Several tent camping options are found within driving distance of Farmington, Connecticut. Onion Mountain Park offers primitive tent camping with no reservations required, providing a true backcountry experience. River Highlands State Park River Campground and Windmill Hill at White Memorial Campground provide established tent sites with more amenities. Chapman Pond Preserve offers hike-in and walk-in tent camping in a secluded natural setting. These areas provide varying levels of accessibility and amenities for tent campers seeking outdoor experiences in Connecticut's woodlands.
Most tent camping areas near Farmington require campers to be self-sufficient. Onion Mountain Park features primitive sites with fire pits but no drinking water or toilets. As one reviewer noted, "Very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required... it's not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite." Sites at Windmill Hill include picnic tables, fire rings, and toilet facilities, making it more suitable for those wanting basic amenities. Chapman Pond Preserve offers free tent camping but lacks facilities entirely. Campers should pack in all necessary supplies including water, food, and waste disposal bags. Bear activity has been reported in some areas, so proper food storage is essential.
"We absolutely loved this little lean-to next to Bear Mountain," wrote one camper about the Riga Lean-To, which is accessible via the Appalachian Trail for those willing to hike farther from Farmington. Tent campers frequently use these backcountry sites as bases for exploring nearby trail networks. The more remote tent camping locations offer greater solitude but require more preparation. Selden Neck State Park Campground provides a unique boat-in tent camping experience on an island in the Connecticut River. During summer months, tent sites at established campgrounds can fill quickly, especially on weekends. Fall and spring offer less crowded conditions and often more comfortable temperatures for tent camping near Farmington, though campers should be prepared for variable weather conditions.
"We arrived at the parking lot of Onion Mountain Park at around 2 pm and proceeded to get our bags packed for the hike."
"Very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required. Small campsite, first come first served basis. Other posts claim you can park right the site, but you can not."
"We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."
from $5 / night
"Located at White Memorial. No hookups so perfect for people with tents or vans. No big rigs."
"Quiet woods atmosphere with trail’s. Wonderful place to camp. Very clean"
from $25 / night
"I wasn't going to come back again but it is very close to my grandkids. All roads are dirt and all potholes have been repaired. The clubhouse is being renovated and activities are now back. "
"Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view. Good site"
"There's a few sites close to each other, so it is nice to go with enough people to occupy them all at once to keep it personal. You can swim and fish and relax all day!"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $5 / night
from $5 / night
"Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites. You have to kayak or boat in."
from $5 / night
"We started our hike at the under-mountain trailhead, located right off route 41, and climbed up the mountain. Be prepared for steep inclines, and lots of rocks."
"The lean-to fit our small tens, and there is a picnic table. There's also a bear box near by. Room to camp your tent on the ground too if you wanted to or had more ppl along."
"Sure, anyone can camp there, but it is designated for folks hiking the A.T., whether thru-hikers, section hikers, or whatever."
TravelerSmall but quaint park. It is the off season, but there are numerous folks here. Propane fill available. They stock the river behind the park with trout. Walking path in the woods along the river. Staff are friendly and helpful.
ScoutClean, nice and friendly camping experience
ScoutLots of seasonal campers here. Some damaged trailers in a few spots just sitting there- not sure what the campsites plan is. Bathrooms clean. I saw a schedule of activities for the upcoming weekend and it looks like they offer some nice things for kids. There is a pond in the front for fishing.
ScoutBeautiful and rustic campground on the shores of Bantam Lake. I stayed in a tent site with my van. Basic setup. Nice. No activities - perfect if you are looking to unwind from it all.
ScoutLoved this rustic and quiet campground. Located at White Memorial. No hookups so perfect for people with tents or vans. No big rigs.
LegendThis campground is associated with a large amusement park. We were there in the fall when the amusement park was closed so the campground was not very busy but image it would have a very crowded feel if you were there during the summer. The RV sites are buddy sites which is never our favorite set-up (unless we are traveling with friends). Luckily, there was no one in the site next to us during our stay. The campground is big rig-friendly with roads and sites wide and long enough to accommodate any size RV; however, the road and roundabout you encounter when entering the campground is tight. There was very little traffic when we entered so navigating the entrance booth and roundabout was doable. The RV slots you pull into to check in at registration are far too short to accommodate large RVs with their tow vehicles and we ended up taking up four spaces. The tent sites are set away from the cabins and RV sites. Some are nicely tucked up against the tree line while others are in a grassy area and others are sandy nestled under some scrubby pine trees. One of the problems with the location of the tent sites is that they are far away from the bathrooms. Garbage cans are scattered throughout the campground so you don’t have to walk very far to dump your trash. There is no sewer but the electric (50-amp) worked well. There is cable but the channels were not HD so we switched to our over-the-air antenna and got great HD reception with about 60 channels. There is wifi but we could not get it at our site so we just used our Verizon hotspot (which had great reception). The water pressure is very high so we dialed our regulator back to around 45. Roads and sites are gravel. All the sites are level and have a picnic table and fire pit. We noticed that some of the fire pits needed to be cleaned out because rude campers littered them with water bottles, cans, and other garbage in the fire pits. One of the downsides is the noise from local recycling/transfer station. There is a dump station set to the side as you enter/exit. It was a little tight for us getting our 45’ RV in there but it was doable. There is only one sewer dump so we can image that it can be pretty backed up on Sundays when everybody checks out.
ScoutAfter a busy few weeks, this was exactly the break we needed. The kids went swimming, we did some fishing, and everyone came home tired in a good way lol.
ScoutWhite Pines made a really good home base for our trip. We spent most of the days checking out different spots around northwest Connecticut and came back here in the evenings. Made dinner outside, had a fire, and just relaxed. The campground itself had everything we needed without having to make a bunch of extra trips into town.
ScoutWe brought our camper up for the weekend and the kids immediately wanted to go to the pool.😂 They also loved the fishing pond and exploring around the campground. There was plenty to keep them busy while we got some actual downtime.
Primitive tent campsites near Farmington, Connecticut provide varied camping experiences throughout the region. The terrain consists primarily of deciduous forest with mixed pine stands at varying elevations between 200-1,000 feet. Weather conditions range from humid summer nights with temperatures averaging 75°F to fall evenings dropping into the 40s, requiring campers to pack appropriate clothing layers and rain protection.
Hiking trails access: Brassie Brook Shelter offers access to the Appalachian Trail with moderate to difficult terrain. "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," notes camper Tina D.
River activities: Selden Neck State Park Campground provides paddle-in camping opportunities. "It's about a 20 minute paddle across the river to the island. If it's a nice day, you're going to encounter some wake from passing boats so make sure your gear is in waterproof bags," advises Jason S.
Wildlife observation: The wooded areas around these campsites host deer, foxes, and various bird species. A camper at Onion Mountain Park noted, "We set up the tent and started a fire (very easy as there are sticks and wood everywhere)... P.S - There are a lot of bugs so be prepared, and we did put a bear bag about 100 feet away."
Natural water features: Many tent sites provide access to water bodies. "We have camped on the south end of Hurd Park several times via boat access. It is amazing with the views of the CT River and being able to watch the sunrise and sunset," writes Jackie G. about Gillette Castle State Park Campground.
Privacy between sites: Windmill Hill - Connecticut White Memorial Campground offers secluded tent sites. "I booked site 5 for the week. Great experience! Quiet woods atmosphere with trail's. Wonderful place to camp," shares Sara R.
Seasonal foliage: Fall camping near Farmington showcases dramatic leaf color changes, typically peaking mid-October. A Brassie Brook Shelter visitor mentioned, "The fall views made it worth it. We did have some sun spots at least throughout the trip. Great weekend overnight backpacking."
Wildlife precautions: Bears are active in Connecticut woodlands, particularly in spring and fall. Proper food storage is essential, with many sites offering bear boxes. At Chapman Pond Preserve, a camper reports "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view."
Limited facilities: Many primitive sites lack modern amenities. "The campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river. As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)," cautions Alicia B. about River Highlands.
Seasonal conditions: Spring camping often means muddy conditions while summer humidity can be intense. Fall brings comfortable daytime temperatures but cold nights. Locations at higher elevations can experience temperature drops of 10-15°F compared to Farmington proper.
Beginner-friendly options: Lower-elevation sites with shorter access trails work best for families with young children. "My BSA troop has been going here for years to help new scouts learn to camp. It is a very casual site and good for your first trip, you are close to your car and the road in case you need it," explains Marshall S. about Onion Mountain Park.
Water safety planning: For river camping, bring appropriate flotation devices for children. "You can swim and fish and relax all day!" notes a Gillette Castle camper, though parents should supervise water activities at all times due to currents.
Entertainment essentials: Pack wildlife identification guides and flashlights for night exploration. The Connecticut River areas offer excellent stargazing opportunities on clear nights, with limited light pollution at most primitive sites.
Access limitations: Most tent camping locations near Farmington have restricted vehicle access unsuitable for RVs. Sodom Mountain Campground offers exceptions with improved facilities. "This campground has improved with the new owners as of 2021... All roads are dirt and all potholes have been repaired. The clubhouse is being renovated and activities are now back," reports Brad N.
Alternative basecamp strategy: RVers can establish basecamp at Sodom Mountain, then access more primitive tent sites for day trips. The area's hiking trails connect to many of the tent-only camping areas within 5-10 miles of established RV campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Farmington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Farmington, CT is Onion Mountain Park with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Farmington, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Farmington, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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