96 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks and private campgrounds surround Woodbury Center, Connecticut, creating a diverse camping landscape within the western part of the state. Kettletown State Park Campground in nearby Southbury offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with electric hookups and water access from late May through early September. Black Rock State Park Campground in Watertown provides similar amenities with a higher visitor satisfaction rating. Private options include Cozy Hills Campground in Bantam with 178 sites open mid-April through mid-October, and Lake Compounce Campground in Bristol featuring glamping and yurt accommodations. Most campgrounds in this region maintain standard amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water, with varying levels of hookups for RVs.
Most campgrounds in the Woodbury area operate seasonally, typically from May through September or October, with few year-round options. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends when facilities fill quickly. As one camper noted about Kettletown State Park, "The location was great especially for folks closer to the major metro areas." Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds and even within the same facility. Many reviewers mention that sites can be "super close together and the boundary lines unclear," particularly at state parks. Ticks are a common concern in Connecticut's wooded areas, with one camper reporting finding "over 25 ticks" during a two-night stay at a nearby state park.
Water features are prominent attractions at many campgrounds in the region. Lake Waramaug State Park Campground offers water views from most sites, though reviewers note the swimming area is "extremely small, extremely shallow." Families particularly appreciate campgrounds with recreational amenities. Several private campgrounds provide organized activities, especially on weekends. Cell service is generally available throughout the region, though signal strength varies by location and carrier. Noise levels can be an issue at more popular destinations, with one camper observing that "things were loud well past midnight" at a nearby state park. Wildlife encounters are common, with campers reporting sightings of beavers, skunks, and squirrels that "will get into EVERYTHING even in a bin."
"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."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $72 - $122 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $55 - $150 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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 !"
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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"
from $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability
ScoutI was in the area and needed a location to hook up. Temperature at 7:00 p.m. was 85 in July which is expected. They're able to get me in for the night. Quick and easy. Had smoke from the Canadian Wildfire which made for a good sunset
LegendExcellent campground! The forest is beautiful, the Hudson River is super close, there are great trails, and the surrounding area is beautiful. Sites are electric only, so make sure your water pump is working and fresh water tank is full. There are spigots for filling and a nice dump station. The player is excellent. I don't think tetn camping here would be great because the tent sites are closer together and there are trains that pass regularly. We couldn't hear the trains in our camper and our site was large and private with great Forest and hammock trees. The mansion tours at Vanderbilt and Mills were awesome!
TravelerWe arrived after 10pm so we couldn’t go into the general store to check in. But there was an envelope with our name and a description of where we had to go. Because it was so dark we couldn’t find it but the security guard was really helpful and showed us the way. We spent a really quiet night at this campground at a tent site with our rooftop tent and appreciated the clean showers and friendly staff. We would come back anytime.
GuideTall pines, the sound of the mighty housatonic river, and some car noise on the nearby 2 lane. The campground is landscaped and maintained beautifully. the highlight is the river, ever-present in sound. The primo sites are on the northern end , where most sites are right on the water, and just a small descent. Bathrooms are good, not great. Showers are push button automatic, water was warm. We have a small RV, the dump site is up the main road about a 1/2 mile in a turnout. Free for campers, on your honor. At office were college aged young men and women in very casual street clothes all very nice, and mannerly, but not very knowledgeable, and hard to believe they could handle an adverse situation. I asked for the soap to be filled in the mens room on Thursday afternoon at 4 and it was still not done at noon the next day. -it’s a 2 minute walk from the office. I asked about a hike, they told me a trail head was a mile up the road. We found a spur directly across the street. I miss real docents, with knowledge, and wearing the garb. All sites not directly on the river side have paths down to get there. Did a nice little moderate hike just across the street called Pine Knob. Nice vista, quick 760ft ascent, combines withe AT for a length, then back down total 3 miles the way we did it. Some nice restaurants in Kent. Found a good breakfast in Goshen. We’ll be going back.
TravelerArrived at night on a weekday to find two other vehicles parked in the lot, srilll was able to find a fire ring with a level area relatively easy. Very quiet, just the sounds of owls hooting at night. Very nice mixed forest, seems managed well. It is somewhat buggy. But doesn’t seem to be overly infested with ticks at least.
GuideA really nice campground for tenters and dry campers. No hookups, but decent bathrooms, lukewarm showers and well kept. The Housatonic river is wide and shallow but good for soaking on a hot day and right behind pretty much every campsite. The riverside sites have a clear view, the others you walk through the woods. The only negative is Route 7, which gets busy in the mornings, and at rush hours, but quiets down at night. Not a busy highway to begin with, but a major route. A good up and down hike right across the street, 760 ft ascent in a mile or so, 3 mile loop, you see AT through hikers on the portion of the combined trail. There is a drinking water tap you can hook a hose to for filling your RV, or jugs. No dump station. We had our class B here. Sites mostly level. Come during the week for better privacy. Supposedly fly fisherman come on weekends. Cute cabins for rent in a awesome location.
GuideSpent one night here. The park is quiet. The facilities are a little outdated, although they said that newer ones had been built by the marina. I wasn’t up for the 15 minute walk, having just hiked up a mountain. My spot included electrical and water hook ups.
TravelerCampground: fairly secluded, forested, breezy with some wildlife. Small camp store. Ingress/Egress: Tight approach with multiple switchbacks and steep grades - if you’re coming in a towable rig over 36’ you might want to take a solo look first. Sites are oddly arranged and there aren’t any FHU sites. Cell: Verizon in spot C9 had 1-bar; we used Starlink for connectivity. Laundry: 3 washers & 3 dryers: $2.50 each. Dump Station: was close by (across the street) but we didn’t need it for our 3 day stay. Bathhouse: across the street, clean and we used it almost exclusively. Noise: Quiet with some small arms fire, but barely noticeable from our site. Site C9: can be viewed from Google street view site is north of the lake in the horseshoe road- some cabins are viewable as well. Site is gravel with composite picnic table, post metal grill and truck rim fire ring. Water pressure- fluctuated 30psi-50psi: hunted constantly. Cabins: available and in good order. They appear to be older, but still functional- mini log cabins $65/night (primitive-no bathroom)
GuideWe've only stayed overnight at this campground. Roads are all paved, and some sites as well. They stagger the campers so that you don't look right into another camper, which makes it feel like you are camping in the woods.
Lots of trees so watch DVD or OTA television as you likely won't get satellite TV in your rig. Large swimming pool and playground for kids. There is an activity center where you can get something to eat, and sit on the deck to enjoy the scenery.
Sites are level. Staff are friendly. The camp store is large and well stocked in just about anything that you could need.
Enough trees that if you have a large rig and are towing you need to use some care leaving your RV site.
Connecticut's western region surrounding Woodbury Center sits at elevations between 700-1,000 feet, creating a diverse landscape of hills, valleys, and abundant water features. The camping season typically runs from mid-April through mid-October, with most facilities closing during winter months due to freezing temperatures. Summer nights can drop to 50-55°F even when daytime temperatures reach 80°F.
Swimming opportunities: Limited but available. At Lake Waramaug State Park Campground, the swimming area is "an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then it's probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in.)" Some parks occasionally restrict swimming due to water quality issues, as one camper noted: "The week I was there there was a high bacteria count, so no swimming was allowed."
Hiking trails: Diverse terrain options. Several campgrounds feature short nature trails leading to viewpoints or water features. At Point Folly Campground, trails are "beautiful, flat & hilly" with easy access points. For longer hiking adventures, drive 8-12 miles to surrounding conservation areas where you can "hike up and see the sun set over the lake" at Macricostas Preserve.
Water sports: Kayaking and fishing popular. Bantam Lake at Point Folly offers "a beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing" with an adjacent "small little island." Lake Waramaug provides excellent paddling conditions, though rental equipment can be expensive - bringing your own watercraft is recommended.
Large, well-maintained sites: Many campgrounds offer spacious accommodations. At Kettletown State Park Campground, a camper described it as "a small camp ground and it's absolutely beautiful. The bathrooms are always kept clean and stocked and there are a ton of watering spots." Another noted the "hiking, woods, camping, both primitive and hook up" options available.
Family-friendly activities: Cozy Hills Campground stands out for its recreational programming. One visitor mentioned "lots and lots of activities for kids! Arts & Crafts, Arcade, Bingo, Casino Night etc. Pool is very nice for families - with no deep end, really safe for younger kids." Another camper shared: "Kids caught about 20 fish. The pool is nice, no deep end."
Clean facilities: The best places to camp near Woodbury Center, Connecticut maintain reliable bathroom access. At Lake Compounce Campground, "restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper." Some campgrounds feature newer amenities - "the pool and laundry areas were clean and seemed newer" at Branch Brook Campground.
Site privacy varies significantly: Many campgrounds have minimal separation between sites. At Black Rock State Park Campground, while some sites offer reasonable seclusion, the overall layout has campers in relatively close quarters. At Lake Waramaug, one reviewer warned the campground provides "zero privacy" and advised visitors to expect "seeing/hearing your neighbors' every move."
Wildlife encounters common: Beyond typical forest creatures, campers should prepare for specific wildlife issues. At Lake Waramaug, "there are lots of skunks and squirrels that will get into EVERYTHING even in a bin." Food storage in vehicles is essential for avoiding unwanted visitors.
Limited cell service in some areas: Connectivity varies significantly across campgrounds. Lake Waramaug has minimal reception - "cell service is basically non-existent" with 2023 representing "the first time we received more than 1 bar in 20 years." Some campers appreciate this forced disconnection while others find it challenging.
Pack entertainment options: With limited organized activities at state parks, families should bring their own recreation equipment. One camper suggested: "Bring scooters or bikes for little kids to use within the camp." For water-based recreation, prepare appropriately - "if you have your own paddleboard or canoe or kayak, this would be a good place to use them."
Choose camping times strategically: Weekdays offer a significantly different experience than weekends at popular campgrounds. At Point Folly Campground, midweek visits provide a "small, quiet campground" experience with lake access for "boaters/kayakers, fishermen and families." Lake Waramaug becomes "a ghost town" during weekdays.
Plan for bathroom access: Facilities can be unevenly distributed throughout campgrounds. As one camper noted about Lake Compounce: "There is only one set of facilities for the whole place. It's quite a walk to the bathrooms." This consideration becomes especially important with younger children.
Site selection considerations: RVers should research specific site dimensions before booking. At Gentiles Campground, "roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs." One reviewer warned it's "not big rig friendly" despite being listed as such in some directories.
Utility access variability: Water and electric hookups are available at most campgrounds, but sewer connections are less common. Lake Compounce "does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station" according to a recent visitor. When available, hookups can vary in reliability - plan accordingly and arrive with fresh water tanks filled.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate from May through early October, with limited year-round options. Gentiles Campground remains open all year, though winter camping requires appropriate gear for below-freezing temperatures. Spring camping may involve muddy conditions as snowmelt and rain can create drainage issues at many sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Woodbury Center, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Woodbury Center, CT offers a wide range of camping options, with 96 campgrounds and RV parks near Woodbury Center, CT and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Woodbury Center, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Woodbury Center, CT is Kettletown State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Woodbury Center, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Woodbury Center, CT.
What parks are near Woodbury Center, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Woodbury Center, CT that allow camping, notably Hop Brook Lake and Northfield Brook Lake.
Keep Exploring
