Best Things To Do in New England in Summer: Stay at a Campground

In today’s world, it’s rare to be totally free of distractions. The “pings” of email and social media notifications consistently remind us to pay attention to our devices throughout the day, and our attention is almost always turned towards screens. We’re more connected than ever, but at the same time, this creates a disconnection from the real world. It’s more crucial than ever to make intentional plans to unplug from devices and spend time in the real world with the people who are important to us. This helps us maintain that feeling of real-world connection and inner contentment.

So, why not plan a camping trip with your loved ones this summer in New England? The region is filled with stunning nature, untouched mountains, and dense green forests. It’s an excellent place to enjoy New England charm in an outdoor setting. There are numerous campgrounds in the area and nearby states to choose from. Opt for a park in a forest setting, or choose a family-friendly campground near a historic amusement park like Lake Compounce, which we will delve into more later on in this article.

Kids will love getting the opportunity to spend time with their parents in an undistracted setting, where the full focus is on having fun and creating positive memories together. Offer your kids the nostalgic feeling you used to love as a kid when you were camping in the middle of nature (pre-smart phone era), roasting marshmallows over a fire, and telling stories under the starry night sky.  

Keep reading until the end to learn about all the best campgrounds in New England.  

Play by day. Camp by night

Lake Compounce Campground is one of the top family campground options in New England. For the ultimate family campground experience, this one should be at the top of your list for many reasons.

When you camp at Lake Compounce, you’ll never run out of things to do with the amusement park just steps away from the campground. At night, you can enjoy a range of accommodation options. Choose the best accommodation for your group. Opt for a one-bedroom cabin, a two-bedroom cabin, cub huts, tipis, RV spaces, and tent sites.  

Cabins are the most comfortable option, while tent sites offer the most authentic camping experience. Up to 8 people can comfortably share the two-bedroom cabin option, which includes 2 full-size beds with linens, 1 twin size bunk bed with linens, a full kitchen, a full bathroom, a loft, cable TV, heating and air conditioning, and parking.  

Cub huts are a fun option for families with kids. These include two full-size beds with linens, a mini fridge, air conditioning and heating, cable TV, shared public restrooms, and parking. Up to 4 people can comfortably sleep in a cub hut.

Staying in a tipi is another fun and exciting option for families with kids. Tipis can accommodate up to 6 people and offer 4 cots, electricity points, a mini fridge, and wood flooring. Tipis are situated close to clean public bathrooms and showers, and parking for two vehicles is included.

If you’ll be coming to Lake Compounce Campground in your own RV, you can enjoy a convenient RV site with a variety of included features. You’ll have electricity points, water hook up points, and close access to clean public restrooms. All RV sizes can be accommodated, and the site includes parking for two vehicles. Up to 8 people can share an RV site.

For the most authentic camping experience, you might want to opt for a tent site. Kids will love the experience of staying close to nature and pitching a tent. Tent sites are 30’ x 30’ and are situated near a wooded area. You’ll have close access to clean restrooms with showers and parking nearby. One large tent or two small tents are allowed per site.

Receive discounted rates when you book four or more nights. If you’re looking for an outdoor experience filled with family fun, look no further, Lake Compounce Campground is among the best campgrounds in New England.

A full variety of activities during the whole summer

Unlike other campgrounds, when you camp at Lake Compounce, there is truly never a dull moment. With the amusement park just steps away, you’ll have an endless selection of rides, attractions, dining options, and events at your fingertips. There are also several campground amenities and activities which are exclusively for campground visitors. Staying at this campground just steps away from amusement park is one of the best things to do in New England in the summer.

While staying at Lake Compounce Campground, you’ll have access to a playground, a basketball court, a volleyball court, horseshoe pit, gaga ball pit, and more! Children will have a great time running around and exploring the many activities around the space.

There are also numerous year-round events held at the campground throughout the year for families to enjoy together. From Mother’s Day Weekend breakfasts and movie nights, to the Lake Compounce Campground Carnival, to Summer Family Week, to Outer Space Week, Halloween Week, Christmas Week, Music Week, and more. Be sure to check out the events schedule before your visit, so you don’t miss out on any events!

Aside from the exclusive campground events and activities, you can walk over to Lake Compounce for a whole world of fun, family-friendly entertainment! Go on roller coasters, ride on colorful kiddie rides, and make a splash in the water park. You’ll find a variety of dining options to enjoy, from savory meals to sweet treats, and more!  

When you stay at the campground, you’ll receive discounts on admission to the park. Enjoy discounts on ticket prices at up to 50% off!

Enjoy endless family fun at Lake Compounce

When you stay at Lake Compounce Campground, endless family fun is just around the corner. The best part of the campground is that Lake Compounce amusement park is just steps away, offering fun and entertainment for families of all ages.  

Discover the many rides and attractions of Lake Compounce, which cater to visitors of all ages. Whether you and your group prefer thrilling roller coasters, classic rides, or kiddie rides, you’ll find plenty of rides to enjoy at Lake Compounce. Fly around in American themed mini bomber planes or rock around on a tiny pirate ship.  

If you’ll be visiting during the summer months, don’t forget to bring your bathing suits, goggles, and pool towels along for the adventure. Lake Compounce is home to Connecticut’s largest water park, Crocodile Cove, with rides and water slides for the whole family to enjoy. Body surf in the wave pools, float down the Lazy River, or blast down the thrilling water slides.  

For the ultimate experience, rent a private cabana for the day, where you can relax under the shade any time you like. When you rent a cabana, you’ll have access to it for the entire day, offering the perfect place to take a break from all the rides and action of the park. Cabanas come in a range of options and features. Opt for luxury cabanas, a shaded cabana, or an island lounger.

Take a break from all the fun to refuel at one of the park’s many family-friendly dining options. You’ll find a wide variety of delicious meals and snacks to choose from. Devour fries with all the fixings at The Potato Patch, enjoy a refreshing cold treat at Rita’s Italian Ice, or grab a yummy snack from the Snack Cart. Enjoy healthy options like salads and wraps at Beachfront Bar, or grab a personal pizza from Pizza Palace. Even picky eaters will find plenty to choose from as most dining options offer kid’s menus.

Check the events schedule before you visit the park to join in on a variety of year-round events hosted by Lake Compounce, come get spooked at Phantom Fall Fest in October, or see the park all lit up for Holiday Lights during the winter months.  

Want to enjoy the park again and again? Opt for season passes, which allow you to enjoy unlimited visits, as well as many other perks too. Season passes include access to events, offer free parking, unlimited admission to sister parks, and more! Browse through the different Season Pass tiers to find the best one for you.

What are you waiting for? Family bonding, laughs, and happy memories await you at Lake Compounce Campground. Stay close to nature at night, and enjoy park amusements all day long! There’s not a better campground in New England.

Lake Compounce, part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks, is New England's Family Theme Park and the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America. Home to Crocodile Cove, the largest water park in Connecticut, the park just celebrated their 169th season. Now closed, Lake Compounce will re-open Friday, October 4th for the Haunted Graveyard. In addition, Holiday Lights will begin Friday, November 29th. Admission into the Haunted Graveyard attraction is additional. More information can be found at http://www.lakecompounce.com.

Palace Entertainment owns and operates 40 theme parks, water parks and family entertainment centers nationwide, including Kennywood, Idlewild and Story Land on the east coast. The company entertains millions of guests annually and is one of the largest park operators in the US. For more information, visit palaceentertainment.com.