Best Tent Camping near Tolland, CT
Tent campers near Tolland, Connecticut have access to several primitive camping areas nestled between state parks and conservation lands. Onion Mountain Park offers walk-in tent sites accessible via hiking trails, with established fire pits but minimal amenities. Other options include Hidden Lake Farm, a small five-site tent campground with basic facilities, and Gillette Castle State Park Campground, which provides riverside tent sites.
Walk-in tent camping is particularly common in this region, with many sites requiring short hikes from parking areas. At Onion Mountain Park, campers must hike up either the yellow or blue trail to reach the primitive campsite. According to one visitor, "It's not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite," but visitors should be prepared for the trek. Most walk-in tent locations provide fire rings but lack amenities like running water, flush toilets, or trash service. Tent campers should bring all necessary supplies, including water and waste bags for proper disposal.
Connecticut River access defines several tent camping experiences in the region. Selden Neck State Park Campground offers boat-in tent sites on an island with no roads or development other than four designated campsites. One camper noted that "at low tide, a couple of beaches emerge to play on" and "the sunset view was amazing." Chapman Pond Preserve provides tent platforms, picnic tables, and an outhouse with the Connecticut River within view. These primitive tent sites are typically quiet on weekdays but can fill quickly during summer weekends and holidays. Most tent campgrounds in the area permit campfires, though seasonal restrictions may apply depending on conditions. Bug protection is essential during warmer months, particularly at higher elevation tent sites.
