Best Campgrounds near Cobalt, CT

State parks and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of Cobalt, Connecticut provide a mix of waterfront and forested camping experiences. Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground in East Haddam, just 15 minutes from Cobalt, offers tent and RV sites with electric hookups along a creek with nearby hiking trails and Chapman Falls. Family-oriented private facilities like Wolf's Den Family Campground and GrandView CampResort & Cottages provide more amenities including full hookups, organized activities, and camp stores. For beach camping, Hammonasset State Park Campground and Rocky Neck State Park Campground on Long Island Sound are within an hour's drive, offering swimming access and nature programs.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April or May through September or October, with state parks typically closing earlier in the fall. Reservations are essential during summer months, particularly for weekend stays and waterfront sites. As one camper noted, "Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite" at Hammonasset. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though some campgrounds have limited or no WiFi. Tick prevention is important, especially at Devil's Hopyard where one camper reported finding "over 25 ticks" during a two-night stay. Summer humidity and heat can be intense at exposed sites, while spring camping may encounter muddy conditions.

Wildlife viewing opportunities vary by location, with Rocky Neck campers reporting deer, turkeys, osprey, and various small mammals. Site privacy differs significantly between campgrounds, with state parks generally offering less separation between sites. "The sites were super close together and the boundary lines were unclear," reported one camper at Kettletown State Park. Family-friendly amenities are common, including playgrounds, fishing ponds, and organized activities. Beach campgrounds fill quickly, with one experienced camper advising, "This campground books up FAST, I usually book in the wintertime." Most campgrounds provide standard amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, with varying levels of hookups depending on the facility type.

Best Camping Sites Near Cobalt, Connecticut (147)

    1. Hammonasset State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (203) 245-1817

    $20 - $70 / night

    "Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite. Well kept showers and bathrooms are abundant and the camp store has the majority of what you need."

    "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."

    2. Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Salem, CT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 526-2336

    $14 / night

    "There are trails behind the sites along a large marsh. The wildlife was incredible, a beaver family family lives in the marsh so every night around 10 they would be up splashing around loudly."

    "The sites are very open, not wooded so you have little privacy from adjacent sites."

    3. Wolf's Den Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Hadlyme, CT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 873-9681

    "This place is off Route 9 in Connecticut on the east side of the Connecticut River (major RT 9 highway is on west side)."

    "Nice camp ground in the woods near hadlyme"

    4. Waters Edge Family Campground

    10 Reviews
    Amston, CT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 642-7470

    $45 - $100 / night

    "We’ve been to campgrounds with playgrounds worse than the waters edge dog park."

    "This is our families favorite camping location. On the pond at Waters Edge. When asked where they want to camp my 5 and 7 year old will always respond with Waters Edge."

    5. Markham Meadows

    2 Reviews
    North Westchester, CT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 267-9738

    6. GrandView CampResort & Cottages

    2 Reviews
    Moodus, CT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 873-3332

    $30 - $70 / night

    7. Riverdale Farm Campsites

    11 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 669-5388

    "The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground. The kids who work here are so friendly and the playground is nice."

    "Sites are very close to one another. Level pull through site. Quit in the evening!"

    8. Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    South Lyme, CT
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 739-1339

    "The beach is about a 1 mile walk or drive from the campground.  The walk is lovely and I have seen deer, turkeys, many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife along the way."

    "Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads."

    9. Lake Compounce Campground

    12 Reviews
    Bristol, CT
    19 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."

    10. Salem Farms Campground

    4 Reviews
    Salem, CT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 859-2320

    $68 - $72 / night

    "We tent close to the restroom and the pool, which are very clean. We go mid week and the special is pay 2 nights, get third night free."

    "It was too close to the road, and they wouldn't let him pull in so we were facing each other even though it would have easily worked out."

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Recent Reviews near Cobalt, CT

709 Reviews of 147 Cobalt Campgrounds


  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Point Folly Campground

    Great

    I’ve been coming here for decades. Little store has what you need if you can find the shop keeper. Great access to bantam lake. You can leave you canoes/kayaks tied up in the water. Great fishing. Love it overall. The only issue I have is the pit toilets are brutal. If you are tent camping, beware!

  • Phillip H.
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Mystic KOA

    KOA Mystic

    From the first interaction you see this KOA is customer focused. The staff is friendly, professional and helpful. The grounds are well maintained as are the facilities.

  • Christine S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Cozy Hills Campground

    Quiet and clean

    So far it's been pretty quiet but we are here at the beginning of October on a Monday. Nice area.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    Giant area to pick a spot!

    So half the camp ground is closed for bathroom renovations but that still left the whole other half open and the whole campground by the water! The showers aren’t good, but that always comes with coin showers and not being able to choose the temperature. Site wise no one was around us so it was extra quiet and the park rangers are always around so always help if you need it. Walmart is less than ten minutes away too if you’re needing anything. Great location and best park in Rhode Island. Can’t wait to go back and have the bathroom renovations done!

  • Ryan G.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Mount Misery Campground

    Lived up to its name

    Sites/facilities were as expected and I could have been very satisfied with our 1 night stay.  There are a lot of rules for camping here, which is confusing because there does not appear to be anyone to enforce them.  Late arrivals? Noise? I suspect that the couple who pulled into the site next to ours after 10PM with two cars and an infant are homeless and poached the site.  They were not there for the hiking or the camping experience and their infant child screamed or babbled through most of the night.  That plus the adults talking, car doors opening and closing, engine running, baby einstein videos playing...  In the morning they packed up and left.  I'm not an advocate of criminalizing homelessness, but if you are looking for a night in the woods listening to crickets and owls, this is not the place.

  • Michael
    Sep. 20, 2025

    The Quarry Campground

    The Quarry Campground

    Very quiet. At night all you can hear is the crackling of the campfire.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Gentiles Campground

    Nice place to stay

    Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites. Most sites seem pretty level, but there are some steep roads in the CG. There is an airport next to CG, but it is for single engine private planes only so not a problem. Not by a major road so little traffic noise. I would stay here again.

  • Nicole G.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Tolland State Forest Campground

    Great Lakeside Campground

    This was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.

    The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.

  • j
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Crocker's Boatyard

    Great!

    Great spot with view of harbor, a pool, bathroom and power if needed. Easy to book, good location- near many places of interest.


Guide to Cobalt

Campsites near Cobalt, Connecticut offer a mix of state park and private camping facilities across varied terrains. Located in Middlesex County, the area sits along the Connecticut River watershed at approximately 500 feet elevation with moderate seasonal temperature variations. Summer nights typically drop to the 60s while daytime temperatures reach the mid-80s with occasional humidity spikes.

What to do

Hiking near waterfalls: Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground features Chapman Falls and multiple trail options for day hiking. "The waterfall was a quick walk away and you could hike down to the river for a quick dip. The river isn't deep enough for a full swim but still was good enough on a hot day," notes one camper who visited Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground.

Fishing opportunities: Multiple camping areas offer fishing access in stocked waters. "Great place for opening day of trout. Small little campground located in an amazing beautiful park. Go here every spring for opening day of fishing season and camp the entire weekend," reports a regular visitor to Devil's Hopyard.

Kayaking and boating: Several campgrounds provide pond access. "There is a nice lake to float on, a clean pool to swim in, activities every weekend," explains a seasonal camper at Waters Edge Family Campground, which features both water activities and organized recreation.

What campers like

Privacy options: Site selection varies significantly between campgrounds. At Salem Farms Campground, "We stayed for 4 nights during the week, and it was the quietest campground we've ever stayed in. We were told by a seasonal that it's a whole different story on the weekend."

Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention facility maintenance as important. "Extremely helpful to my newbie lack of knowledge! Easy entry, long pull thrus. Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper," notes a visitor to Lake Compounce Campground.

Organized activities: Many campgrounds schedule regular events. "We did bingo and it was a blast. It was a beautiful day on the beach pond. They had great prizes for cheap cost. I spent 2 dollars for 10 long rounds of bingo with 4 cards," reports a frequent guest at Riverdale Farm Campsites.

What you should know

Reservation timing: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during summer months. "This campground books up FAST," notes one camper about Rocky Neck State Park Campground. Another advises, "Be noted PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the summer. We were not aware of this."

Wildlife concerns: Ticks are common in Connecticut woodlands. "Be very careful with ticks, there were tons of them under our picnic table and by the campfire. Bring your own chairs to sit on and don't put too much down that they may be able to stick to," warns a camper at Devil's Hopyard.

Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds have different seasons and amenities. "The season opens early, in April, and runs through early October. On a Wednesday afternoon in July there were still 5 sites available for the upcoming weekend, so it may be a reasonable option for last-minute plans," notes a visitor to Rocky Neck State Park Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "Very friendly family owned campground. Spacious sites that are not crammed together. Great trout fishing down the road. Everything you need is on the grounds. Swimming pool, kayaks and boats on the pond," explains a visitor to Markham Meadows.

Swimming options: Multiple properties offer water recreation. "We enjoyed, mid August staying for 3 nights, if we had time, would've stayed longer," shares a camper at Hammonasset State Park Campground, who appreciated the "large sites, mostly families, not loud, decent bathrooms, warm showers, nice beaches, great hiking and bird watching."

Budget-friendly activities: Some campgrounds provide free or low-cost recreation. "Mini golf, pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, lots of playgrounds for the kids. Family oriented park. Bingo, board games, and other activities available," according to a camper at Lake Compounce Campground.

Tips from RVers

Hookup variations: Electric and water access differs between campgrounds. "Nice if you like to 'rough it.' We've been going to Hammonasset for years as a large family gathering. Most sites don't have hook ups so you have to run off battery and water storage tanks if you have an RV," explains one experienced camper at Wolf's Den Family Campground.

Site positioning: Many campgrounds have specific RV area layouts. "This place is off Route 9 in Connecticut on the east side of the Connecticut River. You need to cross the river via bridge to Goodspeed Opera house and past to get to the RV campground," notes a visitor to Wolf's Den, adding that "Really long or tall RV will need to stay close to the front of the campground, as typical older campground is not designed for 40 foot long or 10 foot high campers."

Dump station access: Most campgrounds offer dump stations rather than full hookups. "None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out," reports a Lake Compounce Campground visitor, reflecting a common setup at Connecticut campgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Cobalt, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cobalt, CT is Hammonasset State Park Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 39 reviews.

What parks are near Cobalt, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Cobalt, CT that allow camping, notably Hop Brook Lake and Northfield Brook Lake.