The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Connecticut’s Scenic Northeast by RV

Especially when it comes to RV travel, sometimes getting there is half the fun. Lucky for us, there are several scenic drives in our area that offer picturesque views, winding roads, and even some quaint roadside pit stops.

Looking for some country roads to roll the windows down and cruise? Connecticut State Route 169 is a 36-mile drive that runs from Norwich to East Woodstock and takes you through woodlands and farmsteads with postcard-worthy views of rivers and rolling green hills. The route leads through the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. Along the way you’ll pass the Brooklyn fairgrounds and the town of Pomfret, which is worth a stop for a bite to eat at Vanilla Bean Café as well as Mashamoquet Brook State Park.

From the coast to the country, there is no shortage of RV parks and campgrounds in the area. Many are located near or on the water for those seeking boating, fishing and swimming, while some are more secluded with scenic woods and plenty of hiking trails for these seeking more of a tranquil escape.

Wilderness Lake, Willington
Wilderness Lake is an RV Park, Campground, and Recreation Area located minutes from Interstate 84 in Northeastern Connecticut near the Massachusetts line, with easy on & off access to the highway. Wilderness Lake is a serene destination, set on over 100 acres of pristine countryside with a fresh-water lake for swimming, boating, and fishing; mini-golf, trails for hiking and biking, horse-shoe pits, volleyball court, a tribal village, game rooms, new playground, a lodge with home-theater entertainment, and much more. 

Beaver Pines, Woodstock
Deep in the woods on the border of the Nipmuck State Forest, this small family-owned campground offers large, wooded camp sites and also has a secluded tent area for an even *more* rustic feel. There are 25 miles of trails available for strolling, hiking and mountain biking, as well as canoeing or kayaking on Griggs Pond. Less than 5 miles down the road is Bigelow Hollow State Park, where you can bring motorized watercraft as well as go for a swim. You’ll find many long-term and seasonal campers parked here, but short-term sites are typically available as well.

Campers World, Griswold
Located on Hopeville Pond, Campers World is open six-months a year for long term and limited short term RV sites. There are a ton of onsite activities including fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and biking, and there are often onsite events such as movie nights. Hopeville Pond State Park is steps away, and boasts a rich local history, having once housed the area’s grist mills, sawmills and cornmills. The Pachoug forest and The Last Green Valley are also nearby.

Countryside RV Park, Griswold
Also located in Griswold and dubbed ‘Connecticut’s best kept secret,” Countryside’s amenities include a dedicated swimming pond with man-made sand beach and fishing in a separate, stocked fishing pond (catch and release only). Located in the rolling hills of Connecticut’s countryside, it’s remote enough to be a welcome escape from urban life, while still being close by to shops, restaurants and attractions including Mystic, Foxwoods and Essex Steam Train.

And finally, here’s a tip for those wanting to test out #RVlife but don’t yet own one. You can rent RVs and even have them delivered directly to your site from Outdoorsy.com.

Happy trails and see you on the open road!