Campgrounds near Rockville, Rhode Island offer varied terrain from coastal settings to wooded areas with elevations ranging from sea level to around 450 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-85°F during day and cool to 60-65°F at night, with higher humidity levels near the coast. Most campgrounds remain open from April through mid-October, with peak reservation periods falling between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
What to do
Hiking at Pachaug State Forest: Located about 20 minutes from Rockville, the forest offers extensive trail systems for all ability levels. One camper at Green Falls Campground noted, "Awesome place nice pond walking distance from site great swimming and fishing spacious sites pretty private."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple ponds and waterways near campgrounds provide freshwater fishing. A visitor at Mount Misery Campground shared, "There is a nice stream you can swim in" while another mentioned finding "a lot of crayfish" in the local streams.
Beach access: Several campgrounds offer private beach areas or are located near public beaches. A camper at Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground stated, "Not the bargain it used to be! The sites with the best views are the full hookups (water/electric/sewer)" but noted it was "close to the ferry to Block Island."
Mini golf and recreation: Family-friendly activities are available at select sites. A visitor to Wawaloam Campground mentioned, "Besides the pool they have a splash pad, a water slide, mini golf, a fishing pond for fishing."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and common areas. A guest at Mystic KOA observed, "Cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen at a campground," while another mentioned the grounds were "beautiful to walk on with water nearby and little places to explore."
Swimming pools: Several campgrounds offer pool facilities as alternatives to natural swimming areas. At Wawaloam Campground, a visitor praised the "large water park on the grounds with two swimming pools, a slash pad and large water slide."
Large campsites: Some areas provide more spacious sites than others. At Strawberry Park, campers appreciate that "there are plenty of other things for kids to do like mini golf, a fishing pond, outdoor cinema, shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, hay rides, and lots of planned daily activities."
Privacy options: Tent campers often seek more secluded sites. A visitor to Mount Misery noted, "Beautiful big sites in the middle of the forest. Lots of privacy and space," though others mentioned some campgrounds have "sites very close together offering no privacy."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significant variation in site quality. At Burlingame State Park Campground, one camper advised, "If you want a good visit do not stay down by the lake!!!" while another noted, "Hundreds of sites, some level some not, some dirt sites, some grassy, some with a ton of shade, some out in the open."
Bathroom facilities vary: Quality and accessibility of bathrooms differ widely. One camper observed that at Burlingame, "Bath houses are usually pretty filthy, and that's because there are too many people per bath house, and people are gross."
Noise levels: Some campgrounds experience significant noise, especially on weekends. A Burlingame visitor warned, "On the weekends people can get out of hand with the partying and it's not uncommon to have to listen to noise late into the night. Do not come on a holiday weekend, it's packed."
Weather considerations: Local conditions can impact comfort levels. At Fishermens Memorial, a camper mentioned, "Road noise continued throughout the night and there is a wind turbine on the property" that creates additional noise.
Tips for camping with families
Water features for kids: Many families seek campgrounds with swimming options. At Hopeville Pond State Park Campground, "The campground is family friendly and most of the sites are near the water" with "a very large and clean indoor bathhouse with free showers."
Scheduled activities: Some campgrounds offer organized events. At Strawberry Park, a camper shared, "This KOA provides a lot to do for kids and families. The pool is small and usually crowded, but still very well kept. And then there's mini golf, hay rides, and lots of fun planned activities."
Site selection for families: Consider proximity to facilities. At Burlingame, a visitor suggested, "If you are looking for a big family friendly resort campground that's close to a lot of the area attractions, this place is for you."
Affordable options: State parks often provide good value. One camper at Hopeville Pond noted, "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."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full service sites are limited at some locations. At Fishermens Memorial State Park, "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 are decidedly not level."
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. A visitor to Fishermens Memorial warned that "many unlevel sites" exist throughout the campground.
Site size limitations: Larger RVs may struggle at certain campgrounds. At Mount Misery, sites are described as "rustic" with limited space for large vehicles, while Nature's Campsites was described as having sites that are "10'-15' apart at most."
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer this service. Hopeville Pond was noted to have "50A/20A electric hookups and there's a dump station available," which can be important for longer stays.
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