Burlingame State Park sits within Rhode Island's woodland region near the Atlantic Ocean, offering 700 distinct campsites. The area experiences warm summers with average July temperatures around 75°F and winter lows near 30°F. Camping facilities range from basic tent sites to cabins with varying levels of privacy throughout the Charlestown region.
What to do
Fishing at freshwater spots: Wordens Pond Family Campground provides water/electric hookups for visitors who want easy access to fishing. "One of our favorite non ocean go to stops in RI. Friendly, safe. Convenient. A lot to explore and enjoy," notes Lauren A.
Beach access options: At Charlestown Breachway State Park Campground, campers can walk directly to the beach from their RV sites. "It very close to the beach...steps away. There is a more 'private' sandy area near the water sites (close to sites 70's) where we were able to pull up a chair and sit in the water. Minimal waves and lots of people watching," reports Justin F.
Exploring historic sites: The Jamestown area offers coastal military fortifications from earlier periods. "One (in Area One) is a grassy knoll with stairs to a lookout," describes Lee D. when discussing Fort Getty Campground.
What campers like
Water activities beyond the beach: Many campgrounds feature ponds and water features separate from ocean beaches. "The pond offers swimming access" with varying rules for pets at different locations. At Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground, "Such a beautiful destination for tourists, travelers, & beach goers...Talk about being right on the water with access to excellent swimming," shares Leah R.
Family recreation options: Whispering Pines Campground includes numerous recreation facilities. "We watched a magician and played pickle ball on the courts. Kids had fun on the many play grounds. It was a bit too cold outside but the pools and hot tubs looked nice. Splash pad was clean and used by kids," explains Michael C.
Wildlife observation: The Rhode Island coastal region hosts diverse wildlife. At East Beach State Campground, visitors appreciate the "mostly less developed beach area, peaceful shoreline with essential amenities," according to Lyssa M.
What you should know
Shower and bathroom facilities: Bathroom conditions vary widely between peak and off-peak seasons. "Bathrooms are usually always busy, and are pretty dirty from people coming back from the beach. SAND EVERYWHERE!" warns Madeline H. about busy periods at Burlingame State Park Campground.
Site spacing and privacy: Campsite spacing varies significantly between campgrounds and even within the same facility. "We were there the weekend after Labor Day weekend in 2014, and it was pretty quiet. Nice for biking, cute little beach, dog friendly," notes Katelain T.
Seasonal crowds and noise: Summer weekends bring higher visitor counts and more noise. "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," shares a visitor to Fort Getty.
Tips for camping with families
Splash pads and pools: Whispering Pines Campground offers extensive water facilities for children. "Large sites, great stone fire rings, full hookups, huge pool, waterslides, splash pad, playground, great camp store... this place brings a lot to the table for a very fair price of 60 bucks," describes Greg S.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Charlestown: Many campgrounds accommodate pets with specific rules. "We stayed here from a Tuesday to Thursday with our 21ft travel trailer & our dog. We had site 50. It was private, a great size & has water/electric. We had good cover on our site & the area our site was in was super quiet," reports Jessica D. about her experience with pet-friendly camping.
Rainy day options: Weather contingency plans matter for family trips. "We spent the 4th of July w my bio-dad here several yrs ago, don't recall much except there were fireworks that hit several tents, fortunately no one was injured," mentions Gregg Z. about a holiday stay in the area.
Tips from RVers
Dump station access: Self-contained RVs require dump stations. "There are no hookups or even a dump station, but your site may overlook the channel and is only a very short walk away from the beach. Stay as long as you can, then you can dump and refill your water at Burlingame State Park for free with registration and the breachway," advises Laura L.
Site leveling challenges: Many RV campers note site leveling issues in the area's campgrounds. "Hundreds of sites, some level some not, some dirt sites, some grassy, some with a ton of shade, some out in the open, excellent for bikes," explains Andrew P., highlighting the diversity of camping options for different vehicle types.
Generator rules: Noise restrictions apply to generators at most pet-friendly sites near Charlestown. "The campground only allows generators to be run from 0800-2000. Even though it was in the high 80's, we barely ran the generator during the day. There was such a nice breeze," mentions Justin F. about his summer camping experience.
Legend
