Camping areas in the Woodbridge area of Connecticut feature diverse woodland settings with elevations ranging from 300-700 feet. Most campgrounds in this region operate within Connecticut's humid continental climate zone, experiencing warm summers with temperatures averaging 80-85°F from June through August. Winter camping is limited with most facilities closing by late September when overnight temperatures begin consistently dropping below 40°F.
What to Do
Hiking trails access: Several campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. At Kettletown State Park Campground, campers can explore various terrain options. "Kettletown isn't just for camping. There are also hiking trails, a fishing area and a swimming hole," notes reviewer Elaine C. The park offers both "flat & hilly" trails according to Trina W.
Amusement park access: Families staying at Lake Compounce Campground can easily visit the adjacent theme park. "This is attached to an amusement park but far enough away not to be a bother," explains Diane R. The campground itself provides recreational options as noted by Nichol P.: "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention it's next to the amusement park."
Water activities: Swimming and fishing opportunities exist at multiple locations. Kettletown State Park has fishing areas "for the kids" as one camper notes, while Rocky Neck State Park features a beach that Lexi L. describes as "right near the beach, and the campsites and bathrooms are always clean!" However, water quality monitoring sometimes limits swimming availability.
What Campers Like
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the site layouts at Aces High RV Park in East Lyme. April L. reports, "Pull through sites also have lots of space between them so you don't feel like you are on top of the neighbors. Sites and roads are a pea gravel material and each site has large grassy areas around it." The park maintains shade trees that "keeps them trimmed to not interfere when parking on your site."
Convenient locations: Many campgrounds provide strategic access to area attractions. Tara N. found Totoket Valley RV Park "perfect for seeing the local area or even catching the train to New York City." April L. mentions that Aces High is "about 30 min to Foxwoods Casino, even closer to Mohegan Sun. Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium are also not too far."
Pool facilities: Several campgrounds maintain swimming pools as alternatives to natural water bodies. Aces High RV Park has "a clean playground and well maintained pool as well as some walking paths," according to April L. Even the boatyard camping option at Crocker's Boatyard offers pool access, with one visitor noting, "It was great to have electric and water hookups. Also being able to use their pool with our grandchildren was great."
What You Should Know
Bathroom conditions vary significantly: Facility cleanliness is inconsistent across campgrounds. Some like Rocky Neck State Park have "showers and toilets that are always clean" according to multiple reviews. However, at other locations like North Fork Cottages & RV Resort, Corey M. observed "some of the screens were missing from the bathroom so it was full of bugs."
Site selection matters: Research individual sites before booking. At Fahnestock State Park, Jess M. advises, "This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance." Another camper reinforces this: "This is one of my favorite campsites I have been to but only because after several visits we have finally found our favorite site."
Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds have active wildlife populations. Kettletown campers are advised to "watch out for raccoons and skunk, they love to find food. Be sure put foods in the car!" At Lake Compounce, one camper reported hearing coyotes: "People left their left over food scraps in the grass by my camp so not only has my dog been eating it, I also hear coyotes."
Tips for Camping with Families
Consider noise levels: Site location affects camping experience, especially with children. At Lake Compounce, Diane R. observed that "You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded." At Kettletown State Park, Jennifer H. recommends the campground because "it has a huge land of campsite that the kids can run around until their energy out for the night!"
Check swimming options: Not all campgrounds have functioning swimming areas year-round. At Kettletown, "when swimming is allowed, there isn't a lifeguard," notes Elaine C. Similarly, Nita D. points out at Rocky Neck that "anyone with kayaks can't easily get to boat launch. It's 4-5 miles by car at 4 mile river boat launch."
Off-season benefits: Some families prefer post-Labor Day visits for fewer crowds. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite," notes Courtney D. about Fahnestock State Park. This timing offers the benefit of "clean and beautiful" beaches without the typical summer crowds.
Tips from RVers
Hookup limitations: When planning rv sites near Woodbridge, Connecticut, verify specific utility availability. At Lake Compounce, Ray B. notes the campground "does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station." Tina adds that "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."
Road challenges: Interior campground roads present navigation issues for larger rigs. At Gentiles Campground, one camper observed "roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs." Mae further noted it's a "very wooded area" which can create clearance issues for taller RVs.
Wi-Fi reliability: Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds. Charlie & Danielle B. reported at Branch Brook Campground, "Better wi-fi than most campgrounds. My wife and I both were able to work with mostly no issues, though there were some situations where it would go out. Same with streaming." This contrasts with Lake Compounce where "Wifi was okay, but we couldn't stream anything from it."
