Southern New England has few places for big rigs. Camp at a state park with electric, then take a tow vehicle to Newport and Mystic.
Newport’s mansions, Cliff Walk and Fort Adams sit a short drive from Narragansett and Connecticut’s shoreline parks. Camping options for RVs are state parks and a few private parks, and the cities themselves are best visited in a tow vehicle.
Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut has 558 sites, 88 with electric and water. Fisherman’s Memorial State Park in Rhode Island has 147 RV sites on Point Judith. Rocky Neck State Park has 160 sites but no hookups.
Connecticut’s state park seasons end in late September or mid-October, so a late-season trip should start with the Rhode Island park or a private campground.
| Hammonasset Beach State Park, CT | 558 sites, 88 electric and water. 2026 season May 22–October 12. Water-electric $35 CT / $45 non-resident |
|---|---|
| Rocky Neck State Park, CT | 160 sites, no hookups. 2026 season May 15–September 25. $20 CT / $30 non-resident |
| Fisherman’s Memorial State Park, RI | 147 RV sites and 35 tent sites. Area 1 is RV only with electric, water and sewer. Season roughly April–October 30. 1-877-742-2675 |
| Fort Getty, Jamestown RI | 75 seasonal RV sites. Town notice says closed for camping. Transient stays have a two-week minimum |
| Cliff Walk, Newport | 3.5 miles, free. A section is closed between Narragansett Ave and Webster St |
| Mystic Seaport Museum | 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic. Free parking in two lots across the street |
Official pages say little about rig size in this region, so plan on a base outside the cities.
Connecticut state parks run roughly mid-May to late September or mid-October.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring | Fisherman’s Memorial opens April 2. Connecticut parks open mid to late May. |
| Summer | All parks open. Book early. |
| Fall | Rocky Neck closes September 25, Hammonasset October 12, and Fisherman’s Memorial October 30 in 2026. |
| Winter | State campgrounds are closed. Check private campgrounds. |
State park details come from Connecticut and Rhode Island state agencies. A Rhode Island tourism listing page names private RV parks, but we did not verify their details.
Best for: A two-mile sandy shoreline and the Meigs Point Nature Center.
Watch out: No fire rings and no pets. Stays limited to 21 days.
Best for: Beach and trails near Mystic with a free dump for campers.
Watch out: No hookups and no pets.
Best for: Near state beaches and the Block Island ferry dock. Free dump for registered campers.
Watch out: Area 4 electric may not run RV air conditioners or heaters in extreme weather. Reserve early. Lengths not listed.
Best for: A beach campground in southern Rhode Island.
Watch out: We found only a short listing. Confirm hookups and lengths.
Rhode Island’s Burlingame (about 700 sites) and George Washington (74 gravel RV sites) state campgrounds have no hookups. Rhode Island’s tourism site also lists private parks including Whispering Pines Campground (full hookups, pull-throughs), Long Cove Marina and Campground (150 trailer sites, 32 ft maximum) and Worden Pond Family Campground (water and electric). Confirm each directly.
Base at one park and use a tow vehicle for the towns.
First visit.
History fans.
Anyone who wants spare days.
3.5 miles, free and open daily from sunrise to sunset. The northern half is paved and flat.
Home to Sail Newport and the Fort Adams Trust, with summer jazz and folk concerts.
A two-mile sandy shoreline with surf chairs and the “singing beach” effect at Meigs Point.
A 4,000-square-foot environmental center with a saltwater touch tank.
At 75 Greenmanville Avenue, with free parking in two lots across the street.
Fisherman’s Memorial State Park is on the point, near the Block Island ferry dock.
Use a tow vehicle in town. Newport lots are metered with hour limits.
Check season dates. Connecticut parks close earlier than Rhode Island’s.
Bring a fire pit. Hammonasset sites have no fire rings.
Narragansett, Newport and Mystic have grocery stores and fuel. Rocky Neck sells firewood and has a free dump station for campers.
Fees are from Connecticut state park pages and the Newport tourism site.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hammonasset water-electric | $35 CT / $45 non-resident | Plus a $9 reservation fee. 21-day maximum. |
| Rocky Neck site | $20 CT / $30 non-resident | Plus a $9 reservation fee. |
| Non-resident day use at Hammonasset | $22 weekends, $15 weekdays, $7 after 4 p.m. | Connecticut-registered vehicles are free. |
| Cliff Walk parking | $2 per hour, 3–4 hour limits | May 1–October 31 at the metered lots. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
Hammonasset has 88 sites with electric and water, and Fisherman’s Memorial has electric, water and sewer in Areas 1 and 2. Rocky Neck has no hookups.
In 2026 Rocky Neck closes September 25, Hammonasset October 12 and Fisherman’s Memorial October 30.
Not into the main lot. The Gateway Center lot allows no vehicle over 15 feet and no trailers. Use the free Park & Ride at the Pell Bridge ramp with the RIPTA bus, or a tow vehicle.
Not in the Hammonasset or Rocky Neck campgrounds. Pets are permitted on Hammonasset beach from September 30 to April 1.
The Jamestown page shows it closed for camping with transient stays of two weeks minimum, so it is not a good fit for short trips.
No. A section between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street is closed with a detour.
Rules were checked October 22, 2026. Rhode Island campground pages were thin, so confirm hookups and lengths with each campground.