Campgrounds and RV parks near Newington, CT

Newington sits in central Connecticut just south of Hartford, giving RV travelers a base within a short drive of the Connecticut River valley, the Litchfield Hills, and Long Island Sound. The town itself has no full-service RV park, so most travelers stay at private campgrounds and state park sites clustered 20 to 45 minutes east and southwest in Middlesex and Hartford counties. Options range from marina-side RV parking on the Connecticut River at Portland Riverside Campground, to a large family park on 175 acres in East Hampton at Nelson's Family Campground, to farm-country camping at Markham Meadows Campground. Families visiting the amusement park in Bristol can plug in next door at Bear Creek Lake Compounce Campground. Paddlers have a distinctive option at Hurd State Park, one of a handful of Connecticut State Parks with primitive river-access campsites on the Connecticut River. Together, these properties cover partial-hookup RV parks, marina-side sites, amusement-park camping, and paddle-in tent camping within an hour of Newington.

Reservation systems vary by property. Connecticut State Park river campsites, including those at Hurd State Park, are booked through ReserveAmerica. Reservations are required, walk-ins are not accepted, and bookings must be made at least two days ahead and up to 11 months in advance. All overnight campers must arrive by canoe or kayak, and vehicle access and overnight parking are not permitted. Private campgrounds handle their own bookings. Nelson's Family Campground and Portland Riverside Campground take reservations directly, and Bear Creek Lake Compounce Campground books through the Lake Compounce website. Summer weekends and dates tied to amusement-park events tend to sell out well in advance, so booking several weeks ahead is advisable for July and August stays.