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Tent Camping near Chaplin, CT

1 campground with availability this weekend

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    The forested areas surrounding Chaplin, Connecticut offer several tent camping options within a 30-mile radius, ranging from free primitive tent campsites to boat-access island sites on the Connecticut River. Onion Mountain Park provides primitive tent-only camping with sites located along hiking trails, requiring a short walk from the parking area. Selden Neck State Park Campground offers a unique island tent camping experience on the Connecticut River, accessible only by boat from Deep River Landing. Buck Hill Campground in nearby Rhode Island features rustic tent sites clustered around Wakefield Pond, while Chapman Pond Preserve provides tent platforms with Connecticut River views.

    Most tent campsites in the Chaplin area feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Onion Mountain Park offers free primitive tent camping with established fire rings but no drinking water or toilet facilities. Campers should bring water filters or carry in their own supply. Sites at Selden Neck require waterproof gear protection during the paddle crossing, with each site offering picnic tables, fire pits, and private outhouses. Buck Hill's tent sites accommodate multiple tents in wooded settings with rough restrooms and porta-potties available. Seasonal considerations include spring mud and summer insects, particularly at sites near water bodies.

    Walk-in tent sites provide a more secluded camping experience than typical drive-in campgrounds. At Onion Mountain Park, campers report that sites are "definitely more of a hike" than a simple walk-in, with primitive spots located off the blue trail at the mountain top. One visitor noted the need for "smaller tents" as the sites aren't designed for large group camping. Selden Neck campers describe "plenty of flat area to pitch a tent" at sites like Hogback, with "amazing sunset views" and beaches that emerge at low tide. Chapman Pond Preserve offers "good tent platforms" with river views according to visitors. Most backcountry tent camping areas maintain a first-come, first-served policy, making weekday visits advisable during peak summer months — especially for the most sought-after tent campsites near Chaplin.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Chaplin (16)

      1. Buck Hill Campground

      4.0(1)21mi from ChaplinTents

      "All the sites are in large clusters (each can accommodate 10+ tents). many of the sites are also along Wakefield Pond (big enough lake for canoe/kayak/etc."

      2. Gillette Castle State Park Campground

      4.0(2)30mi from Chaplin1 siteTents

      "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. You can swim and fish and relax all day!"

      Campground full this weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $5 / night

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      3. Ginny B Camp Grounds

      Be the first to review20mi from ChaplinTents

      from $46 - $50 / night

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      4. Chapman Pond Preserve

      5.0(1)29mi from ChaplinTents

      "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view. Good site"

      5. River Highlands State Park River Campground

      3.0(2)29mi from Chaplin2 sitesTents

      "We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."

      from $5 / night

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      6. Frontier Family Camper Park

      5.0(1)30mi from ChaplinRVs, Tents

      "Spots are hard to find.dorothy gave us a great spot near rest rooms and showers for the kids. Every single person we met was a delight and overly generous to us and our kids."

      7. Selden Neck State Park Campground

      3.0(2)31mi from Chaplin4 sitesTents

      "Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites. You have to kayak or boat in."

      from $5 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Arcadia Backpack Camping Area

      Be the first to review23mi from Chaplin1 siteTents

      9. LeGrand Reynolds Horsemen's Camping Area — Arcadia Management Area

      Be the first to review23mi from Chaplin44 sitesTents

      10. Onion Mountain Park

      4.5(4)38mi from ChaplinTents

      "We arrived at the parking lot of Onion Mountain Park at around 2 pm and proceeded to get our bags packed for the hike."

      "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."

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Chaplin, CT

    10 Photos of 16 Chaplin Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers


    Tent Camping Reviews near Chaplin, CT

    790 Reviews of 16 Chaplin Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 28, 2026

      Lake Compounce Campground

      Amusement Park Camping

      This campground is associated with a large amusement park. We were there in the fall when the amusement park was closed so the campground was not very busy but image it would have a very crowded feel if you were there during the summer. The RV sites are buddy sites which is never our favorite set-up (unless we are traveling with friends). Luckily, there was no one in the site next to us during our stay. The campground is big rig-friendly with roads and sites wide and long enough to accommodate any size RV; however, the road and roundabout you encounter when entering the campground is tight. There was very little traffic when we entered so navigating the entrance booth and roundabout was doable. The RV slots you pull into to check in at registration are far too short to accommodate large RVs with their tow vehicles and we ended up taking up four spaces. The tent sites are set away from the cabins and RV sites. Some are nicely tucked up against the tree line while others are in a grassy area and others are sandy nestled under some scrubby pine trees. One of the problems with the location of the tent sites is that they are far away from the bathrooms. Garbage cans are scattered throughout the campground so you don’t have to walk very far to dump your trash. There is no sewer but the electric (50-amp) worked well. There is cable but the channels were not HD so we switched to our over-the-air antenna and got great HD reception with about 60 channels. There is wifi but we could not get it at our site so we just used our Verizon hotspot (which had great reception). The water pressure is very high so we dialed our regulator back to around 45.  Roads and sites are gravel. All the sites are level and have a picnic table and fire pit.  We noticed that some of the fire pits needed to be cleaned out because rude campers littered them with water bottles, cans, and other garbage in the fire pits. One of the downsides is the noise from local recycling/transfer station. There is a dump station set to the side as you enter/exit. It was a little tight for us getting our 45’ RV in there but it was doable. There is only one sewer dump so we can image that it can be pretty backed up on Sundays when everybody checks out.

    • Joseph R.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      A Really Enjoyable Camping

      After a busy summer, we wanted somewhere we could just park the camper and slow down for a few days. Sterling Park worked out great for that. We spent one morning fishing, walked the trails later in the day and finished the evening around the fire. Nothing complicated, just a really enjoyable camping weekend.

    • Kai F.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Did Some Fishing

      After a busy few weeks, this was exactly the break we needed. The kids went swimming, we did some fishing, and everyone came home tired in a good way lol.

    • Evan W.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Around The Sites

      We came with another family and had a blast. The kids disappeared together for half the day while the adults hung around the sites. Between fishing, the pool and the other activities, everyone found something they liked. Would definatly come back.

    • T
      Oct. 23, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Bunch Of Extra Trips

      White Pines made a really good home base for our trip. We spent most of the days checking out different spots around northwest Connecticut and came back here in the evenings. Made dinner outside, had a fire, and just relaxed. The campground itself had everything we needed without having to make a bunch of extra trips into town.

    • Zachary P.
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Just Sat Back

      Our kids are already asking when we can go back. They loved the pool, playground and all the space to run around. We mostly just sat back and enjoyed having a few days off.

    • H
      Oct. 21, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Some Actual Downtime

      We brought our camper up for the weekend and the kids immediately wanted to go to the pool.😂 They also loved the fishing pond and exploring around the campground. There was plenty to keep them busy while we got some actual downtime.

    • J
      Oct. 20, 2026

      GrandView CampResort & Cottages

      Friendly staff and very clean facilities. They have sites with sewage hookups along with water and electric. Sites are small and very close together. I liked how many dog waste receptacles were available all over the property.

    • S
      Oct. 17, 2026

      Gibson Hill RV Park

      Room To Relax

      Brought our camper up for a long weekend and had plenty of room to relax. The campground store was also super handy when we realized we forgot a few things.

    Guide to Chaplin

    Tent camping near Chaplin, Connecticut includes remote island camping opportunities, primitive forest sites, and riverfront locations within 30 miles. The area sits within the eastern Connecticut uplands, featuring deciduous forests, rocky terrain, and proximity to several river systems that create unique camping environments. Water access camping provides both challenges and opportunities at several locations.

    What to do

    Water activities on the Connecticut River: Selden Neck State Park Campground campers enjoy direct access to paddling, fishing, and swimming opportunities. Campers report that "at low tide, a couple of beaches emerge to play on" where children can explore safely.

    Wildlife viewing and birdwatching: The Connecticut River corridor hosts numerous migratory birds and resident wildlife. At River Highlands State Park River Campground, campers note the "campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river," providing excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting.

    Hiking network access: Multiple campgrounds connect to trail systems. At Onion Mountain Park, campers access sites "up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take," with trails continuing beyond the camping areas for day hiking opportunities.

    What campers like

    Island isolation experience: Campers value the remote feeling at island locations. A visitor to Selden Neck mentioned "there's no roads or development other than 4 campsites" and "the sunset view was amazing," highlighting the peaceful atmosphere this separation provides.

    Budget-friendly options: Several locations offer free or low-cost camping. Onion Mountain Park provides "very peaceful overnight camping, no permit required" on a "first come first served basis," making it accessible for spontaneous trips.

    Natural surroundings: Buck Hill Campground receives praise for its natural setting where "the area is heavily wooded without much else around" and features "Wakefield Pond (big enough lake for canoe/kayak/etc.)," creating an immersive woodland experience.

    What you should know

    Access challenges: Many desirable sites require effort to reach. For boat-in camping at Selden Neck, "It's about a 20 minute paddle across the river to the island" and "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."

    Limited facilities: Most sites offer minimal amenities. Onion Mountain Park campers note the "spot is not very big so make sure to bring a smaller tent" and locations are "very primitive" with only basic fire rings available.

    Weather considerations: River locations experience unique weather patterns. Morning fog can delay departures, as one Selden Neck camper noted: "In the morning, we were completely socked in with fog which would have been an issue if we had to get back early."

    Tips for camping with families

    Site selection matters: Choose locations appropriate for children's abilities. For families with young children, Gillette Castle State Park Campground sites offer "nice to go with enough people to occupy them all at once to keep it personal" while providing swimming opportunities where "you can swim and fish and relax all day."

    Pest preparation: Wildlife encounters require preparation. River Highlands campers warn "the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders" which might be expected but could frighten children unprepared for such encounters.

    Water safety planning: Waterfront camping requires careful supervision. Families at Buck Hill Campground appreciate that "there's a small somewhat sandy area that perhaps used to be a beach" with "a few areas that make for easy entry into the water," allowing safer water access for children.

    Tips from RVers

    Tent-only limitations: Most sites around Chaplin are designed specifically for tent camping. RV campers should note that Chapman Pond Preserve and similar locations feature "good tent platforms" but no vehicle access directly to sites.

    Day-use alternatives: RVers can access some areas for day use. Gillette Castle State Park offers opportunities as "a great place for a hike or a picnic" with castle tours available seasonally for those camping elsewhere in RVs.

    Alternative accommodations: When tent camping isn't suitable, consider Hidden Lake Farm which offers "2 lodging options to choose from" with amenities including drinking water, showers, and toilets unavailable at most primitive tent sites.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Chaplin, CT?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Chaplin, CT is Buck Hill Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

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