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Best Tent Camping near Northford, CT

540 Reviews

Tent campsites in the Northford, Connecticut region offer a mix of established grounds and primitive options within a short drive of town. Hidden Lake Farm provides five tent-specific sites with amenities like picnic tables, drinking water, and shower facilities. Chapman Pond Preserve offers free tent camping with hike-in or walk-in access, though it lacks most amenities beyond fire pits.

Most tent campgrounds in the area require some preparation, as facilities vary significantly between locations. Gillette Castle State Park Campground and Selden Neck State Park Campground provide electric hookups and are accessible by boat, making them unique options for tent campers willing to paddle. Fires are permitted at nearly all sites, though firewood is only available at select locations like Hidden Lake Farm. As one camper noted about Selden Neck, "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."

The primitive tent camping experience around Northford often involves some degree of seclusion. Onion Mountain Park provides free tent camping with drive-in access but requires a short hike to reach the actual camping area. A camper described it as "a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain)," noting the site "is not very big so make sure to bring a smaller tent." Several locations offer riverside camping options, with River Highlands State Park and Hurd State Park providing tent sites along the Connecticut River. Tent campers particularly appreciate the water access, with sites at Selden Neck featuring private outhouses and emerging beaches at low tide that create excellent spaces for tent setup away from others.

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Best Tent Sites Near Northford, Connecticut (15)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Northford, CT

25 Photos of 15 Northford Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Northford, CT

540 Reviews of 15 Northford Campgrounds

  • John D.
    May. 3, 2015

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Great park in a great location

    I have been camping at Rocky Neck State Park for decades, both tent camping, and now In a 30' camper. Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads. If you can, stay away from the front gates during the typical peak arrival / departure times. Traffic jams occur, partly because you're also in-line with the car loads of beach goers. The beach and beach parking lots fill to capacity. Week ends are the worst.

    The campgrounds are located within internal loops. Most sites are quite level. Park-like settings surrounding a large lawn. Bathhouses are being rehabbed, deemed adequate; can be seedy towards the end of the season. Park is routinely patrolled by State Conservation Officers who will put you out if needed. CT State Police and local officers also patrol. Camp roads are paved, and lots and lots of kids spend time riding bikes, coloring with chalk, skateboarding, roller blading.

    No electrical hook-ups; potable water spigots located within the camping circles. Generators allowed, but there are quiet hours. Dump upon exit; its up top by the entrance booths.

    There is a "tent-only area" which is nice and abuts a paved road for campers to walk / bike to the beach. Use this. Stay off the main road to the beach if you can. The speed limit is enforced, but sporadically. The fines are very stiff (you receive a State traffic ticket from the Officer).

    This beach road leads you to a wonderful overlook where lots of people take their kids crabbing for Blueshells. There are size regulations so be careful. The regs are posted. Bring some raw chicken wings and kite string and have some fun. You can also follow the signs that will lead you to nature walks. Amazing.

    During inclement weather some campers leave the park. We always recommend taking a right out of the park onto east bound Route 156. Follow into downtown Niantic for restaurants, an Irish pub, or a movie. Nice village area, and pedestrian friendly.

    Rocky Neck is a very nice park, and if I had to list one complaint, it is that the State is in a financial tight-spot, and has been cutting services and personnel. Entrance booths go unmanned and that leads to traffic jams that extend out and onto the main road. Very , very messy. Life guard towers at the beach are empty at times. Bath houses can be filthy.

    All things considered, I would recommend this park..

  • Ryan A.
    May. 21, 2024

    Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground

    Good Location for Hiking, Lots of Garbage, Not Recommended

    Camped here on a Friday night in Site 16, yet another campground recommended in“Best Tent Camping: New England.” Overall I was not impressed. The campsites are right next to each other and are marked with posts. The sites are so close that the posts are marked with the site number on both sides which tells me that there has been confusion in the past.

    The sites along the creek mostly have worn paths to walk to it but it’s nothing impressive and I wouldn’t want to eat fish that came out of it. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, some have the kind where the top flips over and others have the moveable grate that goes up and down. There is a large dumpster in the campground and several porta-potties. The old outhouses have been permanently closed and locked shut. My campsite had a lot of trash in it, old tent stakes, plastic bottle caps, plastic fork, broken glass, etc. Not good.

    Some of the people there were camping in a group and were blasting music. I didn’t see a single park ranger the entire night so I’m not sure how often they police it. Someone in a pickup truck came into the campground, did a u-turn, and sped out at 30 mph which was really annoying and unsafe.

    Across the street from the campground is a trail to Chapman Falls, which will take less than 10 minutes to hike to, but it’s a pretty waterfall despite all the foam and garbage around it.

    This is a pretty basic campground and is nothing special. Out of all the sites I think 22 looked the best, it is more isolated and you can hear the waterfalls from it, which would be relaxing. The downside is that it’s right next to the entrance and road so you’ll get car headlights at night.

    I woke in the morning to a gray sky and hundreds of birds singing– it was my favorite part of the trip. I delayed getting up to enjoy the moment. I also didn’t see any ticks but I’m sure there are plenty based on other reviews.

    I’ve always thought that if states were condiments Connecticut would be mayonnaise– relatively unremarkable and bland. This campground fits that description perfectly.

  • Becca Z.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    White Pines Campsites

    Clean Campsites

    We stayed at site 85 in Sunny Crest and liked having some privacy. The sites nearby had some trees providing space between each site. A lot of the sites we drove by were pretty sloped- I would recommend a drive though if you can beforehand.

    The picnic table was chained down so there weren’t many options to set up having the fire pit and picnic table where they were.

    Hiking trails were nice, good variety of easier and more difficult terrain.

  • Alex S.
    May. 13, 2020

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Best New England beach campground!

    The beach is about a 1 mile walk or drive from the campground.  The walk is lovely and I have seen deer, turkeys, many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife along the way. There are several osprey nests too. Many families bring bikes. 

    There are several camping areas at Rocky Neck - I think Crane is the best because it is quiet and the bathrooms are updated. 

    The tent camping area is in a field without much privacy or shade. I recommend setting up your tent at a traditional site.

    The beach is great for relaxing and beach combing. The water is warm and shallow, very calm. No floats or toys are allowed in the water, not sure why. Don't bring your kite either as the Amtrak is next to the beach, it's interesting when it goes by!

    Sometimes generators are an issue, but there are limited hours at which they can run.

    Lots of dumpsters for easy trash disposal. Firewood available for a low price on site, don't bring any outside wood. 

    Campground is not too far from a Walmart if you forget something. There's a gas station close by too for ice.

    This campground books up FAST, I usually book in the wintertime. I stay for a week at a time.

  • Mayra D.
    Mar. 27, 2021

    Cedar Point County Park

    Perfect beach site

    We have gone there a few times. They don’t take reservations but there’s always some sites open. We have walked in and book a site. Twice though in June we had tons of ticks 😬 but overall is a good site! A couple of times we had loud neighbors and it seemed that the ranger was out for lunch so nobody was making sure that quiet hours were enforced.

  • G Y.
    Jul. 29, 2024

    Lake Waramaug State Park Campground

    Quiet Rustic Camping

    My family has been camping at Lake Waramaug for over 20 years. I can say most of what’s been said is true or partially so but whether it’s bad or good depends on your point of view. Note that we are a Scout family and my husband and son have camped many days well off the grid with only the gear and food in their backpacks. That skews our point of view. 

    First off, Connecticut’s state campgrounds are not KOA’s. 

    Do not expect top of the line activities that private campgrounds have.

    What it does have are clean, large sites that are partially wooded and not out in the open. 

    The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available. The swim area is marginal- best for little ones. 

    This park is remote from all conveniences- pack it in or expect a drive. There have been several times I’ve driven to the Dunkin Donuts miles down the road for coffee but I find using a French press is more convenient. For takeout there’s the White Horse on 202. It’s ranked a top restaurant in the state - the food is good. 

    Never have we had issues with wildlife besides squirrels and ducks. Leave no trace is important - it keeps the unwelcome wildlife out. 

    There have been issues with the bathrooms off and on over the decades. It seems like they’ve finally fixed everything. Our trip of 7/27-28 showed everything was fine.

    The only on-site services are firewood and ice sales. The little food shack is out of business. 

    Yes, cell service is basically non-existent. Our trip this weekend was the first time we received more than 1 bar in 20 years. Actually we were a bit disappointed because this camp ground is a great place to disconnect and relax. Being forced to put away the devices is heaven in my mind. You can drive about 5+ minutes out and get cell service. Regarding rowdiness, of the 20+ times we’ve camped only twice was it a problem. 

    Also, this place is not glamping. The area is rural, so cows do moo at 6am, and kids are up even earlier. If you like to sleep in skip and rent a B&B. 

    Also if you want a better place to swim go to Mt.Tom state park about 10 minutes up the road. It’s a day use only park-no camping- but the lake is gorgeous and there are very few people there.

  • Bill K.
    Oct. 14, 2018

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Wooded camping near the beach

    Nice CT state park campground with clean well maintained campsites. Mix of open field and well shaded campsites with reasonable space, some sites have decent privacy, most are pretty open. Good access to shared drinking water, restrooms and dishwashing stations. Most sites are mixed use allowing RVs but no hook ups or dump stations available. Bathrooms/showers are ok but could use better cleaning and upkeep. Rocky Neck state park beach is within walking distance if your ambitious otherwise its a 2min drive from camp. We like it here and return often for the opportunity to camp and enjoy beach time during the summer.

  • A
    Sep. 10, 2024

    Kettletown State Park Campground

    Great location, but not a good experience

    Camping Review:

    This campsite is beautifully located in the woods, offering a peaceful and serene environment. There are no busy roads nearby, which ensures a quiet setting during the day.

    However, there are several downsides to consider. The camping spots are uneven, making it challenging to set up tents or campers. Additionally, swimming at the nearby beach is restricted to residents of the village, so visitors are not allowed to swim there.

    During our stay, there were multiple large groups, including a Christian group that preached (screamingly) and played loud music until midnight, despite the designated quiet hours. Unfortunately, the management did nothing to enforce the rules, which was disruptive.

    Another significant issue was the state of the sanitary facilities. They were extremely dirty, with feces present in various places. It took a long time before anything was cleaned, which obviously kept us from using the facilities.

    Overall, while the location is beautiful, the poor management, noise issues, and dirty sanitary facilities seriously detract from the experience.

  • K
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Macedonia Brook State Park Campground

    Primitive car camping

    Well spaced sites. No bathhouse, just portable toilets and a few water pumps. And a night sky as dark as you can find in CT

Guide to Northford

Tent camping near Northford, Connecticut ranges from primitive, boat-access sites to established campgrounds with basic facilities. The region spans forested and riverside terrain at elevations between 100-400 feet above sea level, creating diverse microclimates for camping. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer camping typically experiences high humidity with occasional thunderstorms.

What to do

Explore extensive trail systems: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation offers over 40 miles of hiking trails suitable for various experience levels. "The best part of this campsite are the endless trails in the area. I believe there are over 40 miles of trails in this region," notes Ethan K., who visited the reservation.

Visit historical attractions: The region contains several historical sites within short driving distance of camping areas. "Great place for a hike or a picnic. Castle has tours at certain times," mentions Todd J. about Gillette Castle State Park Campground.

Seasonal stargazing: Open fields at some campgrounds provide unobstructed night sky viewing. "There's elevation gain, creeks, and open fields for stargazing," reports Seth K. about Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

What campers like

Private camping spaces: Many campsites offer separation from neighboring sites. "The sites are much farther away from the comfort stations than most campgrounds we have been to," explains Ming R. about Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

Shelter options: Several campgrounds feature lean-to structures for campers preferring more protection. "The shelter sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience," shares Jeremy S. about Ward Pound Ridge.

Low-tide beach access: River-adjacent camping creates temporary beaches during low tide periods. "At low tide, a couple of beaches emerge to play on," describes Jason S. from Selden Neck State Park Campground.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds require in-person booking rather than online systems. "There is no phone or internet reservations and has to be made in person at the office. I would recommend call earlier and come in few minutes earlier to 9 am when the office opens to find the best spots," advises Anil S. about Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

Site size limitations: Certain primitive sites accommodate only smaller tents. "The spot is not very big so make sure to bring a smaller tent (no group sites) but has a firepit already set up," warns Nora S. about Onion Mountain Park.

Wildlife considerations: Insect activity varies significantly by location and season. "As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)," notes Alicia B. about River Highlands State Park.

Tips for camping with families

Proximity to facilities: Consider campground layout when visiting with children. "The sites are much farther away from the comfort stations than most campgrounds we have been to. But there are port-a-potties very close to the sites, which is very important when you have young kids," suggests Ming R.

Beginner-friendly locations: Some sites specifically cater to novice campers. "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, you are close to your car and the road in case you need it," explains Marshall S. about Onion Mountain Park.

Educational opportunities: Nature centers provide additional activities. "The Trailside Nature Museum is also fun for the kids," mentions Ming R. about Webb Mountain Park.

Tips from RVers

Site selection importance: RV campers should research specific sites before booking. "The camping sites are very different so it's useful to go in person and select the area," recommends Susana M. about Windmill Hill - Connecticut White Memorial Campground.

Supply planning: Remote campgrounds require advance provisioning. "Stores are not near by and had to drive into Bedford to grab food items and camping necessities," cautions Anil S. about camping in this region.

Year-round availability: Some campgrounds maintain winter operations for cold-weather camping. "They have great sights and are open all year round. I've stayed in hammocks, tents, lean-tos, and even did a good share of car camping," shares Paul R.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Northford, CT is Hidden Lake Farm with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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