Campgrounds within 30 miles of North Providence offer diverse camping experiences across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The region features low-lying coastal areas in the east transitioning to more forested terrain inland, with elevations rarely exceeding 800 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with moderate humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons bring cooler temperatures and occasional rain that can affect site conditions at lower elevations.
What to do
Hiking near camp: George Washington State Campground provides access to several trails around a scenic lake. One visitor notes, "There is a nice beach for children. The water was warm and clean. You can kayak or canoe. The dogs cannot go on the beach, but they can go in the boats."
Fishing opportunities: Holiday Acres Campground features a pond for fishing right on the property. A camper shares, "The beachfront is nice, the canoe and kayak rental is reasonable." The camp store sells basic supplies and bait at reasonable prices.
Dog-friendly activities: Newport RV Park offers walking access to a large dog park. According to one reviewer, "We got a great pull through full hookup with a 5 minute walk to a huge dog park. There are also a bunch of beautiful trails right from the park."
Water recreation: Wawaloam Campground features extensive water amenities. As one camper describes, "Besides the pool they have a splash pad, a water slide, mini golf, a nice pond for fishing. The playground is nice."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Campers appreciate the size of sites at Wawaloam Campground, with one review noting, "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."
Clean facilities: Stateline Campresort & Cabins receives praise for its maintenance. One camper observed, "Clean, wooded and open sites some overlook a large pond. Boat rentals, pool, game room available. The site we had overlooked the pond and was perfect."
Proximity to attractions: Newport RV Park's location makes it popular for exploring the region. A reviewer explains, "This is a cute little campground that's easy to access. It's 20 minutes from downtown Newport and about 45 minutes to downtown Providence."
Seasonal events: Normandy Farms Campground offers special themed weekends. As one visitor described, "We stayed here for a few nights when they celebrated Halloween 🎃. It is super easy to get around. They had tons of festive activities."
What you should know
Non-resident pricing: Camping costs significantly more for out-of-state visitors at public campgrounds. A camper at George Washington State Campground reports, "Pros: Nice campground with big private spots. Nice bathhouse with pay showers. Pretty, man made lake with a beach area for swimming and paddling. Cons: no hook-ups yet it cost $36 for out of state residents plus the fees which put it up to $44."
Site selection concerns: Some campgrounds have drainage issues during rain. At Holiday Acres Campground, one camper noted, "The sewer on my site overflowed after only ~15-20 gallons of dumping."
Bathroom facilities: Shower costs vary across campgrounds. At George Washington State Campground, "bathrooms were very clean with hot showers (bring quarters, $1.50 for 6mins)."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close between October and April. Circle Campground Farm operates on a limited schedule in early spring, with one visitor explaining, "Since we were there in early April the pool was not open but there was one on site."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Circle Campground Farm serves as a convenient base for regional exploration. According to one family, "We did Boston (caught the train), Salem, mystic seaport, Sturbridge village, plymouth rock, the Mayflower ship, and plymouth plantation spending no more than 1hr and 20 min at the most in the car!"
Noise considerations: Campgrounds vary in noise levels based on location and clientele. A visitor to Canoe River Campground observed, "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."
Swimming options: Massasoit State Park features a swimming area that opened recently. A visitor shares, "The boys had a blast swimming and kayaking at the pond and there was another comfort station right at the water."
Playground access: Massasoit State Park has updated recreational facilities. One camper notes, "everything is new the playground is fantastic. hiking trails are great, bike trails are great. lakes have great fishing."
Tips from RVers
Electrical concerns: Check power connections carefully when setting up. At Holiday Acres Campground, one RVer warned, "Be very careful when you hook into their power, make sure you have a surge protector!!! We learned the hard way after staying Memorial day weekend."
Site leveling: Canoe River Campground requires preparation for uneven terrain. A reviewer mentioned that "Sites are small and the seasonals should have rules about keeping them clean."
Big rig access: Melville Ponds Campground accommodates larger RVs but requires planning. A camper advised, "The main campground is on a slope, so be prepared for some leveling requirements, especially sites #216 and #217 (front to back)."
Utility placement: Some campgrounds have challenges with hookup locations. At Holiday Acres, one RVer explained, "The way they have the power and water arrangement, we had to run 50ft of hose and 30 amp cord."
