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Tent Camping near Salem, CT

1 campground with availability this weekend

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    Tent camping options near Salem, Connecticut include several waterfront sites along the Connecticut River. Gillette Castle State Park Campground and Selden Neck State Park Campground offer established tent sites with river access, while Chapman Pond Preserve provides more primitive camping experiences. Hidden Lake Farm, located within reasonable driving distance, features five tent sites with basic amenities including drinking water, fire pits, and picnic tables.

    Most tent campgrounds in the Salem area require advance planning as many are accessible only by water. Selden Neck State Park is an island campground requiring kayak or boat access, with a boat launch available at Deep River Landing across from the island. Sites typically include fire pits and picnic tables, with some locations offering primitive outhouses. Chapman Pond Preserve features tent platforms but minimal facilities. Seasonal considerations are important, as some riverside sites may be affected by water levels or weather conditions, particularly in spring and fall.

    The tent camping experience near Salem offers unique opportunities for solitude and natural immersion. Waterfront sites provide scenic views of the Connecticut River with opportunities for swimming, fishing, and paddling directly from camp. Selden Neck State Park's isolation creates a peaceful atmosphere despite occasional boat traffic. One camper described their experience at Selden Neck: "The sunset view was amazing. There was a little noise at night from boat traffic but it didn't keep us up." For those seeking woodland settings, Onion Mountain Park offers primitive tent sites accessed via hiking trails, providing a more secluded backcountry camping experience. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, these sites are described as "peaceful overnight camping" with small, first-come, first-served campsites.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Salem (15)

      1. Gillette Castle State Park Campground

      4.0(2)9mi from Salem1 siteTents

      "There's a few sites close to each other, so it is nice to go with enough people to occupy them all at once to keep it personal. You can swim and fish and relax all day!"

      Campground full this weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $5 / night

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      2. Chapman Pond Preserve

      5.0(1)9mi from SalemTents

      "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view. Good site"

      3. Selden Neck State Park Campground

      3.0(2)9mi from Salem4 sitesTents

      "Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites. You have to kayak or boat in."

      from $5 / night

      Check Availability

      4. River Highlands State Park River Campground

      3.0(2)21mi from Salem2 sitesTents

      "We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."

      from $5 / night

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      5. Hurd State Park River Camping

      Be the first to review14mi from Salem1 siteTents

      from $5 / night

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      6. Frontier Family Camper Park

      5.0(1)26mi from SalemRVs, Tents

      "Spots are hard to find.dorothy gave us a great spot near rest rooms and showers for the kids. Every single person we met was a delight and overly generous to us and our kids."

      7. Onion Mountain Park

      4.5(4)40mi from SalemTents

      "We arrived at the parking lot of Onion Mountain Park at around 2 pm and proceeded to get our bags packed for the hike."

      "Very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required. Small campsite, first come first served basis. Other posts claim you can park right the site, but you can not."

      8. LeGrand Reynolds Horsemen's Camping Area — Arcadia Management Area

      Be the first to review28mi from Salem44 sitesTents

      9. Arcadia Backpack Camping Area

      Be the first to review28mi from Salem1 siteTents

      10. Frosty Hollow Camping Area

      Be the first to review30mi from Salem1 siteTents

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Salem, CT

    10 Photos of 15 Salem Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers


    Tent Camping Reviews near Salem, CT

    751 Reviews of 15 Salem Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 28, 2026

      Lake Compounce Campground

      Amusement Park Camping

      This campground is associated with a large amusement park. We were there in the fall when the amusement park was closed so the campground was not very busy but image it would have a very crowded feel if you were there during the summer. The RV sites are buddy sites which is never our favorite set-up (unless we are traveling with friends). Luckily, there was no one in the site next to us during our stay. The campground is big rig-friendly with roads and sites wide and long enough to accommodate any size RV; however, the road and roundabout you encounter when entering the campground is tight. There was very little traffic when we entered so navigating the entrance booth and roundabout was doable. The RV slots you pull into to check in at registration are far too short to accommodate large RVs with their tow vehicles and we ended up taking up four spaces. The tent sites are set away from the cabins and RV sites. Some are nicely tucked up against the tree line while others are in a grassy area and others are sandy nestled under some scrubby pine trees. One of the problems with the location of the tent sites is that they are far away from the bathrooms. Garbage cans are scattered throughout the campground so you don’t have to walk very far to dump your trash. There is no sewer but the electric (50-amp) worked well. There is cable but the channels were not HD so we switched to our over-the-air antenna and got great HD reception with about 60 channels. There is wifi but we could not get it at our site so we just used our Verizon hotspot (which had great reception). The water pressure is very high so we dialed our regulator back to around 45.  Roads and sites are gravel. All the sites are level and have a picnic table and fire pit.  We noticed that some of the fire pits needed to be cleaned out because rude campers littered them with water bottles, cans, and other garbage in the fire pits. One of the downsides is the noise from local recycling/transfer station. There is a dump station set to the side as you enter/exit. It was a little tight for us getting our 45’ RV in there but it was doable. There is only one sewer dump so we can image that it can be pretty backed up on Sundays when everybody checks out.

    • Joseph R.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      A Really Enjoyable Camping

      After a busy summer, we wanted somewhere we could just park the camper and slow down for a few days. Sterling Park worked out great for that. We spent one morning fishing, walked the trails later in the day and finished the evening around the fire. Nothing complicated, just a really enjoyable camping weekend.

    • Kai F.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Did Some Fishing

      After a busy few weeks, this was exactly the break we needed. The kids went swimming, we did some fishing, and everyone came home tired in a good way lol.

    • Evan W.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Around The Sites

      We came with another family and had a blast. The kids disappeared together for half the day while the adults hung around the sites. Between fishing, the pool and the other activities, everyone found something they liked. Would definatly come back.

    • T
      Oct. 23, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Bunch Of Extra Trips

      White Pines made a really good home base for our trip. We spent most of the days checking out different spots around northwest Connecticut and came back here in the evenings. Made dinner outside, had a fire, and just relaxed. The campground itself had everything we needed without having to make a bunch of extra trips into town.

    • Zachary P.
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Just Sat Back

      Our kids are already asking when we can go back. They loved the pool, playground and all the space to run around. We mostly just sat back and enjoyed having a few days off.

    • H
      Oct. 21, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Some Actual Downtime

      We brought our camper up for the weekend and the kids immediately wanted to go to the pool.😂 They also loved the fishing pond and exploring around the campground. There was plenty to keep them busy while we got some actual downtime.

    • J
      Oct. 20, 2026

      GrandView CampResort & Cottages

      Friendly staff and very clean facilities. They have sites with sewage hookups along with water and electric. Sites are small and very close together. I liked how many dog waste receptacles were available all over the property.

    • S
      Oct. 17, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Room To Relax

      Brought our camper up for a long weekend and had plenty of room to relax. The campground store was also super handy when we realized we forgot a few things.

    Guide to Salem

    Tent camping near Salem, Connecticut primarily consists of riverside sites scattered along the Connecticut River system. Most locations require advance planning, with several accessible only by boat, kayak, or hiking trails. Water access sites may experience changing conditions based on river levels, particularly during spring runoff when shorelines can be muddy.

    What to do

    Water activities: River Highlands State Park Campground offers direct river access for swimming and fishing. A camper noted, "The campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."

    Hiking trails: Onion Mountain Park features multiple trails near its primitive campsites. "We ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain), where we settled down for the night," reports one visitor who recommends bringing a smaller tent due to limited space.

    Scout camping: Suitable for teaching basic outdoor skills to beginners. "My BSA troop has been going here for years to help new scouts learn to camp. It is a very casual site and good for your first trip," explains a troop leader who appreciates the proximity to vehicles for new campers.

    What campers like

    Private sites: Hidden Lake Farm features five secluded tent sites with basic amenities. "Quiet and Private," notes one camper who appreciated the peaceful setting and pet-friendly policies.

    River views: Chapman Pond Preserve offers elevated tent platforms with Connecticut River views. One camper describes it as a "Middle of no where site" with "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view."

    Natural surroundings: Primitive campsites provide immersive forest experiences. "Very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required. Small campsite, first come first served basis," reports a visitor to Onion Mountain Park who notes the short walk from parking to campsites.

    What you should know

    Boat-only access: Several prime riverside sites require watercraft. "You have to kayak or boat in. There's a boat launch across from the island on the west side of the river at Deep River Landing where you can leave your car," explains a camper at Selden Neck State Park Campground.

    Wildlife encounters: Expect normal woodland creatures at most sites. "As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)," warns a visitor to River Highlands State Park.

    Campsite size: Most tent sites accommodate small to medium tents only. "The spot is not very big so make sure to bring a smaller tent (no group sites) but has a firepit already set up," advises an Onion Mountain camper.

    Tips for camping with families

    Beginner-friendly options: Gillette Castle State Park Campground provides accessible waterfront camping suitable for children. "We have camped on the south end of Hurd Park several times via boat access. It is amazing with the views of the CT River and being able to watch the sunrise and sunset," shares a family camper.

    Weather planning: Fog and weather changes can affect water-access campsites. One camper at Selden Neck noted, "In the morning, we were completely socked in with fog which would have been an issue if we had to get back early. But it burned off before long and we headed back."

    Bug protection: Insect repellent is essential, especially in summer months. "There are a lot of bugs so be prepared, and we did put a bear bag about 100 feet away," advises a family who camped at Onion Mountain Park.

    Tips from RVers

    No hookup options: The best tent camping near Salem, Connecticut focuses primarily on tent sites without RV infrastructure. Most locations lack electric, water, and sewer connections specifically for recreational vehicles.

    Alternative accommodations: River Highlands State Park River Campground offers scenic alternatives to RV camping with riverfront sites. "Otherwise, it's a peaceful and scenic spot worth seeing!" notes a visitor who spent the day there.

    Limited facilities: Tent campers should prepare for minimal amenities. "It's up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take. However, it's not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite," explains a camper regarding access at Onion Mountain Park.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Salem, CT?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Salem, CT is Gillette Castle State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Salem, CT?

    TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Salem, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.