Pachaug State Forest RV & Campground Guide
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Stretching nearly 27,000 acres in central Connecticut, Pachaug State Forest is the state's largest forest preserve. It sprawls over six towns: North Stonington, Voluntown, Sterling, Griswold, Plainfield, and Preston. The forest's beginnings were humble, however, and it only comprised about 1,000 acres when it was first created in 1928. The Civilian Conservation Corps started in 1933, and in that year, the Corps built many of the structures that still exist in the forest today, including the campgrounds. The name Pachaug comes from a First Nation word that means "bend in the river." The towns in the area date back to the 1720s.
Nearby cities:
Voluntown, CT
Sterling, CT
Griswold, CT
Plainfield, CT
Spring 48-70 F
Summer 77-82 F
Fall 52-74 F
Winter 18-38 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Pachaug State Forest
Campground Accommodations
Mount Misery Campground
Water hookups: No
Electrical hookups: No
Sewer hookups: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Vault toilets, picnic area, potable water, recycling bins
Green Falls Campground
Water hookups: No
Electrical hookups: No
Sewer hookups: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Vault toilets, communal potable water
Frog Hollow Horse Camp
Water hookups: No
Electrical hookups: No
Sewer hookups: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Vault toilets, equestrian stalls, communal potable water
Natures Campsites
Natures Campsites offers 97 spacious RV sites and other camping alternatives. Water, electric, and sewer hookups are available on many of the sites. This pet-friendly campground also offers free Wi-Fi, two swimming pools, a recreation hall, a dump station, and so much more. Fun activities nearby include casinos, ocean beaches, antique shops, and restaurants. RV rates start at $54 per night on weekdays and $61 per night on weekends.
Ross Hill Park Family Campground
Ross Hill Park Family Campground sits on 50 picturesque acres along southeastern Connecticut’s Quinebaug River. All RV sites have water, electric, and sewer hookups as well as free Wi-Fi and cable TV. Pets are welcome. Other amenities offered here include a snack bar, playgrounds, a swimming pool with a sandy beach, and four dump stations. There is also a camp store with ice, RV supplies, firewood, snacks, and other small items. RV rates start at $55 per night.
Circle C Campground
Circle C Campground features a natural setting by the shoreline in northeast Connecticut. There are pine-shaded and grassy sites with water, electric, and cable hookups. Here, you can swim in the man-made pond, fish, canoeing, kayaking, and many other outdoor activities. The campground has organized activities for all ages, from hayrides and horseshoes to pot-luck dinners. RV rates start at $43 per night.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds
What to Do at
Pachaug State Forest
There are numerous activities to enjoy in this expansive forest. If you stay at the Frog Hollow Horse Camp, then you can ride your horses along the three trails specifically laid out for equestrian use. Anglers can fish at Beachdale Pond within the forest. If you like ghost stories, then you'll want to find the haunted hiking trail. Additionally, hunting is allowed during the appropriate seasons.
Ride horses, fish, swim, and boat throughout Pachaug State Forest. You can even go cross-country skiing and ride snowmobiles during the winter.
Inside Pachaug State Forest
Inside Pachaug State Forest, you'll find many hiking trails that pass through the area, with the most popular ones being Pachaug, Nehantic, Quinebaug, and Narragansett. Some of the trails permit horseback riding, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. Boating and freshwater fishing are other fun activities that many visitors do on the Pachaug River, which flows through the center of the forest. Camping, picnicking, snowmobiling, and hunting are also popular pastimes in Pachaug State Forest.
Hiking
Aside from Hell Hollow, a 3.8-mile moderate hiking trail that legend says is haunted, there are 23 additional hiking trails of various lengths and difficulties. These are in addition to the three designated horse-riding trails. The toughest hiking trail is nearly 40 miles long. It's called the Pachaug Trail and loops its way through Pachaug State Forest.
Stargazing
Because of all the trees of the forest, you might not think that Pachaug State Forest is a good place for stargazing, but there are enough clearings in the forest to be able to get good views of the night sky. There's even a family-friendly "Perseid Campout" during July, August, and early September every year to see the famous meteor shower that's part of the debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle Comet as it orbits once every 133 years.
Flora and Fauna
Peepers will peep for their mates all spring long among the trees in the forest. They're tiny frogs about the size of a postage stamp. You will also likely see turtles and water snakes if you explore near the ponds. Birders will be excited for the opportunity to add a variety of songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl species to their journals, and you will also encounter deer and beavers. In addition, there are also more than 300 species of trees, wildflowers, and other plants in the forest.
Fishing
Beachdale Pond is one of the best places to fish in Pachaug State Forest. It's stocked with trout every year, and the water is also home to pumpkinseeds, chain pickerel, and largemouth bass. Although neither Mount Misery Campground nor Frog Hollow Horse Camp have grills or fire rings, there are grills to use in the Green Fall area. You can barbecue your catch of the day there.
Boating
Pachaug Pond covers 841 acres. There's a boat launch there that you can use.
Swimming
You can swim at Green Fall Pond in Voluntown. There are lifeguards on duty and a well-marked swimming area with buoys.
How to Get to
Pachaug State Forest
To access the Voluntown entrance from Providence, Rhode Island, and all points east, take Route 95 west until you reach the exit for Route 102. Proceed south on Route 102. When you reach the junction with Route 165, proceed west. It will take you right into Voluntown.
From Norwich and all points west, simply drive east on Route 165 until you reach Voluntown.
From any place to the north, proceed to Route 395 and take Route 395 south. Exit Route 395 onto Route 201, which you will take east to Hopeville Road. Turn east-southeast on Hopeville Road. Follow Hopeville Road to Route 138 and drive east on that, which will take you right to Voluntown.
From North Stonington on the southern edge of Pachaug State Forest, along with all other points south, drive northwest on Route 2 until you get to Route 201, onto which you will turn north. When you reach Route 165, turn northeast. That will take you to Voluntown.
Entering Pachaug State Forest
Parking is available at the Voluntown entrance. There is no fee for day-use parking at Pachaug State Forest.
Pachaug State Forest Entry Fee : $0.0
You'll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Pachaug State Forest. If you don't have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pachaug State Forest
If you're going to camp overnight, then the only times of year you can visit are between April and September because the campsites are closed at other times. Otherwise, you can visit at any time of the year for fun day-use activities.
There are all manner of frogs, salamanders, snakes, turtles, birds, and a few mammals in Pachaug State Forest. Birders can watch out for waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors.
RVs are welcome at the Pachaug State Forest campgrounds. However, the campsites are primitive, and there are no hookups available.
You have to reserve a spot at Misery Mountain Campground and Green Falls Campground, but not at Frog Hollow Horse Camp. The nightly camping cost is $17 for Connecticut residents and $27 for out-of-state residents. In both cases, there is a $9 processing fee for reservations.
The rule is one pet per campsite at Misery Mountain Campground and Green Falls Campground, while Frog Hollow Horse Camp allows two pets. At Pachaug State Forest, all pets must be on a leash, and you are responsible for cleaning up after your furry family members.
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