130 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks and forests surrounding Burlington, Connecticut feature a mix of established campgrounds and more rustic options within a 30-minute drive. Lake Compounce Campground in nearby Bristol offers tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping yurts from May through October. The American Legion State Forest's Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in Pleasant Valley provides a more traditional camping experience with tent, RV, and cabin options. Onion Mountain Park stands out as one of the few free primitive camping areas in the region, catering exclusively to tent campers seeking a more natural experience. Black Rock State Park Campground in Watertown balances accessibility with natural surroundings, offering boat-in access options alongside standard drive-in sites.
Campground reservations are essential during the peak season from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with most facilities operating from April or May through October. As one camper noted about American Legion State Forest, "Very chilled and secluded in your own site. I liked that it felt like a little community but still quite private." Winter camping options are limited, with Gentiles Campground in Plymouth being one of the few year-round facilities. Cell service varies significantly across the region, with better coverage at developed campgrounds closer to towns. Ticks are a common concern, particularly in spring and early summer. One visitor to Devil's Hopyard State Park reported finding "over 25 ticks in two nights," highlighting the importance of proper precautions.
Family-friendly amenities distinguish many campgrounds in the area. Lone Oak Camp Sites receives consistent praise for its facilities, with one reviewer noting, "Tons of kids activities to keep the little ones busy and great hikes around! Tons of waterfalls in the area and the highest point in Connecticut." Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds and even within the same facility. White Pines Campsites in Barkhamsted offers both drive-in and walk-in sites, providing options for different camping styles. Weekends typically see higher occupancy and noise levels at most campgrounds. For RV campers, several facilities offer full hookups, though as one reviewer cautioned, "Really long or tall RVs will need to stay close to the front of the campground, as typical older campgrounds are not designed for 40-foot long or 10-foot high campers."
"We were passing through Connecticut and needed a place to crash. Loved this campsite! Very chilled and secluded in your own site. I liked that it felt like a litrle community but still quotr private."
"Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots. Definitely need to come back. Great rates on all sites."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Affiliated with Lake Compounce Amusement Park adjacent to campground."
"It is adjacent to an amusement park so there were lots of families here. None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out."
"However one issue was the garbage situation. Had to walk a long distance to throw out the trash."
"We got a tent spot and it was perfect since it was the furthest one away and there was no one near us which is probably why we loved it so much bc we were so isolated. a little disappointed in the site"
from $74 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful state park, very clean .. fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers .. stores within a 5 minute drive. Most of the camp ground site are not secluded .."
"The family next to me offered me dinner one night after I spent the whole day working on my RV. Spanish rice chicken the works the plate could barely hold it all."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites."
"There’s two brand new bathrooms on site one of which is conveniently located right by the pool. Owners are doing new renovations to make this place look good!"
from $55 - $150 / night
Check Availability"We arrived at the parking lot of Onion Mountain Park at around 2 pm and proceeded to get our bags packed for the hike."
"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."
"While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there."
"We stayed near the water. Clean private bathrooms were a plus. Clean pool but only 3 feet deep."
from $72 - $122 / night
Check Availability"Sites are pretty close together and the campground is close to a fairly busy road. The pool and laundry areas were clean and seemed newer."
"Beautiful swimming pond and a serene fishing pond located on site. The outpost has anything you might have forgotten to bring and everyone is ready to make sure you are enjoying your stay!"
"Tons of kids activities to keep the little ones busy and great hikes around! Tons of waterfalls in the area and the highest point in Connecticut."
"I happened upon Lone Oaks Camp Site when looking for someplace to stay in north eastern Connecticut."
ScoutI was in the area and needed a location to hook up. Temperature at 7:00 p.m. was 85 in July which is expected. They're able to get me in for the night. Quick and easy. Had smoke from the Canadian Wildfire which made for a good sunset
TravelerWe arrived after 10pm so we couldn’t go into the general store to check in. But there was an envelope with our name and a description of where we had to go. Because it was so dark we couldn’t find it but the security guard was really helpful and showed us the way. We spent a really quiet night at this campground at a tent site with our rooftop tent and appreciated the clean showers and friendly staff. We would come back anytime.
TravelerI called as we were 3 hours away for a spot for the night. The lady who answered was amazing and asked everything to pick us the right spot. We showed up after hours and found our spot. It was so peaceful and so beautiful. Bathrooms were extremely clean! I recommend this spot to everyone! Well worth it!
ScoutI have 4 kids, 8 and under and they had an absolute blast. We will definitely be back.
GuideTall pines, the sound of the mighty housatonic river, and some car noise on the nearby 2 lane. The campground is landscaped and maintained beautifully. the highlight is the river, ever-present in sound. The primo sites are on the northern end , where most sites are right on the water, and just a small descent. Bathrooms are good, not great. Showers are push button automatic, water was warm. We have a small RV, the dump site is up the main road about a 1/2 mile in a turnout. Free for campers, on your honor. At office were college aged young men and women in very casual street clothes all very nice, and mannerly, but not very knowledgeable, and hard to believe they could handle an adverse situation. I asked for the soap to be filled in the mens room on Thursday afternoon at 4 and it was still not done at noon the next day. -it’s a 2 minute walk from the office. I asked about a hike, they told me a trail head was a mile up the road. We found a spur directly across the street. I miss real docents, with knowledge, and wearing the garb. All sites not directly on the river side have paths down to get there. Did a nice little moderate hike just across the street called Pine Knob. Nice vista, quick 760ft ascent, combines withe AT for a length, then back down total 3 miles the way we did it. Some nice restaurants in Kent. Found a good breakfast in Goshen. We’ll be going back.
GuideA really nice campground for tenters and dry campers. No hookups, but decent bathrooms, lukewarm showers and well kept. The Housatonic river is wide and shallow but good for soaking on a hot day and right behind pretty much every campsite. The riverside sites have a clear view, the others you walk through the woods. The only negative is Route 7, which gets busy in the mornings, and at rush hours, but quiets down at night. Not a busy highway to begin with, but a major route. A good up and down hike right across the street, 760 ft ascent in a mile or so, 3 mile loop, you see AT through hikers on the portion of the combined trail. There is a drinking water tap you can hook a hose to for filling your RV, or jugs. No dump station. We had our class B here. Sites mostly level. Come during the week for better privacy. Supposedly fly fisherman come on weekends. Cute cabins for rent in a awesome location.
GuideFirst off the cons the train at 130 am is wonderful to get woken up to 2nd the sites are on top of each other 3 not many level sites didnt hear the buzzing at all no daddy long legs but ticks let's talk about how many ticks I got in the park I pulled 7 off of me in 5 nights at that park
ScoutThis camp is very family and let friendly. From the check-in to check-out everyone was so friendly. We will be back
ScoutIf you stay in the eagles nest and get. Perimeter spot you overlook a lake, it’s nice and quiet. Everyone waves, nice lake to fish on. Front desk/owner? is a sweetheart.
Cabin camping options near Burlington, Connecticut range from rustic to well-appointed, offering various levels of amenities within driving distance. Most cabins include basic furnishings and require campers to bring their own bedding, cooking utensils, and supplies. The terrain is primarily deciduous forest with moderate elevation changes typical of the southern New England region.
Hiking nearby trails: Access multiple hiking options from Austin Hawes Memorial Campground with the Henry Buck Trail offering moderate terrain for day hikes. "Excellent campground for tent campers. Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots," notes Tom C. about American Legion State Forest.
Fishing opportunities: Cast for trout in the Farmington River directly accessible from several campgrounds. A reviewer at American Legion State Forest states, "A few nice sites, most are ok, some small. Ours backed up to the river and was large but hiking trail along river had a lot of traffic... Trophy trout river with excellent fishing, but catch and release only."
Swimming spots: Cool off during summer months at Black Rock State Park's designated swimming areas. "Beautiful state park, very clean... fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers... stores within a 5 minute drive," reports Michelle B. from Black Rock State Park Campground.
Primitive camping options: Find secluded tent sites at Onion Mountain Park for campers seeking minimal amenities. "We ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain), where we settled down for the night. The spot is not very big so make sure to bring a smaller tent (no group sites) but has a firepit already set up," advises Nora S.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom and shower facilities. "Bathrooms are clean but very far apart. The only downside was the real lack of privacy at almost all the sites we saw. It was more like staying in a summer cottage colony," notes Ann S. about Cozy Hills Campground.
Level sites: Some of the best places to camp near Burlington, Connecticut feature well-maintained, level areas for setting up. "Easy entry, long pull thrus. You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded. Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper," says Diane R. about Lake Compounce Campground.
Wildlife awareness: Bears and coyotes inhabit the area, requiring proper food storage. One Lake Compounce Campground visitor reports, "This is an interesting camp ground. 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."
Seasonal variations: Most camping near Burlington operates from April through October with limited winter options. "Very quiet, private campgrounds nestled in the trees, right on a river. This is an anglers campground, so there was some serious fishing going on. Not many kids or partiers," remarks Ashley B. about the atmosphere at American Legion State Forest.
Cell service limitations: Internet connectivity varies significantly across campgrounds. A visitor to Branch Brook Campground notes, "Better wi-fi than most campgrounds. My wife and I both were able to work with mostly no issues, though there were some situations where it would go out. Same with streaming, we could stream a show but it would occasionally have to buffer."
Activity options: Seek out campgrounds with organized programming for children. "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention its next to the amusement park," reports Nichol P. about Lake Compounce Campground, though also noting "the tent spots are small and close together."
Swimming areas: Pools provide safe recreation for children at several campgrounds. "Kids caught about 20 fish. The pool is nice, no deep end. It's very hilly. A golf cart is recommended if your site is far from the pool," advises Rino S. about Cozy Hills Campground.
Entertainment variety: Some campgrounds offer extensive recreational options. "We loved this campground! Big fun for kids and adults. Two big pools, store, bar for adults with live entertainment. Tons of kids activities going on all day," explains Kim T. about Lone Oak Camp Sites.
Site specifications: Check carefully for hookup types and electricity requirements before booking. A visitor at Branch Brook Campground cautions, "Sites are pretty close together and the campground is close to a fairly busy road. The pool and laundry areas were clean and seemed newer."
Leveling considerations: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for leveling. "Very nice campground. Has electric, water and cable TV connections. Clean bathrooms and nice store. It is part of the Lake Compounce Amusement Park. Stayed in September 2021. CG is pretty empty during the week and gets busy during the weekend," shares Richard about Lake Compounce Campground.
Dump station availability: Not all sites offer full-hookups, requiring use of dump stations. "Very well maintained and friendly staff will stay again when in the area. Does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station," notes Ray B. about Lake Compounce Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Burlington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Burlington, CT offers a wide range of camping options, with 130 campgrounds and RV parks near Burlington, CT and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Burlington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Burlington, CT is Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Burlington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Burlington, CT.
What parks are near Burlington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Burlington, CT that allow camping, notably Northfield Brook Lake and Hop Brook Lake.
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