Rocky Neck State Park Campground offers wooded and level sites with access to Long Island Sound. The campground consists of several distinct camping loops identified by water fowl names including Crane, Egret, Osprey and Heron. Sites throughout the park feature fire pits with grill attachments and picnic tables, with both tent and RV options available. Tent-only sites may require unloading equipment at a distance from parking areas. The campground is located a short walk or bike ride from Rocky Neck State Beach.
What to do
Hiking trails and water access: A network of trails runs through Rocky Neck State Park Campground, connecting camping areas to the beach and nature areas. "A well-maintained hiking trail connects Niantic KOA to Rocky Neck State Park beach," states a camper who enjoyed morning walks. Another visitor mentions "I've lived in CT all my life but never used the Rocky Neck State Park Campground until now... Short walk to Rocky Neck beach. Nature Center has movies on weekends for kids."
Boating opportunities: Crocker's Boatyard provides RV camping with views of the harbor in New London, about 15 minutes from South Lyme. "Loved watching the boats being moved into the water. Close to everything we wanted to see in New London," notes one visitor. The location allows for ferry access, as another camper mentions: "We took the ferry to Block Island which was also walking distance from the boat yard. Block Island a must see."
Fishing spots: Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground provides stream access for fishing. As one camper notes, "Go here every spring for opening day of fishing season and camp the entire weekend." The campground sits near Chapman Falls, creating multiple water recreation options. Another review mentions "you could hike down to the river for a quick dip. The river isn't deep enough for a full swim but still was good enough on a hot day."
What campers like
Beach proximity: Campers consistently rate Hammonasset State Park Campground highly for its beach access. "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," writes one visitor. Another adds, "You can ride your bike from your site to the playground, store, beach, local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or our family favorite, meig's point nature center."
Spacious campsites: Aces High RV Park receives praise for its site layout. "Well organized campground with both water front back in sites as well as large pull throughs. Pull through sites also have lots of space between them so you don't feel like you are on top of the neighbors," reports a camper. Another notes, "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."
Dog friendly accommodations: Many campgrounds near South Lyme welcome pets with designated areas. At Wolf's Den Family Campground, campers with pets appreciate the location with "nearby walking paths" for dog exercise. Riverdale Farm Campsites provides "short walk to beach" options that work well for morning dog walks. Many campers report appreciating the dog-friendly policies at Odetah Camping Resort which includes "a large dumpster in the campground" with convenient waste disposal stations throughout.
What you should know
Site drainage issues: During rainy periods, some campgrounds face challenges. At Niantic KOA, a camper reported: "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." Be prepared with appropriate footwear and tarps during wet weather.
Limited hookups: Not all sites offer full utility access. At Hammonasset State Park Campground, one camper noted "No one enforces the parks rules so some groups tend to be rowdy later in the evening, children on bikes darting in front of moving cars." Another mentioned, "Most sites don't have hook ups so you have to run off battery and water storage tanks if you have a RV."
Bathroom facilities vary: Cleanliness and availability of restrooms differs across locations. A Rocky Neck visitor reported "Bathhouses and toilets were not as cleaned as I would have liked but passable." Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground provides only basic facilities: "There is a large dumpster in the campground and several porta-potties. The old outhouses have been permanently closed and locked shut."
Seasonal restrictions: Dog friendly campgrounds near South Lyme often have seasonal limitations. One camper at Hammonasset warned, "Be noted PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the summer. We were not aware of this." Plan ahead by checking pet policies when booking.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Wolf's Den Family Campground offers family amenities including swimming. "This campground has tons of amenities, but it was a little weird for us since there were so many seasonals there. However, they've got a nice pool, a game room, and mini golf for $2/person," reports a visitor. Another adds, "Mini golf, pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, lots of playgrounds for the kids. Family oriented park."
Organized activities: Scheduling around planned events enhances family visits. At Riverdale Farm Campsites, a camper shared, "Update number 2: I told you I come here a lot, we did bingo and it was a blast. It was a beautiful day on the beach pond. They had great prizes for cheap cost. I spent 2 dollars for 10 long rounds of bingo with 4 cards."
Nature experiences: Proximity to wildlife viewing creates educational opportunities. At Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground, a camper noted, "Sites are behind the sites along a large marsh. The wildlife was incredible, a beaver family lives in the marsh so every night around 10 they would be up splashing around loudly."
Tick protection: Several campgrounds report tick issues. At Devil's Hopyard, a camper warned, "Be very careful with ticks, there were tons of them under our picnic table and by the campfire. Bring your own chairs to sit on and don't put too much down that they may be able to stick to. Our 2 nights we found over 25 ticks."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose carefully when booking at Mystic KOA, where "Some sites towards the front of the park are very close together and unlevel. If you want to be up near the action—pool, bar car, and other activities—get a site in the front section."
Dump station access: At Odetah Camping Resort, RVers note limitations: "No sewer hook up, but they do provide a honey wagon pump service, once, free of charge. They say you can request additional pumps for a fee, if necessary. However, we were not able to be pumped because it was the 'pumpers' day off. LOL Hey, it happens. :) They do have a dump station for a DIY."
Size limitations: Older campgrounds may not accommodate larger rigs. At Wolf's Den Family Campground, a visitor advised, "Really long or tall RV will need to stay close to the front of the campground, as typical older campground is not designed for 40 foot long or 10 foot high campers."
Satellite and connectivity: Internet access varies across the region. At Riverdale Farm Campsites, a reviewer reported "The internet was horribly slow and kept dropping connections. This is an RV park, they advertise internet so you would figure it would work." At Mystic KOA, "The WiFi was horrible so we ended up using our Verizon hotspot."
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