Best Camping in New England

New England is blessed with nature-filled escapes from oceanfront camping in Rhode island to forested campsites in Maine. You’ll find primitive camping in the wilderness, family campgrounds, and plenty of outdoor adventures like hiking, swimming, paddling, or simply getting immersed in nature.

Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned camper, you’ll have the best experience if you do the research and find the campsite that suits your style. Whatever type of camping you’re looking for, you’ll find it from this list of the 15 best places to go camping in New England.

Charlie Brown Campground

Located near the historic town of Eastford, CT on the Natchaug River, the Charlie Brown Campground has all you need for the perfect family camping experience. It’s about a 40-mile scenic drive from Hartford or Providence and just far enough for a wilderness escape.

The campground is spread over 30 beautifully manicured acres with 85 grassy tent and RV sites that can accommodate the largest RVs or campers. There’s a swimming hole at the head of the drop pool river where you’ll also find fishing and kayaking.

The nearby area features seasonal activities for the family such as apple picking and maple syrup crafting at a local sugar house.

Amenities:

30 or 50 AMP electrical service
Recreational hall with kitchen facilities
Arcade-style video games
Large-screen TV
Hiking/biking trails
Wireless internet

Sebago Lake State Park

For plenty of fun on the water, camp on the shores of Maine’s deepest and second largest lake at Sebago Lake State Park near Casco. Located at the foothills of the White Mountains, the park has been popular for family camping since 1938 with 250 wooded sites for camping including family, group, RV, and backcountry camping.

The park is open all year with all the seasonal outdoor adventures you’d expect from m boating to canoeing, swimming, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Remote camping is available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Amenities:

Marked hiking/biking trails
Picnic table
Pit toilet
Fire ring
Playground
RV dumping station
RV hookup (electric and water)
Showers

Bourne Scenic Park

Founded in 1951, the Bourne Scenic Park in Bourne, MA grew from 200 campsites to 439 on the Cape Cod Canal near the Bourne Bridge. Go rustic at the non-electric tent camping area, or choose from 408 sites with electric & water hookups. Cabins and lodges are also available. There’s an area for picnicking and two inground pools. A short biking trail leads to saltwater beaches where you can fish from the rocks and catch dinner.

Plan your day hiking, biking, and fishing, or join in on the scheduled activities for both adults and children. The atmosphere is laid-back with scenic views of the canal. Pets are welcome.

Amenities:

Pools & recreational area
Rec hall with video games & movies
Camp store
Cable & Wi-Fi
Firewood & propane
Golf cart rental

Odetah Camping Resort

Odetah Camping Resort is in a lush wooded setting in Bozrah, CT. It’s best known for its location near attractions such as casinos and museums. You’ll have a variety of camping options including pitching a tent, staying in a cabin or yurt, and RV parking with hookups. There’s a lake for swimming, kayaking, boating, and fishing. There’s even an onsite restaurant.

Dogs are welcome, and a dog park is available so your pals can safely run off-leash.

Amenities:

Spa & pool
Movie theater
Court games
Supply store
Restrooms/showers

Phillips Memorial Preserve

For one of the best places to go camping in New England with no electricity and no RVs, take a tent and a canoe to Stephen Phillips Memorial preserve near Oquossoc, ME. The 400-acre plus preserve has primitive campsites along the shores and islands of Mooselookmeguntic Lake. You’ll enjoy a true camping experience in a serene setting in the mountains of Maine in the Rangeley Lakes Region.

The preserve features 67 waterfront campsites with a fire pit, picnic table, and access to an outhouse. Nearby Students Island has pristine hiking trails.

Camping is seasonal (May to September) and reservations are required.

Amenities:

Firewood
Canoe rentals
Trash facility

George Washington Memorial Camping Area

If you’re looking for an off-the-grid camping experience, pack all your supplies and head to Chepachet, RI. The George Washington Memorial Camping Area is a never-crowded no-frills campground on 100 forested acres. Part of the 4,000-acre George Washington Management Area, it features 45 graveled sites for tents, trailers, or RVs but without electrical hookups.

Keep in mind that you must carry your supplies from the parking lot.

There’s a lake for swimming and kayaking and groomed trails for hiking.

The 12′ x 12′ tent platforms are limited to two tents and 4 people and are reservation only.

Amenities:

Water spigots
Outhouses/pit toilets
Fire rings

Normandy Farms Campground

For luxury camping and loads of “city slicker” amenities, pitch a tent, park an RV, or rent a deluxe cabin or Yurt at Normandy Farms. Located deep in a wooded area between Boston and Cape Cod, Normandy Farms offers a camping experience in a premier resort with a sauna, jacuzzi, and more.

Choose from basic sites with no services to premium sites with electricity, water, septic, and cable.

Normandy Farms has lots of engaging activities including disc golf, swimming, fishing, court games, and more.

Amenities:

Playgrounds
Dog park
Store/gift shop
Court games
Fitness center
Laundry facilities

Dolly Copp Campground

This campground in Gorham, NH was named after Dolly Copp, a folk hero who owned a farmstead here along with her husband in the 1800s. It’s the largest campground in the White Mountain National Forest with 177 sites including cabin rentals, group camping, and dispersed camping.

The campground pavilion has a huge stone fireplace and picnic tables built from original timbers. Scenic drives and hiking in the area are abundant.

Campsites at Dolly Copp can only be reserved through recreation.gov.

Amenities:

Drinking water
Flush toilets
Handwash sinks
Metal grills

Waters Edge Family Campground

A popular campground for families, Waters Edge is located in Lebanon, CT near great attractions such as the Rocky Neck State Park, Mystic Seaport, and Gilette Castle. It offers spots for RVs and trailers, and cabin rentals are also available.

The fully-equipped campsites are on a 10-acre spring-fed lake stocked with fish.

In addition to fishing and swimming, lots of family-oriented activities are offered including bingo, treasure hunts, pig roasts, and live entertainment. Leashed pets are welcome, and there’s a spacious “bark park” where they can run free.

Waters Edge is a seasonal campground open from April 15th to October 15th.

Amenities:

Park-wide Wi-Fi
Swimming pool
Beach
Recreation hall

Brighton State Park

Brighton State Park is in Island Pond, VT, a remote area with forested mountains, clear lakes, and swift streams. The area is known for its stunning beauty, especially in autumn.

Spots for RVs and tents are located along the shores of Spectacle Pond. Four cabins and 23 lean-tos are also offered. RV spots don’t have hookups, but there is a dump station.

Nearby attractions include the Clyde River, Kingdom Trails Mountain Bike Trails, and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium.

Enjoy fishing, swimming, hiking, and boating at the park. There’s a camper’s beach near the day-use area with a bathhouse and restrooms. Boats, kayaks, pedal boats, and SUPs are available for rent.

Amenities:

Flush toilets
Showers
Fire rings
Grills
Picnic area

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Camp along the gorgeous Connecticut coastline at Hammonasset Beach State Park. This beachfront campground features two miles of sandy beach with a boardwalk. Things to do include hiking in several other nearby state parks or along part of the New England Trail.

Be sure to check out the views from the castle at Gilette Castle State Park and the displays and touch tanks at Meigs Point Nature Center. The nature center offers additional activities during the summer months.

The campground offers 552 grassy campsites with a long list of amenities.

Amenities:

Restrooms
Showers
Dump stations
Playground
Movies

Lake Waramaug State Park

Lake Waramaug State Park is situated in the beautiful Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. The drive through the countryside is hilly, winding, and runs deep into forestland past other picturesque lakes.

Once at the lake, you’ll find 76 secluded campsites for tents, trailers, or RVs. Sites do not have hookups. Choose from sites overlooking the water or hidden in the trees. A few rustic cabins are also available if you’re looking for indoor comforts.

The campground is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Activities to enjoy include boating, swimming, picnicking, and paddling. Canoe and kayak rentals are available.

Amenities:

Bathrooms
Picnic tables
Showers
Food concession

Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground

The only campground in Martha’s Vineyard, MA, Martha’s Vineyard Campground is one of the best places to go camping in New England for families. It’s located in the town of Vineyard’s Haven on Edgartown Rd.

The campground features wooded sites for tent camping including powered and primitive. RV sites have water, sewage, and power with cable TV available in the premium RV sites. A few one and two-bedroom cabins are also available.

Bring bikes and ride through Martha’s Vineyard on paved bike paths or hop on a bus at the stop near the entrance.

The campground is open from May 25th to October 15th, and special rates are available for staying the entire season.

Amenities:

Fire rings
Picnic tables
Potable water at primitive sites

Ashaway RV Resort

Camp near beaches, golf courses, and casinos at Ashaway RV Resort near Bradford, RI. Featuring RV sites for all sizes of RVs, campers, and motorhomes, the resort is within 10 miles of Atlantic beaches. All of the RV pull-throughs and back-ins are on concrete pads with grassy and graveled sites. Fully equipped cottages are also available.

Families will find plenty of fun without leaving the campgrounds. Enjoy campfire entertainers on Saturday nights. Kids will love the mini-golf course, kiddie train, and radio control car track.

The campground has a spa, swimming pool, court games, and planned activities for kids and adults. It’s open from Mid April to Mid October.

Amenities:

Dog park
Game room
Bathhouse
Laundry facilities
On-site store

Mohawk Trail State Forest

If you’re looking for seclusion, Mohawk Trail State Forest is one of the best places to go camping in New England. Located near Charlemont, MA, the area near the Berkshires is a nature lover’s paradise. White-tailed deer and black bears abound, and the Deerfield River is teeming with trout.

There are over 50 wooded campsites available suitable for primitive camping. Watch for cabin rentals to become available in the near future.

Activities to enjoy include hunting, fishing, paddling, cross-country skiing, and educational programs.