Gibson Hill RV Park
Little Weekend Escape
We have been coming here seasonally and its become our little weekend escape. There is always something going on and the kids have made so many friends. Makes it easy to just pack a few things and head out.
134 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Riverside, Rhode Island provides access to a mix of private and public campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, with notable options including Newport RV Park and George Washington State Campground. Camping near Riverside ranges from basic tent sites to full-service RV hookups, with several campgrounds offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort. The region includes popular recreational camping areas along Rhode Island's coastline and inland wooded settings, with many facilities operating seasonally from April through October. Most developed campgrounds in the area provide water and electric hookups, though amenities vary significantly between state parks and private facilities.
Most campgrounds in the Riverside area operate seasonally, typically closing for winter between November and April. A camper noted, "This park was very nice, but they advertise being 5 miles away from historic Newport, and it's more like 8. There are zero bike paths that are immediately accessible and Newport drivers are not walker/biker friendly." Many campgrounds require advance reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays when coastal sites fill quickly. Full-hookup RV sites are more common at private campgrounds like Newport RV Park and Holiday Acres, while state parks such as George Washington offer more rustic settings with fewer amenities. Weather conditions remain mild during the camping season, though coastal locations may experience stronger winds and cooler evening temperatures.
Campers consistently rate waterfront and wooded sites highest among regional options, with particular appreciation for campgrounds providing access to hiking trails and fishing ponds. The terrain throughout the region varies from flat coastal areas to gently rolling wooded settings, making most campgrounds accessible without specialized equipment or high-clearance vehicles. According to one visitor, "We stayed for one night and have to say it was a very lovely place to spend the night. Full hookups at each site and the place is away from the busy street." Several campgrounds provide easy access to Newport and Providence attractions while offering a more natural setting than urban accommodations. While amenities vary widely between facilities, most developed campgrounds maintain clean restrooms and shower facilities, with premium sites often including private fire pits and picnic tables.
"The staff was positive and helpful and that made a difference for me. I traditionally dry camp or go for semi hooked up on purpose, I just like the quieter camping."
"Driving around this place is definitely not a typical campground but more of a luxury camp because of all of the amenities. That being said it was very nice and felt safe."
from $50 - $200 / night
Check Availability"Excellent location for exploring the cites and beaches of Rhode Island!"
"We chose this park due to its location close to downtown Newport (a mere five miles). There is a lot to do in this area and we wanted to spend time sightseeing. "
from $70 - $140 / night
Check Availability"Other than the bees, it was peaceful, and nobody bothered you. i would recommend lots of bee spray and a screen house, but hopefully it was an isolation situation."
"We were located in the no electric no water area and even though every site was taken, it was surprisingly more private than you'd expect."
from $17 - $27 / night
Check Availability"So if you are confused about things like location, let’s knock that out first: This campground is located near 2185 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814."
"The campground was safe, nicely laid out so we could have a series of sites next to one another. Biking was a blast for the kids along with trail hike around pond, beach, and fishing."
from $18 - $75 / night
Check Availability"We picked this campground because we wanted to explore both Connecticut and Rhode Island without changing campsites halfway through the trip. It worked really well for that."
"We really enjoyed the trails and just walking around before everyone else was up."
"Wawaloam Campground in Rhode Island was our 3rd state & campground on our East Coast trip. Not a lot of choices in Rhode Island, but we liked this camp ground in a rural wooded area.
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from $50 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Fisherman’s Memorial State Park is a large 182 site campground in Narragansett, Rhode Island."
"Lots of nearby beaches and restaurants. Campsites are simple. A patch of grass with a small bush or two, not very much shade, space or privacy."
from $18 - $28 / night
Check Availability"The swimming area has a 'icky bottom' (kid term :)) The entrance / office setup is confusing."
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"This is a busy campground due to its location . Easy access to Boston, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Plymouth, Newport, and many more attractions."
"We selected this campground because of its proximity to family who we would be visiting. It was very convenient to Providence, Cape Cod, and Duxbury."
"I've never camped in Rhode Island, so I was curious to see what a state park campground had to offer."
"Site wise no one was around us so it was extra quiet and the park rangers are always around so always help if you need it. Walmart is less than ten minutes away too if you’re needing anything."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check AvailabilityWe have been coming here seasonally and its become our little weekend escape. There is always something going on and the kids have made so many friends. Makes it easy to just pack a few things and head out.
Nothing beats a slow morning at the campsite with a cup of coffee. We really enjoyed the trails and just walking around before everyone else was up.
When I arrived, I discovered this site they reserve for me was not level, and the picnic table was blocking access to the electric. When I asked the office for help, I was told maintenance had already left around 4 o’clock, and nobody could help me. I was offered a different side if I wanted to pay the extra price. I managed to wrestle the table out of the way and made it work. But the Wi-Fi was worthless.
Good place to come for Halloween trick-or-treating for kids, lots of activities to keep you busy
We rented a cabin for the weekend and it worked out really well for our family. It was nice having a comfortable place to come back to after being outside all day. The kids loved the pool and exploring around the campground.
If youre looking for a campground where the kids can actually stay busy, this is a good one. Between the playground, pool and other activities, ours didnt have much time to complain lol.
I can understand why this place is rated one of the best campgrounds in the country. This was my first time camping here with my own RV and it did not disappoint. Our site was spacious, and centrally located within the campground, they have all the amenities you can imagine living up to that “resort” title. Ranging from multiple pools, hot tubs, courts, pavilions, playgrounds, etc. the cell service was great, they offer WiFi, and much more. I love the store, it gives off that Great Wolf Lodge feel, and it has everything inside you may need. Including a little hidden café that surprisingly made good lattes. This place is massive, and I’ve never seen a campground that had as many million dollar RV’s in one place. That atmosphere is just great here. There is so much to do. It’s so big you need an e-bike just to get around. Resort-style campgrounds like this come at a steeper price compared to others, but in my opinion, Normandy was well worth the cost. We look forward to revisiting, often!
Nothing fancy, great for us as a stop along the way. Large, open gravel space surrounded by boats. Cute in-ground pool just closed for the season, great washroom & showers. A bunch of restaurants around the corner - highly recommend The Waffle Company. Dump station at the waste treatment plant 5 minutes away, no charge, very helpful staff, tight quarters, choose your route carefully if your rig is >13 ft - bridges.
Enjoyed our stay at this campground for a weekend in mid September. We booked for a good rate using Campspot and it was well worth the money. Our site was wide and had some bushes adding privacy from some nearby RVs. The campground was quiet and had several nice amenities, like a store, laundry, dog park, playground, pool, basketball court, and more. It was close to Olde Mystic and plenty of other nearby attractions.
Riverside camping options range from basic tent sites to full-service campgrounds within a 40-mile radius. Most state parks in the region maintain primitive sites with minimal hookups, while private campgrounds offer more amenities at higher rates. Nearly all facilities in this area operate seasonally from April through October, with full closures during winter months.
Fishing at Massasoit State Park: Located 30 miles from Riverside, this recently renovated park offers excellent fishing opportunities. "Lakes have great fishing" according to one camper, while another mentions that the "playground is fantastic" following recent updates. The pond allows catch-and-release fishing only.
Exploring Newport's attractions: Newport RV Park provides a convenient base for exploring Newport's mansions and beaches. "This is the perfect place to stay if your visiting Newport,RI. We had a great time at this small campground, very clean and nice staff. Not many amenities but we where there for the beaches and mansions," reports one visitor.
Hiking nearby trails: The region offers multiple hiking options across various skill levels. "There is a nice pond to go fishing at as well. About an 20 min drive to local beaches," notes a camper at Newport RV Park. George Washington State Campground offers "great hiking trails going around some lakes" according to another visitor.
Water activities: Several campgrounds provide water recreation opportunities. "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," mentions a George Washington State Campground visitor.
Well-maintained facilities: Cleanliness is consistently rated highly at several campgrounds. "Very clean tent site are amazing great place to camp and fish and hike great place to take a dog," reports a camper at Newport RV Park. Another visitor appreciated that "bathrooms were very clean with hot showers (bring quarters, $1.50 for 6mins)."
Family-friendly environments: Wawaloam Campground receives praise for its kid-focused amenities. "Besides the pool they have a splash pad, a water slide, mini golf, a nice pond for fishing. The playground is nice. The grounds are well taken care of," notes one visitor. Another adds, "This our favorite campground, lots for the kids to do, and safe for them to run free."
Quiet, natural settings: Many campers appreciate the peaceful atmosphere at certain campgrounds. "My family and I come here twice a season it's quiet it's calm and never crowded. There's fishing and hiking right in the park," shares a visitor about George Washington State Campground. "It is just reopenning now, renovations cont. and thevupdates are fabulous. Everything is new," notes a visitor at Massasoit State Park.
Accessibility to regional attractions: Campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring regional highlights. "The location of this park was great for what we were doing – not too far from Newport but in a nice quiet section of town," explains a Newport RV Park visitor.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close entirely during winter. "The park is open from April 15th to November 15th. Prices vary depending on the season, if you have a weekly/monthly rate, and the type of hook-ups you want," notes a Newport RV Park visitor.
Price variations: Non-resident fees can be substantially higher at state parks. Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground charges significantly more for out-of-state visitors: "Imagine my surprise when we found out that a water/electric site for an out of state camper was $45 per night! This was our first visit to a Rhode Island State Park so not sure if they are all like this but this one definitely caters to Rhode Island residents."
Reservation requirements: Advanced booking is essential during peak season. "We were here a couple of years ago and told everyone we knew about it in the PNW never knowing if our big road trips would have us near Foxboro again," shares a camper about Normandy Farms Campground, highlighting the popularity that necessitates advance planning.
Facility limitations: Services vary widely between parks. "No hook-ups, lol. This is a con in the heat of the summer if you want/need AC," reports a camper at Burlingame State Park. Another notes about Carr Point Recreation Facility: "No sewer hookups or showers. The closest sewer dump is not far, but they charge you $10."
Swimming options: Several parks offer water recreation specifically designed for children. "The swimming area (which was just opened the week prior) looked okay if you can picture a beach area (nice) but seems like it was a regular pond where they just dumped sand," explains a visitor at Massasoit State Park.
Activity centers: Burlingame State Park Campground offers multiple family-friendly amenities. "This is a great family campground. Lots to do and it is massive! You can bike for ever and go to the lake! Camp store literally has anything you would need," shares a visitor.
Budget options: State parks offer economical camping for families. "Very affordable (around $14 per night). We stayed near the camp store and playground. Lots to do with kids including fishing, game room, and hiking," notes a visitor at Burlingame State Park.
Cleanliness considerations: Bathroom conditions can vary by location and time of season. "Bathrooms are usually pretty filthy, and that's because there are too many people per bath house, and people are gross," warns a Burlingame State Park camper.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited at state parks. "There are four areas, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Area One has the best views and full hookups but there is no bathhouse; Area Two also has full hookups, no view and some of the sites (55-65) are decidedly not level," explains a visitor at Fishermens Memorial State Park.
Site selection strategy: Many campgrounds have distinct areas with different amenities. "If you want a good visit do not stay down by the lake!!!" advises a Burlingame State Park visitor. Another camper at Holiday Acres notes: "Most of the campsites seem to have an open area in the middle between them that allows for maneuvering and socializing."
Leveling requirements: Terrain varies significantly across the region. "The main campground is on a slope, so be prepared for some leveling requirements, especially sites #216 and #217 (front to back)," advises a Newport RV Park visitor.
Electrical considerations: Power reliability can be an issue at some locations. "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," warns a Holiday Acres Campground visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Riverside, RI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Riverside, RI offers a wide range of camping options, with 134 campgrounds and RV parks near Riverside, RI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Riverside, RI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Riverside, RI is Normandy Farms Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 42 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Riverside, RI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Riverside, RI.
What parks are near Riverside, RI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Riverside, RI that allow camping, notably West Hill Dam and Buffumville Lake.
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