Best Campgrounds near Griswold, CT
The northeastern Connecticut region surrounding Griswold provides multiple camping areas within state parks, forests, and private campgrounds. Hopeville Pond State Park Campground, located directly in Griswold, offers tent, RV and cabin camping with waterfront access to a pond popular for fishing, swimming and kayaking. The area also includes Mount Misery Campground in adjacent Voluntown's Pachaug State Forest, just a few miles east, where more rustic camping experiences are available. Most campgrounds in this region maintain seasonal operations, typically open from May through September or early October.
Campground options near Griswold vary significantly in amenities and accessibility. Hopeville Pond State Park features both water/electric hookup sites and primitive options, with most camping areas clustered along the pond shoreline. "The campground is clean and well maintained. There are many trails for hiking and a beach for swimming," noted one visitor. Sites require advance reservations through Connecticut's state reservation system, especially during summer weekends when waterfront locations fill quickly. The region experiences typical New England seasonal patterns with warm, humid summers and cold winters that close most facilities during winter months. Mount Misery Campground in Pachaug State Forest offers a more rustic experience with pit toilets and no hookups.
Developed campgrounds in the Griswold area provide different experiences based on their management. State park facilities like Hopeville Pond maintain strict quiet hours that some report aren't consistently enforced during busy periods. According to one camper, "If you are looking for privacy and quiet, I recommend the F Loop. The other loops have sites close together and it is generally quite loud during the day." Private facilities like Strawberry Park and Odetah Camping Resort offer more amenities including multiple swimming pools and organized activities, particularly for families with children. The canoe sites at Hopeville Pond receive particularly high marks for their seclusion and direct water access, with one visitor noting they are "tent only" with parking about 100 yards away, allowing campers to launch kayaks and paddleboards directly from their sites.
