The 5 Best Places to Camp in Connecticut this Summer

If you are visiting Connecticut or want to spend some time in nature at one of the amazing parks, there are many great camping options. You can hike and camp along the Appalachian Trail. You can swim, fish and paddle in Lake Waramaug and if you want to visit Mark Twain’s House and Museum in Hartford you can camp just outside the city so you can get the best of both country and city life. Here are the 5 best places to camp in Connecticut this summer.

1) Appalachian Trail: Riga Shelter

For some, hiking the Appalachian Trail is on their bucket list, for others they make regular trips to the trail to experience the wonderful views and wildlife. The trail just clips the NW corner of the state but offers the same experience as the 2,190 miles of trails available. 51 miles of the trail passes through Connecticut and includes sights like St. John’s Ledges (waterfall-like rock formations), the red Amesville Bridge, Lion’s Head overlook and Bear Mountain (the tallest summit in the state.)

Along the way you can camp at the Riga Shelter which is almost at the 1,500 mile marker. It is in the far NW corner of the state and provides one shelter, two platforms, two tent sites and a group site. There is a privy onsite and bear box with water access from the brook (water needs to be boiled/purified before drinking). If you are lucky you may run into a white-tail deer, porcupine or barred owl, but hopefully you will not run into a black bear!

2) Hammonsasset Beach State Park

If hanging at the beach is more of your gig, then camping at Hammonsasset Beach State Park is the place for you. It has 2 miles of sandy beach and a boardwalk for walking or biking. There are 550 grassy campsites to choose from for some amazing camping right near the sandy beach. Try surf fishing for Blackfish, bluefish, flounder, weakfish and striped bass. Hammonsasset is located right on the Long Island Sound near Madison, CT.

3) Hartford: Nelson’s Family Campground

If you want to visit the sites in downtown Hartford (and some amazing restaurants) but you want to spend the night under the stars, you could stay at the Nelson’s Family Campground for the best of city and country life. Spend some time exploring Hartford’s rich history like the Mark Twain House and Museum, Gillet’s Castle or the Connecticut Science Center. Then head back to your campsite for a relaxing evening. The campground is 25 miles SW of downtown and has Tent sites as well as RV sites with full hookups.

There is a large swimming pool, playground, rec hall, arcade and on-site store. A short drive away is Lake Pocotopaug for more outdoor fun and some of the best fishing, especially for pikes, walleye and catfish. You better plan a week-long camping trip at least to have enough time to do it all! Definitely one of the best places to camp in Connecticut this summer!

4) Great Falls: Lone Oak Campsites

One of the best waterfalls to visit in Connecticut is the Great Falls on the Housatonic River. It is a bit of an adventure to get to the falls but not a long hike, just be sure to get accurate directions since the GPS coordinates seem to give folks trouble. When you get to the falls you will see the 50 foot long falls with water gushing across the expanse. Check the website to see the best time to visit since the falls are dam controlled there are times where water is diverted away from the falls. Other times when the water is released it is an amazing site. There is not camping right at the falls but 10 miles NE is the popular Lone Oak Campsites.

Lone Oak is spread out over 250 acres and has just about everything! There are 469 campsites with a wide range of options from basic tent camping to full hookups. The campground has 2 large pools a hot tub, recreation hall with ping pong, pool, bingo and dances. The campground hosts themed weekends in the summer and lots of activities. Fun for all ages!

5) Lake Waramaug State Park

One of the best places to camp in Connecticut this summer is Lake Waramaug. This large lake and campground has a swimming beach, kayak and canoe rental, concessions and great fishing. If you do take a canoe out watch the shoreline for beavers, snapping turtles, herons and maybe you will even see (or hear) a loon. The campground is right along the edge of the lake and has 74 wooded and open sites. There are six rustic cabins you can rent with each having plenty of space with two rooms for 6 people total. If you get up early enough you can make yourself a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise over the lake!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Daniel Hanscom

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