Nelson's Family Campground Introduce
Nelson's Family Campground has been a cornerstone of the Connecticut outdoor experience since it first opened its gates in 1964. Nestled on 175 scenic acres in the heart of East Hampton, this family-owned and operated destination offers a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern convenience. For local residents and visitors alike, it serves as a "home away from home" where the focus is firmly on family bonding, relaxation, and traditional camping fun. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or a full season of adventure, Nelson’s provides an environment that feels both secluded and welcoming.
The atmosphere at Nelson's is defined by its commitment to family-oriented recreation. From the moment you arrive, the scent of campfires and the sounds of laughter from the playground set the tone for a classic New England camping trip. The campground is designed to accommodate a wide variety of camping styles, specifically catering to RV enthusiasts and families with children. With a history spanning over six decades, the management has cultivated a community feel that brings generations of campers back year after year to enjoy the simple pleasures of the great outdoors.
Location and Accessibility are standout features for Nelson's Family Campground. Situated at 71 Mott Hill Rd, East Hampton, CT 06424, the park is centrally located in Connecticut, making it an easy drive from major hubs like Hartford or the shoreline. The site is particularly well-equipped for modern travelers, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible parking lots, and accessible restroom facilities. This commitment to accessibility ensures that all guests, regardless of mobility needs, can fully enjoy the park's amenities. Additionally, the campground is "big rig" friendly, offering spacious sites and easy-to-navigate roads for even the largest RV units.
Services Offered at Nelson's Family Campground are designed to provide a comfortable and stress-free stay for all guests. The park emphasizes convenience, ensuring that you spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying your vacation. The following onsite services are available to enhance your experience:
- Full RV camping accommodations with high-quality gravel or grass pads.
- Comprehensive hookup options, including RV electric, water, and sewer hookups (sewer on select sites).
- Gray water hookup availability for sites without full sewer access.
- An onsite general store stocked with essentials, camping gear, and their famous soft-serve ice cream.
- Modern sanitation facilities including clean restrooms and hot showers.
- On-site laundry facilities for long-term or seasonal campers.
- Propane refill services and a free dump station for guest use.
- Reliable WiFi and cable TV access included with most campsite rentals.
- Flexible payment options including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
Features and Highlights of the campground make it a premier destination for active families and nature lovers. The park is meticulously maintained to offer a variety of recreational zones, from quiet wooded trails to bustling activity centers. Highlights of the facility include:
- A large, refreshing outdoor swimming pool perfect for summer days.
- A scenic fishing pond and a sandy beach area for sunbathing and sandcastle building.
- Extensive hiking trails that wind through the 175-acre property, including kid-friendly routes.
- Professional sports facilities including courts for pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and shuffleboard.
- Traditional outdoor games like horseshoes, bocce ball, and a popular Gaga ball pit.
- A modern playground and an indoor recreation hall with an arcade for rainy day entertainment.
- Scheduled themed weekends featuring activities like slime-making, bounce houses, crafts, and bingo.
- Dog-friendly policies, allowing you to bring your four-legged family members along for the trip.
- Spacious picnic areas and a community pavilion for group gatherings and meals.
- An onsite snack bar and small restaurant offering delicious, convenient meal options.
Contact Information: To plan your visit or inquire about seasonal rates, you can reach the office through the following channels:
- Address: 71 Mott Hill Rd, East Hampton, CT 06424, USA
- Phone: (860) 267-5300
- Mobile Phone: +1 860-267-5300
What is worth choosing about Nelson's Family Campground is the genuine sense of community and the sheer volume of activities provided for children. Unlike more transient RV parks, Nelson's has a thriving seasonal community that creates a safe, neighborhood-like atmosphere. The staff is widely praised for their helpfulness, often going above and beyond to assist "newbie" campers with parking their rigs or navigating the site. The proximity to local Connecticut landmarks like Gillette Castle State Park and the Goodspeed Opera House also makes it an excellent home base for exploring the state's cultural and historical offerings.
Ultimately, choosing Nelson's means choosing a legacy of quality. The combination of first-rate RV hookups, accessible facilities, and a relentless focus on "family fun" ensures that every member of the family, from toddlers to grandparents, has something to look forward to. Whether it's the smell of the campfire, the thrill of the slip-and-slide, or a quiet morning hike through the East Hampton woods, Nelson's Family Campground delivers an authentic Connecticut camping experience that is hard to match.
Location
Customer Reviews
Nelson’s Family Campground is the best!There’s so much to do, and my daughter has an amazing time with all the activities, from crafts and bounce houses to slip-and-slides, slime-making, and so much more. The camp store is our favorite spot; we love getting soft serve ice cream! The playground is great, the pool is super fun, and the smell of campfires filling the air just adds to the awesome atmosphere.They have horseshoes, pickleball, bingo, and even a little restaurant and the food is yummy! We love spending time at the beach and playing in the sand. Everyone there is so friendly, it truly feels like our home away from home!
Great first ever RV camping experience. We were required to leave a day early as the campground was closing after Columbus Day, even though the website allowed us to book for 4 nights! The reception was very apologetic and promptly refunded us and even offered to book us at their sister location. Folks were very friendly, helping my newbie hubby park our rig was a huge help! Lots of seasonal campers, alas the weather was pretty bed, Nor’easter! Overall the park met our needs and we’d be happy to book again in future.
We had a fantastic time at this campground and would highly recommend it, especially for families. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming and truly family-oriented.One of the highlights is the sheer number of activities available. There was constantly something going on for everyone, from young kids to adults, ensuring no one in our group was ever bored.It's important to know that the vast majority of the sites (about 99%) are seasonal, but we had no trouble booking one of the daily spots. A unique feature we absolutely loved is that despite its large size, the park doesn't allow golf carts. This made a huge difference, creating a wonderfully quiet and laid-back environment. It was so pleasant to see people walking and biking around, which really added to the relaxed, community feel.Overall, this was a great experience and an excellent choice for a fun-filled yet peaceful family getaway.
This was once a great place to camp. Since becoming corporate, it is nothing but a problem. When you book a site, they’ll promise you one or tell you it’s available and then when you show up, it’s a totally different site because you didn’t pay an extra 20 or $25 to lock it in. This very similar thing happened not too long ago where we were told D9 was available and we had to unexpectedly cancel upon canceling. I realize we were on E11 and I got charged 50% of what was the deposit was. I feel this is wrong as it’s not the site that I initially paid for and then unfortunately I had to cancel. Nelsons and Wolf, then become the type of Campground that’s more worried about making money than working with people who camp there for many years. We used to go there for five times a year now and we always bring two or other three campers with us-we’re hard press the go once a year after this experience, I will never return again. And if anybody asked me if I would ever camp At Nelsons, I would surely tell them not to waste money or time in this place.
This is one of the nicest campgrounds we have been to. We have been to a lot! The facilities are clean, up to date and ample. The grounds are kept up. A lot of shade and nice people. Would definitely come here again.
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