Best Tent Camping near Johnston, RI
Tent camping options near Johnston, Rhode Island include several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Buck Hill Campground offers primitive tent sites in a heavily wooded setting along Wakefield Pond, while Water's Edge Campground in Coventry provides tent sites with various access options including walk-in and boat-in camping. Arcadia Management Area in Exeter features multiple tent camping areas including the Arcadia Backpack Camping Area and LeGrand Reynolds Horsemen's Camping Area, both offering primitive tent setups in a more remote setting.
Most tent campgrounds in the Johnston area provide basic amenities with varying levels of development. Water's Edge Campground offers more facilities including showers, toilets, and picnic tables at each site, while the Arcadia Management Area camping zones feature more primitive tent sites with fewer amenities. Buck Hill Campground provides rustic tent camping with sites arranged in large clusters that can accommodate multiple tents, making it suitable for group camping. Campers should verify seasonal availability as many Rhode Island tent campgrounds operate only from May through September. Fire regulations vary by location, with most sites permitting campfires in designated rings or pits.
The tent camping experience in this region offers access to various outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, and paddling. Buck Hill Campground provides direct access to Wakefield Pond for canoeing and fishing, with sites large enough to accommodate multiple tents in wooded surroundings. The Arcadia Management Area offers more secluded tent camping with access to extensive trail networks. A review on The Dyrt described Buck Hill as "a great rural no frills campground" where "the water is clean and fine for swimming with a few areas that make for easy entry into the water." Tent campers should bring adequate water supplies for locations with limited facilities and be prepared for varying terrain conditions at primitive tent sites.