Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Putnam, CT has a lot to offer. Putnam is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Discover great camping spots near Putnam, reviewed by campers like you.
$14 - $35 / night
Nestled deep in the woods between Boston & Cape Cod, Normandy Farms Campground is a luxury camping destination that has been a family tradition since 1971 and widely recognized as one of the premier resorts in the world. Relax and enjoy the unique seasons of New England in your RV, tent, or in one of our deluxe cabin or YURT rentals. We also have pop-up trailers and safari tents for those seeking an elevated camping experience.
Normandy Farms Campground Special Amenities include: a bike park, creative arts center, disc golf, a dog park, a fitness center, laundry facilities, playgrounds, a store, volleyball, basketball, soccer, bocce, tennis, 4 swimming pools, spa, wellness center, and more!
$50 - $200 / night
Brialee Family Campground is located in the Northeast Corner of Connecticut, on 120 acres of beautiful grounds, surrounded by the Natchaug State Forest. A true country setting, with rolling hills, forest, and farms. Brialee was founded by Ed& Addie Specyalski in 1974, and is still being run by the Specyalski family today! With planned and supervised activities for all ages, staples like ceramics, bingo, free crafts, and live entertainment every weekend, and park amenities like a pond, pool, splash pad, and more. Brialee is proud of maintaining a family-run business that has a strong focus and dedication to family camping, and is built on referrals and positive feedback from camping families like you.
$25 - $150 / night
Stateline Campresort is a full amenity family campground and outdoor resort, offering camping on the beautifully wooded shoreline of a fresh water lake in the “Quiet Corner” of Connecticut, right on the Rhode Island state line. Our campground’s Main Lodge houses an All-ages Entertainment Center, Cafe-Coffee Bar/Lite Fare Menu, Camp Store, Laundry Facilities, Internet access, and more. Adjoining the campground’s Main Lodge is an open Pavilion, which, in turn, is overlooked by a spectacular swimming pool – with a pool slide – and patio complex, as well as a Kids Sprayground! Full Hookups Campsites are now available as well as Fully Equipped Cabin Rentals. Rustic camping is available, too.
$25 - $50 / night
West Thompson Lake Campground is located near the wooded shoreline of its namesake lake in northeastern Connecticut. The natural setting surrounding West Thompson Lake can be enjoyed year round. Visitors come to the lake for camping, fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking.
West Thompson Lake provides great boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing opportunities. It has an excellent population of warm-water fish, including bass and small panfish. A boat ramp is located near the campground for easy access to the water. The Thompson Section of the Quinebaug River Water Trail offers a leisurely three-hour outing for paddlers who are comfortable with moving water. The trail has no rapids or portages and meanders through extensive wildlife habitats. An 18-hole disc golf course is located on the lakeshore and is free to the public. This challenging course is known for its long drives and scenic views of the lake and dam.
The campground is nestled in a forest of Eastern white pine, Northern red oak and Shagbark hickory. Shade is abundant throughout the campground, and autumn leaves put on a beautiful show. An overlook at the dam offers pleasing panoramic views for sightseers and photographers.
$20 / night
THE IDEAL GETAWAY: Charlie Brown Campground is located in the peaceful, pre-revolutionary town of Eastford, Connecticut. It is nestled among rolling hills, sleepy rivers and 12,000 plus acres of state park and forests. With miles of nature trails for horseback riding, biking, walking and some of the best fishing in the state, Charlie Brown Campground offers families an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. GREAT LOCATION: Less than 40 miles from Hartford or Providence, Charlie Brown Campground is far enough to get away from it all but still right in your own back yard. This seasonal campground is well revered for its more than 30 landscaped and manicured acres and especially for its 85 grassy, over sized campsites that are perfect for family gatherings and can easily accommodate the largest RV or camper. FUNCTION HALL RENTAL: Our awesome Recreation Hall with its stone fireplace, new heating system and full kitchen facilities is now available to rent for various functions. Affordable, convenient, and a great place for your special event, the hall might be just right for you. CONVENIENCES: This picturesque campground may be full of country charm but it is still savvy enough to provide guests with wireless, high-speed internet, 16 channels of Direct TV cable and 30 or 50 AMP electrical service, arcade style video games and a large screen TV with full surround sound for watching movies or the big game or race. UNIQUELY SCENIC: With a leisurely drive from Charlie Brown Campground, over scenic byways and through quaint towns formed when the country was still young, you will soon find yourself amongst country fairs, rustic farms, historic landmarks and friendly locals. The swimming hole at CBC marks the head of the Natchaug River. This class IV drop pool river is just as thrilling for kayakers during the spring thaw as it is for the anglers, both young and old, when it slows down during warmer months becoming the second most heavily stocked Trophy Rivers in the state. LOCAL CHARM: Time seems to slow down as you stroll through the areas famous antiques district, visit museums or treat yourself and the kids to a farm fresh ice cream cone at one of the many roadside dairy stands. Just a little further off the beaten path you and your family can experience the New England tradition of crafting maple syrup. At a local sugar house, you can see and taste how sap is collected and then boiled down to make maple syrup and sugar. For another local treat, stop off at one of the areas' many apple orchards. Here you and your children can pick crisp juicy apples right off the trees, pick out a carving pumpkin and even go for a tractor or horse drawn hay ride as you sip on fresh-pressed apple cider. FUN or JUST RELAXING: Whatever your inclination might be, Charlie Brown Campground has many wonderful activities and special events to offer throughout the season. Great care is taken to ensure that there is an abundance of camping activities such as themed weekends, barbecues, moon bounces, pony rides, horseshoe tournaments, entertainment, etc. to choose from so that your stay will not only be fun and memorable, but will keep you coming back again and again.
Set amidst century-old maples, quaint stone walls, and reproduction colonial architecture, this family resort provides the best Connecticut camping has to offer. Here the prevailing breeze is fresh, and the westerly views are of rolling wooded hills and magnificent sunsets. With modern facilities, the campground is beautifully situated on a hill among maple and apple trees. Most sites are pull-through, allowing for easy parking with additional areas offering everything from secluded tent sites to a three-acre field for groups. No RV? No problem! With our speciality accommodations, including Camping Cabins and Deluxe Cabins, you may not even feel like you're roughing it at all. Enjoy all the attractions in the greater Mystic Connecticut area, including Rhode Island beaches, Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino. Mystic KOA is also near to some of Connecticut's finest tourist attractions, including the Mystic Seaport Museum, Dinosaur Place and the Mystic Aquarium.
$14 - $35 / night
Nestled deep in the woods between Boston & Cape Cod, Normandy Farms Campground is a luxury camping destination that has been a family tradition since 1971 and widely recognized as one of the premier resorts in the world. Relax and enjoy the unique seasons of New England in your RV, tent, or in one of our deluxe cabin or YURT rentals. We also have pop-up trailers and safari tents for those seeking an elevated camping experience.
Normandy Farms Campground Special Amenities include: a bike park, creative arts center, disc golf, a dog park, a fitness center, laundry facilities, playgrounds, a store, volleyball, basketball, soccer, bocce, tennis, 4 swimming pools, spa, wellness center, and more!
$50 - $200 / night
Brialee Family Campground is located in the Northeast Corner of Connecticut, on 120 acres of beautiful grounds, surrounded by the Natchaug State Forest. A true country setting, with rolling hills, forest, and farms. Brialee was founded by Ed& Addie Specyalski in 1974, and is still being run by the Specyalski family today! With planned and supervised activities for all ages, staples like ceramics, bingo, free crafts, and live entertainment every weekend, and park amenities like a pond, pool, splash pad, and more. Brialee is proud of maintaining a family-run business that has a strong focus and dedication to family camping, and is built on referrals and positive feedback from camping families like you.
$25 - $150 / night
Stateline Campresort is a full amenity family campground and outdoor resort, offering camping on the beautifully wooded shoreline of a fresh water lake in the “Quiet Corner” of Connecticut, right on the Rhode Island state line. Our campground’s Main Lodge houses an All-ages Entertainment Center, Cafe-Coffee Bar/Lite Fare Menu, Camp Store, Laundry Facilities, Internet access, and more. Adjoining the campground’s Main Lodge is an open Pavilion, which, in turn, is overlooked by a spectacular swimming pool – with a pool slide – and patio complex, as well as a Kids Sprayground! Full Hookups Campsites are now available as well as Fully Equipped Cabin Rentals. Rustic camping is available, too.
$25 - $50 / night
West Thompson Lake Campground is located near the wooded shoreline of its namesake lake in northeastern Connecticut. The natural setting surrounding West Thompson Lake can be enjoyed year round. Visitors come to the lake for camping, fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking.
West Thompson Lake provides great boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing opportunities. It has an excellent population of warm-water fish, including bass and small panfish. A boat ramp is located near the campground for easy access to the water. The Thompson Section of the Quinebaug River Water Trail offers a leisurely three-hour outing for paddlers who are comfortable with moving water. The trail has no rapids or portages and meanders through extensive wildlife habitats. An 18-hole disc golf course is located on the lakeshore and is free to the public. This challenging course is known for its long drives and scenic views of the lake and dam.
The campground is nestled in a forest of Eastern white pine, Northern red oak and Shagbark hickory. Shade is abundant throughout the campground, and autumn leaves put on a beautiful show. An overlook at the dam offers pleasing panoramic views for sightseers and photographers.
$20 / night
Traveler
The Campers are very friendly and welcoming. This is a nudist Campground so you need to be nude around the pool and hot tub. Friday and Saturday night there are things going on in the Pavilion. Tennis courts have been converted into Pickleball courts.
Legend
General: There are three sections to this campground: five canoe sites; 16 sites including one cabin behind the ranger station and what I would assume is the main section with 61 sites. Some sites have water and electric hookups, but the majority of the sites have no utilities. Note: Pets are not allowed at this campground!
Site Quality: We arrived in the rain after the Ranger station had closed and circled the main section several times trying to find the site with the least amount of water. We did not know until the next morning when we went to pay that we ended up in an ADA-accessible site. It was not marked in any way and I’m guessing that the only reason it was designated as such was its proximity to the restrooms. All sites appeared level and even though they were supposed to have gravel pads, they were mostly a mix of dirt (or mud) and grass with a little gravel.
Bath/Shower House: In the main section, there is a very large and clean indoor bathhouse with free showers. Did not use the shower so cannot comment. Appreciated that there was immediate hot water at the sinks. The other two sections have vault toilets.
Activities/Amenities: In season there is swimming, but the beach is very small. Fishing, canoeing, and kayaking are also popular. There are also some trails for walking/hiking, a basketball hoop, a dump station, and recycling.
This was an overnight stay for us but the rate for out-of-state campers, while higher than for residents, was reasonable at $30. We would return to this campground.
Scout
Very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required. Small campsite, first come first served basis. Other posts claim you can park right the site, but you can not. It’s up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take. However, it’s not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite.
Legend
We generally only stay in KOAs or similar RV parks when we need showers, laundry, or a dump station. This one was in a convenient location plus many campgrounds had not yet opened for the year when we were there. It had rained for a few days before our arrival and that did not help our first impression as we drove on the rutted and muddy road to our site. There was a sign that improvements are underway, but I am not sure what those planned improvements are and when they will be implemented.
On the plus side:
*Friendly and helpful staff. Not sure why when we are given a map an employee escorts us to our site but that is a KOA thing. Later an employee asked if I wanted help carrying our clothes to the laundry.
* Warm showers (but it did take a while for the water to get warm)
*Brand new pool that was uncovered but it was way too cold in April to use*Sites were spaced a decent amount of space apart (although there is little physical separation). This was helped by the fact that there was no one on either side of us during our stay.
*In season, there are many activities to occupy families (pool, playground, mini golf, daily firetruck rides, complimentary shuttle into the town of Niantic); however, we could not take advantage of most of these.
*Reasonably priced laundry, although the washing machines were smal, and it took two to do what should have been one load. However, the dryers give you 60 minutes so although it took longer to dry, I only had to use one.
On the negative side:
*Unmaintained roadways. The main one was once paved but has not been maintained; others were dirt (and mud after a rain)
*High price for what we received. Not sure if we received an off-season rate but at $87 per night for a water/electric site and not being able to take advantage of amenities seemed high.
*Allowing political flags to be displayed at sites. I understand that on private property, this can be allowed at the owner's discretion, but this was offensive to us.
Again, this is not our preferred type of camping. Initially, I struggled to give this two stars but once the rain stopped, our stay improved somewhat.
Scout
Good size sites. Trees. Decent WiFi. Clean and quiet. Not much for amenities - no camp store, pool, activities.
Legend
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!
Legend
Bit expensive
Scout
We love camping at Odetah. Clean facilities. Great staff. New pool and hot tub. Will definitely come back
Traveler
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.
Scout
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.
Guide
$18/night if you live here, but $36 if from out of state. Large tent campground with lots of spaces, so everyone is in pretty close together. My main concern is there are showers in the bathrooms you can pay for, but ones outside that are free, but cold water and no curtain, so you literally have no privacy.
Scout
We stayed there waiting to get our trailer repaired. It is dirty & has rubbish all over. No grass, all dirt & rocks. The manager is less than friendly & her husband is worse.
They are trying to get it ready but it will take years because no one works there except them. Quitting time is about 2pm & the beer refrigerator is open for the rest of the day. They will not help you if you need anything. No store. Pool just got finished but is closed.
Scout
Needed a place to stay for 2 nights , My wife and I were going to show at the Garde Theater. Which was walking distance from the boat yard.
Had a bite to eat at the Blue Duck, it was fine. Saw the show and walk back to the boat yard.
The next day we took the ferry to Block Island which was also walking distance from the boat yard. Block Island a must see. Took the 5 pm ferry back.
Had dinner at a Thai restaurant which was 5 minutes walking and it was great.
Sunday we went and visited Fort Trumbull which is also walking distance away. Very nice place to visit and learn.
Also took a tour of the Coast Guard Ship at Fort Trumbull.
Head home around 12 pm stopped a Logee's Greenhouse on the way home.
All and All it was a great get away weekend.
Thank You Crocker Boat Yard!
ScoutSecure and convenient location. Site can be a bit loud but calms down during the evening . Bathrooms were clean and the pool was amazing. Definitely going back!
Traveler
Updates
Note that some of the photos submitted to this site were taken in areas that were NOT IN the Park. Also the Park is NOT under new ownership.
Legend
Wawaloam Campground in Rhode Island was our 3rd state & campground on our East Coast trip. Not a lot of choices in Rhode Island, but we liked this camp ground in a rural wooded area.
This is kid heaven. Families laughing & enjoying themselves. Besides the pool they have a splash pad, a water slide, mini golf, a nice pond for fishing. The playground is nice. The grounds are well taken care of. The bathroom& showers were checked often. The showers are now free!
In wooded, rural Rhode Island, but an easy day trip to Newport.
Traveler
Had an amazing stay, cabin was perfect and comfortable. Water was nice and fish were biting. Can’t wait to come back.
Scout
Very peaceful! Little hidden gem! We loved our weekend away
GuideThis is an RV camp with mostly regulars and a couple of spots for passersby and short stay.
We were received very friendly by a nice lady who told us everything about the camp and its surroundings.
Our site had power and water. There are no showers of toilets. They have a dump station.
This camp was not our favorite but it was close to Newport and the beach.
Scout
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
Traveler
Very clean campground with a big pool and pond to fish at. There always easy to make accommodations and it’s always a good time with the family there
ScoutEasy access to the boatyard at night; pulled in, picked a spot and all good.
Enjoyed the pool.
Walked to Fort Trumbull.
Recommend Crockers.
ScoutWe were here on an extremely hot and humid couple days. It was great to have electric and water hookups. Also being able to use their pool with our grandchildren was great. They were very accommodating with all our questions and needs. No trees but its a boat yeard. And very interesting to watch the goings on at a boat yard
Traveler
The best activities for children and adults, great amenities, clean restrooms, Awesome pool thanks to ASHTON, Thanks so much.
Legend
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.
Scoutee
ScoutStayed 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.
Camping near Putnam, Connecticut, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From family-friendly campgrounds to serene spots for RVers, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.
Camping near Putnam, Connecticut, offers a mix of fun, relaxation, and adventure. Whether you're with family or exploring solo, there's a spot waiting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Putnam, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Putnam, CT is George Washington State Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 25 reviews.
What parks are near Putnam, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Putnam, CT that allow camping, notably Westville Lake and Buffumville Lake.
