Best Campgrounds near Chaplin, CT

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Campgrounds around Chaplin, Connecticut range from family-oriented private resorts to more secluded woodland areas, creating a variety of camping experiences. The region includes established campgrounds like Nickerson Park Family Campground, situated directly in Chaplin along the Natchaug River, as well as Charlie Brown Campground in nearby Eastford. Most facilities accommodate multiple camping styles, with options for tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals. Several properties feature river access, making them popular destinations for fishing and summer water activities like tubing.

The camping season in this area typically runs from mid-April through October, with most campgrounds closing during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holidays when facilities reach capacity. Many campgrounds offer electric and water hookups, while sewer connections vary by location. Facilities like Brialee Family Campground and Peppertree Camping provide organized activities for families, particularly during peak season. Accessibility generally requires no special vehicles, with most campgrounds located on maintained roads within a short drive of main highways. "The river that flows the length of the campground seemed clean and awesome. Staffers and other campers said kids tube down it when it's warmer, then just hop out and walk through the camp to start over again," noted one visitor to Nickerson Park.

Riverfront camping represents a significant draw for the Chaplin area, with multiple campgrounds positioned along waterways. Campers consistently mention water access as a highlight, particularly for fishing and cooling off during summer months. Family-friendly amenities are common, with playgrounds, organized activities, and camp stores available at many locations. Reviews indicate most campgrounds maintain clean facilities with adequate spacing between sites. Several visitors note the quiet, peaceful atmosphere as a key attraction, though some mention weekend crowds during peak summer months. More secluded sites are available at some campgrounds for those seeking privacy. As one camper described their experience at Peppertree Camping: "It's situated on the Nachaug River, so it's a popular fishing site; we had more fun tubing down the river. The area is peaceful and has sites right on the river some and further away for tents and trailers."

Best Camping Sites Near Chaplin, Connecticut (149)

    1. Brialee Family Campground

    14 Reviews
    Ashford, CT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 303-2267

    $25 - $150 / night

    "Swimming lake, canoeing lake, pool, playgrounds. Choice of shade in trees or open field. Nice sites. Decent laundry and showers. Great place with kids.....lots of seasonal, but plenty short term."

    "Nice hiking around the area. Bathrooms are clean. Good for kids/families."

    2. Wilderness Lake Park

    14 Reviews
    Willington, CT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 684-6352

    $70 / night

    "Connecticut is LACKING when it comes to outdoor activities when compared to some of the places around the country."

    "It’s a dog friendly park which was good for us, our dog could swim in the lake with us. Cute patio overlooking the lake as well with seating."

    3. Charlie Brown Campground

    8 Reviews
    Eastford, CT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 974-0142

    "Surrounded by the Natchaug forest, and adjacent to the Natchaug River. Great activities for everyone."

    "Activities were still available with social distancing of course due to Covid. Close by was Taylor Brooke Winery which was the perfect place to while away a late summer afternoon."

    4. Nickerson Park Family Campground

    4 Reviews
    Chaplin, CT
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 455-0007

    $45 - $55 / night

    "Nice spots on the Natchaug River in Chaplin, CT"

    "Staffers and other campers said kids tube down it when it's warmer, then just hop out and walk back through the camp to start over again.  Walmart & Aldi's is 10-15 minutes away."

    5. George Washington State Campground

    25 Reviews
    Pascoag, RI
    21 miles
    +1 (401) 568-6700

    $18 - $75 / night

    "So if you are confused about things like location, let’s knock that out first: This campground is located near 2185 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814."

    "The campground was safe, nicely laid out so we could have a series of sites next to one another. Biking was a blast for the kids along with trail hike around pond, beach, and fishing."

    6. Odetah Camping Resort

    13 Reviews
    Bozrah, CT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 889-4144

    "Tucked away in the woods I never knew this was there! Beautiful pond and a good mix of seasonal and overnight sites as well as cabins. Plenty of areas to walk our dogs and have them swim."

    "Has a nice beach on a pond, a very cool splash pad next to the pool which all looked very clean. There is a snack shack next to the pond with a play scape and horseshoes."

    7. Salt Rock Campground

    7 Reviews
    Hanover, CT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 822-0884

    $33 - $100 / night

    "we had a group from work head out here. we reserved Coyote Run, and had the field to ourselves, it was a bit of a walk to the shower from there, but we had our own outhouse, bring a light for night time"

    "We took a short walk/hike and were able to make it to a river where we floated in tubes and relaxed for the day. It was a blast and we had a great time."

    8. Waters Edge Family Campground

    10 Reviews
    Amston, CT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 642-7470

    $45 - $100 / night

    "We’ve been to campgrounds with playgrounds worse than the waters edge dog park."

    "This is our families favorite camping location. On the pond at Waters Edge. When asked where they want to camp my 5 and 7 year old will always respond with Waters Edge."

    9. Wolf Den Campground — Mashamoquet Brook State Park

    4 Reviews
    Pomfret Center, CT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 928-6121

    $14 - $29 / night

    "Close to a small walking path and a larger intermediate hiking trail. Bathrooms were clean and staff were friendly. Would definitely stay again."

    "Wished we had time to check out the hiking trails accessible from the campground."

    10. Peppertree Camping

    2 Reviews
    Ashford, CT
    5 miles
    Website

    "It’s a quiet campground, located right on a river. My children spent hours in it playing and fishing. Looking forward to returning."

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Recent Reviews near Chaplin, CT

752 Reviews of 149 Chaplin Campgrounds


  • Ricky H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 20, 2025

    Onion Mountain Park

    Not bad

    Did an overnight camp out with a buddy here. All in all not bad. Very busy, not a place if you want solitude.

  • Sue B.
    Oct. 24, 2025

    Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest

    Great State Forest Campground

    Austin Hawes (also known as American Legion State Forest/Campground) is a great little place in a beautiful part of the State. They have cabins if you want some of the creature comforts, as well as sites suitable for tents or campers. Have camped here before in tents and a pop up, it's right on the Farmington River, so we have gone tubing down the river, swimming and fishing as well. The bathrooms have showers and flush toilets, there are hiking trails in and near the campground, and stores not too far. Sites vary in size and privacy.

  • Sue B.
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Green Falls Campground

    Inexpensive and primitive

    We like Green Falls. Again, it is inexpensive and kinda primitive, but it sure also quiet and a real woods camping environment. Take a hike around the pond, fish and swim in season, and enjoy a laid back approach to your time here.

  • Sue B.
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Mount Misery Campground

    Great spot for no frills camping

    We loved Mt. Misery. We spent $17/night, and we know what to expect at that price point. We stayed during fall foliage season and even though CT has had a drought this year, there were still pretty colors to see. We hiked to the overlook of Mt. Misery and had a great time geocaching and enjoying the trails. We found the campsites to be decent, and a number of them did afford privacy and space, we had 4 people and 3 dogs on our site, and had plenty of room for our travel trailer and 2 tents. We will be back here for sure.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Crocker's Boatyard

    Great spot and good communication

    Was in town for the Elvis show. This was minutes from downtown definitely walkable. Will be back again!

  • Phillip H.
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Mystic KOA

    KOA Mystic

    From the first interaction you see this KOA is customer focused. The staff is friendly, professional and helpful. The grounds are well maintained as are the facilities.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    Giant area to pick a spot!

    So half the camp ground is closed for bathroom renovations but that still left the whole other half open and the whole campground by the water! The showers aren’t good, but that always comes with coin showers and not being able to choose the temperature. Site wise no one was around us so it was extra quiet and the park rangers are always around so always help if you need it. Walmart is less than ten minutes away too if you’re needing anything. Great location and best park in Rhode Island. Can’t wait to go back and have the bathroom renovations done!

  • Kathleen S.
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Normandy Farms Campground

    Loud and crowded!

    Know what you are getting... This is a family resort that charges$20/per night, per person, OVER the two people rate. It is loud, crowded, with golf carts and kids running around. It is a resort campground with pools, frisbee court and etc... This is not a quiet, restful place to stay to visit Boston and the surrounding area or to visit family in town. Entry is gated and controlled. Want to bring your college daughter back after dinner- forget it,$20 for her and$20 her friend, for 1-2 hour visit after 7:00 PM at night! When we return, we will stay at Spacious Skies CG or the state park. The cost and inconvenience is not worth it!

  • S
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground

    Close to a beach, serenity hiding in city life

    Some areas to hike on a small scale. Nice view of the water. No ocean views. Many unlevel sites. Fairly close together.


Guide to Chaplin

Camping spots near Chaplin, Connecticut offer direct access to the Natchaug River watershed and the surrounding hardwood forests typical of eastern Connecticut. The region sits within the northeastern Highland Rim at elevations between 300-600 feet, creating terrain with moderate hiking difficulty and varied water access points. Most campgrounds in the area maintain open status from mid-April through October, with peak water flow in the rivers during spring months.

What to do

Tubing on the Natchaug River: The Natchaug River provides gentle currents ideal for summer floating. At Charlie Brown Campground, visitors can tube directly from riverfront sites. "Arts and crafts, tractor rides, and of course the tubing down the river. Lots of built in entertainment for the kids!" notes a recent visitor.

Fishing access: Multiple campgrounds provide direct river or pond access for anglers. At Wilderness Lake Park, visitors can fish in the small lake or bring their own watercraft. "There was a hiking trail on the property and the host mentioned they were building a Disc Golf course on the property," reports a camper.

Hiking nearby: The area contains several interconnected trail systems. One camper at Wilderness Lake Campground mentioned, "Taylor Pond is not far and a great hike to bring both kids and pets. This campground was perfect for us and our dog."

What campers like

River-based camping: Sites along water consistently rate higher in reviews. "Beautiful view, peaceful and gorgeous," noted one camper about their riverfront site at Waters Edge Family Campground.

Free water recreation amenities: Some campgrounds provide complimentary equipment. As one Wilderness Lake camper reported, "They even had free kayaks/canoes for the lake."

Private wooded sites: Several campgrounds offer secluded options away from the main camping areas. "Most amazing weekend with tons of woods (privacy is huge for us). Very friendly guests and staff!" a Waters Edge camper commented.

Off-season quiet: Fall camping often provides more solitude. "Quiet On opening weekend. Sites are a mix of field, shaded, and partly shaded," noted one visitor to Salt Rock Campground.

What you should know

Bathroom facilities vary widely: State parks generally have more basic facilities than private campgrounds. "Bathrooms could use updating," noted a Waters Edge camper, while another at Salt Rock Campground reported, "Bathrooms are atrocious - stall doors have no locks, metal fittings are rusty, paint is peeling, showers are lukewarm and temp cannot be changed."

Seasonal population differences: Many campgrounds host significant seasonal camper populations. At Brialee Family Campground, one visitor observed, "Fairly large campground. Tent sites available but mostly RV/Campers. WiFi in common areas isn't great so if you're planning on working during some down time, this isn't the place."

Weekend noise levels: Some campgrounds experience significant noise, particularly on summer weekends. One Salt Rock camper noted, "If you DON'T enjoy privacy, or peace and quiet, or rules being enforced, such as quiet hours...then you will maybe like it here."

Payment methods: Some campgrounds require cash. At Wilderness Lake, a visitor advised, "Heads up, they are cash or Venmo only so be prepared."

Tips for camping with families

Organized activities: Dedicated family campgrounds provide scheduled programming. At Brialee Family Campground, "They make sure the weekends are for families," noted one camper, while another mentioned, "Plenty of activities and things for kids to do; Rec hall, mini golf, shuffleboard, beach, pool, playground."

Swimming options: Multiple swimming locations allow cooling off during hot months. One visitor to Wolf Den Campground mentioned, "Very nice sized lots. Large open areas for kids and adults to play during day and star gaze at night. Close to a small walking path and a larger intermediate hiking trail."

Pet-friendly locations: Many campgrounds accommodate four-legged family members. "Quaint little campground. Not many tenting sites but along a beautiful lake. Pets allowed," reported a Wilderness Lake camper.

Tips from RVers

Gray water disposal: River proximity affects septic options. As a Charlie Brown camper explained, "Grey dump only due to river so no biggie. Staff was friendly and there was some stuff to do."

Site dimensions: Most campgrounds accommodate standard-sized RVs. "The sites are pretty cramped and don't offer for lots of activities to be done at your site," reported a Brialee camper about the RV area.

Winter storage options: Most campgrounds in the region close for winter. "We will be back next summer for a long weekend," noted one Waters Edge camper, highlighting the seasonal nature of camping in this region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Chaplin, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, Chaplin, CT offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Chaplin, CT and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Chaplin, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chaplin, CT is Brialee Family Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 14 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chaplin, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Chaplin, CT.

What parks are near Chaplin, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Chaplin, CT that allow camping, notably Westville Lake and Buffumville Lake.