Pachaug State Forest surrounds the Griswold area, offering over 24,000 acres of woodland terrain with elevations ranging from 200 to 600 feet. Most camping options near Griswold operate seasonally between April and October, with temperatures ranging from 40°F in early spring to mid-80s during summer months. Winter camping is limited as most facilities close after Columbus Day weekend due to freezing temperatures.
What to do
Kayaking on rivers and ponds: Hopeville Pond State Park features direct water access for paddlers. "We launched our kayaks from the day use area because the campground boat launch was extremely crowded. 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!" says one Hopeville Pond visitor.
Hiking through forest trails: Mount Misery Campground provides access to numerous trails. A camper noted, "We hiked to the overlook of Mt. Misery and had a great time geocaching and enjoying the trails. We found the campsites to be decent, and a number of them did afford privacy and space." The area features well-marked trails ranging from easy 1-mile loops to more challenging 5+ mile routes.
Fish for freshwater species: Multiple ponds and streams offer fishing opportunities throughout the region. "The pond has some really big fish, but it's heavily covered with lily pads and there are a lot of submerged trees. If you're going fishing here, a weedless rig is the way to go," advises a regular visitor to the area's fishing spots.
What campers like
Waterfront tent sites: Some of the best places to camp near Griswold include secluded waterfront spots. "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. You can launch kayaks, paddle boards, etc right from the site!" reports a visitor to Hopeville Pond State Park.
Rustic camping with privacy: Mount Misery Campground offers more secluded sites. "Very rustic and quiet a lot of hiking trails and a big field to play football baseball if you have the people croquet is fun to play in the field as well there is some streams walking distance fun to check out I found a lot of crayfish so cool," one camper shared. Sites start at $17/night and feature basic amenities with pit toilets.
Seasonal activities calendar: Larger resorts offer structured entertainment. At Strawberry Park, "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." Activities typically run from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
What you should know
Campground size affects experience: Facilities range from small state parks to large private resorts. Burlingame State Park across the Rhode Island border is particularly extensive: "Burlingame is a HUGE state park campground with over 700 sites. The location is fantastic, but with this many sites (so, with this many people), there are bound to be pros and cons."
Site selection matters for privacy: Many campgrounds feature a mix of open and wooded sites. "Loop F is not along the water, but there the large beach has a parking area, also used by day visitors. The sites in this loop offer more privacy; there's also a cabin at the beginning of this loop," notes a visitor describing Hopeville Pond campground layouts.
Weekend noise levels vary: Some campgrounds struggle with enforcing quiet hours. As one Salt Rock camper observed, "Quiet hours are merely a suggestion, and folks turn up until 4AM on Friday nights. Music blaring from disrespectful campers until 10PM." For quieter experiences, midweek stays or more remote sites are recommended.
Tips for camping with families
Pool and splash pad access: Odetah Camping Resort provides multiple water features. "This place has everything from a pool, splash pad, boats, food, ice cream, lots of activities, friendly helpful staff, delivery to your site from the camp store and nice shaded spacious sites," shares a family camper. The splash pad is particularly suitable for younger children.
Activity scheduling: Plan around organized events at family-oriented campgrounds. "Each weekend has a big schedule of events- farmers' market, themed activities and a band. In addition there is good fishing on the pond, mini-golf, pool and splash pad, etc. Kids are not bored here!" notes an Odetah visitor.
Beach access considerations: Beaches vary significantly in size and amenities. "There is a nice tent section tucked away in the woods but you are pretty far from the bathhouse and seemed crowded and loud when we walked around in the morning," cautions a visitor regarding proximity trade-offs between beach access and quieter camping areas.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness and hookup quality: Mystic KOA provides varied RV accommodations. "Our site (Q15) was all grass which was fine with us because the grass was nice and thick. There was no defined pad, instead just hookups to back in next to so you have lots of flexibility as to how you park," reports an RVer, noting the importance of checking site specifications when booking.
Dump station availability: Not all facilities offer equal services. "Dump station needed to be pumped, and therefore not operational," noted a Salt Rock visitor, highlighting the importance of confirming facilities before arrival. Most campgrounds with full hookups charge $3-5 for dump station use for non-guests.
Maneuverability between campsites: Access roads vary in quality and width. "Pretty tight turns and big hills for towing your trailer through but it fits," observed a visitor to Whispering Pines, emphasizing the need for advance research when bringing larger rigs to campgrounds in the region.
