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Best Campgrounds near South Lyme, CT

604 Reviews

Established campgrounds near South Lyme, Connecticut provide options for tent camping, RV hookups, and cabin stays within a scenic coastal region. Rocky Neck State Park Campground and Niantic KOA are among the most popular destinations, offering varying levels of amenities and proximity to Long Island Sound beaches. Most campgrounds in the area remain open seasonally, typically from late spring through early fall, with some private facilities like Aces High RV Park extending their operating seasons.

Road access to most campgrounds is generally straightforward, with many sites located just off major routes like I-95 and state highways. "The campsite is only a short walk from the beach and available mountain bike and hiking trails. A great family campsite with easy to get to activities," noted one camper about Rocky Neck State Park. Seasonal considerations affect availability, with the prime camping season running from May through September when temperatures remain moderate and water activities are most enjoyable. Most developed campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when facilities frequently reach capacity.

Campers consistently highlight beach access as a standout feature of the region's camping experience. Rocky Neck State Park receives particular praise for its combination of wooded campsites and proximity to swimming areas. A visitor remarked, "Beautiful campground right near the beach. Hiking trails along the coast line." The region's mixed-use campgrounds typically provide fire rings, picnic tables, and bathroom facilities, while higher-end options like KOA locations offer additional amenities including pools, recreational activities, and camp stores. Proximity to coastal attractions and towns like Niantic and East Lyme adds convenience for campers seeking dining options or supplies. Campground options range from basic state park sites with minimal facilities to more developed private campgrounds with full hookups and recreational programming.

Map showing campgrounds near South Lyme, ConnecticutExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near South Lyme, Connecticut (118)

    1. Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    South Lyme, CT
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (860) 739-1339

    "The beach is about a 1 mile walk or drive from the campground.  The walk is lovely and I have seen deer, turkeys, many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife along the way."

    "Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads."

    2. Hammonasset State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (203) 245-1817

    $20 - $70 / night

    "Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite. Well kept showers and bathrooms are abundant and the camp store has the majority of what you need."

    "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."

    3. Niantic KOA

    13 Reviews
    South Lyme, CT
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (860) 739-9308

    "His place in Niantic Connecticut very close to downtown and the beach which they have a shuttle for. The staff is very friendly, courteous and knowledgeable of the area."

    "Close to level parking pad, with table and very nice brick firepit. Sites not too close together. I had woods behind me. I would definitely camp here again."

    4. Crocker's Boatyard

    13 Reviews
    New London, CT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 443-6304

    $50 - $75 / night

    "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."

    "Easy access to the boatyard at night; pulled in, picked a spot and all good. Enjoyed the pool.

    Walked to Fort Trumbull.

    Recommend Crockers."

    5. Aces High RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Montville, CT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 739-8858

    $74 - $80 / night

    "We stayed at Aces High RV Park for a long holiday weekend to visit with our daughter in Connecticut. We paid$150/night for a‘Premium Waterfront FHU Site’ on the lake."

    "Sites and roads are a pea gravel material and each site has large grassy areas around it. It was a quiet area with ponds and creeks and a generally relaxing setting."

    6. Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Salem, CT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 526-2336

    $14 / night

    "There are trails behind the sites along a large marsh. The wildlife was incredible, a beaver family family lives in the marsh so every night around 10 they would be up splashing around loudly."

    "The sites are very open, not wooded so you have little privacy from adjacent sites."

    7. Wolf's Den Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Hadlyme, CT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 873-9681

    "This place is off Route 9 in Connecticut on the east side of the Connecticut River (major RT 9 highway is on west side)."

    "Nice camp ground in the woods near hadlyme"

    8. Riverdale Farm Campsites

    11 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 669-5388

    "The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground. The kids who work here are so friendly and the playground is nice."

    "Sites are very close to one another. Level pull through site. Quit in the evening!"

    9. Odetah Camping Resort

    13 Reviews
    Bozrah, CT
    18 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."

    10. Mystic KOA

    25 Reviews
    North Stonington, CT
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 599-5101

    "During our stay we enjoyed our campsite as it was close to the pool. The grounds were beautiful to walk on with water nearby and little places to explore."

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

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Recent Camping Photos near South Lyme, CT

185 Photos of 118 South Lyme Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near South Lyme, CT

604 Reviews of 118 South Lyme Campgrounds

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • Ryan G.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Mount Misery Campground

    Lived up to its name

    Sites/facilities were as expected and I could have been very satisfied with our 1 night stay.  There are a lot of rules for camping here, which is confusing because there does not appear to be anyone to enforce them.  Late arrivals? Noise? I suspect that the couple who pulled into the site next to ours after 10PM with two cars and an infant are homeless and poached the site.  They were not there for the hiking or the camping experience and their infant child screamed or babbled through most of the night.  That plus the adults talking, car doors opening and closing, engine running, baby einstein videos playing...  In the morning they packed up and left.  I'm not an advocate of criminalizing homelessness, but if you are looking for a night in the woods listening to crickets and owls, this is not the place.

  • Michael
    Sep. 20, 2025

    The Quarry Campground

    The Quarry Campground

    Very quiet. At night all you can hear is the crackling of the campfire.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Gentiles Campground

    Nice place to stay

    Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites. Most sites seem pretty level, but there are some steep roads in the CG. There is an airport next to CG, but it is for single engine private planes only so not a problem. Not by a major road so little traffic noise. I would stay here again.

  • Paul K.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Fort Getty Campground

    Great Park Just Not for Camping

    Forty Getty Park RV Campground seems like a great location, with a good bit of history and a lot to offer to anyone visiting, which is why I was eager to visit it this past weekend while traveling through the Jamestown area of Rhode Island. I'd still call it a great place to visit, just not the best to attempt to stay at overnight or camp at. That is something else entirely in this case. 

    THE GOOD👍 Again, an absolutely gorgeous location on the shores of Jamestown😍 that being the park, NOT the campgrounds. The campground itself🏕 and particularly the⛺️ tenting section are pretty far removed from any of that and the water itself in reality. 

    THE Bad. In actuality, the campground looks to be a complete afterthought. More like, What should we do with this little grassy area next to the RV park?... oh maybe that can be for tents! Or,. Where the hell are we going to fit some tents⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️around here? Oh, I know, how about over on the hill by the bathrooms?🚻 next to the RV park fencing? Oh yeah, that sounds Perfect👍 

    The Ugly There's no Ugly. The people seem nice, the park is great,t and everyone working there was polite and courteous. It's just a shame they haven't given any real consideration to the camping section or provided a real space for campers to come enough the area. What you're left with is a grassy knoll with a bunch of tent sites tightly clustered together and right next to or on top of the RV park in a way that didn't seem necessary.

  • j
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Crocker's Boatyard

    Great!

    Great spot with view of harbor, a pool, bathroom and power if needed. Easy to book, good location- near many places of interest.

Guide to South Lyme

Camping near South Lyme, Connecticut, offers a mix of beautiful nature and family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or a fun-filled adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Beach Access: Many campgrounds are close to the beach. For example, at Hammonasset State Park Campground, you can enjoy a short walk to the beach without any extra fees. One reviewer mentioned, "The beach was popular," making it a great spot for swimming and sunbathing.
  • Nature Trails: Explore the beautiful trails nearby. Campers at Rocky Neck State Park Campground enjoyed hiking, with one saying, "There are some easy hikes through one of the preserves."
  • Family Activities: Many campgrounds offer activities for kids. At Mystic KOA, families can enjoy daily activities, with one reviewer noting, "There are lots of play areas and daily activities for little ones."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. One visitor at Riverdale Farm Campsites said, "The facilities are in good shape, friendly staff."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A reviewer at Strawberry Park mentioned, "The site we had was pretty small but it was shaded and it was hot so that was good."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. At Odetah Camping Resort, one guest said, "Great spot. Really clean and organized. Great live bands."

What you should know:

  • Booking in Advance: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak season. A family at Hammonasset State Park Campground advised, "If you are looking for a site it’s best to book far in advance."
  • No Pets Allowed: Some campgrounds, like Rocky Neck State Park Campground, do not allow pets. A reviewer noted, "NO pets allowed, including dogs."
  • Noise Levels: Campgrounds can be busy and noisy, especially on weekends. One camper at Mystic KOA mentioned, "It was packed out by the weekend."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Plan Activities: Look for campgrounds with organized activities. At Wawaloam Campground, a reviewer said, "There seemed to be lots of activities on the weekends."
  • Choose Shaded Sites: If you're camping in the summer, shaded sites can help keep things cooler. A visitor at Riverdale Farm Campsites appreciated the "level pull-through site" that provided some shade.
  • Bring Games: Having games on hand can keep kids entertained. One family at Strawberry Park enjoyed bingo nights, saying, "We did bingo and it was a blast."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookups: Make sure your site has the necessary hookups. A reviewer at Niantic KOA mentioned, "They do have a dump station for a DIY."
  • Be Prepared for Tight Spaces: Some campgrounds have tight sites. A visitor at Odetah Camping Resort noted, "Some of the non-seasonal sites are very tight."
  • Look for Amenities: Choose campgrounds with amenities like pools or camp stores. One camper at Wawaloam Campground said, "The camp store has everything you might need."

Camping around South Lyme, Connecticut, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Make sure to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near South Lyme, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near South Lyme, CT is Rocky Neck State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.

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