Eastern Connecticut camping sites near Gilman, Connecticut range from state parks to privately-owned facilities nestled in the wooded, rolling terrain typical of New England's inland areas. The region maintains relatively mild summers with average high temperatures around 80-85°F, making it comfortable for outdoor activities from late spring through early fall. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 200-400 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain for hiking and exploration.
What to do
Hike to scenic waterfalls: At Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground, Chapman Falls is just across the street from the camping area. "Across the street from the campground is a trail to Chapman Falls, which will take less than 10 minutes to hike to, but it's a pretty waterfall," notes one visitor. Another camper mentions, "The state park is nice but the campground isn't the best, one of my visits the site next to me was playing music from their car radio the whole day."
Kayaking upstream: Launch kayaks from several local campgrounds to explore waterways. One camper at Devil's Hopyard explained, "We biked from the Chester ferry to Devils Hopyard campground, at the north part of the park. 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."
Fishing opportunities: The Pachaug River offers fishing access. An experienced camper at Hopeville Pond State Park Campground shares, "From here, we paddled south to the end of the pond and up the Pachaug River, eventually reaching the dam at Pachaug Pond. It's an 8 mile paddle with some tricky spots to navigate, but very pretty! This park also has plenty of trails for hiking and geocaching."
What campers like
Secluded waterfront sites: Some campgrounds offer premium water access. "The gem is the canoe sites at the north of the campground. These are tent only. You park and walk about 100 yards to the site. There are only four sites in this secluded section of the campground. Sites CN02, CN03 and CN04 have direct waterfront on the pond," explains a Hopeville Pond camper.
Salt water pools: Waters Edge Family Campground provides alternative swimming options. One visitor highlights, "Most amazing weekend with tons of woods (privacy is huge for us). Very friendly guests and staff! Amazing weekend with lots of fun for the kids and even the dogs! We've been to campgrounds with playgrounds worse than the waters edge dog park."
Halloween camping events: Seasonal activities create unique experiences at Odetah Camping Resort. "We went two years in a row each on Halloween! They had great amenities and activities for the kids. Plus a costume contest and tricker treating. Very enjoyable time. Hope to go back again," shares a returning camper.
What you should know
Limited privacy at some sites: Site layout varies significantly between campgrounds. At Odetah, one camper notes, "Resort is the right word! We went in cooler September during Covid, so we couldn't take advantage of all the amenities, but we've already decided we need to book a trip for peak season next summer. The only con is the sites are not very private...at all."
Rules vary by location: State parks and private campgrounds have different regulations. "If you DON'T enjoy privacy, or peace and quiet, or rules being enforced, such as quiet hours...then you will maybe like it here," warns a camper about Salt Rock Campground. "You can basically see every Campsite from anywhere in the park, barely any trees in between sites to add privacy."
Tent restrictions at some facilities: Not all campgrounds welcome tent campers equally. A recent visitor to Odetah reports, "Odetah Camping Resort called us today 24 hours prior to our arrival- after 4 years of camping there- to cancel our site unless we rented an RV and didn't use tents. We were allowed to book and had the booking for 4 months."
Tips for camping with families
Pool amenities for children: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation. At Strawberry Park, "I love that I see the same staff there every year. There are seasonal and weekenders alike. Bingo every night, and more activities than you could possibly do! The kids ride their bikes to the sports fields, the rec center for the pool and activities. Oh and my young children LOVE the air pillow, they have spent hours on there."
Activity schedules: Some campgrounds provide organized entertainment. "When my family went here it poured! And we were thankful that there were so many things to do, painting ceramics, karaoke, an arcade (at the time it had DDR which was all the rage). It is close by to some nice shopping areas as well. Bingo is always a family favorite and they even had that as well!" describes a Strawberry Park visitor.
Beach access considerations: Rocky Neck State Park offers direct beach access. A visitor notes, "The campgrounds are named after water fowl: Crane, Egret, Osprey, Heron etc...We stayed in Egret. We camped at site #4 (sunny) then moved to #38 (shady). Bathhouses and toilets were not as cleaned as I would have liked but passable."
Tips from RVers
Waterfront RV parking: Some locations offer premium water views. At Crocker's Boatyard, "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Crockers Boatyard. Very friendly and helpful staff, great location, security gated after hours. Had water and 50 amp hookup. Very convenient to many attractions and restaurants."
Weekday camping recommended: Weekends can be crowded at popular destinations. One camper at Mystic KOA advises, "If you like close quarters and being welcomed by a booze bus, then this KOA is for you. The amenities seemed clean and fine, no complaints about the staff, but this KOA is not our cup of tea."
Level site options: Finding level sites matters for RVs. An Aces High RV Park visitor shares, "Peaceful. Well organized campground with both water front back in sites as well as large pull throughs. Pull through sites also have lots of space between them so you don't feel like you are on top of the neighbors. Sites and roads are a pea gravel material and each site has large grassy areas around it."
