Bear Creek Campground at Lake Compounce provides upscale glamping close to Southington, Connecticut, situated just 10 miles from town in the central Connecticut region. The campground operates from May through October and connects directly to Lake Compounce Amusement Park. Campground accommodations include pull-through RV sites with water and electric hookups, tent sites with varying levels of privacy, and glamping options including yurts for visitors seeking alternatives to traditional camping experiences.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Riverdale Farm Campsites, campers can access both a pond and river for fishing. "The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground," notes one visitor who appreciates the water access options.
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds offer walking paths through wooded areas. At White Pines Campsites, "Hiking trails were nice, good variety of easier and more difficult terrain," according to a camper who explored the area.
Swimming options: For those seeking water recreation beyond the amusement park, Rocky Neck State Park Campground provides beach access. A regular visitor shares, "I love this campsite, I have been going with my friends and family for as long as I can remember. It's right near the beach, and the campsites and bathrooms are always clean!"
What campers like
Large RV sites: Campers at Lake Waramaug State Park Campground appreciate the spacious camping areas. "Sites are HUGE. Bathrooms, water, showers are close by. You will almost always have a view of the water," reports one visitor who enjoys the generous site dimensions.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness receives consistent positive feedback. At Wolf's Den Family Campground, campers note "Very very clean. 50x30 sites common," and mention additional amenities like "Mini golf, pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, lots of playgrounds for the kids."
Seasonal variations: Bear Creek Campground experiences different crowd levels throughout the week. One visitor observed, "Stayed in September 2021. CG is pretty empty during the week and gets busy during the weekend," providing useful information for those seeking quieter camping periods.
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds report wildlife sightings. At White Pines Campsites, campers should be prepared for potential animal visitors: "We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours."
Bathroom availability: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. At Prospect Mountain Campground, one camper mentioned, "I do wish they had more bathrooms though. Especially by the pool!!!" while noting that overall the "grounds were absolutely beautiful and very well maintained!"
Internet access: WiFi quality differs across locations. At Riverdale Farm, "The internet was horribly slow and kept dropping connections. This is an RV park, they advertise internet so you would figure it would work," reports a camper who stayed for three months.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Campgrounds offer various organized events for children. At White Pines, "We loved this campground! Big fun for kids and adults. Two big pools, store, bar for adults with live entertainment. Tons of kids activities going on all day."
Swimming areas: Consider the swimming facilities when booking with children. Rocky Neck State Park provides beach access, though one visitor cautions, "The swimming area is an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then its probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in.)"
Playground access: For families with young children, look for sites with play equipment. At Wildwood State Park Campground, "Kids were roaming freely and safe!" according to a visitor who enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through availability: RVers appreciate easy-access sites at several campgrounds. At Wolf's Den Family Campground, visitors note "easy entry, long pull thrus" that accommodate larger rigs with minimal maneuvering required.
Hookup limitations: Bear Creek Campground lacks sewer connections at campsites. One RVer explains, "None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out," pointing out that while full hookups aren't available, alternatives exist.
Site privacy: Privacy between RV sites varies significantly across campgrounds. A visitor at Wildwood State Park Campground reports, "sites had zero privacy and were all pull through," while noting that most sites do offer water, electric and sewer hookups despite the lack of separation.
