Best RV Parks & Resorts near Clinton, CT

Burlingame is a HUGE state park campground with over 700 sites. The location is fantastic, but with this many sites (so, with this many people), there are bound to be pros and cons.

Pros:

Lovely location - it's in the middle of the woods, has a pond, has pond swimming. It's just minutes to the ocean by car. Hiking and biking for miles.

Camp store - well stocked.

Price - dirt cheap if you are a RI resident, but pricey if you aren't.

Spacious - even with all those sites, there's plenty of room between sites and tons of open space for kids to run around, fly a kite, play tag, hide and seek.

Real camping atmosphere - fire rings at each site, wooded sites (and open grass sites if you like that better). Wildlife (listening to the several types of owls is a favorite pastime at night). While RVs are welcome (and we have tent and trailer camped here), this is NOT an RV resort. No hook-ups.

Cons:

No hook-ups, lol. This is a con in the heat of the summer if you want/need AC. 

Bath houses - are usually pretty filthy, and that's because there are too many people per bath house, and people are gross.

Noise / Parties / Drunks - again, too many sites means too many people and nowhere near enough park staff. On the weekends people can get out of hand with the partying and it's not uncommon to have to listen to noise late into the night. Do not come on a holiday weekend, it's packed.

Overall, if you are a camper's camper, this is a great place. Close to CT so a day trip to Mystic is easy, close to several gorgeous beaches, close to great restaurants, ice cream, and shopping. Swim in the pond. Fish in the pond (catch and release). Bike. Hike. Hammock. Avoid holiday weekends and the heat of August if you can. Be prepared for dirty restrooms and come armed with hand soap (they no longer provide any), paper towels, and Clorox wipes.

good management, common areas are very clean, nice showers cleaner than my gym in the city.

bring your own fire pit, there is no pit at the sites. very hard to find spot theu summer though mostly rv’s are occupying the whole campground for long term summer vacation.

Wonderful weekend visit in the off season. Site was level, pretty spacious and easy to back into. Campsites are located close enough to the beach/marsh. Multiple playgrounds for the kids although they were closed due to Covid. No sewers sites that I could tell, and water was off because we were a week shy of the season opening. Needed to move to dump station prior to leaving (2 night visit) and had to drive to fill the fresh water tank once while there. Nice neighbors. Dog friendly. People obeyed the quiet hours. I have not one complaint. There were hiking trails and geocaching on site. 4 stars bc no sewer at the campsite and we like full hook ups and honestly I’m guessing this is a county rule but the playgrounds could’ve been open. Outside and socially distanced after dealing with Covid for a whole year and most local parks and playgrounds being open since last May... that was upsetting. All in all we had a great weekend. Close to the LI aquarium as well! Many stores and a golf course near by too!

This is a really nice family campground just a mile or so off I-95 in Clinton, CT. It is about 20 miles from Mystic and the historic seaport center. Most of the roads are paved, the sites are large and level, there are full hookups, and a dump station. There are a lot of seasonal residents, but still plenty of open sites for travelers. There is a playground, game room, “adult ” lounge, a laundry, a swimming pond, and river access for fishing and swimming. Internet is an extra fee! ($6/day) The road into the campground is narrow and winding, so larger RV mss as y have trouble, but there were several of them there when we were there. There is a security gate at the entrance.

Cant give this any higher then 2 stars. We spent three months there and for the first two the mens showers were not cleaned. There was band aids on the floor by the rubber mat that sat there for way to long. The internet was horribly slow and kept dropping connections. This is an RV park, they advertise internet so you would figure it would work. The owner of the park was a bit rude. Washer and dryers were iffy on the days they worked.

Now that the bad is out of the way. The good, they had activities for the kids on weekends and holidays. They are close to local beaches and hiking trails. Our site was roomy and for the most part all functioned as it was supposed to.

You can't really beat the price and location combo of Charlestown breachway. There are no hookups or even a dump station, but your site may overlook the channel and is only a very short walk away from the beach. There are toilets; only RV camping is allowed, and the units must be self contained. Stay as long as you can, then you can dump and refill your water at Burlingame State Park for free with registration and the breachway.

The campground itself is beautiful with the trees and lake. However if you are bringing an RV there are no hookups and there are very few level sites. We camped in our tent when we stayed. And even that was a challenge because the site was so unlevel. The other negativity is that the sites are literally on top of one another. There’s no privacy and all you can see is other people. One positive is they have a bath house with coin operated showers and regular toilets.

for a family or couple looking for a quick and close to home getaway with out paying a fortune it’s a good place to stay.

We stayed at Mystic KOA in North Stonington, Connecticut, to be tourists in Mystic. Spoiler alert… we had a great stay! 

This campground is just 15-minutes from Mystic and about an hour’s drive to Newport, Rhode Island. It’s just a few minutes from I-95 and so close to Mystic Aquarium, downtown Mystic, Mystic Seaport, and all the local spots. 

It’s a well-maintained campground with 2 pools(though the larger one was closed for maintenance during our stay), lots of play areas and daily activities for little ones, and a cool“pub truck” for adult drinks. Our site(#408) was about 85’ long with plenty of room for our 45’ motorhome and toad(and then some!). It was level and gravel with a nice fire ring and picnic table. The hookups worked fine with 50-amp electric and decent water pressure. Cable TV had nearly 50-channels, but the wi-fi didn’t quite reach our part of the park. 

Due to a family issue, we needed to leave about a day-and-a-half early. We called the office as a courtesy to let them know as we were pulling out and received a partial credit for a night’s stay on our credit card. Didn’t even ask, they just did it. Thanks Mystic KOA! 

We’ll definitely be back. This is a great place to stay when visiting the coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island area.

I'll be honest. This was my first RV camping experience. This KOA Niantic CT location is about 2 hours from home. It was the perfect place (not far from home) to practice.  The checkin was quick and organized, the rules were clear the hosts were very organized and the staff were attentive. They give every family a free newspaper every day. The price was definitely fair for unlimited wi-fi, electricity and water. There is an on-site store for convenience. The nearest grocery store was in another town more than 5 miles away. 

Fellow campers were respectful and went about their own business. The facilities were kept tidy including the baths and showers. I was pleasantly surprised. The best part of this campground was the proximity to the state beach via a well kept hiking trail. We learned a lot about camping and each time we will get better and better.  

My only regret is we didn't have a car. Some sites were a bit too far or too dangerous to bicycle (the roads were curvy and didn't have much of a shoulder) so we spent money on Uber/Lyft to visit a few local sites for example to rent kayaks to explore the inlet and river.

I was happy with my experience and  I'd definitely go again.

This park is in a great location for exploring Mystic. You are close to downtown, the aquarium, Mystic Seaport and other attractions. We camped here with friends and got one of the“buddy sites” so our patios faced each other. I like this configuration when camping with friends but would not like this site if we did not know our neighbors. The campground was very clean and well taken care of. 

Our stay was in the spring before their busy season started so some things like the pool and water features were closed but the appearance was that it was well cared for and was a very popular attraction for families. The main office is like a fancy clubhouse and check-in was super smooth and quick. The office has a billiards table, theater chairs with a large screen tv, a small book exchange, racks with information about the area, and a camp store. Outside is a nice community fire pit with Adirondack chairs. The bathrooms in the campground were newer and immaculate. This“resort” has lots of amenities that would occupy kids time but we were more interested in sight-seeing and didn’t spend much time around the campground. The mini golf course was actually really nice and not the run-down homemade ones that you usually see at campgrounds. They had an arcade, theater area, Our site was a nice long, level pull-thru. Hook-ups were placed in ideal locations for the pad which was gravel. The cable tv worked well and many sites would accommodate satellite users. The park appears to have a fair number of seasonals tucked back in other areas of the park and their sites were nice and tidy. There is a nice tent section that has a number of nice sites but do not have hookups but are located near a bathhouse. Just like RV sites, these have picnic tables and fire rings at each site. If you want the RV camping experience but don’t have an RV, they have one and two-bedroom units for rent. 

We really love the Mystic/Stonington area. Downtown has some great eateries. Sift bakery has the most delicious pastries and Mystic Pizza is famous. We love sitting outside at Ford’s Lobster in Noank. One day we launched our kayaks north of the drawbridge in town at the public launch and paddled down to Mystic Seaport which was fun to see the historic boats from the water. If you are looking for a beach to sit on head to a short distance southeast to Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Our biggest complaint was the price but camping in New England can be very pricy so you just have to shell out the cash if you want to be in a popular tourist destination.

While the Farm at Carter Hill offers a truly unique experience, it's important to note that this is a boondocking campsite. There are no electric or water hookups available for RVs. This might not be a concern for those well-prepared for self-sufficiency, but it's worth planning ahead to ensure you have enough power and water for your stay. The campsite is set up for easy in and out, making it a great option for RVers looking for a convenient overnight stop.

The farm boasts a prime location, just minutes away from the bustling junction of Interstate 91 and 84. Travelers seeking a quick and easy layover, this campsite proves to be a gem. The proximity to major highways makes it incredibly convenient to reach, whether you're passing through the area or looking for a unique spot to spend the night.

What sets the Farm at Carter Hill apart is the immersive farm experience it offers. My kids interacted with farm goats, ducks, and chickens, the farm provides an opportunity for a hands-on encounter. Feeding and petting the animals was a highlight, and our kids were absolutely enthralled by the experience. 

The night we stayed, the farm played host to several live blues bands, creating a lively and entertaining atmosphere. Food and drinks were also available and ensured that we had everything we needed for an enjoyable evening. It's worth checking ahead to see if any events are scheduled during your stay.

We enjoyed our stay. Level sites and very nice owners.

This campsite is near the shore in my home state of CT. It took a little over an hour to get here. Our spot was near a large salt marsh.

The park and beach were full occupancy for campers without reservations. I saw no tents - maybe due to COVID. There are ample bathhouses but the one near me is locked up. I suspect the others may also be closed.

A pair of geese and their goslings came to visit. See video and pictures.

No campfires allowed without a fire pit. You can rent one at the small camp store for a $20 deposit plus $12 first night the $2 each night - pay in advance.

Sites are large and clean. My site has trees for shade and a place to hang my hammock. But the park officials made me take it down :(.

Water hookup but no electricity on our sites. Water for drinking only was on my site but you can’t connect with a hose to your camper in most of the less expensive sites. There are more expensive sites with full hookups but no Wi-Fi.

Price of my site is very affordable around $20 a night.

I saw 2 dump stations near exit. Supermarkets a few miles down the road.

Easy to walk to the beach. Plan to kayak. There is a boat launch at Meig’s Point where you can drive 100 feet from the water to unload from your car. Lovely small beaches, walkways and jetties for fishing or photos of nature.

I've never camped in Rhode Island, so I was curious to see what a state park campground had to offer. Rates are reasonable for state residents, but quite high if you are out-of-state, given the amenities. There are no hookups, but dump stations are available. Bathrooms have flush toilets and coin-operated showers. There's a small beach at the pond, a boat ramp, and proximity to wildlife refuges and the ocean. It's a HUGE campground, with 700 sites and 20 cabins. Canoes are available to rent.

There's a nice playground, a camp store, and a naturalists cabin. Trails are available for hiking and biking. The beach is sandy and there's a small parking lot there, but I suspect most people walk to it. No alcohol allowed. 

I didn't see more than a handful of level sites, with varying degrees of slope, but many are quite large. If you have an RV, plan to level; if you have a tent, be sure to bring good mattresses to protect you from the roots and rocks and orient your head to the uphill side. Most of the sites have some degree of visual separation from their neighbors, but there are places where it's hard to tell where one site ends and the next one starts. Site have fire rings and picnic tables, but if you plan to cook over the fire, bring your own grate or plan to use sticks and/or aluminum foil. 

If you don't have a tent, consider reserving one of their rustic cabins. These offer two sets of bunks (no mattresses) and a small porch with a picnic table and fire ring outside. Some are located along the pond.

3-4 bar cell phone coverage. No road traffic. East Beach is nearby, but parking fills early.

   I had a hankering for East Coast seafood, so I picked Hammonesett Beach State Park for Connecticut. Our 2nd state of 5.

    Hammonesett Beach has a huge campground. They divide the loops with names. I unfortunately chose Pequot. This loop has THE WORST bathrooms/showers on the South side of the campground. Looks like they were built in 1950s with rotten wood siding. Dirty. The showers were outside the bathroom- there was a bench & hooks OUTSIDE! We found out all the other loops had modern bathhouses.

 My first impression of this campground is it's loud, crazy busy & there's traffic noise from the beach road. I actually liked it! This is a fun campground for families. There were kids on bikes, scooters, skateboards,roller blades. Watch your speed! They don't always watch out for your car.

  I found out most people stay through Sunday & leave on Monday. There were still lots of campers left. Lots of tent campers. 

   I chose site 14 on the Pequot Loop because I thought I would have a view of one of the ponds. There was tall vegetation, so that was out.

 The sites on the other side of the loop were right by the main beach road. Noisy during the day, but quiet at night. 

  There are some sites with shade, but most are sunny. 

   There's no electricity at most of the sites. Our site was full sun(yay for the solar panel!). On Beach Road in the campground there's 2 rows of full hookup sites, but they go FAST! I tried.

NO PETS! Including dogs.

   No WiFi, but there's cell service. At least 5 dump stations. 

 The beach was popular. 

  There was a stream running from a pond that kids were playing in. 

 They have a beautiful Nature Center. A couple of easy hikes through one of the preserves.

  This was a good base camp for the area. Gillette Castle & other state parks are within driving distance. Connecticut is a beautiful state!!

General: HUGE state park with over 700 sites. It does not fully open for the season until May 1 and when we were there in mid-April, only two sections, Fish Camp and Mills Camp were open. The Ranger station is staffed 24 hours a day, with a ranger on site until 11 pm. You need to show your pass to get inside the gate leading to the campsites. There are no hookups in any site (as far as I could tell). Sites are designated for tents, small trailers, large trailers, and RVs. As with other RI state parks, non-residents pay double the price of residents which kind of ticks me off (I don't mind a nominal upcharge but double is excessive IMO).

Site Quality: The site numbers throughout the park are painted on rocks but the sites themselves are not very clearly defined. There is no designated camping pad. Our site (114) had a water view but was not level. It was large enough for us to park horizontally and make it work for one night. Some sites had excessive roots and also were not level. Some picnic tables have been replaced with new ones, but others badly need it.

Bath/Shower house: The one in Fish Camp was adequate and clean. There is hot water, but you need to run it for a while before you get any. There was no garbage receptacle, and the toilet paper is so thin, that you can see through it. Showers are $.75 to get it started for the first three minutes. After that, the amount per minute increases to $1, $1.25, $1.50, and so forth. Machines take up to 22 quarters. There is a change machine at the Ranger Station. I did not use the shower so I cannot comment on how well they work. 

Activities/Amenities: There is a camp store that offers wood, ice, coffee, basic groceries, propane, and canoe rentals. It was open with limited hours during our stay. Fishing, boating, swimming - all in season. Even though the park was only about 10% occupied, there was a strong Ranger presence. He circled our small loop three times just before check-out time and wanted to make sure we were leaving not a minute past the designated time. 

This was just an overnight stay for us in a convenient location but there is no way I would stay at the height of the season!

Hopeville Pond is a moderate sized state park campground located along a river and offering fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. Some of the site have 50A/20A electric hookups and there’s a dump station available.There’s a small boat ramp without trailer parking Neither pets nor alcohol are permitted. It opens for the season earlier than many of the others, in early April. 

Loop F is not along the water, but there the large beach has a parking area, also used by day visitors. The sites in this loop offer more privacy; there’s also a cabin at the beginning of this loop. There’s also a section called Canoe Sites, 4 of which are available for booking. As their name would indicate, they’re right on the waterfront and are tent only sites, but parking is available and they’re reservable. Latrines are available in this section. Sites in loops A-E tend to back up to one another and are wooded, but not a lot of low brush providing privacy. A few of the E loop sites are right on the water; some of the C loop sites are across from a grassy beachy area.