Top Tent Camping near Kingston, RI

Searching for a tent campsite near Kingston? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Kingston, RI (7)

    Camper-submitted photo from East Beach State Beach
    Camper-submitted photo from East Beach State Beach
    Camper-submitted photo from East Beach State Beach
    Camper-submitted photo from East Beach State Beach

    1. East Beach State Beach

    2 Reviews
    4 Photos
    73 Saves

    All campers must be self-contained and equipped with 4 wheel drive, campers also must obtain a Barrier Beach Permit prior to their stay. More info by calling (401) 322-8910.

    • Reservable
    • Trash
    • Toilets
    • No image available

      2. East Beach State Campground

      1 Review
      5 Saves

      Specialty camping on three (3) miles of undeveloped beach frontage is available at East Beach State Campground, located in Charlestown, Rhode Island. East Beach is one of the least developed of the Rhode Island state beaches, with limited parking and a half dozen changing rooms. This barrier beach and 10 site campground location offers four Clivus Multrum Composting Toilets for restrooms along with 3 miles of undeveloped beach frontage. Parking is very limited and fills up early on sunny summer days. A small portion of the beach is staffed with lifeguards on a seasonal basis. Utilities ARE NOT available at this campground. Special Camping/Vehicle Equipment requirements are required for camping at this location.

      All camping units MUST BE self-contained AND equipped with 4-wheel drive. A self-contained unit is defined as “A camping unit which contains permanent holding tanks for potable water, grey water and black water. Bathroom equipment must be permanently affixed to the unit.”
      Tow trailers or Fifth Wheels are not allowed.
      All campers MUST obtain a Barrier Beach Permit prior to their stay.
      Beach Vehicle Permits/Trail passes can be purchased from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC)
      A beach parking fee will also be required for any vehicle using the East Beach Sand Trail during the summer beach season unless registered for a campsite.
      Closure of part or all of East Beach Campground may occur during the camping season due to the nesting of a tiny shorebird called the Piping Plover. The Piping Plover is listed as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act. If a closure should occur, reservations will be cancelled and refunded in full.
      Registered campers after having checked in to East Beach Campground will be allowed to utilize the Septic Dump Station and Water Filling Station at Burlingame State Campground and/or Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground, one time at no charge. Additional dumping or use of the water filling station will be subject to the Septic Dump Station Pass Fee
      Must show proof of active and valid reservation.
      Tent camping is not allowed.
      Pets are not allowed.
      Registered campers after having checked in to East Beach Campground will be allowed to utilize the Septic Dump Station and Water Filling Station at Burlingame State Campground and/or Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground, one time at no charge. Additional dumping or use of the water filling station will be subject to the Septic Dump Station Pass Fee

      Address: East Beach Road, Charlestown, RI 02813

      • Pets
      • Phone Service
      • Reservable
      • Tents
      • Cabins
      • Trash

      $28 / night

      • No image available
        Camper-submitted photo from Buck Hill Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from Buck Hill Campground
        • No image available
          • No image available

            6. Gillette Castle State Park

            2 Reviews
            26 Saves

            Four public camps along the Connecticut River at Hurd, Gillette Castle, River Highlands and Selden Neck State Parks offer primitive, riverside sites with fireplaces and pit toilets for individuals traveling on the river. Use of river campsites at River Highlands, Hurd and Gillette Castle is restricted to canoers and kayakers only.

            • Fires
            • Phone Service
            • Tents
            • Market
            • Trash
            • Picnic Table
            Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
            Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
            Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
            Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
            Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground
            Camper-submitted photo from Selden Neck State Park Campground

            7. Selden Neck State Park Campground

            1 Review
            10 Photos
            11 Saves

            Selden Neck offers 4 sites: Cedars site - 20 campers Hogback site - 6 campers Springledge site - 8 campers Quarry Knob site - 12 campers

            • Pets
            • Fires
            • Reservable
            • Tents
            • Picnic Table
            • Toilets

            $5 / night


          Recent Tent Reviews In Kingston

          570 Reviews of 7 Kingston Campgrounds


          • A
            Camper-submitted photo from Boston / Cape Cod KOA (Middleboro)
            Oct. 7, 2024

            Boston / Cape Cod KOA (Middleboro)

            Smelly, filthy Cabin with no hot water...Customer Service Is BADDD

            I booked Deluxe Cabin 1 at the Boston KOA based on my past experiences in VA and NC. BOSTON was the WORST KOA I've stayed at. The cabin SMELLED of mildew and cigarettes(pic of ashes in the tub), and there was NO HOT WATER, which is against MA law. It was FILTHY, the pots needed to be replaced, and you have to request blankets. I informed the after hours staff about the water, blankets, and smell. The next morning, I went to the office at 9 am and talked to LORI. She was COMBATIVE and confrontational which is weird because she just started her day. As a person of color, I had to walk away because I was frightened. When I returned, BOB Brammer(He wanted to write his name down, so I got it right(his words)) lacked empathy and had a facial expression of annoyance. He was also CONFRONTATIONAL as I explained there was no hot water and the cabin smelled. I informed the national KOA feedback team(Kaitlyn& Tiana) and they said it's handled internally, whatever that means. If you read the reviews about bad customer service, believe it. You can see CUSTOMER SERVICE IS BADDDD! The KOA will probably respond to this review, but NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. I'll be reaching out to TOBY O'ROURKE and OSCAR TANG so they are aware the BOSTON KOA is tarnishing the KOA brand.

          • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Burlingame State Park Campground
            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!

          • Kathy T.
            Camper-submitted photo from Salt Rock State Park
            Sep. 23, 2024

            Salt Rock State Park

            Clean, but dated facilities

            Campground is a bit crowded with sites close together. The facilities were clean but quite old. There are some nice hiking trails along the river.

          • Jacob D.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Fishermen's Memorial State Park
            Sep. 18, 2024

            Fishermen's Memorial State Park

            Somewhere to stay, not the best

            $18/night if you live here, but $36 if from out of state. Large tent campground with lots of spaces, so everyone is in pretty close together. My main concern is there are showers in the bathrooms you can pay for, but ones outside that are free, but cold water and no curtain, so you literally have no privacy.

          • carol T.
            Camper-submitted photo from Waters Edge Family Campground
            Aug. 23, 2024

            Waters Edge Family Campground

            BEWARE WATERS EDGE CAMPGROUNDS THEY WILL KEEP ALL YOUR MONEY

            JUNE 30,2024  my husband & I were seasonals at waters edge campground Lebanon Connecticuit  gave them a 30 day notice we were leaving this place wasnt for us just awful the owners are just money hungey thieves they told us they were keeping our deposit wich we expected because it says non refundable deposit so okay fine but we paid for the whole season its open april15 to october15 gave a 30 day notice left june 30 they refused to give us back the money for july ,august,september,to october 15 they ket 750 plus 2500 dollars told us were not getting our money back So iam sure they rented the site thats double dipping so fair warning I dont want this to happen to anyone else they will Rob you blind oh and they broke our ice maker when they dewinterized our trailer and never owned up to it came down to my floor in camper soaked with water from my freezer and didnr bother to clean tthe mess and said  it must have been broken nefore so they are also dirty liars I didnt want to even give a one star rating but had to put somethin i give the a big fat 0

          • T L.
            Camper-submitted photo from Jellystone Park Cranberry Acres
            Aug. 13, 2024

            Jellystone Park Cranberry Acres

            Poor staff and management

            We were treated very poorly by staff and management. We here humiliated in front of our family members and the public. We were made broken promises and called liars by staff and management and then intimidated to leave the premises. It was a very bad experience that ruined our family vacation.

          • Matt S.
            Camper-submitted photo from Mystic KOA
            Aug. 5, 2024

            Mystic KOA

            Great campground for coastal CT & RI

            We stayed at Mystic KOA in North Stonington, Connecticut, to be tourists in Mystic. Spoiler alert… we had a great stay! 

            This campground is just 15-minutes from Mystic and about an hour’s drive to Newport, Rhode Island. It’s just a few minutes from I-95 and so close to Mystic Aquarium, downtown Mystic, Mystic Seaport, and all the local spots. 

            It’s a well-maintained campground with 2 pools(though the larger one was closed for maintenance during our stay), lots of play areas and daily activities for little ones, and a cool“pub truck” for adult drinks. Our site(#408) was about 85’ long with plenty of room for our 45’ motorhome and toad(and then some!). It was level and gravel with a nice fire ring and picnic table. The hookups worked fine with 50-amp electric and decent water pressure. Cable TV had nearly 50-channels, but the wi-fi didn’t quite reach our part of the park. 

            Due to a family issue, we needed to leave about a day-and-a-half early. We called the office as a courtesy to let them know as we were pulling out and received a partial credit for a night’s stay on our credit card. Didn’t even ask, they just did it. Thanks Mystic KOA! 

            We’ll definitely be back. This is a great place to stay when visiting the coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island area.

          • KThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Burlingame State Park Campground
            Jul. 29, 2024

            Burlingame State Park Campground

            Pros outweigh the cons

            Stayed for a week mid-July; during the week had almost an entire loop to ourselves which was wonderful - it felt like having the entire park to ourselves. Things picked up on Friday/Saturday but overall we lucked out with no neighbors who were disrespectful of the quiet hours (10p - 7a). Bathrooms, dumpsters, and portapotties are plentiful, but not always well maintained. Staff are seen frequently throughout the park and are very willing to be helpful when asked - our site had a few Yellowjacket nests and they took care of them for us almost immediately when asked. It’s worth investigating the various sites ahead of time - there are a number of sections much more likely to be busy than others, and lots of low-lying sites that show signs of easily being washed out in anything more than a moderate rain. With multiple great east coast beaches minutes away (as well as conveniences like fuel/stores) we will definitely be back.

          • L
            Camper-submitted photo from Peppertree Camping
            Jul. 23, 2024

            Peppertree Camping

            Amazing stay

            We had our very first camping experience with our new camper at this campground and it was everything we could have imagined and more. It’s a beautiful campground, the gentleman and his family who own it are sooooo nice and they helped us a lot when it came to learning how to properly use our camper. All the fellow campers that we met were extremely nice. It’s a quiet campground, located right on a river. My children spent hours in it playing and fishing. Looking forward to returning.

          • L
            Camper-submitted photo from Fishermen's Memorial State Park
            Jul. 15, 2024

            Fishermen's Memorial State Park

            FEELS LIKE SUMMER

            Nothing like coming home to NARRAGANSETT..... BEAUTIFUL, clean campground.... Quiet & peaceful..... Bathrooms are very nice..... Not far from ROGER WHEELER BEACH & SCARBOROUGH BEACH.....Right down the street from great RI food.....

          • L
            Camper-submitted photo from Fort Getty Campground
            Jul. 15, 2024

            Fort Getty Campground

            HEAVEN ON EARTH

            Such a beautiful destination for tourists, travelers, & beach goers....Talk about being right on the water with access to excellent swimming. Such a lovely vantage point with your tent location from the top of FORT GETTY. Who knew??? Mackerel Cove is awesome....beach, beach, beach.... Bathrooms are ok. Such a hidden gem on the wonderful island of Jamestown!!!! Bring your tent....

          • Laura D.
            Camper-submitted photo from Brialee Family Campground
            Jul. 10, 2024

            Brialee Family Campground

            Best Camping Experience

            This was our families first time staying at Brialee Campground.  The cabin was absolutely beautiful and clean.  The staff were friendly and helpful. The activities were great and kept my grand children busy.  Swimming and the lake were fun.  I cannot say enough wonderful things.  We had such a great time I booked my reservations for Next July 2025 before I left.

            A special thank you to Sherri for the personal tour and showing us the ropes!  She is the best.

            The D'Avanzo Family

          • R
            Camper-submitted photo from Strawberry Park
            Jul. 10, 2024

            Strawberry Park

            Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

            Large campground with 3 pools, many amenities and scheduled activities

          • Eddy B.
            Camper-submitted photo from Whispering Pines Campground
            Jul. 8, 2024

            Whispering Pines Campground

            Fun for the family

            Great privately owned family campground. The pool, splash pad, live music and activities for the kids were great!

            AT&T service had only one bar. Couldn’t stream but worked for calls and texts. Campground WiFi was strong but as expected struggled to keep up on this busy 4th of July.

          • aThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Normandy Farms Campground
            Jul. 8, 2024

            Normandy Farms Campground

            Very Enjoyable 1 night stay

            We enjoyed our tent site with a wooden lean-to. Overall very private and peaceful, however the only drawback is that people took frequent casual walks pass the area all day long. There's really no way around that.

            We did not get a chance to enjoy the amenities, but they all looked nice and well thought out.

            We will return.

          • aThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Canoe River Campground
            Jul. 8, 2024

            Canoe River Campground

            Good But Not Ideal for us

            The campground was very busy with families events activities, etc. If you prefer a noisy fun experience and a more social experience with your very close neighbors, this is the pot for you. Our preferred style of camping requires more space and less noise. The pool bathrooms were gross, but the other facilities area near the tent sites was very nice and clean.

            The food was great and the staff is friendly. Overall we had a great time, but its unlikely we’ll return mostly due to the noise level.

          • Beth R.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Mystic KOA
            Jul. 5, 2024

            Mystic KOA

            Nice amenities

            Pros: 15 minutes from Mystic CT 50 AMP, sewer & water hookup Nice amenities

            Cons: Gravel site No shade Tight site & hard to get in/out for big rig

          • M
            Camper-submitted photo from Charlie Brown Campground
            Jul. 1, 2024

            Charlie Brown Campground

            Riverside Delight!

            This was our first time visiting and my entire family enjoyed themselves so  much, that we've already reserved a site for a few weeks from now. Arts and crafts, tractor rides, and of course the tubing down the river. Lots of built in entertainment for the kids! The grounds were clean, the playground was nice, and the people were all friendly.  We did a late checkout for $5 extra, but the noon checkout and two dump stations would make leaving on time a non-issue as well. 

            Of note: We camped with friends, who were given a spot next to a large group of people (weekend prior to 4th of July is to be expected). The group were very polite and abided by quiet hours, but they were having fun and a bit loud for my buddy's 2 month of baby. They requested to move sites, and the management was super accommodating and apologetic. Helped him move his site and threw in some firewood for the troubles.

          • Jason L.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from West Thompson Lake Campground
            Jun. 27, 2024

            West Thompson Lake Campground

            Pleasantly surprised

            We had an excellent experience at this camp ground. The Staff and Rangers were polite and welcoming. We were able to see some boat races and played a round of disc golf on property. Once the boat races finished each day the camp was very quiet and peaceful. Had a great weekend

          • Mia S.
            Camper-submitted photo from Burlingame State Park Campground
            Jun. 24, 2024

            Burlingame State Park Campground

            Enjoyed myself this weekend

            We camped here from Friday to Sunday. The staff in the main office was very inviting and friendly, the rangers kept everyone in check . The bathrooms were kept clean, but the showers in the Legiontown area are kinda crappy, it's mainly the shower heads...they feel like bullets hitting you and you can't even adjust the shower head nozzle. The showers are $1.50/8mins I only put $1.00 in for 5 minutes which was more than enough time for me. There's a beautiful lake and you can rent Kayaks or a canoe for the day I believe it was around $45.00. there's a nice general store, an arcade, playground, trails, cabins... And the sites are pretty big. No real big complaints, except that the staties are usually waiting for you to come back from the bars since there's no alcohol allowed on the property. So if you are to drink off the property, make sure you have a Designated Driver. They love handing out DUIs. (I did not have this issue, but my friends did.)

          • B
            Camper-submitted photo from Hither Hills State Park Campground
            Jun. 24, 2024

            Hither Hills State Park Campground

            Beachfront camping

            I took the train to Montauk on 6/20/24 and got a cab ($20) to the campsite.  All sites were reserved, but only 1/3 were being used. I was able to put my name on a waitlist and got a tent lot.  They wouldn’t let me register for more than 1 night.

            I was in A6, which is against the dunes (which are ~12ft tall), so I could hear the surf, but not see it. There was no one within 2 sites, so it was quiet.

            Friday morning, I put my name on the waitlist at 8am, I had to break down my site by 11am, and come back at 1pm to claim a site. I took J10 (which is on a bluff ~20ft above the beach and G, H and I areas). Strangely, I was offered a 2 night stay (Fri&Sat).

            Beautiful views of the ocean from my tent and I could still hear the surf. Area J has the best (newest?) facilities (bathrooms, showers, sinks (kitchen and personal)). Drawback is 10 minute walk to the general store/ranger station and 5 minutes to the beach (10 to swimming area).

            Almost no cell service! 2 bars was the maximum and finding that was rare. (Not enough service to get an Uber or play Spotify). There is a landline outside at the ranger’s station.

            General Store closed at 3pm, but Gurney’s is 1.5 miles down the beach if you want expensive bars and restaurants.

            FYI, guarded swimming area is ~100 yards wide and located next to the entrance circle.

          • Kerry G.
            Camper-submitted photo from Odetah Camping Resort
            Jun. 21, 2024

            Odetah Camping Resort

            “Camp”grounds that discriminates against tent campers

            Odetah Camping Resort called us today 24 hours prior to our arrival- after 4 years of camping there- to cancel our site unless we rented an RV and didn’t use tents. We were allowed to book and had the booking for 4 months. I was on the phone with them while I booked for assistance since it’s a group booking for 16. I called later to book a cabana too. They never once said anything. Then they called 24 hours in advance because our reservation said tent and that’s not allowed. Then they charged us a cancellation fee. Even tho they cancelled ON US. 

            But my favorite part is them saying that the camping industry is moving to no longer allow tents. They think they are*kind* to still allow tents-a handful of sites on a rocky hill that don’t have electricity or water. So those with medical needs cannot use those sites. Those with mobility limitations cannot either. 

            WHAT?! 

            Camping= tents. Change your name if you are going to discriminate. Don’t worry tho, you can put on a tent NEXT TO an rv on the sites. You just cant put only a tent. 

            Their customer service was horrendous. The experience was horrendous. What a shame.



          Guide to Kingston

          Camping near Kingston, Rhode Island, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin.

          What to do:

          • Beach Access: Many campgrounds are close to beautiful beaches. For instance, Hammonasset State Park Campground is just a short drive away and has a lovely beach. One camper mentioned, "The beach was popular, and there was a stream running from a pond that kids were playing in."
          • Hiking Trails: Explore the trails at Wompatuck State Park Campground. A visitor noted, "Wompatuck is a charming state park with numerous hidden trails known mostly to locals, making it ideal for low-traffic hiking."
          • Family Activities: Campgrounds like Normandy Farms Campground offer tons of activities for kids, including bike tracks and playgrounds. One happy camper said, "Absolutely love this campground. It has so many things for the kids to do."

          What campers like:

          • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground stated, "Bathrooms are very nice," highlighting the cleanliness.
          • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds provide ample space between sites. A visitor at George Washington State Campground mentioned, "Sites were well spaced and provided some privacy depending on your site choice."
          • Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about the helpful staff. One reviewer at Mystic KOA said, "The staff are amazing and the entire place is completely geared to families."

          What you should know:

          • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak season. A camper at Boston/Cape Cod KOA advised, "It’s best to book far in advance."
          • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Shawme Crowell State Forest, may not have electric hookups or markets nearby. A visitor noted, "This place is old. Sites not well maintained and not well labeled."
          • Noise Levels: Depending on the campground, noise can be an issue. A reviewer at Rocky Neck State Park Campground mentioned, "Overnight noise was an issue. Lots of cars coming and going."

          Tips for camping with families:

          • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids, like Normandy Farms Campground, which has a bike track and playgrounds. A parent shared, "Everyone is so friendly. Can't wait to go back for the 4th of July."
          • Pack for the Beach: If you're near the coast, bring beach gear. A camper at Hammonasset State Park Campground enjoyed the beach access, saying, "The campground is very close to our home."
          • Plan for Activities: Check the campground schedule for family activities. One visitor at Mystic KOA noted, "Family movies, trick or treating, and hay rides all as part of the stay."

          Tips from RVers:

          • Leveling Blocks: Some sites may not be level, so bring leveling blocks. A camper at Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground mentioned, "Our fifth wheel front jacks are on the ground and two of the four wheels are off the ground."
          • Check Hookups: Ensure your site has the necessary hookups. A reviewer at George Washington State Campground advised, "The back half of the campground has 50@ full hookups with much longer and level sites."
          • Explore Nearby Attractions: Use your campground as a base to explore local attractions. A camper at Boston/Cape Cod KOA said, "Great place to use as a base to explore Cape Cod and Eastern MA."

          Camping around Kingston, Rhode Island, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Whether you’re looking for a beach getaway or a quiet forest retreat, you’ll find a spot that suits your needs.

          Frequently Asked Questions

          • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Kingston, RI?

            According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kingston, RI is East Beach State Beach with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

          • What is the best site to find tent camping near Kingston, RI?

            TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Kingston, RI, with real photos and reviews from campers.