Best Campgrounds near Stamford, CT

Campgrounds near Stamford, Connecticut cluster primarily around the edges of the New York-Connecticut border, with several established options within a 30-60 minute drive. The region includes a mix of state parks and county facilities offering diverse camping accommodations. Kettletown State Park in Southbury provides tent, RV and cabin camping with access to showers and electric hookups. Other notable camping areas include Croton Point Park and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, both in New York but easily accessible from Stamford. These mixed-use campgrounds typically feature fire rings, picnic tables, and varying levels of amenities, from primitive tent sites to more developed areas with water and electric hookups.

Camping availability runs primarily from April through October, with most facilities closing during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer when waterfront sites fill quickly. Several campgrounds require advance booking through state or county reservation systems. Campgrounds like Clarence Fahnestock State Park offer both drive-in and hike-in access, while others like Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park provide boat-in options. Weather conditions vary seasonally, with summer temperatures typically moderate but occasionally humid. Cell phone reception can be limited at some campgrounds, and campers should be prepared for varied terrain. According to one visitor at Kettletown State Park, "The sites were super close together and the boundary lines were unclear, so my neighbors ended up using my fire ring to secure their tent."

Most established campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities like restrooms and drinking water, though the quality and proximity to campsites varies. Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park offers electric hookups and sanitary dump stations for RVs, while more rustic options like Mountain Lakes Park have fewer amenities but more seclusion. Proximity to water features is a common highlight, with several campgrounds offering lake or river access. As one camper noted about Croton Point Park, "This must be one of the most breathtaking camp grounds right on the Hudson with beach and trails." Wildlife encounters are frequently mentioned in reviews, with deer, rabbits, and raccoons common throughout the region. Campers should be aware that many facilities prohibit alcohol, and quiet hours are typically enforced beginning at 10 PM, though enforcement varies by location.

Best Camping Sites Near Stamford, Connecticut (71)

    1. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

    9 Reviews
    Cross River, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (914) 864-7317

    $45 - $55 / night

    "Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."

    "The shelter sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience. The staff is friendly as well"

    2. Beaver Pond Campground — Harriman State Park

    41 Reviews
    Pomona, NY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 947-2792

    $17 - $20 / night

    "Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."

    "The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."

    3. Croton Point Park

    10 Reviews
    Croton-on-Hudson, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (914) 862-5290

    $30 - $60 / night

    "Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."

    "Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"

    4. Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Fishkill, NY
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 225-7207

    $17 / night

    "When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."

    "The campsite (#040) was private, but was located next to the Nature Center and a water spigot, so it was not a super quiet place."

    5. Mountain Lakes Park

    3 Reviews
    North Salem, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (914) 864-7312

    "Mountain Lakes park is a great place to camp within driving distance from NYC. A fun option available at Mountain lakes is to rent a yurt to camp in."

    "A gorgeous piece of land that contains lakes, a lookout and Mt. Bailey, the highest point in Westchester County. A dirt road loops through the property with trails off and through it."

    6. Blydenburgh County Park

    11 Reviews
    Hauppauge, NY
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 854-3713

    "just a great place to get away from home"

    "The group camping on the fox sites is accessible by a dirt drive in. I felt like I was suddenly transported upstate when in fact I had only driven 2 towns over, (about 20 minutes from home.)"

    7. Battle Row Campground

    4 Reviews
    Old Bethpage, NY
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (516) 572-8690

    $5 - $60 / night

    "You can take bike rides , and relax outside with a nice amount of space to yourself ."

    8. Kettletown State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Stevenson, CT
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (203) 264-5678

    $17 - $50 / night

    "We love this State Park because it's close to our home for a quick getaway. 

    This time we tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. "

    "Semi private with great view and nice walks to the water. Noise was not a problem overnight as to having problems with noises neighbors at other CT state parks."

    9. The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center — Harriman State Park

    6 Reviews
    Pomona, NY
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (617) 523-0636

    "This was beautiful campground with an even nicer lake. You are able to do a hike around the lake."

    "Beautiful lakes all over the place.

    The AMC camp in Harriman is fantastic too! Those are reserved and paid cabins and platforms."

    10. Wildwood State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Wading River, NY
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 929-4314

    $20 - $250 / night

    "The beach is in a walking distance. You can swim or fish there. This camp site has a relatively new and clean facility.

    There are many farms near by where you can get fresh veggies and fruits."

    "However there are too many loud families and the sites are too close in proximity for me."

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Recent Reviews near Stamford, CT

379 Reviews of 71 Stamford Campgrounds


  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Liberty Harbor RV Park

    friendly staff at the office

    Gave us a welcome folder with lots of helpful info, can walk to get food up the street, short drive to Liberty Park where we got out and walked at night to admire the city skyline and Statue of Liberty at night. They have hook ups and big laundry room.

  • 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

    Croton Point Park

    Not the Best Place to Go in the Northeast By a Longshot

    Croton Point Campground is a modest little campground, located along the Hudson River within Croton Point Park in NY. In addition to camping, the park itself offers many of its own attractions, including swimming, hiking, kayaking, cabin rentals, and a host of other family-oriented activities just along the Hudson. 

    The park, which is honestly probably the largest attraction here, is located just an hour and a half outside of the city. This proximity is both its perk and its downfall, as the park itself, but particularly the campground, has become laden with all sorts of inexplicable and burdensome rules, endless guidelines, and restrictions only a New York State-run bureaucracy could ever make sense of, let alone hope to justify. 

    This includes all manner of restrictions on how you can camp, where you can camp, what equipment can be used, and use in relation to what particular site you may have been lucky enough to reserve. Much of this you can understand while imagining what may have taken place here to bring them to such measures, but it doesn't make it any easier to contend with. 

    In terms of the actual camping conditions Both the tenting section and RV sites are each very clustered together, and quite crowded, with regular patrols🚓(actual patrols) being made day and night, by both the Park Rangers and what appears to be general park staff members, all looking to see if you or your family might be doing something that they might consider outside of the guidelines or not in compliance with the many restrictions. 

    This is not to say you can't possibly have a good time here. It just might mean being a bit more diligent toward reviewing the potential legitimacy of your normal camping routine to ensure it meets with many restrictions and guidelines imposed, while also making yourself comfortable with some fairly regular surveillance during your stay here. These all being things we hoped to get away from while camping ourselves It just turned out to be a bit much for our particular liking.

  • Mike W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cozy Hills Campground

    First time here

    Nice facility, friendly staff. They pack us in pretty tight in some sites.

  • Bob F.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Moon Valley Campground

    Very unique smaller private campground

    This was a great campsite nestled in the foothills of Northern NJ on the NY border. Small, clean with great views and great location for hiking , cruising etc. Bring your tent or use the existing glamping tents. Headed back for a fall weekend in the "dome" which has incredible views. Try it you won't be sorry.

  • J
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Wildwood State Park Campground

    Our go-to spot

    My wife and I love this campground. It is right at the entrance to wine country on Long Island and has a beach on the Long Island Sound. (A little rocky on the north shore)

  • Kim J.
    Jun. 8, 2025

    Cozy Hills Campground

    Very nice campground however…

    We have enjoyed our stay. Nice campground with lots of activities and things to do. However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high. While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there.

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2025

    Black Bear RV Park

    Under construction

    I would rate this a 5 when they’re finished with the upgrades. Unfortunately there was nothing on this saying that they have limited spaces due to construction or that they changed the name. We passed it up at first. A little pricey just for an overnight and since no amenities were available. It will be beautiful when they’re finished. Can’t wait to come back and give them a 5 star review! The best part was at dusk when the animals came out!

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Wildwood State Park Campground

    Nice campground with lots of sites

    I've been going to this campground every summer for at least 5 years. Recently they became very stringent about parking to vehicles at the site making it very difficult to visit with a family and 2 vehicles. I usually host group camping trips and the single vehicle rule makes that very difficult.

    That aside, this is a very nice campground with various kinds of sites. You can find sites that are less wooded and better suited to group camping, as well as sites that are a little more secluded. This is one of my favorite campgrounds solely because there are platform sites so I can place my tent on a concrete or wooden platform. There is a separate area for RVs vs tents. There is also a store where you can get a cup of coffee in the morning and lots of goodies throughout the day.

    There are hiking trails and you can walk to the beach. Note - it is a downhill walk to the beach. The beach is fairly clean and has a small boardwalk.

    There are lots of stores nearby as well as orchards to pick your own fruits. I stayed there one weekend and went to Splish Splash waterpark that's not far away. There is also a Tanger Outlet nearby. I've been there during a full on thunderstorm and watched as the trees swayed in the wind.

    Lovely campground with lots of activities to entertain you.


Guide to Stamford

Camping spots near Stamford, Connecticut range from rustic tent sites to modern RV facilities within a 30-60 mile radius. Elevation in this region generally stays below 1,000 feet with moderate hills throughout the Westchester and Fairfield county border areas. Average summer temperatures hover around 75-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, particularly in July and August when humidity levels typically reach their peak.

What to do

Hiking trails with elevation gain: At Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, campers can access over 40 miles of trails. "I believe there are over 40 miles of trails in this area. Would definitely recommend for those who want to camp near NYC but not drive too far," notes Ethan K. The trail system accommodates various skill levels and connects to other regional trail networks.

Water activities beyond swimming: Beaver Pond Campground offers multiple water recreation options at Lake Welch. "About 30 minutes from sleepy hollow and tarrytown NY and only an hour to central park!! Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint," writes Megan B. The beach area includes swimming from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with fishing permitted year-round.

Stargazing opportunities: Open field areas at several campgrounds provide excellent night sky viewing opportunities. "There's elevation gain, creeks, and open fields for stargazing. You have the options of a lean to here," mentions Seth K. about Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Light pollution is minimal compared to nearby urban areas, especially on weeknights.

What campers like

Platform tent sites: Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground offers unique raised tent platforms that keep campers dry. "All sites were so different. There was a storm the night before our arrival date, all campers were evacuated and they did a fantastic job clearing all the debris and downed trees before our arrival," reports Erinn N. These platforms are particularly valuable during wet weather.

Wildlife encounters: Regular wildlife sightings enhance the camping experience throughout the region. "We love going here. Their staff is friendly. I love going here," shares Adaly about Beaver Pond Campground. Deer, rabbits, beavers, and various bird species are commonly spotted across most camping areas.

Proximity to transportation hubs: Croton Point Park sits near commuter train stations, allowing for car-free camping options. "Peaceful and gorgeous campsite, with plenty of space between sites. Great view of the Hudson, and playground within sight of our camper," describes Thomas about the convenience. The camp is accessible via Metro-North trains with advance planning.

What you should know

Reservation systems vary significantly: Most campgrounds require different booking methods with specific timelines. "You need to call (no online reservations) and then wait for an e-mail, but the e-mail does not tell you your assigned site; you have to wait until you check in to find out your site," explains Lee D. about Croton Point Park. Some facilities only accept in-person reservations.

Campsite privacy differences: Sites vary greatly in privacy levels across all locations. "The sites were large, all the people friendly and area beautiful," notes Kevin G. about Croton Point Park. Campsite numbering often doesn't indicate privacy level, so research individual sites before booking.

Bear activity protocols: Mountain Lakes Park and other facilities in the region have specific food storage requirements. "A gorgeous piece of land that contains lakes, a lookout and Mt. Bailey, the highest point in Westchester County," shares Ben H. Bear-resistant containers or cars for food storage are mandated at most locations.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Family-friendly amenities vary significantly between campgrounds. "Short distance from the NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal," Zorina N. mentions about Beaver Pond Campground. Most family-oriented campgrounds maintain playgrounds near central bathroom facilities.

Swimming area regulations: Beach access hours and restrictions change seasonally. "The beach is fairly clean and has a small boardwalk," adds Giselle P. about Wildwood State Park Campground. Many swimming areas require specific permits or have limited hours, especially during shoulder seasons.

Family-sized sites: Specific campgrounds offer larger sites designed for family groups. "The sites have provided electric and water and are kept so clean. They have shower and restroom facilities, the showers were amazing and also so clean!" Lexis N. says about Battle Row Campground. Sites numbered 50-59 at Battle Row offer more space for multiple tents.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Electric and water access varies widely among campgrounds in the region. "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities," Lori R. notes about Wildwood State Park. Only a small percentage of sites offer full hookups; most provide water and electric only.

Parking restrictions: Vehicle limitations affect site selection for RVs and trailers. "Theu have a beach. Their staff is friendly. I love going here," mentions Adaly about camping at Beaver Pond for just $15 per night. Multiple vehicle registrations often require additional fees at most campgrounds.

Seasonal facilities: Winter camping options are extremely limited for RVs. "If your going to be on Long Island, Suffolk county is really only RV friendly place. Worth buying green key card for resident access. 200 but you'd spend that 4 nights regardless," suggests Maria P. Most campgrounds shut down water systems between November and April.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any tent camping sites near Stamford for families?

Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park is an excellent family-friendly option near Stamford. This drive-in tent campground offers sites with picnic tables and fire rings with flip-top grills. Some campsites feature raised platforms, and the campground has adequate restroom facilities throughout. For families seeking privacy, the back end of the campground (sites #1, 13, 15, 21, 23) provides quieter spots. Macedonia Brook State Park Campground is another good family option with hiking trails and natural settings suitable for children to explore. Both parks typically require reservations during peak summer months.

What are the best campgrounds near Stamford, CT?

The Stamford area offers several excellent camping options within driving distance. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in nearby New York is popular among locals for its multiple hiking trails and group gathering areas. For those willing to drive a bit further, Kettletown State Park Campground provides access to water activities and hiking trails. Both parks offer tent camping with basic amenities. These campgrounds tend to be busier during summer weekends and holidays, so reservations are recommended. The region's campgrounds typically operate from spring through fall, with some offering winter activities like sledding at Ward Pound Ridge.

Is there lake camping available near Stamford, Connecticut?

Wawayanda State Park Campground offers excellent lake camping within driving distance of Stamford. The park features a beautiful lake perfect for swimming and paddling during summer months. While some campsites aren't completely level (primarily dirt/grass ground), they provide a comfortable camping experience. The more remote group sites offer a secluded feel but note that some areas don't have running water or showers within walking distance. Mountain Lakes Park is another option with multiple lakes for fishing and paddling. Both parks typically operate from spring through fall, with summer being the busiest season requiring advance reservations.

What RV camping options are available in the Stamford area?

For RV enthusiasts near Stamford, Liberty Harbor RV Park offers a convenient option with city access. Though more of an urban camping experience, it provides necessary hookups for RVs. For those seeking more natural surroundings, Croton Point Park offers breathtaking views right on the Hudson River. The park accommodates RVs with nearby bathroom and shower facilities. Croton Point features both paved areas and more secluded spots. Most RV sites in the region require reservations, especially during summer months. Be sure to check length restrictions and hookup availability when planning your trip, as amenities vary by location.