Whether you glamp or camp, here are 9 campsites to check out in Rhode Island
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Camping brings out strong opinions.
People love it. People hate it. Some people camp all the time. Some people rarely camp. Some people swear they’ll never try it. Some people consider staying in a rustic cabin camping, others insist it’s only camping if you’re staying in a tent you assembled yourself.
Big feelings.
If you fall anywhere on the spectrum where you are willing to try camping in a tent, we’re rounded up some of the best options in Rhode Island to spend a night outside. From glamping spots for a high-end experience to campsites at the state parks, here’s the list.
If you want to glamp in RI in a tent with a real bed
Glamp Frogmore, in Coventry, is where to go if you want to sleep in style. The 35-acre property that borders the 295-acre Maxwell Mays Audubon Refuge has two glamping sites with tents with real beds in them. The Pines site, for $200 a night, has a tent with a King size bed, a tent with two camping cots and a composting toilet nearby. The Ferns site, for $150 a night, has a queen size bed and a futon and also includes a nearby composting toilet.
The sites also include extras such as a hammock, access to a rowboat to use on their small pond, and a horseshoe pit.
Another option, if you’re looking for that real bed, is a glamping site on Maurolou Farm in Little Compton with views of Quicksand Pond and the Atlantic Ocean. This site, for $226 a night, has a queen bed and a camp toilet.
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If you are into ghosts
Have you heard of ghamping? One part camping and one part ghosts, the Conjuring House has eight campsites on the property, that they rate from 1 to 10 on how frightening the experience may be based on how close you are to various known spirits. They provide the tent, a cot, camping chair, gas stoves and a lantern at their sites that fit three to four people and cost $300 to $400 a night.
If you want to have a lot of amenities to entertain the family with
Oak Embers, in West Greenwich, bills itself as a family-friendly campground, and packs in many activities. Their lineup for the year includes Oak Embers train rides, movies, bingo, raffles, crafts, karaoke nights and Christmas in July, according to their website. A basic tent site is $40 a night, but for $5 more the site will include water and electricity.
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Another campground that packs the fun in, Burlingame State Campground, located next to Watchaug Pond in Charlestown, has a playground, arcade, freshwater beach, boat ramp, canoe rentals and hiking trails. The campground is also near Misquamicut State Beach, Charlestown Breachway and East Matunuck State Beach. The campsites do not have water or electricity, but there are restrooms with shower facilities.
If you want to be close to other attractions
If you want to be on the water in Jamestown, the campsites at Fort Getty Park and Campground are the place to stay. Primarily an RV park, there are only 26 tent sites that can be rented for $35 a night. The park has access to a rocky beach, a public boat ramp, a dock and a trail around the salt marsh, and it’s not far from other Jamestown attractions.
On Aquidneck Island, Newport RV Park, in Portsmouth, has a few tent sites for $65 a night — with no electricity or water —that will put you 5 miles from downtown Newport. There’s also free Wi-Fi, a dog park, fishing, volleyball courts and access to hiking and camping trails at Melville Park.
If you’re looking to be close to the beaches — including Roger Wheeler State Beach, Salty Brine State Beach and Scarborough State Beach — then Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground is the place to go. Mostly an RV campground, it has 35 tent sites. It also has basketball, tennis and horseshoe courts and a children’s playground to amuse campers at the campground.
If you just want to camp in the woods
Located within the 4,000-acre George Washington Management Area and on the shores of Bowdish Reservoir, the George Washington Memorial Camping Area is beautiful but primitive. There are no utilities at the campground, though there are flush toilets. Some of the sites are hike-in only.
Know of another tent campsite you think should be on this list? Email klandeck@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 9 of the best places to camp or glamp in Rhode Island in a tent
