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Best Tent Camping near Glastonbury Center, CT

595 Reviews

State parks and public lands surrounding Glastonbury Center, Connecticut offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Onion Mountain Park provides primitive tent-only camping with walk-in sites accessed via blue or yellow trails from the parking area. Chapman Pond Preserve features tent platforms and picnic tables with views of the Connecticut River, ideal for backcountry tent camping experiences. Selden Neck State Park Campground offers a unique island tent camping experience on the Connecticut River, requiring boat access to reach its four designated campsites. Hidden Lake Farm provides a more developed option with just two tent sites that include amenities like drinking water and showers.

Most tent campsites in the region require some preparation as amenities vary significantly between locations. Onion Mountain Park offers free primitive tent camping with fire rings but no drinking water or toilets, making it suitable for experienced campers comfortable with minimal facilities. Campers should bring water and pack out all trash. Chapman Pond Preserve provides tent platforms and an outhouse but requires hikers to carry in all supplies. Selden Neck's boat-in sites feature picnic tables, fire pits, and outhouses, but campers must transport all gear and supplies across the river. A parking permit is required at the boat launch during summer months. Sites at Windmill Hill in the White Memorial Conservation Area offer a middle ground with toilets and trash service in a forested setting.

In early fall, tent campers often find more solitude at these locations as summer crowds diminish. According to reviews, Onion Mountain Park provides "very peaceful overnight camping" with sites that are "not very big," making them ideal for smaller tents rather than group camping. One visitor noted that while some reviews classify it as walk-in, "it's definitely more of a hike" to reach the primitive spots. At Selden Neck State Park, a camper reported that "plenty of flat area to pitch a tent" is available at the Hogback site, with "amazing sunset views" and beaches that emerge at low tide. The Connecticut River locations offer opportunities for swimming and fishing directly from tent sites, with Gillette Castle and Hurd State Park providing water access camping options.

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Best Tent Sites Near Glastonbury Center, Connecticut (21)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Glastonbury Center, CT

17 Photos of 21 Glastonbury Center Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Glastonbury Center, CT

595 Reviews of 21 Glastonbury Center Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • Ryan A.
    May. 21, 2024

    Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground

    Good Location for Hiking, Lots of Garbage, Not Recommended

    Camped here on a Friday night in Site 16, yet another campground recommended in“Best Tent Camping: New England.” Overall I was not impressed. The campsites are right next to each other and are marked with posts. The sites are so close that the posts are marked with the site number on both sides which tells me that there has been confusion in the past.

    The sites along the creek mostly have worn paths to walk to it but it’s nothing impressive and I wouldn’t want to eat fish that came out of it. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, some have the kind where the top flips over and others have the moveable grate that goes up and down. There is a large dumpster in the campground and several porta-potties. The old outhouses have been permanently closed and locked shut. My campsite had a lot of trash in it, old tent stakes, plastic bottle caps, plastic fork, broken glass, etc. Not good.

    Some of the people there were camping in a group and were blasting music. I didn’t see a single park ranger the entire night so I’m not sure how often they police it. Someone in a pickup truck came into the campground, did a u-turn, and sped out at 30 mph which was really annoying and unsafe.

    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 despite all the foam and garbage around it.

    This is a pretty basic campground and is nothing special. Out of all the sites I think 22 looked the best, it is more isolated and you can hear the waterfalls from it, which would be relaxing. The downside is that it’s right next to the entrance and road so you’ll get car headlights at night.

    I woke in the morning to a gray sky and hundreds of birds singing– it was my favorite part of the trip. I delayed getting up to enjoy the moment. I also didn’t see any ticks but I’m sure there are plenty based on other reviews.

    I’ve always thought that if states were condiments Connecticut would be mayonnaise– relatively unremarkable and bland. This campground fits that description perfectly.

  • John D.
    May. 3, 2015

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Great park in a great location

    I have been camping at Rocky Neck State Park for decades, both tent camping, and now In a 30' camper. Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads. If you can, stay away from the front gates during the typical peak arrival / departure times. Traffic jams occur, partly because you're also in-line with the car loads of beach goers. The beach and beach parking lots fill to capacity. Week ends are the worst.

    The campgrounds are located within internal loops. Most sites are quite level. Park-like settings surrounding a large lawn. Bathhouses are being rehabbed, deemed adequate; can be seedy towards the end of the season. Park is routinely patrolled by State Conservation Officers who will put you out if needed. CT State Police and local officers also patrol. Camp roads are paved, and lots and lots of kids spend time riding bikes, coloring with chalk, skateboarding, roller blading.

    No electrical hook-ups; potable water spigots located within the camping circles. Generators allowed, but there are quiet hours. Dump upon exit; its up top by the entrance booths.

    There is a "tent-only area" which is nice and abuts a paved road for campers to walk / bike to the beach. Use this. Stay off the main road to the beach if you can. The speed limit is enforced, but sporadically. The fines are very stiff (you receive a State traffic ticket from the Officer).

    This beach road leads you to a wonderful overlook where lots of people take their kids crabbing for Blueshells. There are size regulations so be careful. The regs are posted. Bring some raw chicken wings and kite string and have some fun. You can also follow the signs that will lead you to nature walks. Amazing.

    During inclement weather some campers leave the park. We always recommend taking a right out of the park onto east bound Route 156. Follow into downtown Niantic for restaurants, an Irish pub, or a movie. Nice village area, and pedestrian friendly.

    Rocky Neck is a very nice park, and if I had to list one complaint, it is that the State is in a financial tight-spot, and has been cutting services and personnel. Entrance booths go unmanned and that leads to traffic jams that extend out and onto the main road. Very , very messy. Life guard towers at the beach are empty at times. Bath houses can be filthy.

    All things considered, I would recommend this park..

  • D
    Jun. 7, 2019

    Green Falls Campground

    Small but cozy

    Great off the beaten path place to camp. Sites are large but close together. Each contain a rock built fire ring. There are toilets but no showers. Good parking for camper but limited for guests. Reservations are required in advance. Stones throw to beach/pond area

  • Becca Z.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    White Pines Campsites

    Clean Campsites

    We stayed at site 85 in Sunny Crest and liked having some privacy. The sites nearby had some trees providing space between each site. A lot of the sites we drove by were pretty sloped- I would recommend a drive though if you can beforehand.

    The picnic table was chained down so there weren’t many options to set up having the fire pit and picnic table where they were.

    Hiking trails were nice, good variety of easier and more difficult terrain.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2020

    Wolf Den Campground — Mashamoquet Brook State Park

    Basic campground with hiking trails in the area.

    This small state park campground offers basic campsites with running water and showers, open Memorial Day to Columbus Day.  This is NOT Wolf's Den Family Campground in E. Haddam, CT. Also, be aware there are 2 campgrounds at this State Park; the other one, Mashamoquet Brook, does not offer running water/showers, so if you want these amenities, be sure to select a campsite 1-35.

    There's a small playground in the middle of the loop, a number of hiking trails throughout the park along with a few geocaches (download details for offline use a phone connection is spotty), a swimming pond, and a small brook with an old mill and blacksmith shop that is sometimes open on weekends for tours. It's a nice place to explore and have a picnic. In 2020 with Covid, there were restrictions on visitors to the campground, reservations required, and swimming was not allowed. 

    The parking pads are paved and a few have overhanging branches, but the trees provide  separation and some shade on largely open sites that tend to open up toward the back with open areas for pitching tents. Sites have fire rings with grills and picnic tables. Site 20 is the only one with electric. The ones toward the back of the loop back up toward the woods and give you some more privacy. 

    They don't allow hammocks in the trees or pets. For some reason, silly string also makes the list of prohibitions.

  • Alex S.
    May. 13, 2020

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Best New England beach campground!

    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. There are several osprey nests too. Many families bring bikes. 

    There are several camping areas at Rocky Neck - I think Crane is the best because it is quiet and the bathrooms are updated. 

    The tent camping area is in a field without much privacy or shade. I recommend setting up your tent at a traditional site.

    The beach is great for relaxing and beach combing. The water is warm and shallow, very calm. No floats or toys are allowed in the water, not sure why. Don't bring your kite either as the Amtrak is next to the beach, it's interesting when it goes by!

    Sometimes generators are an issue, but there are limited hours at which they can run.

    Lots of dumpsters for easy trash disposal. Firewood available for a low price on site, don't bring any outside wood. 

    Campground is not too far from a Walmart if you forget something. There's a gas station close by too for ice.

    This campground books up FAST, I usually book in the wintertime. I stay for a week at a time.

  • G Y.
    Jul. 29, 2024

    Lake Waramaug State Park Campground

    Quiet Rustic Camping

    My family has been camping at Lake Waramaug for over 20 years. I can say most of what’s been said is true or partially so but whether it’s bad or good depends on your point of view. Note that we are a Scout family and my husband and son have camped many days well off the grid with only the gear and food in their backpacks. That skews our point of view. 

    First off, Connecticut’s state campgrounds are not KOA’s. 

    Do not expect top of the line activities that private campgrounds have.

    What it does have are clean, large sites that are partially wooded and not out in the open. 

    The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available. The swim area is marginal- best for little ones. 

    This park is remote from all conveniences- pack it in or expect a drive. There have been several times I’ve driven to the Dunkin Donuts miles down the road for coffee but I find using a French press is more convenient. For takeout there’s the White Horse on 202. It’s ranked a top restaurant in the state - the food is good. 

    Never have we had issues with wildlife besides squirrels and ducks. Leave no trace is important - it keeps the unwelcome wildlife out. 

    There have been issues with the bathrooms off and on over the decades. It seems like they’ve finally fixed everything. Our trip of 7/27-28 showed everything was fine.

    The only on-site services are firewood and ice sales. The little food shack is out of business. 

    Yes, cell service is basically non-existent. Our trip this weekend was the first time we received more than 1 bar in 20 years. Actually we were a bit disappointed because this camp ground is a great place to disconnect and relax. Being forced to put away the devices is heaven in my mind. You can drive about 5+ minutes out and get cell service. Regarding rowdiness, of the 20+ times we’ve camped only twice was it a problem. 

    Also, this place is not glamping. The area is rural, so cows do moo at 6am, and kids are up even earlier. If you like to sleep in skip and rent a B&B. 

    Also if you want a better place to swim go to Mt.Tom state park about 10 minutes up the road. It’s a day use only park-no camping- but the lake is gorgeous and there are very few people there.

  • Ryan A.
    May. 15, 2024

    George Washington State Campground

    An OK Campground but not Great

    Camped out here for two nights after reading about this place in the"Best Tent Camping: New England" book. It's better than the other campgrounds in Rhode Island that I looked at (Burlingame, Fort Getty) but isn't my favorite campground. If you're not a Rhode Island resident the fee for most sites is$36/night. Is it worth it? Eh, probably not unless you're really jonesing to camp for a weekend in the Ocean State. 

    It does have some great things going for it, namely the hiking trails and views of the lake. There are some tent-only sites which are numbered T1-T5. I stayed in T5 and it was the best of the bunch because it had the most privacy and space, including a grassy area. The other tent-only sites were fairly small and if you go to any mixed use sites you run the risk of having an RV next to you. The A1-A7 sites are remote and hike in, but you're going to have to hike either 0.4 or 0.6 miles through some uneven terrain. The next best group of sites would be 19-24 which are on their own small loop near the lake. 

    The things I didn't like were the streetlights over the port-a-potties that shine all night. There is a manned gate where you check in and you have to get let into the campground during the day, but at night the gates are wide open and it seems like some people know this because there are a few oddballs around in the early morning. There is swimming at the lake but it looked way too dirty. 

    Overall the place was managed very well, the sites were cleanish and the grounds were taken care of. The employees drove by at least once an hour, I thought they were collecting trash from dumpsters but the only place with a dumpster is near the entrance. I couldn't figure out why they kept driving by so often. I had a good time, it was relaxing and scratched the camping itch.

Guide to Glastonbury Center

Tent camping options near Glastonbury Center, Connecticut include several primitive and semi-developed sites within a 30-mile radius. Most locations require campers to bring their own water, and several are accessible only by hiking or boating. Winter camping is generally not available at these locations, with most sites operating from April through October, though specific opening dates vary by location.

What to do

River activities: At Gillette Castle State Park Campground, campers can fish and swim directly from their sites. "You can swim and fish and relax all day!" notes Jackie G., who frequents the south end of the park.

Hiking opportunities: Several campgrounds offer trail access for day hiking. Nearby Sodom Mountain Campground serves as a convenient base for hikers. According to Brad N., the grounds have been significantly improved with recent ownership changes: "All roads are dirt and all potholes have been repaired."

Wildlife observation: Morning fog creates optimal bird watching conditions at river camping locations. Jason S. reports from Selden Neck State Park Campground: "In the morning, we were completely socked in with fog which would have been an issue if we had to get back early. But it burned off before long and we headed back."

What campers like

Waterfront settings: Connecticut River campsites offer privacy and scenic views. Jason S. describes Hogback site at Selden Neck: "Plenty of flat area to pitch a tent, nice picnic table and fire pit. There's a private outhouse. At low tide, a couple of beaches emerge to play on."

Train watching: For an unusual camping option, Chester Railway Station provides a unique experience. "It is a really fun place to spend a night, especially for a train enthusiast. The caboose is stationed on a big grassy field, near a real railroad. You hear the trains running at night," explains Esther L.

Seclusion: Many campers value the quiet settings available at these locations. Sara R., who camped at Windmill Hill - Connecticut White Memorial Campground, appreciated the "Quiet woods atmosphere with trails."

What you should know

Access challenges: Many camping areas require physical effort to reach. At Onion Mountain Park, Nora S. clarifies: "I saw in the other review, that it is classified as a walk-in but it's definitely more of a hike. We ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain)."

Site limitations: Several primitive tent sites have size restrictions. Ricky H. notes about Onion Mountain Park: "Small campsite, first come first served basis. Other posts claim you can park right at the site, but you can not. It's up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take."

Facilities vary: Restroom facilities range from outhouses to none at all. Ben L. observed at Chapman Pond Preserve: "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view."

Tips for camping with families

Scout-friendly locations: Some areas serve as training grounds for novice campers. Marshall S. shares about Onion Mountain Park: "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."

Caboose camping option: For families seeking unique accommodations, Chester Railway Station offers both tent sites and a caboose. "The caboose is stationed on a big grassy field, near a real railroad. It sleeps 4 and you can set up tents outside too," reports Esther L.

Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for natural encounters in campground facilities. One visitor to River Highlands State Park River Campground advises: "As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Most sites near Glastonbury Center accommodate tents only, with few RV amenities. Brad N. mentions that Sodom Mountain Campground is "off the beaten path, quiet with helpful and friendly staff" and notes ongoing improvements: "Looking forward to coming back next year to stay for a month like I did this year."

Wi-Fi access: While most primitive camping lacks connectivity, some developed sites offer internet. Brad reports that Sodom Mountain Campground now has "Great Wi-Fi."

Water access: RVers seeking water access camping can utilize certain river locations, though most require boat transportation of gear. Consider joining paddling groups to coordinate equipment transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Glastonbury Center, CT is River Highlands State Park River Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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