The best campgrounds near New Haven, Connecticut with climbing

Looking to embark on an outdoor adventure near New Haven, Connecticut? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 600 options that cater to climbers, you're sure to find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. Whether you're a seasoned climber or just starting out, you'll be able to find the ideal spot to tackle those rocks. And with popular campsites like The Mountain Top @Wright's Farm (219 reviews), Boulder Point Camp (221 reviews), and Gunx Camping On A Horse Farm! (172 reviews), you can trust the recommendations of fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Plus, with amenities like pet-friendly spaces, trash disposal, and campfire pits, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. So grab your climbing gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!

94% (73)

Top-rated campgrounds near New Haven

Looking to embark on an outdoor adventure near New Haven, Connecticut? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 600 options that cater to climbers, you're sure to find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. Whether you're a seasoned climber or just starting out, you'll be able to find the ideal spot to tackle those rocks. And with popular campsites like The Mountain Top @Wright's Farm (219 reviews), Boulder Point Camp (221 reviews), and Gunx Camping On A Horse Farm! (172 reviews), you can trust the recommendations of fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Plus, with amenities like pet-friendly spaces, trash disposal, and campfire pits, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. So grab your climbing gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!

94% (73)

Top-rated campgrounds near New Haven

1. The Sandbox Campground

91%

(76)

47mi from New Haven · 3 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

The Sandbox campground was born from The Sandbox Indoor Beach Sports and Events facility, which mainly focuses on providing year round beach volleyball. We bought the property in 2015 and opened the facility in 2019. As it happens, it's a 12+ acre lot surrounded by wetlands, hiking and biking trails ... there will never be another building built within view of our facility. We are surrounded by nature, and will be forever. So what a great opportunity to offer camping and access to all of the forests, woodlands, wetlands and trails around! And if you're up for it, come play some beach volleyball and meet new lifelong friends :)

2. Offsite Cabin Wassaic

98%

(33)

44mi from New Haven · 1 site · Lodging

***PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION - NO RUNNING WATER NOV - MARCH*** Our *NEW* cabin is located on the top of a clearing in the mountains outside Wassaic. Enjoy swimming, hiking, chilling, fires and sunsets views without any light pollution or street noise. Designed as a retreat for the modern creative, the cabin is fully off-grid but features Starlink Internet, a compost toilet and heat / AC. We do provide 5 gallons drinking / cleaning water, but during the winter no sinks or showers are operable. Nearby towns (Kent, CT / Wassaic, NY) have awesome art, shopping and plenty of food options as well as easy access to the Appalachian trail and Macedonia state park. 15 minutes from the Wassaic metro north station, the cabin can be reach by taxi. The cabin is accessible by car, but may require a short hike in after heavy rain or snow.

3. Romantic Botanical Glamping

18mi from New Haven · 1 site · Lodging

Pets: Conditionally accepted with owner approval. Must be cat-friendly (we have 3 cats), well-trained, quiet, and not use garden beds as bathrooms. Contact us before bringing pets. Seasonal Activities: June - strawberries, irises, snowbells; July - wild raspberries, roses, cucumbers, nasturtiums, tomatoes; August - squash, peppers, more flowers; September/October - apples, pears. Roses bloom all summer. 20+ page local activity guide provided. Property Details: Organically sprayed monthly for ticks/bugs. Rain creates a soothing tent experience. Some amenities (refrigerator, dryer) available by request. Check-in/out: Early check-in 9am, late checkout until 3pm (if no other guests arriving). Flexible checkout times available - just ask. Pool shared with homeowners, no lifeguards - swim at own risk. Housekeeping: Use trash receptacles. Extra bags in clear container behind tent chair. Recyclables can be returned by guests (.10 value in CT) or left in buckets by dish cart.

4. Kettletown State Park

100%

(2)

61 sites · Heritage Village, Connecticut

Summers get hot in the northeast. And muggy. We’re sweating just thinking about it. When it’s mid-July and Connecticut is threatening to burst into flames, Kettletown State Park is where people go to cool off.The refreshing waters of the Housatonic River and Lake Zoar are guaranteed to lower your body temperature and restore your energy levels. The rest of the park that isn’t water is heavily wooded, providing lots of welcome shade. Shoot, you could even go for a hike and not worry about overheating. It’s the perfect summer getaway from summer, if that makes sense. Don’t think about it too much, just go.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

5. American Legion and Peoples State Forests

100%

(1)

34 sites · Winsted, Connecticut

Tree huggers unite! This is the promised land. Consisting of two separate forests, the wooded bastions of Mother Nature rise tall and strong in these parts. Each tree is beautiful in its own way, but perhaps no trunk is better for squeezing than those in the 200-year old white pine grove in the Whittemore Recreation Area of the Peoples Forest. One can only hug so many trees, however, so it’s a good thing there are lots of other things to do in the American Legion and Peoples State Forests. The trails that wind through these wooded acres will keep hikers on their feet for days on end. And the waters of the wild and scenic West Branch of the Farmington River attracts kayakers and fishers from all over Connecticut and even neighboring states. But if you want to just come and squeeze an oak, no one will fault you.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

6. Macedonia Brook State Park

100%

(3)

51 sites · Connecticut

A trip to Macedonia Brook State Park is basically what the word “splendid” was invented for—blissfully scenic and impossibly pleasurable. Hiking down the Blue Trail, you can’t help but feel good about the world. Wipe that smile off your face, we dare you. It’s okay, we know you can’t.The Blue Trail, which is by far the main area attraction, meanders over Cobble Mountain and several other peaks, crossing a handful of babbling springs and streams. The views of the Catskills and Taconics are downright gorgeous. And don’t even get us started on fall colors. So go have yourself a splendid time at Macedonia Brook.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds near New Haven

100%

(2)

Kettletown State Park Campground

16mi from New Haven · 61 sites · Tents, RVs · in Kettletown State Park

100%

(1)

Austin F. Hawes Memorial Campground

43mi from New Haven · 34 sites · Tents, RVs · in American Legion and Peoples State Forests

100%

(3)

Macedonia Brook State Park Campground

43mi from New Haven · 51 sites · Tents, RVs · in Macedonia Brook State Park

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

K

Kevin

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to The Sandbox Campground

Great location, and you don’t hear any cars or traffic around. Would highly recommend if doing a road trip and need to stop by somewhere to camp along the way. Many thanks to Brendan as well, who was great with communication throughout my stay.

J

John

September 2025

17 ft travel trailer

1 night at The Sandbox Campground

Great spot to stop for a few days and catch up on some remote work on the road. We invited Brendan to stop by and got a personal tour of the Sandbox beach volleyball facility and new amphitheater currently under construction. Really close to historic Mystic and Stonington, as well as, some pleasant short hikes! Brendan was very nice and accommodating. We're hoping to pass through next year to see the progress on the theater project!

L

Lorraine

August 2025

Weekend Trip to The Sandbox Campground

Loved the privacy & the off leash friendly rule. Had the best time. Host was very responsive to questions too.

J

Jamie

July 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to The Sandbox Campground

As described, this is a rustic site in the woods with access to water and a portapotty. It was beautiful and peaceful, everything we needed!

P

Peter

June 2025

33 ft Class A

With pets

10 nights at The Sandbox Campground

We had a quiet 10 days enjoying the fresh air and sunshine in eastern Connecticut. Brendan's hospitality was more than we expected, and he let us know when other visitors would to be coming in. They are working on improvements to the camp sites and an outdoor amphitheater to be ready soon. Looking forward to returning and hearing some music in there. Shopping in nearby Groton for food and other supplies was really convenient. We did a little touring both in the countryside and along the shore which have that classic New England beauty. Mostly just hanging out at the campsite, cooking outdoors, taking walks with our dogs, and taking in the surrounding landscape. The water is good and accessible at 2 points, one near the main facility and the other on the road to site #2. This was our first trip this year and it was a great place to get all the camping stuff sorted out, which for us includes both tenting and RVing. The cellular signal was good so you're not really "off the grid" and a big plus if you have people that can't be away from the internet. Site #1 gets plenty of sunshine so prepare for that as we experienced the hottest days so far this year. Tested out some new portable solar power stations which proved to be perfect for recharging and playing music.

The view from the kitchen. A large picture window frames the bed, with a skylight above for the clear nights :)

E

Erin

January 2025

Weekend Trip to Offsite Cabin Wassaic

It was such a sweet spot—perfect for a quiet get-away and within driving distance of some spectacular food! The hosts were excellent and responsive. Overall, it was a very positive experience.