Camping options near Southbury, Connecticut range from tent sites to upscale accommodations across the wooded hills of western Connecticut. The region sits at elevations between 450-800 feet with a humid continental climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Spring and fall camping seasons offer moderate temperatures between 55-75°F, while summer can reach into the high 80s with occasional thunderstorms.
What to do
Water activities: Lake Waramaug State Park Campground offers multiple options for water recreation. "The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available. The swim area is marginal- best for little ones," notes a camper at Lake Waramaug State Park Campground.
Hiking opportunities: Several trails connect camping areas to scenic overlooks. "There are hiking trails and you can walk to the beach. Note - it is a downhill walk to the beach," explains one visitor. Another camper at Copake Falls adds, "There was a really great (but very short .65 miles) hiking trail behind the campground and a cool big rock to climb on near the bathrooms."
Amusement park access: Combine camping with thrill rides at Lake Compounce Campground. "It is part of the Lake Compounce Amusement Park. Stayed in September 2021. CG is pretty empty during the week and gets busy during the weekend," reports one camper. The campground provides convenient access to rides and attractions.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained facilities. At Lake Compounce, a visitor noted "Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper." Another camper added, "Very well maintained and friendly staff will stay again when in the area."
Spacious sites: White Pines Campsites offers generous camping areas. "We stayed at site 85 in Sunny Crest and liked having some privacy. The sites nearby had some trees providing space between each site," writes one camper. This provides more seclusion than typically found at established campgrounds.
Organized activities: Entertainment options keep families engaged. A camper at Lone Oak Camp Sites reported, "Nice clean well run campground. Entertainment all weekend with lots of staff. Play areas, pool over 21 bar area bands etc. well worth a visit and close to berkshires."
What you should know
Site conditions vary: Some glamping areas near Southbury require careful inspection. At White Pines, one visitor warned, "Upon arrival, I liked the atmosphere and friendly service but our site was filthy. A bag of dog poop by a tree, trash under the picnic table, cigarette butts littering the rocks around the fire pit."
Wildlife encounters: Bears and other wildlife are active in the region. "This is an interesting camp ground. As I am set up for bed I see one other large green tent that looks deserted. People left their left over food scraps in the grass by my camp so not only has my dog been eating it, I also hear coyotes," reports a camper at Lake Compounce.
Noise levels: Wildwood State Park Campground can experience varied noise levels depending on timing. "It's a fun campground, has a great beach & great bathroom facilities. It doesn't have that much of the camping feel, though, as there's not many trees in the campsite area and the sites are so close together."
Tips for camping with families
Platform tent sites: These provide a stable foundation for family tents. "The platform sites are great, it makes it real easy to set up," explains a camper at Taconic State Park. Another visitor adds, "Each of the sites had a large platform (enough room for one very large tent or 2-3 smaller tents), a fire pit, and picnic table."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas for children. A Wolf's Den visitor notes, "Mini golf, pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, lots of playgrounds for the kids. Family oriented park." Another camper at Copake Falls adds, "2 lIfeguarded swimming areas — a kiddie pool and a deep area with floating dock to jump off of."
Weekend planning: Crowds increase significantly on weekends. "This was a truly great campground, but it's proximity to NYC draws large crowds on weekends," explains a visitor. Another camper advised, "I would never camp here on a weekend.... it is a party place then."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Wolf's Den Family Campground provides good options for RVers. "Power and water at every site. Very very clean. 50x30 sites common. I would recommend to stay here if in the area," writes one RVer. Another notes, "Only electric 30 or 50A, and water; but there are a few dumpstations around in the camp."
Site arrangement: At Lake Compounce, the layout works well for RVs despite some trade-offs. "Easy entry, long pull thrus. You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded," reports a camper. Another RVer explains, "The sites were long so even though you face your neighbor, the sites were long enough that our door wasn't directly across from our neighbor."
Access considerations: Some older campgrounds have limitations. "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," advises an RVer at Wolf's Den Family Campground.
