Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in American Legion State Forest spans along the Farmington River with 30 campsites spread across 4,500 acres of mixed hardwood forest. Campsites at Hawes typically feature fire rings surrounded by gravel pads on gently sloped terrain at elevations between 750-850 feet. The area experiences summer temperatures averaging 80°F during July and August with moderate rainfall.
What to do
Fishing the Farmington River: Prime trout fishing access directly from Austin Hawes Memorial Campground sites along the riverbank. "Trophy trout river with excellent fishing, but catch and release only," notes Melissa R. The Pleasant Valley General Store nearby provides "everything you need in addition to live bait and even a rod and reel to purchase if you forget yours," according to Anthony and Kim C.
Hiking regional trails: Onion Mountain Park offers moderate 2-4 mile trails through mixed hardwood forest. "We ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain), where we settled down for the night," shares Nora S. The Henry Buck Trail in American Legion State Forest provides additional day hiking options with minimal elevation gain suitable for most fitness levels.
Local attractions: Prospect Mountain area contains interesting sites within 15-20 minute drives. "The Pleasant Valley General Store down the road is great. We also recommend the General Store nearby in Riverton! Great place to have lunch!" reports Anthony and Kim C. Austin S. adds, "there is a drive-in movie theater 10 min away (we always tailgate a movie as tradition) it's close to a bunch of quaint towns."
What campers like
Spacious camping spots: White Pines Campsites offers well-designed tent areas separated from RV sections. "We stayed at site T3 and it was spacious and spread out from other tent sites. There was a tiny creek meandering behind the site and the woods just went on for miles. We felt grateful to be separated from the RVers and have so much space to ourselves," reports Sylvia P.
Natural water features: Fishing and swimming opportunities abound at multiple campgrounds. "We had a great time, we stayed right on the river side," shares Andrzej K. about his experience at Austin Hawes. Tolland State Forest Campground offers lakefront access where "we have brought out kayaks and took off right from the site. There are rocks to get into the water but the water is clean and not mucky," according to Rebecca D.
Tranquil environments: Several campgrounds provide peaceful settings away from urban noise. "Nice campground, semi private. The sites are spread out enough but you're not completely alone," notes Emily M. about Austin Hawes Memorial Campground. At Tolland State Forest, campers experience "Owls hooting every night around midnight," according to Cheryl B., who describes it as a "Beautiful clean campground. All the sites are spacious."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds in the region operate within specific date ranges. "Austin Hawes Memorial Campground operates seasonally from May to September," while Tolland State Forest runs "mid May to mid October." At Lone Oak Campsites, the season extends from "April 15 to October 15," providing slightly longer camping opportunities.
Varying amenities: Facilities differ significantly between campgrounds. "Hawes is one of the few campgrounds in CT that's dog friendly. The sites are nice and large, with room for trailers, and they also have a few cabin sites as well," notes Katherine P., who cautions: "In the summer, this place is mosquito central, so bring lots of bug spray or be eaten alive!" For those requiring modern facilities, "The bathhouses have always been clean with sinks to wash your dishes," at Tolland State Forest, according to Rebecca D.
Wildlife awareness: Bears and other wildlife are present throughout the region. "We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours," reports Sylvia P. about White Pines Campsites. At Bear Creek Campground, one camper notes, "As I am set up for bed I see one other large green tent that looks deserted. People left their left over food scraps in the grass by my camp so not only has my dog been eating it, I also hear coyotes. Won't be surprised if I see a bear in the morning."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer structured recreation for children. At Prospect Mountain Campground, "They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing. They also have a nice little store and snack bar. There is also a mini golf course and a mining area where kids can 'mine' 'gems'. Kids had a blast!" according to Sandra S.
Swimming options: Pools provide safer alternatives to river swimming for families with young children. Cozy Hills Campground features a "Pool is very nice for families - with no deep end, really safe for younger kids," notes Ann S. Similarly, at Prospect Mountain, Megin F. reports "Pool was lovely and refreshing. The kids had a blast fishing and riding their bikes around."
Educational opportunities: Nature programs enhance camping experiences for children. Nicole G. shares that at Tolland, "my daughter loved the campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff." Many campgrounds offer hiking trails with interpretive signage suitable for school-age children, allowing for self-guided educational walks.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: RV sites vary significantly in size, privacy and amenities. At Cozy Hills Campground, "They pack us in pretty tight in some sites," according to Mike W. For better experiences, research specific site details as "sites can be close but nice variety to choose from," at Tolland State Forest, says Lisa W.
Dump station availability: Most campgrounds provide dump facilities, though setups vary. At Bear Creek Campground, Ray B. notes the campground "does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station." Similarly, Austin Hawes Memorial Campground has "a dump station" accessible for RVs according to Andrzej K., making it suitable for shorter stays without full hookups.
Seasonal considerations: RVers should check specific closing dates as seasons vary. White Pines operates "April 16 to Columbus Day weekend," while Bear Creek Campground runs "May 1 - Oct 31," providing additional fall camping opportunities when temperatures in the region typically range from 50-65°F during the day.
Legend
