New Discovery State Park Campground provides tent and RV sites in Groton State Forest at 1,100 feet elevation. During summer months, average temperatures range from 50°F at night to 75°F during day, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. The forest contains over 26,000 acres with several bodies of water, creating varied camping options for equestrian and non-equestrian visitors.
What to do
Boating access: Osmore Pond within New Discovery State Park offers canoe access to remote sites. "We had the most perfect spot in a private site on osmore pond that was accessible only by canoe! Quiet, serene, beautiful!" writes camper Sambath T. about New Discovery State Park Campground.
Swimming options: Lake Dunmore at Branbury State Park provides a designated swimming area with amenities. "The day use section has a wonderful beach with a swimming area and boat launch. Large trees provide shade on a grassy lawn, and grills are available," notes Lisa S. about Branbury State Park Campground.
Rail trail exploration: The converted railway corridor offers miles of flat, wide trail surface ideal for walking or biking. "Right along a long rail trail where you can put in many miles and not even know it. Swimming and boating is a short ride in a couple different directions," reports Rick S. from a weekend at New Discovery.
What campers like
Riverside sites: Hancock Campground offers waterfront tent sites near flowing water. "We camped here Wednesday-Friday on one of the riverfront tent sites... which had a nice little opening to the water and had a bit more tree coverage to separate us from our neighbors," explains Lindsey M. about Hancock Campground.
Lean-to shelters: Several parks feature covered wooden structures providing protection from elements. "The lean-to sites are really cool, and if I was tent camping I think they'd be so fun to sleep in," comments Laura M. from New Discovery State Park.
Site privacy: Many campgrounds offer adequate separation between camping spots. "I camped at New Discovery this weekend, the sites are well separated and private. The grounds are beautiful and well situated to enjoy Groton State Forest," notes Robin B. about her experience at Groton Forest Road Campground.
What you should know
Bear awareness: Store food properly in provided containers. "There are bears in the area though so please be bear smart when camping here," advises Laura M. about camping at New Discovery, where bear boxes are available at some sites.
Water access limitations: At some campgrounds, filling RV tanks requires adapters. "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results... Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water," explains one visitor.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the area operate on limited schedules. "The park remains open from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend," states Tippicanoe Campground, which maintains different operating hours than some state parks.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Multiple ponds provide family-friendly activities. "The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use," shares Reid B. about his experience at Groton Forest Road Campground.
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground. Volleyball and horseshoe pits," notes J L. about family amenities at Branbury State Park.
Hiking accessibility: Trail networks connect directly to camping areas. "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers," reports Laura M. about Hancock Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there. Some sites are out in the open grass where you just find a spot within the site that works for you," warns Laura M. from her RV camping experience.
Water and electric availability: Utility hookups vary widely between campgrounds. "The sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups. Very few tenting, mostly RVs on the well laid out grounds where you are not far from the beautiful beach, trout stocked pond and all amenities," reports David G. about options at Tippicanoe.
Dump station access: Most state parks provide sanitary dump stations, but locations can be inconvenient. "There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded," notes one RVer about facilities at New Discovery State Park.