct. 14, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Cook And Hang Out

      We stayed in a cabin and it worked out perfectly for us. Spent the days exploring the area and came back in the evening to cook and hang out. Would definetly do it again.

    • RThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 10, 2026

      Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park

      Taconic SP Copake Falls

      A nice wooded campground that was quiet despite being almost full on our Friday night stay.

      The site we stayed at (64) had some pretty large roots to drive over and may have been an issue for a low clearance vehicle (we have a Subaru Outback).

      The shower / house bathroom combo units weee very clean with hot water and baby changing station.

    Guide to Avon

    Tent camping opportunities near Avon, Connecticut include several primitive sites within a 30-mile radius. The region features low-elevation woodland terrain with typical New England seasonal variations—warm summers reaching 80-85°F and cold winters. Most sites remain open from April through October, with limited winter availability at certain locations. Campgrounds in this area range from basic hike-in sites with minimal amenities to slightly more developed options with tent platforms.

    What to do

    Hiking opportunities: At Brassie Brook Shelter - Bear Mountain, trails offer varying difficulty levels through Connecticut's northwestern forests. "Be prepared for steep inclines, and lots of rocks. After about a mile, you reach a trail intersection, stay left and continue up the hill until you reach the giant sign that reads 'Appalachian Trail - North and South'," notes one camper who tackled the route.

    Water activities: The Connecticut River provides paddling and fishing options at several campgrounds. At Gillette Castle State Park Campground, boat-in sites offer unique water access. As one visitor explains, "We have camped on the south end of Hurd Park several times via boat access. It is amazing with the views of the CT River and being able to watch the sunrise and sunset."

    Wildlife observation: Many sites report common wildlife sightings including deer, foxes, and various bird species. Remember to use bear boxes when provided. At Chapman Pond Preserve, the riverside location creates excellent bird watching opportunities, with one camper noting the "CT river within view" from the campsite.

    What campers like

    Secluded experiences: Many campers appreciate the privacy found at Windmill Hill - Connecticut White Memorial Campground. One camper shares, "I booked site 5 for the week. Great experience! Quiet woods atmosphere with trail's. Wonderful place to camp. Very clean."

    Unique camping options: Some sites offer uncommon accommodations beyond standard tent platforms. At Chester Railway Station, campers can stay in a repurposed caboose. "It is a really fun place to spend a night, especially for a train enthusiast. The caboose is stationed on a big grassy field, near a real railroad. It sleeps 4 and you can set up tents outside too," explains one visitor.

    Mountain views: Higher elevation sites provide scenic panoramas across the Connecticut Valley. At Laurel Ridge, reached by a challenging hike, campers enjoy spectacular vistas. "The views once you get up there are nothing short of stunning and there is a short section of trail that that's really the kind of spot that makes you go 'This is why I hike!'" describes one backpacker.

    What you should know

    Limited facilities: Most tent sites near Avon lack modern amenities. At River Highlands State Park River Campground, simple outhouses serve as restrooms. "As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)," warns one visitor.

    Reservation requirements: Many sites operate on first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. Call ahead to confirm current policies, especially during peak summer weekends when sites fill quickly.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Avon, CT is Onion Mountain Park with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Avon, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.