Best Campgrounds near Burlington, CT

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."

Best Camping Sites Near Burlington, Connecticut (130)

    1. Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest

    16 Reviews
    Riverton, CT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 379-0922

    $17 - $50 / night

    "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."

    2. Lake Compounce Campground

    11 Reviews
    Bristol, CT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 583-3300

    "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."

    3. White Pines Campsites

    11 Reviews
    Winsted, CT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 379-0124

    $74 / night

    "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"

    4. Black Rock State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Thomaston, CT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 283-8088

    $17 - $50 / night

    "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."

    5. Gentiles Campground

    7 Reviews
    Plymouth, CT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 283-8437

    $55 - $150 / night

    "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!"

    6. Onion Mountain Park

    4 Reviews
    West Simsbury, CT
    8 miles

    "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."

    7. Cozy Hills Campground

    9 Reviews
    Bantam, CT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 567-2119

    $72 - $122 / night

    "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."

    8. Branch Brook Campground

    2 Reviews
    Thomaston, CT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 283-8144

    "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."

    9. Skyridge Trails Campground

    1 Review
    Torrington, CT
    11 miles

    "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!"

    10. Lone Oak Camp Sites

    12 Reviews
    Norfolk, CT
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 422-2267

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Burlington, CT

576 Reviews of 130 Burlington Campgrounds


  • C
    Jun. 1, 2026

    Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest

    Excellent Solo Tent Camping

    I was a solo female tent-camper and I stayed at the Austin Hawes campground for 2 nights. I had an excellent experience. The office is open daily from 9-5 and 2 young women were staffing it during my stay. They welcomed me with a smile, answered all my questions and sold me two bundles of firewood for$7 each. I camped in site#22 which overlooked the Farmington River. You could hear the river running by all night long. It was very peaceful. I did not know that this portion of the river offers excellent fly fishing, so it looked like something out of an Orvis Catalog as men(they were all men) in waders with serious fly fishing gear often passed by or were standing in the shallow river doing their thing. It is important to know that BLACK BEARS ran through the campsite at night.(The young women in the office had warned me to be careful with my food, and that bears were often sighted). I am an experienced camper and left no trace of food anywhere near my tent, fire or picnic table. The bears did not bother me. I heard they spooked one family who blew some airhorns, then packed up and left in the middle of the night. There are 2 bathhouses, but one was locked because it is currently under construction. I had no trouble using the 1 that was open for campers. There are 2 female(private) showers, 2 male(private) showers, 2 bathroom sinks and 3 toilets in each house. I had no trouble using them and the facilities were clean. All-in-all, it's a beautiful, but very rustic(no electricity) campsite. I look forward to returning in the future.

  • Sue B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2026

    Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest

    Great smaller campground on the river!

    We love Austin Hawes (Also referred to as American Legion). We have been coming here for years, and it is a great spot. Not too far, not too busy, tent sites, trailer sites, and cabins too. It is in a great location with plenty of hiking trails nearby, and lots of options for swimming, fishing, boating, etc.

  • Sue B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2026

    Salt Rock Campground

    Enjoyed our weekend here

    We did a family campout here and had several sites together. We camped in our pop up in the field. We were close to activities and enjoyed an afternoon tubing down the river. The bathrooms weren't the cleanest, but we've seen worse. We enjoyed our time here.

  • Janet V.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2026

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Mid May - Mid week quiet and l9vely

    Camped early in the season mid week, and it was nice and quiet. The "new" park rangers are take their jobs delightfully serious.

    Our site had plenty of sun for solar but in seagull loop there is loads of shade

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 16, 2026

    Riverdale Farm Campsites

    Rv park

    Cute Rv park. Very family friendly, the women who at the office are also incredibly nice and helpful! Seems like a lot of people either live full time or come on weekends but we were able to book a spot for a week.

  • Denise M.
    May. 13, 2026

    Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest

    Amazing Mother's Day camping trip

    Beautiful large site. Can walk the trail down to the river. Beware of bears. Bathhouse was shut down for renovation but there was porta potties. Can hear road noise but wasn't bad. This and site 3 is one of the best sites.

  • Sue B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2026

    Jug End Dispersed — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Dispersed Camping?

    Between Sage's Ravine and Jug End Road there are five backcountry campsites on the Appalachian Trail. Sage's Ravine Laurel Ridge Race Brook Falls (with a shelter) The Hemlocks (with a shelter) Glen Brook (with a shelter) After descending Mt. Everett, you descend to Guilder Pond State Park. It is a day use park with trash cans and in season it also has a porta potty and a few picnic tables. No camping besides those already mentioned, which are all A.T. campsites. Jug End Road allows overnight parking (often used by folks hiking the A.T.) but I wouldn't classify that as dispersed camping unless you just need a place to pull over and sleep for a night. Each site mentioned, with the exception of Race Brook, is no more than .2 off the A.T.

  • dThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 5, 2026

    Niantic KOA

    Quick Trip

    Picked up a one way rental RV on the way to Florida. I arrived early afternoon and was met quickly and shown to my spot and helped with all the hookups and “lay of the land” Very easy and helpful.

  • Alexander H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 29, 2025

    Witch Meadow Lake Campground

    Nice small campground on pond

    Nice campground on small pond, can rent paddle boats or swim.


Guide to Burlington

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.

What to do

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.

What campers like

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.

What you should know

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."

Tips for camping with families

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.

Tips from RVers

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.