Best Campgrounds near New Haven, CT
State parks and private campgrounds within an hour of New Haven, Connecticut provide diverse camping experiences along the Long Island Sound coastline and inland forests. Hammonasset State Park Campground in Madison, approximately 20 miles east of New Haven, features beachfront camping with both tent and RV sites. Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme offers similar coastal camping opportunities with trails connecting to beaches. Inland options include Kettletown State Park in Southbury, which provides more wooded settings along the Housatonic River. Private facilities like Riverdale Farm Campsites in Clinton and Totoket Valley RV Park in North Branford supplement the state park system with extended seasons and additional amenities.
Most state park campgrounds operate seasonally from late May through early September, with reservations strongly recommended during summer months. According to one Hammonasset camper, "This is a fun campground for families. There were kids on bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller blades. Watch your speed!" Full hookup sites at popular coastal parks fill quickly, often booking months in advance. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, though some inland areas may have spotty coverage. Campgrounds near I-95 may experience highway noise, particularly at Rocky Neck State Park where, as one reviewer noted, "Located right off I-95 (which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads."
Beach access represents a significant draw for many campgrounds in the region. Hammonasset features a two-mile beach with swimming areas just steps from some campsites. A longtime visitor shared, "You can ride your bike from your site to the playground, store, beach, local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or our family favorite, Meig's Point nature center." Site privacy varies considerably between parks and specific loops. At Kettletown, one camper observed, "The sites were super close together and the boundary lines were unclear," while others found more secluded options at Rocky Neck's Crane area where "the bathrooms are updated." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers reporting deer, turkeys, osprey, and various waterfowl, particularly at coastal parks where salt marshes meet forest edges.
