Camping near Slocum, RI

Camping options near Slocum, Rhode Island range from rustic tent sites to developed campgrounds with full amenities. The area features heavily wooded sites in some locations while others offer open grassy areas with pond or coastal views. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from mid-April through mid-October, with peak crowds from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

What to do

Beach access: Campers at Charlestown Breachway State Park Campground enjoy direct beach access within walking distance. "You can't really beat the price and location combo of Charlestown breachway. There are no hookups or even a dump station, but your site may overlook the channel and is only a very short walk away from the beach," notes Laura L.

Water activities: The pond at Burlingame State Park Campground provides swimming, fishing and boating options. "Lovely location - it's in the middle of the woods, has a pond, has pond swimming. It's just minutes to the ocean by car. Hiking and biking for miles," shares Jessica A.

Family recreation: Many campgrounds feature organized activities and recreational facilities. At Wawaloam Campground, families find "a 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," according to Greg S.

What campers like

Natural settings: Despite the density of sites, many campers appreciate the wooded environments. At Burlingame, one camper notes, "There are pine trees everywhere in the park, so the owners don't cut down a lot of trees which makes it feel like a real campground and not a field of peoples RV's."

Access to tourist attractions: Melville Ponds Campground provides convenient access to regional attractions. "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 Allan.

Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for bathrooms and shower facilities. At Mystic KOA, campers find "the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen at a campground," according to Kay B.

What you should know

Site conditions: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. At Burlingame, Andrew P. observed, "Hundreds of sites, some level some not, some dirt sites, some grassy, some with a ton of shade, some out in the open... yes this place is so big there are different camps within the park."

Noise levels: Several campgrounds experience noise issues, particularly during peak season. At Fort Getty Campground, campers report challenges with "loud music, bright lights until 3am. Zero enforcement of 10pm curfew in sites 16 and above," according to Andrea D.

Generator restrictions: For campgrounds without electrical hookups, generator hours are strictly limited. At Charlestown Breachway, "the campground only allows generators to be run from 0800-2000. Even though it was in the high 80's, we barely ran the generator during the day. There was such a nice breeze."

Tips for camping with families

Pool access: Swimming pools provide essential recreation for children in summer. Wawaloam Campground offers "a huge clean pool and a water slide park (extra fee) and a mini golf course (extra fee). The bathrooms are very clean as are the pay showers."

Playground facilities: Many campgrounds feature playground equipment for younger children. At Whispering Pines, families enjoy "a splash pad and pool, rec hall, a cute little store with fun things for the kids, and good humor bars- which we loved since the snack bar was only open on weekends."

Organized activities: Weekend programming offers additional entertainment options. As one Whispering Pines camper discovered, "there are weekends that the camp has special things for the kids to do and dj nights, which would be a lot of fun."

Tips from RVers

Self-contained requirements: Some campgrounds have specific RV requirements. At Charlestown Breachway, you need "a self-contained RV (no pop-up/canvas; permanent toilets/water tanks)... It is nothing more than a parking lot with no hookups and only composting toilets available."

Pull-through availability: Larger rigs benefit from pull-through sites at several campgrounds. Fishermen's Memorial campers appreciate that "the pull thrus and the full hookups" make setup easier, with one noting, "We love the pull thrus and the full hookups. The campsite is always clean and there is so much to do in the area."

Leveling needs: Many RV sites require significant leveling. At Mystic KOA, "Some sites towards the front of the park are very close together and unlevel," while at Burlingame, campers report very few level sites across the extensive property.