Camping near Old Greenwich, CT

Campgrounds near Old Greenwich, Connecticut are situated within the coastal region of the Long Island Sound watershed, with most locations at elevations between 100-300 feet. Winter camping options are limited, with temperatures regularly dropping below freezing from December through February. Most sites open for the season between April and May, closing by October.

What to do

Beach access and swimming: Wildwood State Park Campground provides Long Island Sound beach access with small boardwalk. "The beach is fairly clean and has a small boardwalk. Note - it is a downhill walk to the beach," shares one camper. Be prepared for rocky shoreline conditions, as another visitor notes, "Beach is beautiful, very rocky, bring your water shoes."

Wildlife viewing: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation offers 40+ miles of trails with frequent animal sightings. One camper observed, "Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint." Another visitor adds, "There's elevation gain, creeks, and open fields for stargazing."

Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds permit fishing, with Blydenburgh County Park featuring a 7-mile lake loop trail. "Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail," reports one visitor. Some sites even offer boat rentals for easier lake access.

What campers like

Off-season solitude: Visiting during weekdays or shoulder seasons dramatically changes the camping experience. At Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, "Weekends - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck!" Another camper confirms: "Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great."

Sheltered camping options: Many locations provide alternatives to tent camping. "This is a great place for camping. The shelters are great for people who want to camp and not have to worry about unplanned weather," explains a visitor at Ward Pound Ridge. Another camper adds, "The shelter sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience."

Platform tent sites: Several parks offer elevated platforms to keep tents dry. At Beaver Pond Campground, "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained."

What you should know

Reservation timing: Most campgrounds near Old Greenwich require advance booking, especially for summer weekends. "I would recommend call earlier and come in few minutes earlier to 9 am when the office opens to find the best spots," advises a Ward Pound Ridge camper.

Bathroom quality varies: Facilities range significantly between parks. A visitor to Croton Point Park noted, "Bath/Shower house: Clean but a bit dated. No shelves or hooks for toiletries." Another camper reported, "This one is really just in dire need of updating."

Wildlife precautions: Bears and raccoons are common at several campgrounds. At Beaver Pond, "Welcome to Bear Mountain grumbles the park ranger... He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area." Another visitor warns, "Keep your food in the dry bag and away from the tent or benches provided or face the packs of fearless racoons at night."

Tips for camping with families

Playground accessibility: Blydenburgh County Park offers playground facilities visible from camping areas. "Peaceful and gorgeous campsite, with plenty of space between sites. Great view of the Hudson, and playground within sight of our camper," notes one family.

Kid-friendly trails: Several parks feature shorter, manageable hikes for younger children. "The hiking trails were really beautiful. It's great if you have little ones. Dogs are welcome," reports a Blydenburgh County Park visitor.

Safety considerations: Most family-oriented campgrounds have ranger patrols. At Kettletown State Park, "Well maintained and secure. Staff patrols for safety. Good place for families and large groups." Another camper adds, "Kids were roaming freely and safe!" at Wildwood State Park.

Tips from RVers

NYC access from RV sites: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides unparalleled access to Manhattan. "This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station. Not much else. Minutes walk to the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Science Center. Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!"

Hookup availability: Most RV-friendly campgrounds near Old Greenwich offer electric and water hookups, but sewer connections are limited. "We had water, electric and sewer hookups at each site, but this was an expensive place to camp," notes a visitor to Wildwood State Park.

Site spacing challenges: RV areas tend to have closer sites than tent sections. "Sites had zero privacy and were all pull through. There was water, electric and sewer hookups at each site, but this was an expensive place to camp," warns one RVer about Wildwood State Park.