Campgrounds and RV parks near Hartford, CT

Hartford sits in central Connecticut along the Connecticut River, and campground options within an hour of downtown range from riverside RV parks to full-service family campgrounds to primitive paddle-in sites in the state park system. Most private parks in the region cater to RVers, and inventory in central Connecticut is relatively limited, so weekends fill early during the summer. Close-in choices include Portland Riverside Campground, which sits along the Connecticut River across from Middletown, and Nelson's Family Campground, set on 175 acres in East Hampton with nearly 400 sites. Bear Creek Lake Compounce Campground in Bristol is a family-oriented property adjacent to Lake Compounce amusement and water park. For paddlers, Hurd State Park offers primitive river-access camping on the east bank of the Connecticut River in East Hampton. Across the state line, Southwick Acres Campgrounds in Southwick, Massachusetts sits about a half-hour north of Hartford and works well for travelers heading toward Springfield or Six Flags New England.

Private campgrounds around Hartford handle their own reservations. Nelson's Family Campground, Bear Creek Lake Compounce Campground, and Southwick Acres Campgrounds all take bookings by phone or through their own websites, and each has its own deposit and cancellation policy worth checking at time of booking. Portland Riverside Campground is small and generally requires contacting the operator directly. State-park river camping is booked through ReserveAmerica. Reservations for river campsites at Gillette Castle, Hurd, River Highlands and Selden Neck State Parks can be made up to 11 months in advance of the arrival date. At Hurd, reservations are required, walk-ins are not accepted, and bookings must be made at least 2 days ahead of arrival.