Seasonal camping areas around New Milford, Connecticut sit at elevations of 200-1,000 feet within the Litchfield Hills region. The area experiences typical Northeast seasonal patterns with warm summers reaching 80°F and cold winters dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds operate from April through October, with peak foliage season bringing increased demand in late September and early October.
What to do
Swimming and water recreation: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground has a maintained beach with clean water. "Great beach, 5 minute drive from campground. Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days," notes one camper. Another mentions "best swimming experience ever. I went there with a friend and her family on Tuesday and it was awesome!"
Hiking nearby trails: Kettletown State Park Campground offers multiple trail options. "There are lots of trails to explore. Many unmarked," reports one visitor. Another camper notes: "Beautiful trails, flat & hilly." Trails connect to the larger Taconic State Park system.
Fishing opportunities: Rudd Pond Area — Taconic State Park provides good bass fishing. "The sites were a little close together, but being able to fish and catching 2 decent-sized largemouth bass made everything all ok!! There is plenty of fishing access from shore and you can rent a boat for the whole day to fish on the water," shares a satisfied angler.
What campers like
Well-maintained amenities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground receives positive reviews for clean facilities. "Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is," states one camper. Another mentions that "the bathrooms and showers are clean and the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season."
Variety of camping options: Prospect Mountain Campground offers sites for different preferences. "We had a nice quiet spot even though we were on the road to the lake," notes a seasonal camper. Another reports: "When we arrived to our site, it was by the pond and our site was even raked clean."
Family-friendly activities: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley provides organized entertainment. "This is a large family campground with tons of stuff to do, I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was," mentions one visitor. Another explains, "It offers a pool, playground, and activities that include bocce ball, shuffleboard, and horseshoes."
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Campgrounds near New Milford have different site layouts. At Rudd Pond, "the campsites are pretty close together, so if the campground is full, you are rather close to your neighbors." Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground has more varied options: "This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance... check out the sites online to get one that is private."
Bathroom facilities quality fluctuates: Facility maintenance varies between parks. One camper at Kettletown noted: "CT should really invest in better quality bath houses. This is the only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars." Another visitor observed: "The bathrooms are in real need of updating."
Platform tent sites available: Several campgrounds offer platforms for tent camping. "The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection," explains a Lake Taghkanic camper. At Rudd Pond, "Almost all of the sites have platforms to pitch your tent on, although there are a couple of flatter spots without platforms."
Tips for camping with families
Dedicated kid-friendly areas: Lake Compounce Campground provides attractions for children. "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention it's next to the amusement park," shares one visitor. The campground is adjacent to Lake Compounce Amusement Park.
Wildlife awareness: Families should prepare for local wildlife encounters. "Be sure put foods in the car!" warns a Kettletown camper, who adds, "watch out for raccoons and skunk, they love to find food." At Lake Compounce, another camper reports: "I hear coyotes. Won't be surprised if I see a bear in the morning."
Rain contingency plans: Wet weather can affect camping experiences. At Lake Taghkanic, they have a "rec room for rainy days" and "a camp store with all the supplies you might have forgotten." Platform tent sites at several campgrounds help keep campers dry when ground conditions are wet.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability and quality: Branch Brook Campground provides essential services for RV camping near New Milford. A visitor noted, "Sites are pretty close together and the campground is close to a fairly busy road. The pool and laundry areas were clean and seemed newer." RV campgrounds in New Milford, Connecticut and surrounding areas typically offer varying levels of hookups.
Site dimensions and access: RV sites at Interlake RV Park accommodate larger rigs. "Easy entry, long pull thrus. You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded," notes one RVer about Lake Compounce. Some campgrounds have site limitations: "The tent spots are small and close together" at the same location.
Seasonal considerations: Most RV campgrounds near New Milford operate from spring through fall. Thousand Trails Rondout Valley is open "Apr 1 - Nov 1" while Lake Compounce operates "May 1 - Oct 31." One camper advises regarding Rondout Valley: "Once school is out, I'm sure it will be busier."
