Top Tent Camping near Portland, CT

Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Portland? Finding a place to camp in Connecticut with your tent has never been easier. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Portland, Connecticut's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Portland, CT (16)

    Camper-submitted photo from Hammonasset Beach State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Hammonasset Beach State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Hammonasset Beach State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Hammonasset Beach State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Hammonasset Beach State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Hammonasset Beach State Park

    1. Hammonasset Beach State Park

    38 Reviews
    71 Photos
    288 Saves

    Hammonasset Beach State Park is the largest of Connecticut’s shoreline parks. Two-mile beach, facilities for swimming, camping (third weekend in May to Columbus Day), picnicking, saltwater fishing, scuba diving, hiking and boating; concessions. Nature center and interpretive programs. Bicycle rentals available through Labor Day, rates begin at $10 per hour and range up to $75 per week, with discounts for children. Helmets provided free to use and are mandatory for riders 15 and younger. Note: Lifeguards on duty on Wednesday through Sunday. Pricing: Weekdays: free for CT vehicles; $15/out-of-state $7 after 4:00 pm. Weekends and holidays: free for CT vehicles; $22/out-of-state $7 after 4:00 pm William F. Miller Campground. 558 open sites. Concession, dumping station, bathrooms, showers. Saltwater swimming and fishing. Individual fireplaces not provided. No pets.

    • Pets
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Trash

    $20 - $45 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Wildwood State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Wildwood State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Wildwood State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Wildwood State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Wildwood State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Wildwood State Park

    2. Wildwood State Park

    22 Reviews
    64 Photos
    215 Saves

    Take the Virtual Tour! - WILDWOOD STATE PARK Wildwood State Park comprises 600 acres of undeveloped hardwood forest, terminating on the high bluff overlooking Long Island Sound. Swimmers can take advantage of the cool waters of the Sound, and picnickers can relax at shaded picnic tables as their children enjoy the nearby playground. Visitors can fish and use the hiking and cross-country ski trails, making this an enjoyable place to camp and be outdoors in any season. Geography: Wildwood State Park is located near Long Island Sound, on the north shore of Long Island, in Suffolk County. Recreation: Considered a flagship facility, visitors can enjoy the beach, biking, camper recreation programs, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and cross-country skiing. During July and August, movies are shown weekly, and once a week, campers can enjoy an evening of line or square dancing. Facilities: The park has 2 miles of beach on the Long Island sound for fishing and swimming. Each campsite has a picnic table, and dumping stations are nearby. There are 10 cottages, each with a fire ring, screened-in patio, and are available for rent through mid-November. The campground recycles newspaper and cardboard. Other amenities include food concessions, a nature trail, twelve miles of marked hiking trails, a picnic area, basketball courts, ball fields, a playground, and showers. Firewood is for sale at the park; bring your own barbecue or metal fire container.

    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    • Tents
    Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Lake Farm
    Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Lake Farm
    Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Lake Farm
    Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Lake Farm
    Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Lake Farm

    3. Hidden Lake Farm

    1 Review
    5 Photos
    19 Saves

    ***Very quiet and private in back woods horse pastures on a small farm with free range chickens, a dog, and a couple of horses. Your pets are welcome too! ***

    Locally there are state parks with beaches, and state forest for trails & lakes, hiking and biking. Or you can just relax and enjoy the serenity!

    *** Each campsite has its own fire-pit and table with chairs. ***

    We cannot allow any wood for camp fires to be brought in form the outside for environmental reasons. It can be purchased for $10 per bundle on site or $12 preordered with reservation.

    Farm Fresh eggs daily when available for $4.00 per 1/2 dozen. And there are also blocks of ice $5. Garbage removal is available as well $5 per bag provided.

    **Other attractions include local farmers markets, Gilette's Castle, and the famous River Ferry crossing the Connecticut River with a vehicle across to East Haddam. *

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Trash
    • Picnic Table

    $49 / night

    • No image available

      4. Gillette Castle State Park

      2 Reviews
      26 Saves

      Four public camps along the Connecticut River at Hurd, Gillette Castle, River Highlands and Selden Neck State Parks offer primitive, riverside sites with fireplaces and pit toilets for individuals traveling on the river. Use of river campsites at River Highlands, Hurd and Gillette Castle is restricted to canoers and kayakers only.

      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Tents
      • Market
      • Trash
      • Picnic Table
      Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground

      5. Selden Neck State Park Campground

      1 Review
      10 Photos
      11 Saves

      Selden Neck offers 4 sites: Cedars site - 20 campers Hogback site - 6 campers Springledge site - 8 campers Quarry Knob site - 12 campers

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Reservable
      • Tents
      • Picnic Table
      • Toilets

      $5 / night

      Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park
      Camper-submitted photo from Onion Mountain Park

      6. Onion Mountain Park

      2 Reviews
      7 Photos
      146 Saves
      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Tents
      • Group
      • Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from Windmill Hill - White Memorial Campground

      7. Windmill Hill - White Memorial Campground

      1 Review
      2 Photos
      9 Saves

      No vehicles larger than a van or pickup are allowed in the campground. Restricted to tent camping only.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Tents
      • Trash
      • Picnic Table

      $25 / night

      Camper-submitted photo from Sodom Mountain Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Sodom Mountain Campground
      • No image available
        • No image available
        Showing results 1-10 of 16 campgrounds

        Recent Tent Reviews In Portland

        597 Reviews of 16 Portland Campgrounds


        • Missi N.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Northampton / Springfield KOA
          Oct. 11, 2024

          Northampton / Springfield KOA

          Cute little campground

          Quiet (besides occasional plane overhead) lots of trees, spacious sites, clean and modern bathrooms and showers, nice friendly helpful staff.

        • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Burlingame State Park Campground
          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!

        • Kathy T.
          Camper-submitted photo from Salt Rock State Park
          Sep. 23, 2024

          Salt Rock State Park

          Clean, but dated facilities

          Campground is a bit crowded with sites close together. The facilities were clean but quite old. There are some nice hiking trails along the river.

        • f
          Camper-submitted photo from Sunset View Farms
          Sep. 21, 2024

          Sunset View Farms

          Lovely spot in the woods

          We booked last minute (2 hours before we arrived) and were met with the friendliest staff ready to help us at 7:30PM and get us checked in. Perfect spot if you don’t mind a 40 minute ride over to The Big E fair which is what brought us out to this part of MA. The restaurant was so nice, and to my surprise more than accommodating as I have celiac, they really went above and beyond. We will definitely be back next summer for a longer stay.

        • AThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Kettletown State Park
          Sep. 10, 2024

          Kettletown State Park

          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.

        • Cynthia K.
          Camper-submitted photo from Hammonasset Beach State Park
          Aug. 29, 2024

          Hammonasset Beach State Park

          Connecticut

             I had a hankering for East Coast seafood, so I picked Hammonesett Beach State Park for Connecticut. Our 2nd state of 5.

              Hammonesett Beach has a huge campground. They divide the loops with names. I unfortunately chose Pequot. This loop has THE WORST bathrooms/showers on the South side of the campground. Looks like they were built in 1950s with rotten wood siding. Dirty. The showers were outside the bathroom- there was a bench & hooks OUTSIDE! We found out all the other loops had modern bathhouses.

           My first impression of this campground is it's loud, crazy busy & there's traffic noise from the beach road. I actually liked it! This is a fun campground for families. There were kids on bikes, scooters, skateboards,roller blades. Watch your speed! They don't always watch out for your car.

            I found out most people stay through Sunday & leave on Monday. There were still lots of campers left. Lots of tent campers. 

             I chose site 14 on the Pequot Loop because I thought I would have a view of one of the ponds. There was tall vegetation, so that was out.

           The sites on the other side of the loop were right by the main beach road. Noisy during the day, but quiet at night. 

            There are some sites with shade, but most are sunny. 

             There's no electricity at most of the sites. Our site was full sun(yay for the solar panel!). On Beach Road in the campground there's 2 rows of full hookup sites, but they go FAST! I tried.

          NO PETS! Including dogs.

             No WiFi, but there's cell service. At least 5 dump stations. 

           The beach was popular. 

            There was a stream running from a pond that kids were playing in. 

           They have a beautiful Nature Center. A couple of easy hikes through one of the preserves.

            This was a good base camp for the area. Gillette Castle & other state parks are within driving distance. Connecticut is a beautiful state!!

        • carol T.
          Camper-submitted photo from Waters Edge Family Campground
          Aug. 23, 2024

          Waters Edge Family Campground

          BEWARE WATERS EDGE CAMPGROUNDS THEY WILL KEEP ALL YOUR MONEY

          JUNE 30,2024  my husband & I were seasonals at waters edge campground Lebanon Connecticuit  gave them a 30 day notice we were leaving this place wasnt for us just awful the owners are just money hungey thieves they told us they were keeping our deposit wich we expected because it says non refundable deposit so okay fine but we paid for the whole season its open april15 to october15 gave a 30 day notice left june 30 they refused to give us back the money for july ,august,september,to october 15 they ket 750 plus 2500 dollars told us were not getting our money back So iam sure they rented the site thats double dipping so fair warning I dont want this to happen to anyone else they will Rob you blind oh and they broke our ice maker when they dewinterized our trailer and never owned up to it came down to my floor in camper soaked with water from my freezer and didnr bother to clean tthe mess and said  it must have been broken nefore so they are also dirty liars I didnt want to even give a one star rating but had to put somethin i give the a big fat 0

        • SomadNomad M.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Granville State Forest
          Aug. 17, 2024

          Granville State Forest

          Gotta chance

          Dyrt says $17-$54 went through all the hoops to book one for tonight said $17 per night went to check out expecting a few extra fees, $58.50.....that's over the max advertised....DYRT YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH AND DELETE BAD ENTRIES. YOU ARE A DISSAPOINTMENT.

        • Matt S.
          Camper-submitted photo from Mystic KOA
          Aug. 5, 2024

          Mystic KOA

          Great campground for coastal CT & RI

          We stayed at Mystic KOA in North Stonington, Connecticut, to be tourists in Mystic. Spoiler alert… we had a great stay! 

          This campground is just 15-minutes from Mystic and about an hour’s drive to Newport, Rhode Island. It’s just a few minutes from I-95 and so close to Mystic Aquarium, downtown Mystic, Mystic Seaport, and all the local spots. 

          It’s a well-maintained campground with 2 pools(though the larger one was closed for maintenance during our stay), lots of play areas and daily activities for little ones, and a cool“pub truck” for adult drinks. Our site(#408) was about 85’ long with plenty of room for our 45’ motorhome and toad(and then some!). It was level and gravel with a nice fire ring and picnic table. The hookups worked fine with 50-amp electric and decent water pressure. Cable TV had nearly 50-channels, but the wi-fi didn’t quite reach our part of the park. 

          Due to a family issue, we needed to leave about a day-and-a-half early. We called the office as a courtesy to let them know as we were pulling out and received a partial credit for a night’s stay on our credit card. Didn’t even ask, they just did it. Thanks Mystic KOA! 

          We’ll definitely be back. This is a great place to stay when visiting the coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island area.

        • G Y.
          Camper-submitted photo from Lake Waramaug State Park
          Jul. 29, 2024

          Lake Waramaug State Park

          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.

        • KThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Burlingame State Park Campground
          Jul. 29, 2024

          Burlingame State Park Campground

          Pros outweigh the cons

          Stayed for a week mid-July; during the week had almost an entire loop to ourselves which was wonderful - it felt like having the entire park to ourselves. Things picked up on Friday/Saturday but overall we lucked out with no neighbors who were disrespectful of the quiet hours (10p - 7a). Bathrooms, dumpsters, and portapotties are plentiful, but not always well maintained. Staff are seen frequently throughout the park and are very willing to be helpful when asked - our site had a few Yellowjacket nests and they took care of them for us almost immediately when asked. It’s worth investigating the various sites ahead of time - there are a number of sections much more likely to be busy than others, and lots of low-lying sites that show signs of easily being washed out in anything more than a moderate rain. With multiple great east coast beaches minutes away (as well as conveniences like fuel/stores) we will definitely be back.

        • L
          Camper-submitted photo from Peppertree Camping
          Jul. 23, 2024

          Peppertree Camping

          Amazing stay

          We had our very first camping experience with our new camper at this campground and it was everything we could have imagined and more. It’s a beautiful campground, the gentleman and his family who own it are sooooo nice and they helped us a lot when it came to learning how to properly use our camper. All the fellow campers that we met were extremely nice. It’s a quiet campground, located right on a river. My children spent hours in it playing and fishing. Looking forward to returning.

        • Laura D.
          Camper-submitted photo from Brialee Family Campground
          Jul. 10, 2024

          Brialee Family Campground

          Best Camping Experience

          This was our families first time staying at Brialee Campground.  The cabin was absolutely beautiful and clean.  The staff were friendly and helpful. The activities were great and kept my grand children busy.  Swimming and the lake were fun.  I cannot say enough wonderful things.  We had such a great time I booked my reservations for Next July 2025 before I left.

          A special thank you to Sherri for the personal tour and showing us the ropes!  She is the best.

          The D'Avanzo Family

        • R
          Camper-submitted photo from Strawberry Park
          Jul. 10, 2024

          Strawberry Park

          Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

          Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

        • Eddy B.
          Camper-submitted photo from Whispering Pines Campground
          Jul. 8, 2024

          Whispering Pines Campground

          Fun for the family

          Great privately owned family campground. The pool, splash pad, live music and activities for the kids were great!

          AT&T service had only one bar. Couldn’t stream but worked for calls and texts. Campground WiFi was strong but as expected struggled to keep up on this busy 4th of July.

        • Beth R.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Mystic KOA
          Jul. 5, 2024

          Mystic KOA

          Nice amenities

          Pros: 15 minutes from Mystic CT 50 AMP, sewer & water hookup Nice amenities

          Cons: Gravel site No shade Tight site & hard to get in/out for big rig

        • M
          Camper-submitted photo from Charlie Brown Campground
          Jul. 1, 2024

          Charlie Brown Campground

          Riverside Delight!

          This was our first time visiting and my entire family enjoyed themselves so  much, that we've already reserved a site for a few weeks from now. Arts and crafts, tractor rides, and of course the tubing down the river. Lots of built in entertainment for the kids! The grounds were clean, the playground was nice, and the people were all friendly.  We did a late checkout for $5 extra, but the noon checkout and two dump stations would make leaving on time a non-issue as well. 

          Of note: We camped with friends, who were given a spot next to a large group of people (weekend prior to 4th of July is to be expected). The group were very polite and abided by quiet hours, but they were having fun and a bit loud for my buddy's 2 month of baby. They requested to move sites, and the management was super accommodating and apologetic. Helped him move his site and threw in some firewood for the troubles.

        • Jason L.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from West Thompson Lake Campground
          Jun. 27, 2024

          West Thompson Lake Campground

          Pleasantly surprised

          We had an excellent experience at this camp ground. The Staff and Rangers were polite and welcoming. We were able to see some boat races and played a round of disc golf on property. Once the boat races finished each day the camp was very quiet and peaceful. Had a great weekend

        • Mia S.
          Camper-submitted photo from Burlingame State Park Campground
          Jun. 24, 2024

          Burlingame State Park Campground

          Enjoyed myself this weekend

          We camped here from Friday to Sunday. The staff in the main office was very inviting and friendly, the rangers kept everyone in check . The bathrooms were kept clean, but the showers in the Legiontown area are kinda crappy, it's mainly the shower heads...they feel like bullets hitting you and you can't even adjust the shower head nozzle. The showers are $1.50/8mins I only put $1.00 in for 5 minutes which was more than enough time for me. There's a beautiful lake and you can rent Kayaks or a canoe for the day I believe it was around $45.00. there's a nice general store, an arcade, playground, trails, cabins... And the sites are pretty big. No real big complaints, except that the staties are usually waiting for you to come back from the bars since there's no alcohol allowed on the property. So if you are to drink off the property, make sure you have a Designated Driver. They love handing out DUIs. (I did not have this issue, but my friends did.)

        • Kerry G.
          Camper-submitted photo from Odetah Camping Resort
          Jun. 21, 2024

          Odetah Camping Resort

          “Camp”grounds that discriminates against tent campers

          Odetah Camping Resort called us today 24 hours prior to our arrival- after 4 years of camping there- to cancel our site unless we rented an RV and didn’t use tents. We were allowed to book and had the booking for 4 months. I was on the phone with them while I booked for assistance since it’s a group booking for 16. I called later to book a cabana too. They never once said anything. Then they called 24 hours in advance because our reservation said tent and that’s not allowed. Then they charged us a cancellation fee. Even tho they cancelled ON US. 

          But my favorite part is them saying that the camping industry is moving to no longer allow tents. They think they are*kind* to still allow tents-a handful of sites on a rocky hill that don’t have electricity or water. So those with medical needs cannot use those sites. Those with mobility limitations cannot either. 

          WHAT?! 

          Camping= tents. Change your name if you are going to discriminate. Don’t worry tho, you can put on a tent NEXT TO an rv on the sites. You just cant put only a tent. 

          Their customer service was horrendous. The experience was horrendous. What a shame.

        • Topher L.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Black Rock State Park
          Jun. 14, 2024

          Black Rock State Park

          Great Place to Relax

          The staff greeted with warm welcomes and big smiles. Even when I arrived on a rainy Sunday. Stayed until Friday. And the grounds staff smiled and waved as they went by. The family next to me offered me dinner one night after I spent the whole day working on my RV. Spanish rice chicken the works the plate could barely hold it all. No body bothered me and I was right front and center. Kids riding around on the bikes and lots of laughter from other sites. It was nice. Was able to just relax and do some school work and watch some webinars and get some much needed work done. This was my first of many stops on my countrywide trip. From NJ originally. Spent almost a week here in CT hitting Hartford for the weekend then off to Rhode Island. It was great. No water or electric hookup but I have solar and a generator and they have a wash area for dishes and REALLY HOT showers. Lol I like my showers hot butt my biscuits were burnin lol. They also have a dump station and a place to fill up ur water tank as well. 5 star all the way. Side note...the map online is misleading. I thought site 1 was like away and sorta back by no one...ha noppeeee I was riiiight in the middle where EVERYONE saw me lmao. No tree cover or anything! Lol. All good tho. That was my own fault for not calling and asking lol helped me level up on my social anxiety 😂🫣🤗😅

        • Theresa H.
          Camper-submitted photo from Devils Hopyard State Park
          Jun. 11, 2024

          Devils Hopyard State Park

          Nice for a small campground

          This was our first stay at Devil’s Hopyard campground. We enjoyed our stay and were happy with our site. It was great to hike and see the waterfall.



        Guide to Portland

        Camping near Portland, CT, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From beautiful beaches to lush forests, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

        What to do

        • Beach Access: Many campgrounds are close to the beach. For example, at Hammonasset State Park Campground, you can easily walk or drive to the beach without any extra fees. One visitor mentioned, "The beach was popular," making it a great spot for sunbathing and swimming.
        • Nature Trails: Explore the trails at Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground. A reviewer noted, "Very lush and green, and the showers are close to the sites," highlighting the beautiful surroundings and convenient amenities.
        • Fishing and Snorkeling: At Rocky Neck State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and snorkeling. One camper shared, "Had a wonderful time love the fact you can walk or drive to the beach at no additional cost."

        What campers like

        • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms. A visitor at George Washington State Campground said, "Bathrooms were very clean with hot showers," which is a big plus for many.
        • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A family at Mystic KOA mentioned, "Our site was about 85’ long with plenty of room for our 45’ motorhome," making it comfortable for larger groups.
        • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Pine Acres Family Camping Resort are geared towards families. One reviewer noted, "Super friendly staff, clean bathrooms, nice sites and a beautiful pond."

        What you should know

        • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy. A camper at Wells State Park Campground mentioned, "You can hear traffic noise from the highway," which might be a concern for light sleepers.
        • Booking in Advance: Popular spots fill up quickly. A visitor at Hammonasset State Park Campground advised, "If you are looking for a site it’s best to book far in advance."
        • Pet Restrictions: Some campgrounds do not allow pets. For instance, Rocky Neck State Park Campground has a strict no-pets policy, so plan accordingly.

        Tips for camping with families

        • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with activities for children. At Mystic KOA, one parent said, "The entire place is completely geared to families," making it a great choice for family trips.
        • Safety First: Be cautious of traffic in busy campgrounds. A family at Pine Acres Family Camping Resort noted, "Not safe for little ones as there is too much traffic," so keep an eye on the kids.
        • Plan for Rain: Always have a backup plan for rainy days. A camper at Wells State Park Campground shared, "We did run into a BIT of a storm," so be prepared with indoor activities.

        Tips from RVers

        • Check Site Levels: Make sure to check the level of your site before booking. A reviewer at Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground mentioned, "Some sites are fairly level but not most of them," which is crucial for RV stability.
        • Hookup Availability: Look for campgrounds with full hookups. At George Washington State Campground, a camper noted, "Full water and electrical hookup," which makes for a more comfortable stay.
        • Plan for Tight Spaces: Be aware that some campgrounds have tight spaces. A visitor at Mystic KOA said, "Tight site & hard to get in/out for big rig," so choose your site wisely.

        Camping near Portland, CT, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a fantastic outdoor experience!

        Frequently Asked Questions

        • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Portland, CT?

          According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Portland, CT is Hammonasset Beach State Park with a 3.9-star rating from 38 reviews.

        • What is the best site to find tent camping near Portland, CT?

          TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Portland, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.