Camping near Falls Village, Connecticut offers access to both the Housatonic River corridor and mountainous terrain between 700-2,000 feet elevation. Temperature fluctuations can be significant, with summer daytime highs averaging 80°F but dropping to the 50s at night in higher elevations. The camping season typically runs mid-April through mid-October with several sites offering both riverside and wooded options.
What to do
Fishing access points: Housatonic Meadows State Park Campground provides direct river access with quality fishing spots. "We have stayed there many times. We have a few favorite sites. We have also seen a bear eating food from the dumpster at housatonic meadows," notes one camper at Housatonic Meadows State Park Campground.
Hiking trails: Mount Washington State Forest offers primitive backcountry camping with trail connections. "What I liked most about this campground is that it wasn't overcrowded. Each spot is easy to find off the trail. They also have bear boxes at each site!" shares a visitor to Alander Trail Campground.
Water activities: Beyond fishing, some campgrounds offer swimming and boating. A visitor to Taconic State Park mentioned, "2 lIfeguarded swimming areas — a kiddie pool and a deep area with floating dock to jump off of. Very short hike (or drive) to the beautiful Bash Bish falls."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: American Legion State Forest offers well-spaced campsites with natural barriers. "Well spaced out lots, you have a lot of privacy, there is a drive in movie theater 10 min away (we always tailgate a movie as tradition) it's close to a bunch of quaint towns," according to a review from Austin Hawes Memorial Campground.
Riverside locations: Many campsites provide direct water access. One camper reported, "Our site was right above the river the flows behind this spot. You can go sit down by the water. But be careful! As we were walking back up to our tent there was a small bear within feet from us that we almost didn't see!"
Trail connectivity: The Appalachian Trail connects several camping areas. "This site is just south of the Bear Mtn summit. You can park at the Undermountain Trailhead area. Once you hit the AT go to the right and it goes to the summit," explains a visitor to Brassie Brook Shelter.
What you should know
Bear activity: Multiple campsites report bear encounters. Most backcountry sites provide bear boxes for food storage. "The entire campground was to ourselves... in the middle of JULY. The fishing, peace and quiet of the place was exactly what we needed! Tons of birdwatching, hiking, river floating," notes a camper at Housatonic Meadows.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have poor or no connectivity. A Macedonia Brook State Park visitor mentioned, "No cell service," while another camper at American Legion State Forest noted, "Last but not least - no cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it."
Campsite elevation challenges: Sites at Taconic State Park often feature platforms due to sloping terrain. "Taconic State Park has a beautiful campground. No electric hookups, but plenty of water and tent sites are available with very large platforms. Bathroom facilities are adequate. There are 2 dog friendly loops at the back."
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly activities: Lone Oak Campsites offers extensive programming for children. "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 a visitor to Lone Oak Camp Sites.
Swimming options: Multiple locations provide supervised swimming areas. "The swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock. Close to great hiking," reports a Taconic State Park visitor.
Playgrounds and fields: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "There was a very large open grassy field for play/sports, a playground and life guarded portion of the lake for swimming. This location was very accesible to the Bish Bash Falls trail and even had a few side trails to explore."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookups: Most state park campgrounds offer minimal RV amenities. "This is basic dry camping it is fun but there is no electric or water at the sites only in the bathhouse. So if you get a site close the the bathhouse you will have water close by and electricity close," notes a camper at Taconic State Park.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds with RV sites provide dump stations. "We had a great time, very friendly stuff. We stayed right on the river side, No hook up, but they have a dump station," reports a visitor to Macedonia Brook State Park.
Site terrain considerations: Many campgrounds have uneven sites. "The sites are nice and large, with room for trailers, and they also have a few cabin sites as well," explains a visitor to American Legion State Forest.
