RV camping near West Kingston, Rhode Island offers a mix of seasonal options amid southern New England's coastal landscape. West Kingston sits in Washington County where elevations range from sea level to 481 feet at McSparran Hill. Summer temperatures typically reach 80°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons experience mild 60-70°F days and cooler nights, often requiring additional layers.
What to do
Beach access opportunities: Sun Outdoors Mystic in Old Mystic provides a central location for exploring coastal attractions. "You are close to downtown, the aquarium, Mystic Seaport and other attractions," notes Nancy W., who recommends Watch Hill, Rhode Island for beach visits: "If you are looking for a beach to sit on head a short distance southeast to Watch Hill, Rhode Island."
Water recreation activities: Melville Ponds Campground offers easy access to ponds and fishing opportunities. "Great place to camp and fish and hike great place to take a dog," says Kimbo K. Another camper mentions, "Plenty of hiking within walking distance and a short drive to all local attractions."
Historical sites exploration: Campers staying at Carr Point Recreation Facility have convenient access to Newport's landmarks. "About 20 minutes to downtown Newport, so this made visiting the town easy," reports Laura R., highlighting the benefit of staying at this military-only facility despite the lack of full hookups.
What campers like
Off-leash dog areas: Newport RV Park in Portsmouth features adjacent hiking trails and pet facilities. "We got a great pull through full hookup with a 5 minute walk to a huge dog park. There are also a bunch of beautiful trails right from the park," notes Ilana F., highlighting benefits for pet owners.
Spacious campsites: Aces High RV Park in East Lyme receives praise for site layout. "Pull through sites also have lots of space between them so you don't feel like you are on top of the neighbors. Sites and roads are a pea gravel material and each site has large grassy areas around it," explains April L., adding that many sites have shade trees kept trimmed.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds around West Kingston maintain high standards of cleanliness. At Sun Outdoors Mystic, Pam R. observed, "The grounds are clean and well maintained, the bathrooms and showers are spotless and newly painted." Similarly, at Newport RV Park, Brad B. noted "friendly hosts, clean facilities and centrally located!"
What you should know
Campsite leveling requirements: Many RV sites in the region require additional equipment for proper setup. As Brad B. experienced at Newport RV Park, "The main campground is on a slope, so be prepared for some leveling requirements, especially sites #216 and #217 (front to back)."
Limited amenities at some locations: Carr Point Recreation Facility offers waterfront camping but minimal services. "No sewer hookups or showers. The closest sewer dump is not far, but they charge you $10," notes Laura R., while James and Susan K. add, "Only 6 sites with Electric and Water. No Dump or Shower/restrooms. 2 clean porta poddies on site."
Seasonal operation schedules: Most campgrounds near West Kingston operate seasonally. At Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod, campers can stay from "April 14 to October 15," while Meadowlark RV Park runs "April 1 to December 1," allowing for extended fall camping opportunities not available at all locations.
Tips for camping with families
Pool facilities: Countryside RV Park provides family-friendly accommodations with specific rules. Mark T. explains, "We had a great time. Water, electric & sewer sites. Very quite, rules are in-forced. This is camping, if you're looking for entertainment bring your own!"
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. When staying at Aces High RV Park, April L. noted it has "a clean playground and well maintained pool as well as some walking paths, large grassy areas, pavilion and volleyball court."
Tent camping options: While most sites cater to RVs, families without motorhomes have alternatives. At Sun Outdoors Mystic, Nancy W. observed, "There is a nice tent section that has a number of nice sites but do not have hookups but are located near a bathhouse. Just like RV sites, these have picnic tables and fire rings at each site."
Tips from RVers
Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. At Sun Outdoors Mystic, Pam R. reports, "We have AT&T service and streamed via our hotspot with no problems," while at Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod, Mara S. had different experiences: "Cell reception was not good, neither with AT&T nor Verizon."
Utility hookup placement: Ashaway RV Resort in Bradford offers specific site configurations that affect camping comfort. One camper described it as "a mix of seasonal & short-term visitors. The sites are VERY close, but the people are nice and we had a great stay," indicating the trade-off between space and convenience.
Roadway conditions: Access roads at some campgrounds present challenges for large rigs. Patrick H. notes that at Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod, "Roads are in bad shape, especially the entrance," while still rating it positively overall with large wooded sites.
