Best Tent Camping near Enfield, CT
Tent campers seeking outdoor experiences near Enfield, Connecticut can find several established campgrounds within a short drive. Notable tent-friendly options include Onion Mountain Park, which offers free, primitive tent sites accessible via a short hike from the parking area. River Highlands State Park River Campground provides a scenic riverside camping experience with tent platforms in a natural setting, while Hidden Lake Farm offers five secluded tent sites with basic amenities.
Most tent camping areas around Enfield feature rustic, natural settings with minimal development. Tent sites typically sit on cleared dirt or forest floor surfaces, with some locations offering wooden platforms to keep gear off the ground. Many campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Chapman Pond Preserve offers free, hike-in tent platforms with outhouse facilities but no drinking water. A visitor commented, "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view. Good site."
The tent camping experience in this region offers peaceful woodland settings and riverside locations. Several campgrounds provide access to hiking trails and water activities, particularly along the Connecticut River. Gillette Castle State Park and Selden Neck State Park campgrounds offer boat-in tent camping with scenic riverside locations, allowing campers to combine paddling with overnight stays. The secluded nature of many sites appeals to those seeking quiet tent camping experiences away from developed areas. According to a camper at Onion Mountain Park, "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 but has a firepit already set up."