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.
$18 - $50 / night
"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."
$18 - $28 / night
"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."
$50 - $75 / night
"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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$70 - $140 / night
"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. "
"This campground is just 15-minutes from Mystic and about an hour’s drive to Newport, Rhode Island."
"The only drawback is the proximity to Interstate 95. You can hear the highway very well at night, particularly in the safari field."
"Perfect location for a summer / beach camp. Mostly for RVs but tent site #6 was great. Views of the ocean to wake up too and tucked away from main area."
"Such a beautiful destination for tourists, travelers, & beach goers....Talk about being right on the water with access to excellent swimming."
$60 - $80 / night
"The pool, splash pad, and nearly everything else was non operational or locked up still. Bocce ball set was pad locked, no one working the rec hall for horse shoes, shuffle board was in op."
"The kids got to enjoy a brand new splash pad which was great and a small train ride around the park. Pretty tight turns and big hills for towing your trailer through but it fits."
$60 / night
$18 / night
"It is nothing more than a parking lot with no hookups and only composting toilets available, but you get access to Block Island Sound and all that it offers. Sites 58-75 are waterfront."
"We were able to secure a spot at Charlestown Breachway in Charlestown, Rhode Island during peak season, July 17-19.. Due to Covid-19, Charlestown was forced to reduce capacity to 50 percent."
RangerWe did a family campout here and had several sites together. We camped in our pop up in the field. We were close to activities and enjoyed an afternoon tubing down the river. The bathrooms weren't the cleanest, but we've seen worse. We enjoyed our time here.
RangerWe stayed at one of the lean-to sites and really enjoyed our time here. We went fishing and explored the area. We hiked to the tri-state marker (CT-MA-RI) on a nearby trail. Plenty to do and see! Bathrooms were cleaner than what we are used to in a state campground.
ScoutCamped early in the season mid week, and it was nice and quiet. The "new" park rangers are take their jobs delightfully serious.
Our site had plenty of sun for solar but in seagull loop there is loads of shade
ScoutCampground was great. Site was in great shape, everything in order. Portapotties were large. The road made the trip horrible for peace and quiet lovers. I knew it was close to the road, but right on top of it AND a heavily traveled route.
RangerWe love camping here. From the history of the area, to its proximity to the ocean, to the many places to explore, to the nice sites and clean bathrooms! We have been coming here for over a decade and enjoy every trip. We usually grab dinner at George's of Galilee, and have taken the ferry to Block Island as well. There are a bunch of old military defenses from WWII in Narragansett Bay, including one in the campground. We've tent and camper camped, and enjoyed both.
RangerOur first time camping here, we were trying to get a more secluded spot, but the pics on ReserveAmerica were not the greatest gauge of the sites. The sites were OK, some better than others, we didn't have any amenities but there was potable water nearby. There are cabins, which are really just bunkhouses with 2 bunk beds. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Our loop had porta potties nearby, we only saw one real bathroom with flushing toilets and showers. We did go for a nice hike, the North/South Trail goes through the campground and there are many trails in the area as well. We did a 5+ mile loop and got a good sense of what the trails are like. Found some geocaches and our pups got a good workout.
ScoutMe and my girl spent 2 weeks and had an amazing time the people are friendly they dont bother you about drinking only problem was the cell service is trash out ghere
ScoutWe went last week to visit my brother and sister-in-law in the park was clean. Everybody was friendly. The staff was awesome and they even checked on us while we were there to see if we need anything. The neighbors were wonderful definitely will come back.
ScoutPicked up a one way rental RV on the way to Florida. I arrived early afternoon and was met quickly and shown to my spot and helped with all the hookups and “lay of the land” Very easy and helpful.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Slocum, RI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Slocum, RI is Burlingame State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 51 reviews.
What parks are near Slocum, RI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Slocum, RI that allow camping, notably West Hill Dam and Buffumville Lake.
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