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Best Tent Camping near Foster Center, RI

638 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Tent camping options near Foster Center, Rhode Island include several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Buck Hill Campground, located on Wakefield Pond, offers rustic tent camping with multiple large group sites that can accommodate 10 or more tents each. Sites are clustered in heavily wooded areas, with some located directly along the water's edge. Additional tent camping can be found at Arcadia Backpack Camping Area and Frosty Hollow Camping Area, both within Arcadia Management Area in nearby Exeter.

Most tent campsites in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of facilities. Buck Hill Campground provides minimal services with rough restrooms, porta-potties, and some covered patio areas with electricity at select sites. Many locations require campers to bring their own water and supplies. Fires are permitted at most campgrounds, with designated fire rings or pits available. The tent campgrounds near Foster Center typically lack modern amenities such as showers, running water, or flush toilets. Camping in this region is characterized by a rural, no-frills experience in a predominantly forested landscape.

Sites throughout the area provide access to recreational activities including fishing, swimming, hiking, and paddling. Buck Hill Campground sits adjacent to Wakefield Pond, offering opportunities for canoe and kayak use, with several entry points for swimming. Tent sites are generally shaded by the dense forest canopy. Arcadia Management Area provides access to extensive trail networks for hikers. The region offers a quiet, natural setting away from urban areas, making it ideal for campers seeking solitude. "This is a great rural no frills campground...This is the type of campground to just come and unwind, fish, cook, etc. Don't expect much else," noted one visitor to Buck Hill Campground.

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Best Tent Sites Near Foster Center, Rhode Island (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Foster Center, RI

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Tent Camping Reviews near Foster Center, RI

638 Reviews of 12 Foster Center Campgrounds

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2020

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    Huge campground, not many level sites.

    I've never camped in Rhode Island, so I was curious to see what a state park campground had to offer. Rates are reasonable for state residents, but quite high if you are out-of-state, given the amenities. There are no hookups, but dump stations are available. Bathrooms have flush toilets and coin-operated showers. There's a small beach at the pond, a boat ramp, and proximity to wildlife refuges and the ocean. It's a HUGE campground, with 700 sites and 20 cabins. Canoes are available to rent.

    There's a nice playground, a camp store, and a naturalists cabin. Trails are available for hiking and biking. The beach is sandy and there's a small parking lot there, but I suspect most people walk to it. No alcohol allowed. 

    I didn't see more than a handful of level sites, with varying degrees of slope, but many are quite large. If you have an RV, plan to level; if you have a tent, be sure to bring good mattresses to protect you from the roots and rocks and orient your head to the uphill side. Most of the sites have some degree of visual separation from their neighbors, but there are places where it's hard to tell where one site ends and the next one starts. Site have fire rings and picnic tables, but if you plan to cook over the fire, bring your own grate or plan to use sticks and/or aluminum foil. 

    If you don't have a tent, consider reserving one of their rustic cabins. These offer two sets of bunks (no mattresses) and a small porch with a picnic table and fire ring outside. Some are located along the pond.

    3-4 bar cell phone coverage. No road traffic. East Beach is nearby, but parking fills early.

  • Ryan A.
    May. 15, 2024

    George Washington State Campground

    An OK Campground but not Great

    Camped out here for two nights after reading about this place in the"Best Tent Camping: New England" book. It's better than the other campgrounds in Rhode Island that I looked at (Burlingame, Fort Getty) but isn't my favorite campground. If you're not a Rhode Island resident the fee for most sites is$36/night. Is it worth it? Eh, probably not unless you're really jonesing to camp for a weekend in the Ocean State. 

    It does have some great things going for it, namely the hiking trails and views of the lake. There are some tent-only sites which are numbered T1-T5. I stayed in T5 and it was the best of the bunch because it had the most privacy and space, including a grassy area. The other tent-only sites were fairly small and if you go to any mixed use sites you run the risk of having an RV next to you. The A1-A7 sites are remote and hike in, but you're going to have to hike either 0.4 or 0.6 miles through some uneven terrain. The next best group of sites would be 19-24 which are on their own small loop near the lake. 

    The things I didn't like were the streetlights over the port-a-potties that shine all night. There is a manned gate where you check in and you have to get let into the campground during the day, but at night the gates are wide open and it seems like some people know this because there are a few oddballs around in the early morning. There is swimming at the lake but it looked way too dirty. 

    Overall the place was managed very well, the sites were cleanish and the grounds were taken care of. The employees drove by at least once an hour, I thought they were collecting trash from dumpsters but the only place with a dumpster is near the entrance. I couldn't figure out why they kept driving by so often. I had a good time, it was relaxing and scratched the camping itch.

  • K
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Fort Getty Campground

    No shade no rule enforcement. Great place for a big group to party if that’s what you want.

    Loud campers in large groups.

    Rules regarding quiet hours, no generators, number of tents per site and late arrival and setups were not enforced.

    People next to us crammed 8 tents on 3 sites. I counted a group of at least 20.

    There is no privacy, people were constantly walking through our site and stepping over our tent guy lines.

    People partied until 2:00am and woke up at 5:30am shining headlights and idling cars.

    Bathrooms were dirty, sites boundaries not marked and crammed together. No shade.

    Beautiful location, rangers were nice.

    RV folks were surly, seemed like a lot of them stay there for the entire season. One said hi, the rest stared when we drove by.

    We booked and paid for two nights and left first thing after just one night.

  • John D.
    May. 3, 2015

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Great park in a great location

    I have been camping at Rocky Neck State Park for decades, both tent camping, and now In a 30' camper. Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads. If you can, stay away from the front gates during the typical peak arrival / departure times. Traffic jams occur, partly because you're also in-line with the car loads of beach goers. The beach and beach parking lots fill to capacity. Week ends are the worst.

    The campgrounds are located within internal loops. Most sites are quite level. Park-like settings surrounding a large lawn. Bathhouses are being rehabbed, deemed adequate; can be seedy towards the end of the season. Park is routinely patrolled by State Conservation Officers who will put you out if needed. CT State Police and local officers also patrol. Camp roads are paved, and lots and lots of kids spend time riding bikes, coloring with chalk, skateboarding, roller blading.

    No electrical hook-ups; potable water spigots located within the camping circles. Generators allowed, but there are quiet hours. Dump upon exit; its up top by the entrance booths.

    There is a "tent-only area" which is nice and abuts a paved road for campers to walk / bike to the beach. Use this. Stay off the main road to the beach if you can. The speed limit is enforced, but sporadically. The fines are very stiff (you receive a State traffic ticket from the Officer).

    This beach road leads you to a wonderful overlook where lots of people take their kids crabbing for Blueshells. There are size regulations so be careful. The regs are posted. Bring some raw chicken wings and kite string and have some fun. You can also follow the signs that will lead you to nature walks. Amazing.

    During inclement weather some campers leave the park. We always recommend taking a right out of the park onto east bound Route 156. Follow into downtown Niantic for restaurants, an Irish pub, or a movie. Nice village area, and pedestrian friendly.

    Rocky Neck is a very nice park, and if I had to list one complaint, it is that the State is in a financial tight-spot, and has been cutting services and personnel. Entrance booths go unmanned and that leads to traffic jams that extend out and onto the main road. Very , very messy. Life guard towers at the beach are empty at times. Bath houses can be filthy.

    All things considered, I would recommend this park..

  • Laura M.
    Aug. 25, 2018

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    Nice campground

    Super large sites, store is adequately stocked, nice lake/pond. I came here because of the location. Super close to the beach. This is a state park, no alcohol is allowed, quiet time strictly enforced. Nice family campground. No hookups.

  • Ryan A.
    May. 21, 2024

    Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground

    Good Location for Hiking, Lots of Garbage, Not Recommended

    Camped here on a Friday night in Site 16, yet another campground recommended in“Best Tent Camping: New England.” Overall I was not impressed. The campsites are right next to each other and are marked with posts. The sites are so close that the posts are marked with the site number on both sides which tells me that there has been confusion in the past.

    The sites along the creek mostly have worn paths to walk to it but it’s nothing impressive and I wouldn’t want to eat fish that came out of it. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, some have the kind where the top flips over and others have the moveable grate that goes up and down. There is a large dumpster in the campground and several porta-potties. The old outhouses have been permanently closed and locked shut. My campsite had a lot of trash in it, old tent stakes, plastic bottle caps, plastic fork, broken glass, etc. Not good.

    Some of the people there were camping in a group and were blasting music. I didn’t see a single park ranger the entire night so I’m not sure how often they police it. Someone in a pickup truck came into the campground, did a u-turn, and sped out at 30 mph which was really annoying and unsafe.

    Across the street from the campground is a trail to Chapman Falls, which will take less than 10 minutes to hike to, but it’s a pretty waterfall despite all the foam and garbage around it.

    This is a pretty basic campground and is nothing special. Out of all the sites I think 22 looked the best, it is more isolated and you can hear the waterfalls from it, which would be relaxing. The downside is that it’s right next to the entrance and road so you’ll get car headlights at night.

    I woke in the morning to a gray sky and hundreds of birds singing– it was my favorite part of the trip. I delayed getting up to enjoy the moment. I also didn’t see any ticks but I’m sure there are plenty based on other reviews.

    I’ve always thought that if states were condiments Connecticut would be mayonnaise– relatively unremarkable and bland. This campground fits that description perfectly.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2024

    Burlingame State Park Campground

    HUGE state park

    General: HUGE state park with over 700 sites. It does not fully open for the season until May 1 and when we were there in mid-April, only two sections, Fish Camp and Mills Camp were open. The Ranger station is staffed 24 hours a day, with a ranger on site until 11 pm. You need to show your pass to get inside the gate leading to the campsites. There are no hookups in any site (as far as I could tell). Sites are designated for tents, small trailers, large trailers, and RVs. As with other RI state parks, non-residents pay double the price of residents which kind of ticks me off (I don't mind a nominal upcharge but double is excessive IMO).

    Site Quality: The site numbers throughout the park are painted on rocks but the sites themselves are not very clearly defined. There is no designated camping pad. Our site (114) had a water view but was not level. It was large enough for us to park horizontally and make it work for one night. Some sites had excessive roots and also were not level. Some picnic tables have been replaced with new ones, but others badly need it.

    Bath/Shower house: The one in Fish Camp was adequate and clean. There is hot water, but you need to run it for a while before you get any. There was no garbage receptacle, and the toilet paper is so thin, that you can see through it. Showers are $.75 to get it started for the first three minutes. After that, the amount per minute increases to $1, $1.25, $1.50, and so forth. Machines take up to 22 quarters. There is a change machine at the Ranger Station. I did not use the shower so I cannot comment on how well they work. 

    Activities/Amenities: There is a camp store that offers wood, ice, coffee, basic groceries, propane, and canoe rentals. It was open with limited hours during our stay. Fishing, boating, swimming - all in season. Even though the park was only about 10% occupied, there was a strong Ranger presence. He circled our small loop three times just before check-out time and wanted to make sure we were leaving not a minute past the designated time. 

    This was just an overnight stay for us in a convenient location but there is no way I would stay at the height of the season!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2019

    Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground

    Not the bargain it used to be!

    I read the reviews and was excited to be in a state park near the water for such a reasonable price. Imagine my surprise when we found out that a water/electric site for an out of state camper was $45 per night! This was our first visit to a Rhode Island State Park so not sure if they are all like this but this one definitely caters to Rhode Island residents who camp in large RVs! The sites with the best views are the full hookups (water/electric/sewer) and the rates for out of state campers are significantly more than for residents. I’m used to paying $5 or even $10 more for being from out of state but here the fee is double or more for out-of-state campers. Geez– way to make us feel welcome! 

    There are four areas, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Area One has the best views and full hookups but there is no bathhouse; Area Two also has full hookups, no view and some of the sites (55-65) are decidedly not level; Area Three is for tents only with no hookups but is close to the bathhouse; Area Four has water and electric hookups, the pads are not paved (as in the others) but most of the sites have more separation than in the other sections. See the photo below to understand the different areas. 

    No matter where you camp, there are noise issues. Road noise continued throughout the night and there is a wind turbine on the property. I’ve never been this close to one and yes, there is noise, although the road noise bothered me more. Alcohol is prohibited throughout the campground. There are pay showers available. There are the remains of two bunkers but other than walking by them, you cannot go inside. One (in Area One) is a grassy knoll with stairs to a lookout. 

    On the plus side: The bathrooms were clean, there is excellent cell service, Judith Point lighthouse is nearby, it is close to the ferry to Block Island, and there are numerous recreation options available (playground, tennis courts, volleyball net, and basketball courts). Also, the grouchy staffer I read about in reviews was not there the night we arrived and, in fact, the two staffers were very friendly and even recommended a good restaurant in the nearby town.

  • D
    Jun. 7, 2019

    Green Falls Campground

    Small but cozy

    Great off the beaten path place to camp. Sites are large but close together. Each contain a rock built fire ring. There are toilets but no showers. Good parking for camper but limited for guests. Reservations are required in advance. Stones throw to beach/pond area

Guide to Foster Center

Tent campsites near Foster Center, Rhode Island are primarily located in rural, heavily forested areas at elevations between 400-600 feet. The camping season typically runs from May through September, with July and August bringing warmer temperatures averaging 80°F during daytime hours. Winter camping is generally not available in this region due to seasonal closures and harsh New England weather conditions.

What to do

Paddling opportunities: Chapman Pond Preserve offers direct access to the Connecticut River for kayaking and canoeing. "CT river within view. Good site," notes camper Ben L. about this basic campsite with tent platforms and picnic tables.

Castle exploration: Gillette Castle State Park Campground provides hiking trails leading to the historic Gillette Castle. "Castle has tours at certain times," explains Todd J., who recommends the area for both hiking and picnics.

River swimming: Selden Neck State Park Campground, accessible only by boat, features seasonal swimming spots. "At low tide, a couple of beaches emerge to play on," explains Jason S., who visited with his 5-year-old. The island campground requires approximately a 20-minute paddle from the Deep River Landing boat launch.

What campers like

Waterfront locations: Many tent campsites near Foster Center offer riverside or lakefront positioning. "We have camped on the south end of Hurd Park several times via boat access. It is amazing with the views of the CT River and being able to watch the sunrise and sunset," shares Jackie G. about camping at Gillette Castle State Park Campground.

Privacy options: Several campgrounds feature secluded sites. "There's a few sites close to each other, so it is nice to go with enough people to occupy them all at once to keep it personal," advises a camper about Gillette Castle State Park, highlighting how groups can create more private camping experiences.

Basic facilities: Many campers appreciate the rustic, no-frills nature of camping in this region. "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse," explains a reviewer about Chapman Pond Preserve, which offers free primitive camping with minimal amenities.

What you should know

Boat-access camping: Some of the most scenic camping options require water transportation. "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," explains Jason S. about Selden Neck State Park Campground.

Permit requirements: Several campgrounds require advance permits or have seasonal restrictions. "Entering and parking at the boat launch requires a permit Memorial Day to Labor Day," notes a camper about accessing Selden Neck State Park.

Weather considerations: Morning fog can impact water navigation and activities. "In the morning, we were completely socked in with fog which would have been an issue if we had to get back early. But it burned off before long," shares a camper about river camping conditions.

Tips for camping with families

Child-friendly waterways: Several campgrounds offer safe swimming areas for children. "You can swim and fish and relax all day!" explains a camper about the Connecticut River access at Gillette Castle State Park Campground.

Pack waterproof gear: When accessing boat-in campsites, ensure proper protection for equipment. "If it's a nice day, you're going to encounter some wake from passing boats so make sure your gear is in waterproof bags," advises a parent who camped at Selden Neck State Park with their 5-year-old.

Choose sites with facilities: For younger children, select campgrounds with basic amenities. "Middle of nowhere site. Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse," notes Ben L. about Chapman Pond Preserve, highlighting the basic facilities that make remote camping more manageable with kids.

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Most tent campsites near Foster Center, Rhode Island do not accommodate RVs or provide hookups. Water's Edge Campground (formerly Colwell's) offers some of the few RV-compatible sites in the region, with 30-amp electric hookups, water connections, and a sanitary dump station.

Drive-in access limitations: Many campgrounds have restricted vehicle access. "Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites," explains a camper, highlighting why most camping in this region is better suited for tent campers than RVers.

Consider alternative locations: Due to limited RV facilities around Foster Center, consider expanding your search radius. Sites with more RV-friendly amenities can be found by traveling approximately 45 minutes from Foster Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Foster Center, RI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Foster Center, RI is Buck Hill Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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