Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground offers basic camping facilities in East Haddam, approximately 5 miles from Hadlyme. The campground sits at 200 feet elevation along a stream that feeds into the Eightmile River watershed. Most sites are in open areas with minimal shade coverage, averaging 30-40 feet in size with hard-packed dirt surfaces that drain poorly after rainfall.
What to do
Kayaking at Rocky Neck State Park: Located 17 miles southeast of Hadlyme, this park offers water activities beyond hiking. "The campgrounds are named after water fowl: Crane, Egret, Osprey, Heron etc... Short walk to Rock Neck beach. Anyone with kayaks can't easily get to boat launch. It's 4-5 miles by car at 4 mile river boat launch," notes one visitor to Rocky Neck State Park Campground.
Fishing at Salem Farms: Just 8 miles west of Hadlyme, Salem Farms provides fishing opportunities. "Great camping out the the woods of Salem ct," reports a camper at Salem Farms Campground. "Devils Hopyard and Gillette Castle are close and Rocky Neck State Park is about a 25 minute ride."
Bird watching at Hammonasset: The largest shoreline park in Connecticut, located 22 miles southwest of Hadlyme. "Large sights, mostly families, not loud, descent bathrooms, warm showers, nice beaches, great hiking and bird watching. Friendly staff. Amazing sunset scene," shares a visitor to Hammonasset State Park Campground.
What campers like
Open layouts for larger groups: Wolf's Den provides spacious sites for group camping. "Great people very nice! Spacious lots very clean and organized facility," reports one visitor. Another mentions that most sites are "50x30 sites common," providing ample space between camping units.
Access to multiple beaches: The Niantic KOA offers beach transportation. "They will give free shuttle rides to 3 beaches & downtown Niantic, CT," reports a camper. Another visitor notes, "Nice campground, friendly people and staff. Really nice that you can walk to the trails/beach and Rocky Neck."
Year-round camping options: Aces High RV Park stays open throughout the winter for pet owners wanting off-season camping. "This is open year round," states one review. Another camper describes the park as having "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."
What you should know
Limited water supply at Devil's Hopyard: The campground has ongoing water issues. "Latrines are provided, but water is not; due to contamination, you'll need to bring your own," warns a camper at Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground.
Seasonal restrictions on pets: Some parks prohibit pets during peak months. "Be noted PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the summer. We were not aware of this," cautions a Hammonasset visitor.
Tick prevention crucial: Ticks remain problematic throughout the region. "Be very careful with ticks, there were tons of them under our picnic table and by the campfire. Our 2 nights we found over 25 ticks, mostly from sitting at the table when we first arrived," reports a camper at Devil's Hopyard.
Limited cell service: Coverage is spotty in Hadlyme area campgrounds. A Devil's Hopyard review notes "cell phone coverage poor," requiring campers to plan communication needs accordingly.
Tips for camping with families
Off-peak camping for solitude: Devil's Hopyard offers quiet camping midweek. "We stayed for 4 nights during the week, and it was the quietest campground we've ever stayed in. We were told by a seasonal that its a whole different story on the weekend," reports a visitor to Salem Farms Campground.
Family-friendly activities: Odetah Camping Resort offers extensive programming for children. "There is lots to do at the campground especially for kids. 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!"
Halloween camping: Several campgrounds offer special Halloween events. "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," shares an Odetah visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Riverdale Farm Campsites accommodates larger RVs with varying site sizes. "Most of the roads are paved, the sites are large and level, there are full hookups, and a dump station. There are a lot of seasonal residents, but still plenty of open sites for travelers," notes a visitor.
Campground access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging entry roads. "The road into the campground is narrow and winding, so larger RV mss as y have trouble, but there were several of them there when we were there," explains a Riverdale Farm reviewer.
Site spacing considerations: Privacy varies widely between campgrounds. "We stayed in site #4 (sunny) then moved to #38 (shady). Both spots were quiet, music low and people minded their business. Equal mix of RVs big and small as well as many tents," reports a Rocky Neck visitor describing the pet friendly camping experience.
