Best Cabin Camping in Rhode Island

Recent Cabin Reviews in Rhode Island

96 Reviews of 10 Rhode Island Campgrounds

• 

  Jean C.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 1, 2020

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Huge campground, not many level sites.

  I've never camped in Rhode Island, so I was curious to see what a state park campground had to offer. Rates are reasonable for state residents, but quite high if you are out-of-state, given the amenities. There are no hookups, but dump stations are available. Bathrooms have flush toilets and coin-operated showers. There's a small beach at the pond, a boat ramp, and proximity to wildlife refuges and the ocean. It's a HUGE campground, with 700 sites and 20 cabins. Canoes are available to rent.

  There's a nice playground, a camp store, and a naturalists cabin. Trails are available for hiking and biking. The beach is sandy and there's a small parking lot there, but I suspect most people walk to it. No alcohol allowed. 

  I didn't see more than a handful of level sites, with varying degrees of slope, but many are quite large. If you have an RV, plan to level; if you have a tent, be sure to bring good mattresses to protect you from the roots and rocks and orient your head to the uphill side. Most of the sites have some degree of visual separation from their neighbors, but there are places where it's hard to tell where one site ends and the next one starts. Site have fire rings and picnic tables, but if you plan to cook over the fire, bring your own grate or plan to use sticks and/or aluminum foil. 

  If you don't have a tent, consider reserving one of their rustic cabins. These offer two sets of bunks (no mattresses) and a small porch with a picnic table and fire ring outside. Some are located along the pond.

  3-4 bar cell phone coverage. No road traffic. East Beach is nearby, but parking fills early.

• 

  Laurie M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 19, 2023

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Once a gem, but steadily declining.

  Burlingame state park campground is 3100 acres and many of the 739 reservable campsites are well spaced out and you could obtain great privacy if you know which site to pick. The condition of the park has steadily declined since about 2016. Plans are in the work to update all bathroom facilities, but it keeps getting pushed back year after year. Burlingame State Park campground is the only state park managed by an outside corporation who assumes the day to day responsibilities for campsites, dumpsters and bathrooms. Ongoing issues, especially on holiday weekends have been noted by hundreds of campers.  The new pre-registration offered through Reserve America has been a great improvement. It allows to avoid the long lines at the check-in station and drive straight up to the gate. Lack of staff on the management level, and Rhode Island state park department level definitely shows. Rhode Island DEM is allowing this wonderful campground to deteriorate. Flooding issues during even minor rainfall is apparent in a large portion of sites, so beware which campsite you reserve. Camper created group called Bound4burlingame has filmed every campsite and put them on YouTube and has created a private group on FB where the camping community of Burlingame contributes daily to an extremely popular public forum. Best place to gain info and insight. Get campsite recommendations straight from the people who actually camp there.

• 

  allison W.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 4, 2022

  George Washington State Campground

  Updated information! Good site.

  Okay, I will try to update this information on the Dyrt site, but I’ve had mixed success getting that to stick. So if you are confused about things like location, let’s knock that out first:

  This campground is located near 2185 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814. It’s by Bowdish Lake, near the Connecticut border. This is a cool area of Rhode Island that I enjoyed getting the chance to explore a little bit. Great Italian restaurant if you don’t feel like cooking (Mr Z’s By The Lake) and some historical sites like a very nice covered bridge to the northwest.

  Full water and electrical hookup and a very unique and fun play area for kids. The lake access is excellent, obviously. Pay showers of varying degrees of cleanliness. Open to tents, but clearly preferred by the RV crowd.

• 

  Ryan A.

  Guide

  

  May. 15, 2024

  George Washington State Campground

  An OK Campground but not Great

  Camped out here for two nights after reading about this place in the"Best Tent Camping: New England" book. It's better than the other campgrounds in Rhode Island that I looked at (Burlingame, Fort Getty) but isn't my favorite campground. If you're not a Rhode Island resident the fee for most sites is$36/night. Is it worth it? Eh, probably not unless you're really jonesing to camp for a weekend in the Ocean State. 

  It does have some great things going for it, namely the hiking trails and views of the lake. There are some tent-only sites which are numbered T1-T5. I stayed in T5 and it was the best of the bunch because it had the most privacy and space, including a grassy area. The other tent-only sites were fairly small and if you go to any mixed use sites you run the risk of having an RV next to you. The A1-A7 sites are remote and hike in, but you're going to have to hike either 0.4 or 0.6 miles through some uneven terrain. The next best group of sites would be 19-24 which are on their own small loop near the lake. 

  The things I didn't like were the streetlights over the port-a-potties that shine all night. There is a manned gate where you check in and you have to get let into the campground during the day, but at night the gates are wide open and it seems like some people know this because there are a few oddballs around in the early morning. There is swimming at the lake but it looked way too dirty. 

  Overall the place was managed very well, the sites were cleanish and the grounds were taken care of. The employees drove by at least once an hour, I thought they were collecting trash from dumpsters but the only place with a dumpster is near the entrance. I couldn't figure out why they kept driving by so often. I had a good time, it was relaxing and scratched the camping itch.

• 

  Sean R.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 28, 2023

  Whispering Pines Campground

  Went too Early

  I believe we camped there too early in the season to fully enjoy the grounds. 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. Didn't see a place for renting boats for the pond. With that said, the location is great. We drove about 10 min to some awesome trails which literally crossed the Connecticut and Rhode Island border. Back to the grounds.. again, probably because it is off season but the grounds seemed cluttered from the seasonal campers. Construction debris was evident as they are building a new welcome center currently. There was debris from seasonals as well which have the appearance of cluttered. The spots seemed a little close too. I'm rating 4 stars for the potential of the grounds if we were there at the right time otherwise I would rate 2.5 to 3 stars based on our trip alone. I believe that an in-season visit would be really nice as long as all amenities were available.

• 

  Todd J.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 30, 2018

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Plenty to do

  Great family place. Not much for privacy. Nice pond for fishing and swimming. RV, Tent and Cabins with a store on site.

• 

  Cendy G.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 21, 2018

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Great campground for the price

  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. Bathrooms were clean. No electricity at the sites. Will try a cabin next time.

• 

  Paul R.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 5, 2023

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Friendly but busy

  This is a great spot that’s perfect for a weekend camping. I ended up getting a cabin here and stayed the night. It was thwir opening weekend and the weather was pretty cold so we didn’t have to foght the crowds too much. That said, they have a huge capacity and during summer the place is swarmed by RV’ers and folks staying for longer stays.

• 

  Mia S.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 24, 2024

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Enjoyed myself this weekend

  We camped here from Friday to Sunday. The staff in the main office was very inviting and friendly, the rangers kept everyone in check . The bathrooms were kept clean, but the showers in the Legiontown area are kinda crappy, it's mainly the shower heads...they feel like bullets hitting you and you can't even adjust the shower head nozzle. The showers are $1.50/8mins I only put $1.00 in for 5 minutes which was more than enough time for me. There's a beautiful lake and you can rent Kayaks or a canoe for the day I believe it was around $45.00. there's a nice general store, an arcade, playground, trails, cabins... And the sites are pretty big. No real big complaints, except that the staties are usually waiting for you to come back from the bars since there's no alcohol allowed on the property. So if you are to drink off the property, make sure you have a Designated Driver. They love handing out DUIs. (I did not have this issue, but my friends did.)

• 

  Jacki H.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 6, 2018

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Ok

  Nice shade, beautiful “pond” but little privacy. Great family getaway!

• K

  Katie B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 6, 2018

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Fantastic and wonderful place

  I have spent many many summers camping with family and friends growing up here. This place is great. A pond, boat rentals, playground there's a store. Never had a bad experience

• E

  Ed S.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 22, 2018

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Pretty good overall

  We've camped here many times, and it can be pretty packed during peak season. Like anywhere you can't pick your neighbors, some get a little out of hand. Overall it is a nice place to stay, the lake is pretty, and there is a boat launch if you are looking to fish. Depending on the loop or location you can have a secluded spot, or be pretty close to others. It's a nice getaway.

• 

  Calyn A.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 10, 2017

  George Washington State Campground

  Great for multi family camping

  We stayed for two nights with twelve families with twenty kids under the age of 8. The campground was safe, nicely laid out so we could have a series of sites next to one another. Biking was a blast for the kids along with trail hike around pond, beach, and fishing. Bathrooms were new and convenient. Was a nice get away, and only ten minutes from a grocery store. We will go back for sure next summer.

• 

  Kim S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 4, 2018

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Affordable with running water

  The campground itself is beautiful with the trees and lake. However if you are bringing an RV there are no hookups and there are very few level sites. We camped in our tent when we stayed. And even that was a challenge because the site was so unlevel. The other negativity is that the sites are literally on top of one another. There’s no privacy and all you can see is other people. One positive is they have a bath house with coin operated showers and regular toilets.

  for a family or couple looking for a quick and close to home getaway with out paying a fortune it’s a good place to stay.

• M

  Michael K.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 17, 2019

  Holiday Acres Campground

  Nice campsite with very friendly people and staff

  We enjoyed this campground. It has a few bumps and bruises that could be improved but overall it was a safe place with lots of families. 

  It appeared to be mostly seasonal / long term campers and people that had developed good relationships with their neighbors. Everyone was friendly and helpful. 

  Good comments:

  Most of the campsites seem to have an open area in the middle between them that allows for maneuvering and socializing. 

  The camp store is small but well stocked and the prices are very good. 

  The beachfront is nice, the canoe and kayak rental is reasonable. 

  Needs improvement:

  Electrical at my campsite could use a little work. 

  The sewer on my site overflowed after only ~15-20 gallons of dumping.

  The swimming area has a 'icky bottom' (kid term :)) 

  The entrance / office setup is confusing. If you come in from the West you'll see an entrance, if you pull in you'll then be able to see signs that tell you to go another 1/4 mile to the office to check in. This area doesn't have enough room to make a u-turn unless your rig is pretty small. 

  After checking in, you go back out on the main road to the aforementioned entrance. 

  Overall we had a good time and the issues were minor compared to having a safe place with lots of kids and things to do. All entrances are gated with key codes and there was a security guard on staff part of the time. The office staff was super nice and understanding when I lost my way coming into the wrong gate. :)

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 7, 2024

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  HUGE state park

  General: HUGE state park with over 700 sites. It does not fully open for the season until May 1 and when we were there in mid-April, only two sections, Fish Camp and Mills Camp were open. The Ranger station is staffed 24 hours a day, with a ranger on site until 11 pm. You need to show your pass to get inside the gate leading to the campsites. There are no hookups in any site (as far as I could tell). Sites are designated for tents, small trailers, large trailers, and RVs. As with other RI state parks, non-residents pay double the price of residents which kind of ticks me off (I don't mind a nominal upcharge but double is excessive IMO).

  Site Quality: The site numbers throughout the park are painted on rocks but the sites themselves are not very clearly defined. There is no designated camping pad. Our site (114) had a water view but was not level. It was large enough for us to park horizontally and make it work for one night. Some sites had excessive roots and also were not level. Some picnic tables have been replaced with new ones, but others badly need it.

  Bath/Shower house: The one in Fish Camp was adequate and clean. There is hot water, but you need to run it for a while before you get any. There was no garbage receptacle, and the toilet paper is so thin, that you can see through it. Showers are $.75 to get it started for the first three minutes. After that, the amount per minute increases to $1, $1.25, $1.50, and so forth. Machines take up to 22 quarters. There is a change machine at the Ranger Station. I did not use the shower so I cannot comment on how well they work. 

  Activities/Amenities: There is a camp store that offers wood, ice, coffee, basic groceries, propane, and canoe rentals. It was open with limited hours during our stay. Fishing, boating, swimming - all in season. Even though the park was only about 10% occupied, there was a strong Ranger presence. He circled our small loop three times just before check-out time and wanted to make sure we were leaving not a minute past the designated time. 

  This was just an overnight stay for us in a convenient location but there is no way I would stay at the height of the season!

• S

  Scott I.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 19, 2021

  George Washington State Campground

  A wonderful escape

  This is my second time here with my Airstream. Clean and well kept campground. I’d easily tent camping here. A lake and great trails to hike.

• P

  Peter W.

  Scout

  

  Dec. 19, 2021

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Off Season is Best

  It’s been many years since we’ve been here during peak season but we enjoy this park in the off season. The sites are secluded,(no hookups), and big. Close to the beach as well as lots of food and shopping.

• a

  amy

  Scout

  

  Apr. 22, 2021

  Oak Leaf Family Campground

  Great place

  Staff and all are very friendly

• 

  J G.

  Ranger

  

  May. 1, 2021

  George Washington State Campground

  Go minimal

  Didn't expect not to have bathrooms, just porta pots. Enjoyed the hiking around lake Washington!

• 

  Jessica A.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 7, 2023

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  A Camper's Campground

  Burlingame is a HUGE state park campground with over 700 sites. The location is fantastic, but with this many sites (so, with this many people), there are bound to be pros and cons.

  Pros:

  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.

  Camp store - well stocked.

  Price - dirt cheap if you are a RI resident, but pricey if you aren't.

  Spacious - even with all those sites, there's plenty of room between sites and tons of open space for kids to run around, fly a kite, play tag, hide and seek.

  Real camping atmosphere - fire rings at each site, wooded sites (and open grass sites if you like that better). Wildlife (listening to the several types of owls is a favorite pastime at night). While RVs are welcome (and we have tent and trailer camped here), this is NOT an RV resort. No hook-ups.

  Cons:

  No hook-ups, lol. This is a con in the heat of the summer if you want/need AC. 

  Bath houses - are usually pretty filthy, and that's because there are too many people per bath house, and people are gross.

  Noise / Parties / Drunks - again, too many sites means too many people and nowhere near enough park staff. 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.

  Overall, if you are a camper's camper, this is a great place. Close to CT so a day trip to Mystic is easy, close to several gorgeous beaches, close to great restaurants, ice cream, and shopping. Swim in the pond. Fish in the pond (catch and release). Bike. Hike. Hammock. Avoid holiday weekends and the heat of August if you can. Be prepared for dirty restrooms and come armed with hand soap (they no longer provide any), paper towels, and Clorox wipes.

• C

  Charles

  Guide

  

  Feb. 24, 2023

  Whispering Pines Campground

  PERFECT CAMPGROUND FOR MY FAMILY

  glad we found this place on here. wasn't sure what to expect, but this campground has been around a really long time- so it doesn't feel like a KOA or Jellystone. But it has 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. 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. GOing to try to get back in 2023 because we found out there are weekends that the camp has special things for the kids to do and dj nights, which would be a lot of fun.

• R

  Rachel D.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 22, 2020

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  I love this campground!!

  Very well maintained, clean and picturesque. Go in late September when the kids are back to school and there are very few campers. Holiday weekends are crowded but the sites are large and spread apart. No hookups but that's ok if you are self contained. Plenty of bath/toilet facilities and close to kayaking on the Wood river if you dont prefer the very large pond that you can access in the campground. Great place to bike and hike.

• 

  Andrew P.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 4, 2020

  George Washington State Campground

  Dry camping done right

  This campground is quaint and is nestled in RI state forests. The sites do not have hook ups, but water faucets can be found throughout the camp, and there is is dump station. There are pit toilets around the camp, and there is a central modern bathroom. The beach is beautiful and would be busy on a hot summer day. We stayed in early October, so it was not crowded. The camp did fill up, even for October, however many sites were closed due to Covid. Tents, small and large RV’s occupied the many sites. Some sites are more level than others, bring some leveling blocks if your are towing a camper. We walked the 2 mile trail, there is a 6 mile and an 8 mile hike too. Dino’s supermarket is about 10 minutes away by car and has a traditional supermarket style, a welcome change from big box. I will come back here, it was peaceful, I need that.

• K

  Kristi J.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Burlingame State Park Campground

  Pros outweigh the cons

  Stayed for a week mid-July; during the week had almost an entire loop to ourselves which was wonderful - it felt like having the entire park to ourselves. Things picked up on Friday/Saturday but overall we lucked out with no neighbors who were disrespectful of the quiet hours (10p - 7a). Bathrooms, dumpsters, and portapotties are plentiful, but not always well maintained. Staff are seen frequently throughout the park and are very willing to be helpful when asked - our site had a few Yellowjacket nests and they took care of them for us almost immediately when asked. It’s worth investigating the various sites ahead of time - there are a number of sections much more likely to be busy than others, and lots of low-lying sites that show signs of easily being washed out in anything more than a moderate rain. With multiple great east coast beaches minutes away (as well as conveniences like fuel/stores) we will definitely be back.

• 

  ml Z.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 1, 2024

  East Beach State Campground

  q

  ee

• 

  Bruce Y.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 10, 2023

  Holiday Acres Campground

  Stay Away

  Be very careful when you hook into their power, make sure you have a surge protector!!! We learned the hard way after staying Memorial day weekend. We had site C-16, and the way the have the power and water arrangement, we had to run 50ft of hose and 30 amp cord. Their corroded 30 amp power melted the connections on both my cords and blew out my power awning. We could smell something burning, electrical, but didn't find it until we packed up on Monday to leave. I took pictures of their power supply and both my 30 amp cables. I sent them an email Monday when we got home, explaining what happened. No reply. I sent another email less than two weeks later, no reply. Now I have to have my insurance company involved. Pictures attached. I've been camping 50 years and NEVER had this problem anywhere else. I will not return. Just the lack of replies from the campground is enough for me to warn everyone to stay away!