Best Tent Camping near Hadlyme, CT
Tent campsites near Hadlyme, Connecticut cluster along the Connecticut River, offering several boat-in and walk-in options for backcountry tent camping. Gillette Castle State Park Campground and Selden Neck State Park Campground provide established tent sites accessible primarily by water. Chapman Pond Preserve offers walk-in tent camping with platforms in a more secluded setting. These areas feature minimal development but provide strategic access to the Connecticut River watershed.
Most tent camping areas require self-sufficiency as amenities are limited. Sites at Selden Neck State Park include picnic tables, fire pits, and primitive outhouses but no drinking water. Chapman Pond Preserve provides tent platforms and an outhouse with the Connecticut River visible from camp. Campers must pack in all water and supplies, particularly for the boat-in locations. Hidden Lake Farm, located within driving distance of Hadlyme, offers more amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, showers and toilets across its five tent sites. Fire regulations vary by location, with most permitting campfires in established rings.
The riverside tent camping experience offers unique perspectives on the Connecticut River ecosystem. Selden Neck State Park, being an island, provides complete separation from road noise and development. At low tide, beaches emerge for exploration and play. Morning fog frequently blankets the river, creating atmospheric conditions for early risers. The Chapman Pond site offers good tent platforms with river views in a secluded natural setting. A visitor to Selden Neck described it as "gorgeous riverside tent camping" with "plenty of flat area to pitch a tent" and "amazing sunset views." Wildlife observation opportunities abound, with minimal light pollution enhancing stargazing from tent sites throughout the region.