The Watertown area offers access to multiple camping experiences within Connecticut's northwestern region at elevations around 700-900 feet. Summer temperatures range from 80-85°F during daytime hours, with cooler nighttime temperatures in the 60s. RV and tent camping options span from May through October at most state parks, while private RV parks near Watertown, Connecticut typically operate year-round.
What to Do
Fishing at small lakes: Rudd Pond at Taconic State Park offers shoreline fishing access and boat rentals. "There is plenty of fishing access from shore and you can rent a boat for the whole day to fish on the water. There is a lot of hiking in the area- def check out Bash Bish Falls!" writes Rosie R.
Hiking trail exploration: Kettletown State Park Campground features multiple interconnected trails of varying difficulty. "Beautiful trails, flat & hilly" notes Trina W., while another camper mentioned "The trails are in real need of upkeep" so conditions may vary seasonally.
Swimming beaches: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground maintains a designated swimming area with amenities. "Great beach, 5 minute drive from campground. Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days. A camp store with all the supplies you might have forgotten," according to Kurt S.
What Campers Like
Platform tent sites: Some campgrounds offer wooden platforms that elevate tents off the ground. "This was our second time coming to this campground and our second time getting dumped on by the rain, but have no fear!! The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!" reports Rosie R. about Lake Taghkanic.
Pond-front camping: Prospect Mountain Campground features sites along a fishing pond. "When we arrived to check in they were very nice and gave us the breakdown of the place along with brochures of what was going on at the site. We arrived to our site, it was by the pond and our site was even raked clean," explains Tonya D.
Clean facilities: The bathroom quality varies between campgrounds. At Aces High RV Park campers noted, "New bath house with multiple shower rooms" and "Clean, well-maintained, and level site with concrete pad and patio."
What You Should Know
Site privacy varies: Most Watertown area campgrounds have limited separation between sites. At Rudd Pond Area — Taconic State Park, a camper noted "The campsites are pretty close together, so if the campground is full, you are rather close to your neighbors."
Varying seasonal schedules: Many state campgrounds close by early September while private facilities remain open longer. "Lake Compounce Campground is only open May 1 - Oct 31," notes one review, while others like Branch Brook operate year-round.
Noise levels fluctuate: Weekends typically bring higher occupancy and noise. "Overall, folks seemed to be there in larger groups for celebrations so things were loud well past midnight, which was challenging given how close each site was," reports Justin P. about Kettletown State Park.
Tips for Camping with Families
Activity-focused campgrounds: Lake Compounce Campground offers recreational amenities beyond camping. "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention its next to the amusement park," writes Nichol P., though they caution "the tent spots are small and close together."
Playground access: Multiple RV parks around Watertown feature play areas. One camper at Prospect Mountain noted it has "activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing."
Cabin options: For families wanting more shelter, several parks provide cabin rentals. At Lake Taghkanic, "Big and spacious state park with many camping options. Has options for trailers, tent sites, platforms for tents and even some cabins," says Mary-Kate L.
Tips from RVers
Big rig accessibility: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. "Roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs" notes one reviewer about Gentiles Campground, while Branch Brook Campground provides "long pull-throughs" that can accommodate larger units.
RV hookup variations: Electric service ranges from 30-amp to 50-amp depending on location. At Branch Brook Campground, "Spaces were decent sized. We were in site 16 and it was on the creek which was a decent view and gave us plenty of space to sit outside and for our dog to have space to roam," reports Charlie & Danielle B.
Dump station locations: Some campgrounds like Lake Compounce lack sewer hookups but provide dump stations. "None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out," explains Tina, adding "The sites were long so even though you face your neighbor, the sites were long enough that our door wasn't directly across from our neighbor."
