Connecticut RV & Camping: Time, Dates & Rules (With Examples)

Connecticut is filled with rich historical attractions and flavorsome culture.

Because it is located halfway between New York and Boston, it is convenient to visit. Connecticut is home to prestigious universities, cross country skiing, colorful casinos, fun-filled theme parks, and hiking and sailing in the state’s beautiful natural surroundings.

We’ve created a great guide and list to help you with your next Connecticut adventure:

2 Connecticut Campgrounds With Times, Dates, And Rules

To experience everything Connecticut has to offer, you need to stay within the parameters of the state.

Fortunately, there are many campground options available to visitors. We have provided two of the best Connecticut campgrounds with a host of activities and amenities available for campers.

Additionally, these campgrounds are also close to many of the sites you may want to visit when camping in this state.

Moreover, to ensure your Connecticut camping experience is a good one, we have included the dates, times, and rules you need to know.

1. Salem Farms Campground

One of the best family-owned campgrounds in the state of Connecticut is the Salem Farms Campground.

This campground offers spacious tent and RV sites and can accommodate large rigs. At the Salem Farms Campground, there are 190 full hook-up RV sites, 14 tent-only sites, and the campground offers free WiFi and cable television at every site.

The Salem Farms Campground is located on 157 acres of beautiful land, and each Rv campsite is a minimum of 2,000 square feet, ensuring you have enough privacy and space. Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a snack bar, an onsite RV service facility, a laundry facility, a staffed RV wash, and an ice cream bar at the campground.

Those who want to explore what Salem has to offer can easily make their way from the campground to one of the many local attractions. Guests can visit the Mohegan Casino, the Block Island Ferry, the Waterford Speedbowl, or the Mansfield drive-in theater.

Additionally, guests can also visit the Mystic seaport, NaturesArt Village, Gillette’s Castle, and the USS Nautilus Memorial.

Times:

At the Salem Farms Campground, check-in is at 3:00 pm, and check-out is at 12:00 noon.

Dates:

This campground is open from the 1st of May through to Columbus Day Weekend.

Rules:

• This campground does not allow outside firewood to be brought into the park.
• Anyone wishing to obtain a refund will need to do so seven days before the reservation’s commencement date.
• Throughout the Salem Farms Campground, the speed limit is 5 miles per hour.
• No diving is allowed in any of the pools at this campground.
• All pets visiting the park need to have current rabies vaccination papers.

2. Witch Meadow Lake Family Campground

If you’re seeking a serene camping environment but don’t want to miss out on action-packed activities, you may want to consider the Witch Meadow Lake Family Campground.

This campground has 280 full hookup RV and tent sites that offer 20 and 50 amp connections. Additionally, guests can choose to stay daily, weekly, or monthly at the campground within the May to October season.

Unlike other campgrounds, this one is well-rounded, with many different activities and amenities on offer to ensure guests have a pleasant camping experience.

At the Salem Farms Campground, there is a 14-acre lake that guests can swim, fish, and boat in, a convenience store that is stocked with wood, ice, gifts, and toys, a tennis court, a recreation hall with pinball, ping-pong, and pool and there is a heated pool.

Additionally, the campground has a convenient 24-hour laundry room, an adult lounge, a pet walking trail, and multiple sports activities. Nearby there is a petting zoo and multiple shops and restaurants that you and the family can visit during the day if none of the activities at the campground strike your fancy.

Times:

At the Witch Meadow Lake Family Campground, the check-in time is 3:00 pm, and the check-out time is 2:00 pm.

Dates:

The Witch Meadow Lake Family Campground is open from May until Columbus Day Weekend in October.

Rules:

• Each campsite is only allowed a family of five, and this must consist of two adults and their underage children.
• All guests under 21 years old need to have an everyday sponsor.
• All campers at the campground need to be quiet between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am each day.
• Bicycle riding is permitted, but only one person per bike and only during the day.
• Guests who want to have campfires need to buy firewood from the campground.
• Loud motorbikes are strictly prohibited.

Can You Go RVing In Connecticut Outside These Dates?

Sometimes you don’t have endless amounts of free time to plan a trip or cannot get away from commitments.

This can make it difficult to plan a camping holiday as you might be unable to camp during certain seasons. Not every campground is open during specific seasons, which is fortunate for those who have busy lives.

The campgrounds we mentioned above are only open during certain seasons but don’t despair as a few campgrounds open year-round in Connecticut.

Unfortunately, Connecticut doesn’t have many all-year campground options, but there is still a handful worth mentioning:

• Nickerson Park Family Campground.
• Mystic KOA Campground.
• Aces High RV Park.
• Totoket Valley RV Park.

Where Can You Camp For Free In Connecticut?

Often when you are camping on a budget, you encounter a few pesky limitations.

Fortunately, if you choose to camp at a free campground, you will have more money to participate in activities and attractions at the place you are visiting.

Unlike a few other American states, Connecticut does not have many free campground options available to motorhome and tent campers.

However, after scouring the internet, we came across a few options worth mentioning:

Voluntown, Connecticut:

In Voluntown, Connecticut, a small patch of beach is available to campers for free.

The free beach campsite is located near Pachuang State Forest.

This site does not have many facilities as there are only a boat ramp and pit toilets. However, tent campers can swim and fish on the beach for free.

North Stonington Rest Area:

If you have an RV and need an overnight stopover, you can make use of the North Stonington Rest Area, which has a parking lot available for motorhomes.

This parking lot is even equipped with a firepit for those wanting to relax by an open fire.

Mohegan Sun Casino:

Another parking lot RVers can choose to camp for an overnight stay is located at the Mohegan Sun Casino.

This casino is known by many as a great place to stop when you want to explore nearby towns like Mystic and nearby attractions like the Rocky Neck State Park.

Additionally, the casino provides beautiful views of the Thames River.

Can You Camp On Public Hunting Land In Connecticut?

In Connecticut, hunting is regulated by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

In this state, hunting is allowed seasonally at a few  State Parks and many State Forests. As such, most of the hunting land is public.

This means that campers are indeed allowed to camp on public hunting land in Connecticut.

A few of the public hunting lands that campers can camp at are presented below:

• Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford.
• Killingly Pond State Park in Killingly.
• American Legion State Forest in Barkhamsted.
• Camp Columbia State Forest in Morris.

Connecticut Camping And RV Rules For Local State Parks And National Parks

Connecticut has 1400 campsites and 38 rustic cabins throughout the State and National Parks available to the public.

However, it’s crucial to note that during the 2021 camping season, visitors aren’t allowed within the campground as only registered campers are permitted.

Besides this strict rule, there are a few general camping and RV rules campers need to know before visiting any of the Connecticut State and National Parks.

Knowing the rules and regulations of a State and National Park is important if you don’t want to risk an unpleasant camping experience:

• Car top boats are only allowed to be launched at certain Connecticut State and National Parks.
• At all Connecticut State and National Parks campsites, the campsite fee covers six people, including children.
• It is prohibited to bring in beer in containers that are larger than 1 liter. Additionally, a few of the campgrounds at Connecticut State and National Parks don’t allow alcohol.
• All RVs that are longer than 35 feet in length are not permitted.
• Campfires are only allowed in designated fireplaces at the parks, and all ground fires are prohibited.
• Some of the campgrounds at State and National Parks in Connecticut have a 14-day maximum length of stay, while others have a 21-day maximum stay.

Citations:

Connecticut State Park Rules