Best Campgrounds near Slocum, RI
State parks and private campgrounds surround Slocum, Rhode Island, providing a range of camping experiences within a short drive. Burlingame State Park Campground in Charlestown stands as one of the largest facilities in the state with over 700 sites across 3,100 acres, offering tent camping, RV sites, and rustic cabins along a pond. Fishermen's Memorial State Park in Narragansett provides 182 sites with ocean proximity and full hookups for RVs. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access Whispering Pines Campground in Hope Valley and Wawaloam Campground in Richmond, both offering family-friendly amenities including swimming pools and recreational facilities. Charlestown Breachway State Park Campground provides a unique waterfront experience for self-contained RVs, while Newport RV Park offers convenient access to coastal attractions.
Camping in this region operates primarily from April through October, with most facilities closing during winter months. Reservations are essential during summer weekends when coastal campgrounds reach capacity quickly. Rhode Island state parks maintain a significant price differential between residents and non-residents, with out-of-state visitors often paying double the camping fees. According to one camper at Fishermen's Memorial, "A water/electric site for an out-of-state camper was $45 per night! The sites with the best views are full hookups and rates for out-of-state campers are significantly more than for residents." Site terrain varies considerably throughout the region, with many campgrounds featuring uneven ground. As one Burlingame visitor noted, "I didn't see more than a handful of level sites, with varying degrees of slope. If you have an RV, plan to level; if you have a tent, bring good mattresses to protect you from roots and rocks."
Many campgrounds in the area serve as convenient bases for exploring Rhode Island's coastal attractions. Campers frequently mention the strategic locations for visiting Newport's mansions, Block Island ferries, and beaches. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, with most campgrounds reporting 3-4 bars of coverage. Privacy between sites varies significantly by location and specific site number. At Burlingame, "Most sites have some degree of visual separation from neighbors, but there are places where it's hard to tell where one site ends and the next one starts." Water access represents a major draw, with pond beaches, boat launches, and fishing opportunities available at several campgrounds. Road noise affects some locations, particularly those near highways or main roads. Bathroom facilities range from basic composting toilets at primitive sites to modern shower houses with coin-operated showers at larger establishments.
