One of the biggest draws for Free Connecticut Boondocking is that it is one of the least expensive ways to travel through the state. Connecticut, known as the “Constitution State”, draws visitors because of its classic beauty and its extended coastline. Free Connecticut Camping Spots and Free Connecticut Boondocking Spots are what we concentrated on when searching for the best Free Connecticut Boondocking Locations.
Free Connecticut Boondocking Areas
In the spring, travelers flock to Connecticut to experience the state’s blossoming hardwood forest’s many colors of green. Others visit to enjoy the vibrant hues that those same woodlands display in the autumn. Connecticut is well-connected, with interstates, highways, and county roads crisscrossing the state. Beautiful panoramic vistas of farmlands, gentle hills, and noisy streams greet travelers as they journey from the northern border with Massachusetts to the southern coast of Connecticut. Traveling east to west along the coast provides spectacular ocean vistas and plenty of opportunity to stop in Free Connecticut camping spots in picturesque beachfront villages or cities. Free Connecticut Boondocking is popular since nearly every stop is gorgeous and pleasant.
Want more ideas to round-out your trip to the New England States?
► Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Vermont ◄
- 4 Free Delaware Boondocking – Camping Spots & RV Parking
- 20 Free Maine Boondocking – RV Parking & Camping Spots
- 7 Free Maryland Boondocking – Camping Spots & RV Parking
- 23 Free Vermont Boondocking – Free RV Parking & Camping Spots
6 Free Connecticut Boondocking Spots
check out our video
1. Free Connecticut Dispersed Camping – Connecticut Rest Area
Address
Danbury, Connecticut
GPS: 41.389, -73.518097
Elevation: 533′
Management: Public – Rest Area (Unofficial)
Located on I-84 eastbound at exit 2. Free Conecticut camping spots with restroom facilities, canteen, picnic tables, and barbecues available in shaded and wooded setting. Ample parking: cars, campers, trucks and buses welcome.
2. Free Connecticut Boondocking Locations – Park and Ride
Address
Brookfield, Connecticut
GPS: 41.422999, -73.419201
Elevation: 282′
Management: Public – Park and ride (Official)
Overnight RV parking. No tents or camping. This lot allows overnight parking but no large truckers, semis. Be gone before the commuters start coming in at dawn. Free Connecticut boondocking spots.
3. Free Connecticut Boondocking Spots – Southington Ct Rest Area
Address
Southington, Connecticut
GPS: 41.572371, -72.904673
Elevation: 200′
Management: Public – Rest Area (Official)
Rest area with separate overnight RV area -away from trucks – no hookups Free Connecticut camping spots – rest facilities available.
4. Free Connecticut Camping Spots – Commuter Parking Lot
Address
Meriden, Connecticut
GPS: 41.50661, -72.76768
Elevation: 308′
Management: Public – Commuter parking lot (Unofficial)
Commuter parking lot located on bee street Meriden CT. Free Connecticut boondocking spots in parking lot is small but it’s only suitable for small RV units & as stated in the review for Southington rest stop must be out before Dawn comes.
5. Free Connecticut RV Parking – Mohegan Sun
Address
Montville, Connecticut
GPS: 41.48553, -72.081582
Elevation: 72′
Management: Private – Casino (Official)
The road in is Paved. Mohegan Sun is open year round. There are 30 or more Free Connecticut boondocking spots at this location and the maximum RV length is unlimited. Free permit issued at customer service desk.
6. Free Connecticut RV Boondocking – Foxwoods Resort and Casino
Address
MASHANTUCKET, Connecticut
GPS: 41.473345, -71.958475
Elevation: 200′
Management: Private – Casino (Official)
The road in is Paved. Foxwoods Resort and Casino is open year round. There are 6-15 Free Connecticut camping spots at this location and the maximum RV length is unlimited. You may stay overnight at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Parked here 4-5 times without issue. Lot is right next to Burger King, gas station, store. Walking distance 5-7 minutes (strolling) to Rainmaker Casino entrance or wait for shuttle. Shuttle runs consistently but times aren’t regular due to the number of stops but it does stop often enough
Where to Find Free Connecticut Boondocking Locations
Due to the lack of national forests, seashores, and other resources found in other states, Free Connecticut Boondocking often entails sleeping at designated spots in rest areas or public locations specifically designated as free camping sites. In Connecticut, there are two national trails, however neither of them allows dry camping. In Connecticut, there are a few state parks, but none of them allow boondocking.
Travelers are welcome to camp for free in Connecticut, but only in authorized places. The Connecticut legislature recognized the importance of getting enough sleep when driving through the state, therefore boondocking is permitted in a number of rest sites along key highways.
Free Connecticut Boondocking Spots
Connecticut prefers to be known as the Constitution State or the Land of Stable Habits. Given the state’s tiny size, proximity to New York City, and the fact that millions of inhabitants use it as a weekend getaway, the few camping opportunities that do exist are surprisingly plentiful.
Free Connecticut Camping Spots
A small section of beach in Voluntown, Connecticut, near Pachaug State Forest, is the most natural of the free camping locations in Connecticut. Expect pit toilets, a boat ramp, and few other amenities, but you’re in ideal swimming and fishing territory. It’s also the only one of the places on this list that’s appropriate for tent camping, making it your best chance for isolation over convenience.
Free Connecticut RV Parking Locations
Free camping is available at the Cracker Barrel outside of Bridgeport, as well as a few other places further east, if you’re going down the state’s southern roadways along the shore. The North Stonington Rest Area features a fire pit and accepts overnight stays in their parking area. Another highway rest area along I-84 in Northern Connecticut, the Willington Rest Area, also allows overnight stays. It’s also only a few minutes from Willington’s free dump station.
FAQs About Free Connecticut Boondocking
Is Dispersed Camping Allowed in CT?
Only backpack camping is authorized at these locations; no dispersed camping is permitted. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association designed and maintains the Blue Trails, which are located on both public and private property and rely on the goodwill of landowners in many situations.
Can You Camp on State Land in Connecticut?
For your outdoor enjoyment, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection provides 1400 campsites around the state, including 38 rustic cabins. Shadowy woodlands, sandy coastline beaches, interior lakes, and quiet islands are just some of the places where you can camp.
What is the Largest State Park in CT?
Voluntown, Sterling, Plainfield, Griswold, North Stonington, and Preston are all part of the Pachaug State Forest, which spans 26,477 acres in six towns.
Where Does the Appalachian Trail Go Through CT?
The Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail runs from Sherman, near the New York state line, to Sage’s Ravine, just north of Salisbury, at the Massachusetts state line. The trail ascends the Housatonic River Valley, crossing the river twice. In Connecticut, the Appalachian Trail runs for 52 kilometers. The majority of the AT in Connecticut follows the ridges to the west and east of the Housatonic River Valley and the Taconic Mountains.
Free Connecticut Camping Spots in the State Parks and State Forests*
Connecticut Campground Guide: Connecticut’s parks and woods have plenty to offer you all year long, whether you’re seeking for a strenuous outdoor sport, a relaxing stroll, or a glimpse into history. Our 110 state parks and 32 state forests, located throughout the state, provide a location for every outdoor enthusiast to refresh and recharge by visiting recreation areas, museums, and nature centers while taking in the state’s historic, cultural, and natural riches. This also encompasses Free Connecticut RV Boondocking.
In thirteen state parks or woods, Connecticut offers campgrounds, including sites with rustic cottages. From the list below, choose a campground. All state campground reservations can be made online at Reserve America or by calling toll free 1-877-668-CAMP (2267).
Parks with Camping Areas:
Black Rock | Devil’s Hopyard | Hammonasset Beach | Hopeville Pond | Housatonic Meadows | Kettletown | Lake Waramaug | Macedonia Brook | Mashamoquet Brook | Rocky Neck | Salt Rock | Wolf Den
Forests with Camping Areas:
American Legion State Forest | Pachaug State Forest
The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection provides 1400 campsites throughout the state including 38 rustic cabins for your outdoor enjoyment. Free Connecticut Dispersed Camping: Camping areas can be found in a variety of settings including shadowy woodlands, sandy shoreline beaches, inland lakes, and secluded islands. For a great outdoor adventure, spend your vacation with us. The following information applies to most Park and Forest Campgrounds.
Alcoholic Beverages: Beer in containers larger than one (1) liter is prohibited. State law limits the possession of alcoholic beverages to individuals 21 years or older. The following campgrounds are alcohol free: Black Rock, Hopeville Pond, Housatonic Meadows, Kettletown, Macedonia Brook and Pachaug State Forest. Please do not bring alcoholic beverages to these facilities.
Camp Visitors: During most seasons, visitors are allowed to enter state campgrounds from 8:00 a.m. to sunset and may stay until 10:00 p.m. Daily parking rates apply. Designated parking areas must be used.
Equipment: Camping equipment, including properly curtained station wagons and vans, is subject to the approval of the supervisor in charge. Trailers and RV’s exceeding 35′ in length are not permitted. All equipment must be removed from the campsite at the end of each stay.
Fires: Fires are permitted in designated fireplaces. Ground fires are strictly prohibited at all State campgrounds. The use of camp stoves is encouraged. Grills are not provided at Hammonasset Beach Campground.
Grounds & Buildings: Campsites are to be kept in a neat, clean, and sanitary condition. Showers, toilets and drinking water are provided in most areas. Dishwashing is prohibited at water taps, in lavatories and showers. Camp areas do not provide laundry units, shelters, or lodges. However, rustic cabins are available to rent at several campgrounds.
The injuring, removal or destruction of any animal or plant material is prohibited. Nails, knives, or other foreign objects may not be driven into trees or park structures, nor may wire or rope be fastened to trees for any purpose including any type of hammock. Sites, including firepits, must be cleaned before departure and picnic tables should be in their original location.
Length of Stay: At Hammonasset Beach and Rocky Neck State Parks, the maximum length of stay is twenty-one consecutive days. If you have a 21 day reservation, all members of your camping party and your camping equipment must leave the park for 5 days before you can return. At any inland state park campground the maximum length of stay is fourteen consecutive days. Following each stay at an inland campground, regardless of duration, a five day interim period is mandatory for all members of the camping party. Campers may not move to another camping area within the same park or forest during the interim. The camp areas within Pachaug State Forest and Hopeville Pond State Park shall be considered one campground. All equipment must be removed from the campsite at the end of each stay.
The camp day is defined as being from the time of arrival until 12:00 noon. Check-in time is 1:00 p.m.
Motor Vehicles: No more than two motor vehicles (with proper passes) are permitted on a single campsite, except at Rocky Neck where the limit is one vehicle per campsite. Vehicle passes are nontransferable. The speed limit within campgrounds is ten miles per hour.
Period of Closure: All Department operated campgrounds are closed from January 1 through April 16 to prevent damage during periods of freezing and thawing and to relieve soil compaction.
Pets: Pets are prohibited in State Park camping areas. Pets are permitted at State Forest campgrounds (see Campground Directory). When and where permitted, animals are limited to one per campsite and must be held on a leash not to exceed seven feet in length. Dogs must have rabies vaccination and owners may be required to show proof. Pets must not be left unattended.
Quiet Hours: Quiet hours shall be observed between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Reasonable levels of sound may not be exceeded at any time.
Recycling: Place your trash and recyclables in the appropriate receptacles provided.
Unreserved Lots: All lots that are not reserved are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Weapons: Except as specifically authorized, no firearms, archery equipment or other weapons may be possessed in any campground or recreation area.
*Resource: Connecticut Gov
You May Want to Join Our Boondocking Group on Facebook For More Information
You May Want to Join Our Campfire Recipes Group on Facebook For More Information
Check Out Our Pictures On Instagram – Our Big Escape.
