Best Campgrounds near Watertown, CT

Join the fun near Watertown. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Discover great camping spots near Watertown, reviewed by campers like you.

Best Camping Sites Near Watertown, Connecticut (102)

    1. Lake Compounce Campground

    12 Reviews
    Bristol, CT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 583-3300

    "Affiliated with Lake Compounce Amusement Park adjacent to campground."

    "It is adjacent to an amusement park so there were lots of families here. None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out."

    2. Kettletown State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Stevenson, CT
    13 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."

    3. Black Rock State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Thomaston, CT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 283-8088

    $17 - $50 / night

    "Beautiful state park, very clean .. fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers .. stores within a 5 minute drive. Most of the camp ground site are not secluded .."

    "The family next to me offered me dinner one night after I spent the whole day working on my RV. Spanish rice chicken the works the plate could barely hold it all."

    4. Gentiles Campground

    7 Reviews
    Plymouth, CT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 283-8437

    $55 - $150 / night

    "Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites."

    "There’s two brand new bathrooms on site one of which is conveniently located right by the pool. Owners are doing new renovations to make this place look good!"

    5. Cozy Hills Campground

    8 Reviews
    Bantam, CT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 567-2119

    $72 - $122 / night

    "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."

    "We stayed near the water. Clean private bathrooms were a plus. Clean pool but only 3 feet deep."

    6. Branch Brook Campground

    2 Reviews
    Thomaston, CT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 283-8144

    "Sites are pretty close together and the campground is close to a fairly busy road. The pool and laundry areas were clean and seemed newer."

    7. Lake Waramaug State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    New Preston, CT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 868-0220

    $17 - $50 / night

    "My family has been camping at Lake Waramaug for over 20 years. I can say most of what’s been said is true or partially so but whether it’s bad or good depends on your point of view."

    "One of my favorite so far , went with family , to comply w covid and social distancing, the camp only rent your site and no one on your left or right or across ! Amazing !"

    8. Point Folly Campground

    2 Reviews
    Bantam, CT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 567-0089

    "The campground is right on Bantam Lake which is great for boaters/kayakers  fisherman and families.  I have found the east side of the lake to be much more windy than the west side of the lake.   "

    "Beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing. Small little island"

    9. Windmill Hill - Connecticut White Memorial Campground

    1 Review
    Bantam, CT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 567-0089

    $25 / night

    "Quiet woods atmosphere with trail’s. Wonderful place to camp. Very clean"

    10. Steep Rock Association

    1 Review
    Washington, CT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 868-9131

    "Each one is far away from the others."

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Recent Reviews near Watertown, CT

497 Reviews of 102 Watertown Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Nicole G.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Tolland State Forest Campground

    Great Lakeside Campground

    This was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.

    The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.

  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Niantic KOA

    I mean wow!!

    So much going on! They will give free shuttle rides to 3 beaches & downtown Niantic, CT.

    We had tried to get a deluxe location and not completely booked. This is the weekend before Labor Day and they were vanishing point the owner / shuttle driver, John, asked us if we would want to move on Sunday after a bunch of people moved out. And we said absolutely because we're going to be here for 3 more nights.

    And it is huge and amazing! If you want to pay a little extra for the deluxe request slot 92!

  • 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.

  • 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)

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    The Quarry Campground

    Lots of Amenities

    The Quarry has something for everyone. Swimming, fishing, hiking, seasonal, daily, full hookups or tenting. Lots of pull throughs!

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Niantic KOA

    Great amenities, staff and location

    Charming, full of wonderful amenities and nice extras. Nice staff, fun coin scavenger hunt, great pool, well stocked store, wide sites, lots of grass/trees and space to stretch out. Missing full hook ups but the staff and overall vibe more than make up for it. Community garden was something we hadn’t seen before - super fun.

  • Alicia B.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    River Highlands State Park River Campground

    Beautiful But Beware of Arachnids

    We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river. As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this). Otherwise, it’s a peaceful and scenic spot worth seeing!


Guide to Watertown

Camping near Watertown, Connecticut, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Exploring: Many campgrounds are close to trails. For instance, at Clarence Fahnestock State Park, one camper mentioned, "The NYS Parks has done a lot of work on the surrounding trails," making it a great spot for nature lovers.
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds has two private lakes and a river for fishing. A visitor shared, "You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river."
  • Beach Access: Hammonasset State Park Campground is just a short drive from the beach. One reviewer noted, "The beach was popular," making it a perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms. A visitor at Rocky Neck State Park Campground said, "The bathrooms were clean and well-maintained," which is always a plus.
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Many campgrounds offer activities for kids. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner, one parent mentioned, "This place is so much fun. My whole family loved the activities."
  • Scenic Views: Campers enjoy the beautiful surroundings. A reviewer at October Mountain State Forest remarked, "The trails were completely perfectly maintained," highlighting the area's natural beauty.

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially on weekends. A camper at Wildwood State Park Campground noted, "The crowd stayed awake playing music all night very loudly."
  • Booking in Advance: Popular spots fill up quickly. A visitor at Hammonasset State Park Campground advised, "If you are looking for a site it’s best to book far in advance."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A camper at October Mountain State Forest mentioned, "I expected a little added extra fee for booking," indicating some unexpected costs.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Plan Activities: Look for campgrounds with plenty of activities. At Brialee Family Campground, one family said, "The activities were great and kept my grandchildren busy."
  • Choose the Right Site: Some sites are more spacious than others. A camper at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds mentioned, "The lots are large and nicely wooded," which can be great for families needing space.
  • Bring Entertainment: Kids might need extra activities. A visitor at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner noted, "People tend to walk through your campsite constantly," so having games or toys can keep them entertained.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds said, "We were within 2 inches or less of trees on 4 or 5 instances getting in and out of our site."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer sites with full hookups. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner, one visitor appreciated, "We had full hookups with 50-amp electrical service."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can be busy, especially on weekends. A reviewer at Hammonasset State Park Campground mentioned, "Most every site is full," so plan accordingly.

Camping around Watertown, CT, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or a fun family adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Watertown, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, Watertown, CT offers a wide range of camping options, with 102 campgrounds and RV parks near Watertown, CT and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Watertown, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Watertown, CT is Lake Compounce Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 12 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Watertown, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Watertown, CT.

What parks are near Watertown, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Watertown, CT that allow camping, notably Northfield Brook Lake and Hop Brook Lake.