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Best Tent Camping near Norwich, CT

605 Reviews

Tent campers seeking sites near Norwich, Connecticut have several established options within a 30-minute drive. Gillette Castle State Park Campground offers riverside tent camping with scenic views of the Connecticut River, while Selden Neck State Park provides boat-in tent sites on an island. Chapman Pond Preserve features walk-in tent platforms with river views accessible via hiking trails.

Most tent sites in the Norwich area require self-sufficiency, as amenities vary considerably between locations. Hidden Lake Farm offers drinking water, showers, toilets, and picnic tables at its five tent sites with fires allowed. In contrast, primitive locations like Chapman Pond Preserve lack facilities beyond tent platforms and an outhouse. Selden Neck State Park requires kayaking or boating to access its four campsites, with no road access to this undeveloped island. A review mentioned, "Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites." Campers should secure all food items properly as wildlife is present throughout the area.

Tent camping experiences near Norwich often include waterfront opportunities along the Connecticut River. River views provide scenic backdrops for overnight stays, particularly at locations like Gillette Castle and Selden Neck. The latter offers particularly secluded tent camping with minimal noise beyond occasional boat traffic. Areas farther from town provide deeper wilderness experiences, with Chapman Pond described as a "middle of nowhere site" with good tent platforms and an outhouse. Many riverside locations allow swimming and fishing directly from camp. Several locations permit fires in designated fire rings, enhancing the traditional tent camping experience, though firewood availability varies by site.

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Best Tent Sites Near Norwich, Connecticut (15)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Norwich, CT

14 Photos of 15 Norwich Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Norwich, CT

605 Reviews of 15 Norwich Campgrounds

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2020

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    Huge campground, not many level sites.

    I've never camped in Rhode Island, so I was curious to see what a state park campground had to offer. Rates are reasonable for state residents, but quite high if you are out-of-state, given the amenities. There are no hookups, but dump stations are available. Bathrooms have flush toilets and coin-operated showers. There's a small beach at the pond, a boat ramp, and proximity to wildlife refuges and the ocean. It's a HUGE campground, with 700 sites and 20 cabins. Canoes are available to rent.

    There's a nice playground, a camp store, and a naturalists cabin. Trails are available for hiking and biking. The beach is sandy and there's a small parking lot there, but I suspect most people walk to it. No alcohol allowed. 

    I didn't see more than a handful of level sites, with varying degrees of slope, but many are quite large. If you have an RV, plan to level; if you have a tent, be sure to bring good mattresses to protect you from the roots and rocks and orient your head to the uphill side. Most of the sites have some degree of visual separation from their neighbors, but there are places where it's hard to tell where one site ends and the next one starts. Site have fire rings and picnic tables, but if you plan to cook over the fire, bring your own grate or plan to use sticks and/or aluminum foil. 

    If you don't have a tent, consider reserving one of their rustic cabins. These offer two sets of bunks (no mattresses) and a small porch with a picnic table and fire ring outside. Some are located along the pond.

    3-4 bar cell phone coverage. No road traffic. East Beach is nearby, but parking fills early.

  • K
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Fort Getty Campground

    No shade no rule enforcement. Great place for a big group to party if that’s what you want.

    Loud campers in large groups.

    Rules regarding quiet hours, no generators, number of tents per site and late arrival and setups were not enforced.

    People next to us crammed 8 tents on 3 sites. I counted a group of at least 20.

    There is no privacy, people were constantly walking through our site and stepping over our tent guy lines.

    People partied until 2:00am and woke up at 5:30am shining headlights and idling cars.

    Bathrooms were dirty, sites boundaries not marked and crammed together. No shade.

    Beautiful location, rangers were nice.

    RV folks were surly, seemed like a lot of them stay there for the entire season. One said hi, the rest stared when we drove by.

    We booked and paid for two nights and left first thing after just one night.

  • 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.

  • Laura M.
    Aug. 25, 2018

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    Nice campground

    Super large sites, store is adequately stocked, nice lake/pond. I came here because of the location. Super close to the beach. This is a state park, no alcohol is allowed, quiet time strictly enforced. Nice family campground. No hookups.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2024

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    HUGE state park

    General: HUGE state park with over 700 sites. It does not fully open for the season until May 1 and when we were there in mid-April, only two sections, Fish Camp and Mills Camp were open. The Ranger station is staffed 24 hours a day, with a ranger on site until 11 pm. You need to show your pass to get inside the gate leading to the campsites. There are no hookups in any site (as far as I could tell). Sites are designated for tents, small trailers, large trailers, and RVs. As with other RI state parks, non-residents pay double the price of residents which kind of ticks me off (I don't mind a nominal upcharge but double is excessive IMO).

    Site Quality: The site numbers throughout the park are painted on rocks but the sites themselves are not very clearly defined. There is no designated camping pad. Our site (114) had a water view but was not level. It was large enough for us to park horizontally and make it work for one night. Some sites had excessive roots and also were not level. Some picnic tables have been replaced with new ones, but others badly need it.

    Bath/Shower house: The one in Fish Camp was adequate and clean. There is hot water, but you need to run it for a while before you get any. There was no garbage receptacle, and the toilet paper is so thin, that you can see through it. Showers are $.75 to get it started for the first three minutes. After that, the amount per minute increases to $1, $1.25, $1.50, and so forth. Machines take up to 22 quarters. There is a change machine at the Ranger Station. I did not use the shower so I cannot comment on how well they work. 

    Activities/Amenities: There is a camp store that offers wood, ice, coffee, basic groceries, propane, and canoe rentals. It was open with limited hours during our stay. Fishing, boating, swimming - all in season. Even though the park was only about 10% occupied, there was a strong Ranger presence. He circled our small loop three times just before check-out time and wanted to make sure we were leaving not a minute past the designated time. 

    This was just an overnight stay for us in a convenient location but there is no way I would stay at the height of the season!

  • D
    Jun. 7, 2019

    Green Falls Campground

    Small but cozy

    Great off the beaten path place to camp. Sites are large but close together. Each contain a rock built fire ring. There are toilets but no showers. Good parking for camper but limited for guests. Reservations are required in advance. Stones throw to beach/pond area

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2020

    Wolf Den Campground — Mashamoquet Brook State Park

    Basic campground with hiking trails in the area.

    This small state park campground offers basic campsites with running water and showers, open Memorial Day to Columbus Day.  This is NOT Wolf's Den Family Campground in E. Haddam, CT. Also, be aware there are 2 campgrounds at this State Park; the other one, Mashamoquet Brook, does not offer running water/showers, so if you want these amenities, be sure to select a campsite 1-35.

    There's a small playground in the middle of the loop, a number of hiking trails throughout the park along with a few geocaches (download details for offline use a phone connection is spotty), a swimming pond, and a small brook with an old mill and blacksmith shop that is sometimes open on weekends for tours. It's a nice place to explore and have a picnic. In 2020 with Covid, there were restrictions on visitors to the campground, reservations required, and swimming was not allowed. 

    The parking pads are paved and a few have overhanging branches, but the trees provide  separation and some shade on largely open sites that tend to open up toward the back with open areas for pitching tents. Sites have fire rings with grills and picnic tables. Site 20 is the only one with electric. The ones toward the back of the loop back up toward the woods and give you some more privacy. 

    They don't allow hammocks in the trees or pets. For some reason, silly string also makes the list of prohibitions.

  • 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.

Guide to Norwich

Tent campers near Norwich, Connecticut can access several primitive waterfront sites within a 30-minute drive. The Connecticut River watershed dominates the camping landscape with seasonal water levels affecting site accessibility from spring through fall. Winter temperatures typically drop below freezing, making most tent camping options seasonal between May and October.

What to do

Water activities: Access the Connecticut River directly at River Highlands State Park River Campground where visitors can fish, kayak, and swim. One camper noted, "the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."

Hiking: Explore trails that connect tent sites to scenic viewpoints. The tent platforms at Chapman Pond Preserve offer river views after a moderate hike in. As one camper states, "CT river within view. Good site."

Castle tours: Visit the historic Gillette Castle when staying at nearby water access campsites. A camper mentioned, "Castle has tours at certain times" making it a convenient day trip from riverside tent sites.

What campers like

River views: Enjoy unobstructed waterfront vistas at Gillette Castle State Park Campground where "it is amazing with the views of the CT River and being able to watch the sunrise and sunset."

Privacy: Find quiet tent sites at Hidden Lake Farm which offers "Quiet and Private" camping according to visitors. With only five tent sites available, crowds remain minimal even during peak season.

Natural beaches: Discover shoreline access points that emerge during low tide. At boat-in locations, one camper observed, "At low tide, a couple of beaches emerge to play on," providing natural play areas.

Self-contained camping: Experience true disconnection at primitive sites. A camper described Chapman Pond Preserve as a "Middle of nowhere site" with basic amenities like "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse."

What you should know

Wildlife considerations: Prepare for encounters with local fauna including arachnids at waterfront locations. One visitor to Selden Neck State Park Campground warned, "the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)."

Water access challenges: Plan for potential river crossings to reach island campsites. A Selden Neck visitor advised, "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."

Weather considerations: Monitor fog conditions which can affect visibility and water travel. One camper reported, "In the morning, we were completely socked in with fog which would have been an issue if we had to get back early."

Permit requirements: Check seasonal rules at boat launches. A camper noted, "Entering and parking at the boat launch requires a permit Memorial Day to Labor Day" when accessing certain riverside camping areas.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly sites: Choose locations with gradual shorelines and protected swimming areas. One parent shared their experience: "My 5-year-old and I camped at site 2, Hogback. I haven't visited the other sites, but probably will just book this one again because it was so good."

Multiple site reservations: Book adjacent sites when camping with larger family groups. At Gillette Castle State Park Campground, a camper mentioned, "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."

Navigation planning: Allow extra time when boating to island sites with children. One parent explained their approach: "It's about a 20 minute paddle across the river to the island," describing their successful trip with a young child to Arcadia Backpack Camping Area.

Safety considerations: Pack child-specific safety gear for water activities. A camper recommended, "You can swim and fish and relax all day!" but emphasized proper preparation for river activities.

Tips from RVers

Tent-only focus: Understand that most sites near Norwich are designed primarily for tent camping with limited RV infrastructure. Campgrounds like Hidden Lake Farm provide amenities including "drinking-water, fires-allowed, firewood, pets-allowed, picnic-table, reservable, showers, toilets" but lack hookups for larger vehicles.

Alternative accommodations: Consider nearby state parks in Rhode Island that may offer more RV-friendly options within a reasonable drive of Norwich, while still providing tent access to the same natural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find tent camping near Norwich, CT?

Several excellent tent camping options exist near Norwich, CT. Selden Neck State Park Campground offers a unique island camping experience in the Connecticut River, accessible only by kayak or boat with a convenient boat launch at Deep River Landing. Chapman Pond Preserve provides tent platforms with picnic tables and an outhouse, featuring beautiful views of the CT River. For those willing to venture slightly farther, you'll find additional options in surrounding counties that make for excellent weekend getaways.

What amenities are available at Norwich CT tent campgrounds?

Tent campgrounds near Norwich offer varying amenity levels. River Highlands State Park River Campground features beautiful riverside campsites with basic facilities including outhouses. For those seeking a more developed experience, Sodom Mountain Campground offers improved facilities under new ownership since 2021, including maintained dirt roads. Amenities typically found at area campgrounds include picnic tables, fire rings, outhouses or vault toilets, and occasionally tent platforms. Water access is limited at most primitive sites, so plan to bring your own.

Do I need reservations for tent camping in Norwich, Connecticut?

Reservation requirements vary by campground. Onion Mountain Park operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no permit required, making it ideal for spontaneous camping trips. The primitive sites are walk-in and popular with scout groups. For more structured options, Buck Hill Campground offers larger group sites that may require advance booking, especially during peak season. Generally, it's advisable to make reservations when possible, particularly for weekend camping during summer months when campgrounds fill quickly.

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