Camping options near Ivoryton, Connecticut concentrate along the shoreline and Connecticut River corridor within a 30-mile radius. The area ranges from sea level at coastal sites to elevations around 300 feet at inland campgrounds. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F with high humidity, while evenings drop to 60-70°F. Winter camping opportunities remain limited, with only two facilities operating year-round in the region.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground features Chapman Falls, accessible via a quick trail from the campsite area. "The waterfall was a quick walk away and you could hike down to the river for a quick dip. The river isn't deep enough for a full swim but still was good enough on a hot day," notes one visitor.
Beach access: Rocky Neck State Park Campground provides direct access to the Long Island Sound shoreline. "The campgrounds are named after water fowl: Crane, Egret, Osprey, Heron etc...We stayed in Egret. The campsite is only a short walk from the beach and available mountain bike and hiking trails," mentions a camper who visited with their family.
Boat-in camping: Selden Neck State Park Campground offers a unique camping experience on an island. "It's about a 20 minute paddle across the river to the island. If it's a nice day, you're going to encounter some wake from passing boats so make sure your gear is in waterproof bags. Once you get to the island, follow the bank north until you spot the sign for your campsite."
Family activities: Wolf's Den Family Campground offers numerous recreational facilities. "This campground has tons of amenities... they've got a nice pool, a game room, and mini golf for $2/person. There's a winery nearby and Gillette castle within a few minutes."
What campers like
Waterfront views: Many campers appreciate sites directly on water bodies. At Selden Neck State Park Campground, "The sunset view was amazing. There was a little noise at night from boat traffic but it didn't keep us up."
Camp store amenities: Hammonasset State Park Campground receives positive feedback for its facilities. "Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite. Well kept showers and bathrooms are abundant and the camp store has the majority of what you need."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer water recreation during summer months. At Riverdale Farm Campsites, "They have a swimming pond, and river access for fishing and swimming. The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground."
Convenient location: Crocker's Boatyard in New London provides urban camping with water views. "We needed a place to stay for 2 nights, My wife and I were going to show at the Garde Theater. Which was walking distance from the boat yard. The next day we took the ferry to Block Island which was also walking distance."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. Rocky Neck State Park Campground operates from May 26 to September 29, requiring advance planning. "The campsite is only a short walk from the beach and available mountain bike and hiking trails. A great family campsite with easy to get to activities."
Site privacy concerns: Several campgrounds have open layouts with minimal separation. At Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground, "The sites are very open, not wooded so you have little privacy from adjacent sites. Unfortunately our second night had some noisy obnoxious neighbors and there are no staff on site to monitor noise levels."
Limited facilities: Some state parks offer minimal amenities. "There is no running water or electricity but the campground still served its purpose. The waterfall was a quick walk away and you could hike down to the river for a quick dip."
Weather considerations: Niantic KOA provides more protection during inclement weather. "It had rained for a few days before our arrival and that did not help our first impression as we drove on the rutted and muddy road to our site. There was a sign that improvements are underway."
Tips for camping with families
Beach shuttle service: Some campgrounds provide transportation to nearby beaches. Niantic KOA offers "free shuttle rides to 3 beaches & downtown Niantic, CT. So many activities for kids and family. Well maintained facilities. Kind and helpful staff."
Activity planning: Wolf's Den Family Campground features organized recreation. "Mini golf, pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, lots of playgrounds for the kids. Family oriented park. Bingo, board games, and other activities available."
Quiet hours enforcement: Varies significantly between facilities. At Hammonasset State Park Campground, "My biggest gripe is lack of any enforcement. No one enforces the parks rules so some groups tend to be rowdy later in the evening, children on bikes darting in front of moving cars."
Wildlife education: Riverdale Farm Campsites offers nature experiences. "The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground. The kids who work here are so friendly and the playground is nice. They did a show on the beach one night that was fun too."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: At Aces High RV Park, "Both pull-thru sites as well as back-in water sites are available. Pull through sites also have lots of space between them so you don't feel like you are on top of the neighbors. Sites and roads are a pea gravel material and each site has large grassy areas around it."
Hookup limitations: Hammonasset State Park Campground has some sites without utilities. "Most sites don't have hook ups so you have to run off battery and water storage tanks if you have a RV. Nice thing is it is fairly inexpensive and there's several beaches to choose from."
Driving access: Aces High RV Park provides well-designed sites. "Clean, well-maintained, and level site with concrete pad and patio. Utility hookups were in great condition and everything worked as it should. 20-minutes drive to Mystic and all the touristy stuff to see and do."
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