Camping near Tariffville, Connecticut encompasses several state parks and private facilities within 30 minutes of the Farmington River Valley. Located at approximately 230 feet of elevation, Tariffville experiences typical New England weather with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows frequently below freezing. Spring and fall camping seasons often feature dramatic temperature swings of 25-30 degrees between daytime and nighttime.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in American Legion State Forest provides direct access to trophy trout fishing. "Trophy trout river with excellent fishing, but catch and release only," notes Melissa R., while another camper mentions the "Farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots."
Hiking trails: Onion Mountain Park features primitive camping with direct trail access. According to Nora S., "We ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain), where we settled down for the night." The Henry Buck Trail near Austin Hawes Memorial Campground is highly recommended as "our family likes to get out into the hiking trails and hit activities in the area," according to Anthony and Kim C.
Swimming options: White Pines Campsites offers a large clean pool for swimmers. As Kim T. notes, "Large clean pool my kids loved swimming in." For those seeking natural swimming spots, Wilderness Lake Park provides lake access where "we saw kids swimming in it in the morning," according to Robert L.
What campers like
Private camping areas: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground receives praise for site layout. "If you like nice big private sites, peace and quiet while providing a great location for fishing and hiking then this is your kind of place," writes Anthony and Kim C. Dawn D. agrees, noting "Love camping here the sites are spaced apart nicely."
Waterfront sites: Several campgrounds offer water-adjacent camping. At Austin Hawes, Andrzej K. reports, "We stayed right on the river side." Wilderness Lake Park features tent sites near the water where "The tent sites are nice and isolated, but not scary far apart," according to Kay B.
On-site recreation: Bear Creek Campground at Lake Compounce combines camping with nearby attractions. "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention its next to the amusement park," notes Nichol P. For those seeking quieter options, Austin Hawes offers "No planned activities so not great if you like that kind of thing, perfect if you don't," according to Melissa R.
What you should know
Seasonal variations: Most camping near Tariffville operates from spring through fall. According to one camper at Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, "In the summer, this place is mosquito central, so bring lots of bug spray or be eaten alive!" The campground typically runs from May through September.
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. Emily T. at Austin Hawes notes "Hot showers and clean bathrooms are available," while Wilderness Lake Park has more limited facilities: "Portopotties scattered about and showers and such near the entrance," according to Kay B.
Cell service: While most areas have reliable coverage, some campgrounds have limited connectivity. At Austin Hawes, Katherine P. points out "no cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it." Before heading out, check specific campground information if staying connected is important.
Tips for camping with families
Noise levels: Select campsites based on your family's noise tolerance. At Prospect Mountain Campground, Sandra S. found it "great for families with younger kids. They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides." For quieter experiences, Onion Mountain Park provides more secluded options.
Amenities for children: White Pines Campsites offers family-friendly facilities with "a small family/dog friendly campground. Large clean pool my kids loved swimming in. Staff is super nice. Small arcade," according to Kim T. Bear Creek Campground features additional recreational options including "a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball."
Bear awareness: Multiple campgrounds report bear activity. At White Pines, Sylvia P. warns, "Beware of bears. We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours." Similarly, A J. at Bear Creek Campground notes "as I am set up for bed... I hear coyotes. Won't be surprised if I see a bear in the morning."
Tips from RVers
Site layout and hookups: The Quarry Campground provides RV-friendly sites with some limitations. According to Brittany V., "They advertise full hu but turns out to be a lie when you pull in… all full hi is given to seasonal customers. We did receive a pull thru with 50/30/20 and water and that was about it."
Dump stations: Many campgrounds offer dump facilities rather than sewer hookups. Andrzej K. notes about Austin Hawes, "No hook up, but they have a dump station." Similarly, at Bear Creek Campground, Ruth K. observed "NO privacy, bit tent sites were ok. Few showers for number of campsites, but very clean."
Site privacy: Consider privacy when selecting between best places to camp near Tariffville, Connecticut. Bear Creek Campground has "long pull thrus. You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded," according to Diane R., while several sites at White Pines Campsites offer more separation between neighbors.
