Best Tent Camping near Charlestown, RI
Tent campsites near Charlestown, Rhode Island offer multiple options for primitive camping within a short drive. Frontier Family Camper Park provides tent-specific sites from May 1 to September 30, while Frosty Hollow Camping Area and Arcadia Backpack Camping Area offer additional tent camping options in nearby Exeter. Both locations permit campfires and provide picnic tables for tent campers.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature drive-in access, though some sites at Arcadia require short walks from parking areas. Fire rings are common at established sites, but several locations lack drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supply. Facilities vary considerably between campgrounds, with Water's Edge Campground in Coventry offering more amenities including showers and toilets, while more primitive locations like Arcadia Backpack Camping Area provide minimal facilities. Seasonal restrictions apply to many sites, with most campgrounds operating primarily during warmer months.
Tent camping in this region provides opportunities for water-based recreation at several locations. Chapman Pond Preserve, just across the state line in Connecticut, offers free primitive tent sites accessible by foot with views of the Connecticut River. For a more secluded experience, Selden Neck State Park Campground requires boat access to an undeveloped island. "Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites. You have to kayak or boat in," notes one visitor who camped there. Sites at Buck Hill Campground provide a rural camping experience along Wakefield Pond with opportunities for fishing and paddling. Most tent areas remain relatively uncrowded even during peak season, offering a quiet alternative to more developed campgrounds.