Connecticut camping grounds near Hanover offer diverse accommodations ranging from wooded tent sites to premium camping facilities. The region sits along the Thames River watershed with elevations between 200-400 feet, creating varied terrain for different camping experiences. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during daytime, making it ideal for outdoor recreation from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Water recreation on ponds and rivers: At Hidden Acres Campground, visitors enjoy tubing down the river and fishing in the pond. One camper noted, "We tubed down river, fished the pond, swam in the pool, did the hay ride, even attended the dance at night."
Hiking through wooded trails: Rocky Neck State Park provides hiking trails along the coastline. A visitor mentioned, "The campsite is only a short walk from the beach and available mountain bike and hiking trails."
Family games and tournaments: Brialee Family Campground organizes numerous group activities. According to a visitor, "There were all kinds of activities (kick-ball, ect) that everyone could participate in, a great play ground, and easy to navigate."
Beach swimming: Rocky Neck State Park Campground offers beach access for swimming. A camper shared, "Beach can be crowded. But it is worth it. Nice food shack. Great family place."
Kayaking on local waterways: Ross Hill RV Park provides access to the Quinebaug River. One visitor mentioned, "The campground is set on the Q River and if you're lucky enough to see it from your site it's beautiful."
Craft activities and themed events: Brialee Family Campground hosts creative programming for families. A camper recalled, "One of my favorite memories here is having all of the kids make dinner for the adults, we cooked, cleaned, and had some of us act as wait staff to get orders."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. At Mystic KOA, a visitor observed, "Clean, comfortable campground aimed more towards glamping. Lots of rv sites and very nice cabins. Cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen at a campground."
Lake and pond swimming: Sunfox Campground offers swimming in their small lake. A visitor commented, "Super clean, friendly environment very nice playground and pool plus a nice lake to swim and fish in."
Multiple swimming options: Campgrounds often feature both pools and natural swimming areas. One camper at Hidden Acres Campground mentioned, "We tubed down river, fished the pond, swam in the pool, did the hay ride, even attended the dance at night."
Convenient food options: Some campgrounds offer food service on weekends. A visitor at Hidden Acres noted, "Food sold on weekends at cabin restaurant with outdoor dining."
Proximity to attractions: Mystic KOA provides easy access to popular Connecticut destinations. A camper shared, "The location of the campground was great as it was easy to find, close to a grocery store, and more importantly close enough to our favorite town in Connecticut allowing us the opportunity to visit the ocean."
Jumping pillow attractions: Sunfox Campground features a unique play structure. A visitor described, "Campground is situated in a beautiful valley with a little pond, hiking trails, playground, jumping pillow, swimming pool and hot tub."
What you should know
Varying site privacy levels: Site spacing differs significantly between campgrounds. At Ross Hill Park, one visitor cautioned, "Campground is crowded and filled with older crowd that seem like they live here."
Limited hookups at state parks: State parks typically offer fewer amenities. At Burlingame State Park, a camper noted, "No hook-ups. This is a con in the heat of the summer if you want/need AC."
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. Sunfox Campground operates "Mid Apr to Mid Oct" while Strawberry Park runs "May 1 - Oct 23."
Bathroom conditions vary: Facility maintenance differs between locations. At Burlingame State Park, a visitor warned, "Bath houses are usually pretty filthy, and that's because there are too many people per bath house, and people are gross."
Weekend noise levels: Some campgrounds become louder on weekends. A visitor at Burlingame noted, "On the weekends people can get out of hand with the partying and it's not uncommon to have to listen to noise late into the night. Do not come on a holiday weekend, it's packed."
Gray water vs. black water disposal: Some campgrounds have limited waste disposal options. At Highland Campground, a visitor pointed out, "There is no black water hookup, only gray water. You have to have them clean out the black or dump on the way out."
Tips for camping with families
Halloween events: Several campgrounds organize special seasonal activities. Regarding Odetah Camping Resort, a visitor shared, "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."
Rainy day options: Indoor activities provide alternatives during bad weather. At Strawberry Park, a camper recalled, "When my family went here it poured! And we were thankful that there were so many things to do, painting ceramics, karaoke, an arcade (at the time it had DDR which was all the rage)."
Family competitions: Many campgrounds organize group contests. A Brialee visitor remembered, "I also remember them doing a contest on father's day that I won, for writing up all the reasons why my dad was the best. He won a hat that he still keeps on his dresser."
Site selection for families: Different sites offer varying levels of privacy and access. For Rocky Neck, a visitor advised, "Every campsite has its own fire pit with a grill attachment and a picnic table. My site was tent only and you couldn't pull your car up to the site so unloading and loading was a hassle."
Wildlife awareness: Some campgrounds have resident animals. At Rocky Neck State Park, a camper warned, "The skunks are friendly! Great for kids!"
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: RV sites vary in levelness. A visitor to Mystic KOA noted, "Some sites towards the front of the park are very close together and unlevel. If you want to be up near the action– pool, bar car, and other activities– get a site in the front section."
Seasonal camper concentration: Many campgrounds have permanent seasonal residents. At Highland Campground, a visitor observed, "There are a lot of seasonal campers which can sometimes feel like you're intruding on their space."
Road conditions within campgrounds: Internal infrastructure varies by location. At Highland, a visitor noted, "The campground is older, and the roads/driveways need work. For those looking for newer facilities, this isn't the place."
Hookup availability: Electrical service varies between campgrounds. A Highland camper mentioned, "There are no 50 amp sites. The rec hall and the bath houses are old, but we don't mind the old fashioned spots at times."
Delivery services: Some campgrounds offer convenience services. At Brialee, a visitor appreciated that, "They do trash pickup on the weekends so you can just leave your bags at the end of your site which is nice and they also provide delivery of wood/fire starter/ice to your campsite."
