The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near North Scituate, RI

769 Reviews

Tent camping options near North Scituate, Rhode Island include several established campgrounds within driving distance, mostly scattered throughout rural and wooded areas. Buck Hill Campground offers rustic tent camping with sites arranged in large clusters that can accommodate multiple tents, situated along Wakefield Pond in a heavily wooded setting. Arcadia Management Area provides backpack camping areas and specialized tent sites in the region.

Most tent sites in the area provide basic amenities with varying levels of facilities. Buck Hill Campground features minimal facilities with rough restrooms, porta-potties, and select sites offering covered patio areas with electricity. Water's Edge Campground in nearby Coventry allows tent camping with more amenities including electric hookups, showers, toilets, and water access. Arcadia Backpack Camping Area and Frosty Hollow Camping Area in Exeter permit fires and include picnic tables, though toilet facilities are limited. Campers should verify drinking water availability, as several campgrounds do not provide this essential resource.

The tent camping experience in the North Scituate region offers opportunities for water recreation, hiking, and peaceful natural surroundings. Buck Hill Campground provides access to Wakefield Pond, suitable for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking, with some areas offering easy water entry points. The surrounding forests create a secluded atmosphere ideal for disconnecting. One camper noted that Buck Hill is "a great rural no frills campground" where visitors can "just come and unwind, fish, cook" without expecting much else. Several camping areas in the Arcadia Management Area cater to specific outdoor activities, including specialized sites for horseback riders and backpackers seeking more remote tent camping experiences.

Map showing campgrounds near North Scituate, Rhode IslandExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near North Scituate, Rhode Island (8)

Show More
Showing results 1-8 of 8 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

North Scituate Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near North Scituate, RI

22 Photos of 8 North Scituate Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near North Scituate, RI

769 Reviews of 8 North Scituate 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.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 2, 2021

    Fearing Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    Wooded sites near a pond

    There are 2 Fearing Pond loops at Myles Standish State Forest, the H & I loops. The H loop entrance is closer to the Charge Pond loops and is higher above pond. This loop is better suited to the larger trailers/tents with more space to drive around a loop , but some spots have slopes. The I loop's best feature is a small beach that is easily accessible from all sites. They've done a lot of site restoration and the fact that it didn't open in 2020 helped. In spite of that, many of the sites have awkward approaches and there is a large parking lot closer to the bathroom. There are no hookups, but there is a dump station available. Water is available, but no electric hookups. Fire rings and picnic tables provided.

    The forest has miles of biking trails, ponds for swimming, fishing, and boating, and even cranberry bogs to explore (though harvest is late in the camping season and this section is not open at that time).

    Cell phone coverage is poor to absent in the forest, so download maps for offline use prior to your arrival.

    Plymouth is nearby for a any forgotten provisions and for sightseeing. Erickson's ice cream cafe is near the entrance if you need a treat!

  • 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!

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 2, 2021

    Barretts Pond Campground — Myles Standish State Forest

    Small campground near a small pond at Myles Standish

    This campsite loop at Myles Standish State Forest is closest to the headquarters and borders a small pond with beach. In addition to tent/RV sites, there are 3 yurts available with bunks. Sites that appear to be near the pond are pond view rather than pondside. Approaches to Yurt JC and J5, J 26, J27 are sloped. J14 is a little awkward. J33 is probably among the largest and nicest with a pond view. The sites aren't as large as those in the Charge Pond loops, but it's a smaller campground.

    The loop has flush toilets and showers. Water is available, but no electric hookups. Fire rings and picnic tables provided. Cell phone coverage throughout the forest is poor to absent; download maps for offline use if you want to be sure to know where you are or find directions. There are miles of bike trails and ponds for fishing, swimming, and boating. There's a larger beach and picnic area at College Pond.

Guide to North Scituate

North Scituate, Rhode Island sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level in Providence County, with camping options scattered throughout its surrounding rural landscape. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Fall brings vibrant foliage colors that transform the camping experience from September through mid-November.

What to do

Kayaking at Wakefield Pond: Water's Edge Campground provides access to multiple water bodies where visitors can launch personal watercraft. The campground is located close to Johnson's Pond and other waterways suitable for paddling.

Blackberry picking: During mid-August, campers at Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground can collect "handfuls of blackberries" while exploring the trails according to visitor Jean C. The islands offer additional seasonal foraging opportunities.

Fort exploration: Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground contains numerous historical structures to investigate. Martha H. notes that "the island is beautiful and has an old fort to explore as well as a lot of Rocky shoreline and trails."

Beach bonfires: Lovells Island permits fires below the high tide line, where campers can create evening gatherings. One visitor shared, "We ended up making a fire pit on the beach and a flat rock 'grill' to make our burgers. Sitting on the beach watching the sun set over Boston was awesome."

What campers like

Basic amenities for disconnecting: Buck Hill Campground attracts visitors seeking minimal facilities to focus on outdoor activities. Greg R. explains this campground is the type to "just come and unwind, fish, cook, etc don't expect much else."

Wildlife viewing: The wooded settings around tent camping areas in North Scituate provide opportunities to observe native wildlife. The dense forest cover creates habitat for various bird species and small mammals.

Island isolation: Peddocks Island camping areas provide a sense of seclusion despite proximity to urban areas. According to Martha H., "Just getting to the island is a fun adventure. The island is beautiful and has an old fort to explore as well as a lot of Rocky shoreline and trails."

Varied accommodations: Some locations offer alternative shelter options beyond standard tent camping. Boston Harbor Islands provides yurts that "have bunk beds, a floor lamp, a table inside, a picnic table outside and a grill."

What you should know

Reservation timing: For popular sites, advance planning is essential. Martha H. advises that for Boston Harbor Islands, "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance."

Water availability varies: Many campgrounds near North Scituate do not provide reliable drinking water. Campers should verify water access before arrival or bring sufficient supplies.

Transportation logistics: Access to some camping areas requires multiple transit methods. For Boston Harbor Islands, Jess G. describes the process: "We took all of our gear on the T to the harbor by the aquarium. We then took the ferry to Georges Island. After that we waited and got on a much smaller island to Lovells."

Seasonal restrictions: Most tent camping facilities in the area have limited operating seasons. Frontier Family Camper Park only operates from May 1 to September 30, while Boston Harbor Islands State Park Campground is available from June through Labor Day weekend.

Tips for camping with families

Ferry adventures: Boston Harbor Island trips can become part of the camping experience. Brandy G. recommends: "Took the kids it was beautiful, we took the Ferry out of Hingham, only way to the Islands is by a boat, they offer great amenities, swimming, fishing, great family adventure."

Junior Ranger activities: Boston Harbor Islands offers educational opportunities for children. Visitors can "earn a Junior Ranger badge from the National Park Service" while exploring the islands.

Bring portable transport: When camping with families at sites requiring walking, consider equipment to move gear. Jean C. suggests: "If you have a folding wagon, you may appreciate having it to carry items on and off the ferry and to your site on the island."

Pack entertainment alternatives: Weather in Rhode Island can change quickly, so families should bring indoor activities for tent downtime during rain.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most tent camping sites near North Scituate provide minimal RV services. Water's Edge Campground offers electric hookups, sanitary dump, and water hookups, making it one of the more accommodating options for RVers in the area.

Site selection considerations: RV campers should call ahead to verify site dimensions and ground conditions, as many local campgrounds have uneven terrain that can make leveling difficult.

Seasonal road access: During winter and early spring, some access roads to campgrounds may have weight restrictions or become difficult to navigate with larger vehicles due to mud or snow conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near North Scituate, RI?

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

What is the best site to find tent camping near North Scituate, RI?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near North Scituate, RI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring