RV Rental Housatonic Meadows State Park, CT

Some of the most popular day-use activities at Housatonic Meadows State Park are hiking, fishing, swimming at the beach, and watching wildlife. Fly fishing is particularly popular at this park, and there are over two miles of river shoreline reserved for fly fishers to use. The clear, cold waters of the river are great testing grounds for fly fishers to catch both trout and bass, and the surrounding pine trees create a pleasant atmosphere to fish in.

Other water activities that can be sought out while staying in this park in a rental RV are canoeing, kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding, and the like. There are primitive boat launches from which you’ll be able to get canoes and kayaks out of the water, and the decently sized width of the river provides plenty of room for exploration. The water temperature of the river stays moderately cold even in the warm months, which can be rather refreshing under the hot summer sun.

Hiking in the park is also a fantastic way to explore the grounds. There are numerous hiking trails that can be accessed from the onsite state park RV campgrounds, and other trailheads can be found throughout the park. The Appalachian Trail, which totals about 2,200 miles, runs through the park and can be hiked on by visitors. Just be sure not to get carried away and hike too far, as you’ll have to double back to get back to your RV for the night.

An easy way to explore a new area is to seek out spots to enjoy state park RV camping, as you typically know what to expect with state park run campgrounds. Housatonic Meadows State Park has over 60 campsites in total, 57 of which are RV compatible with standard electric and water hookups. Of these sites, the equipment length varies between a maximum of 25 feet and 35 feet. Some of the sites are back-in only, while others allow you to pull through for convenience.

Each campsite has its own grill, fire ring, picnic table, and offers moderate privacy with views of the surrounding nature. There are also amenities that are shared between the entire campground, things such as flushing toilets, a dump station, a comfort station, an amphitheater, a ranger station, and showers. All campers can also use the softball fields, the recycling and garbage station, the freshwater pumps, and ample parking lots.

Although you’ll be immersed in nature while RV camping at Housatonic Meadows State Park, there are plenty of nearby towns to visit for supplies, museums, and modern attractions. Sharon, CT, which is one of the closest towns and is to the west of the state park, has a few different restaurants to enjoy, in addition to a museum. The restaurants in town include a small cafe, a barbeque joint, and a family-friendly American style restaurant. Also in town is the Sharon Historical Society, which is a good place to visit to learn local and regional history.

Torrington, which is to the southeast of the park, is far larger than Sharon and has more to offer. Although it is a bit further of a drive, there are dozens of restaurants and a handful of museums to keep you occupied during your time in town. The KidsPlay Children’s Museum is a fabulous place to go with young children eager to learn, while the Torrington Historical Society is more geared toward adults. The two museums are very close to one another, so visiting both in one trip is easy to do.

Food options in town include local bakeries, family-friendly pubs, Italian restaurants, Vietnamese eateries, and more. There are small delis where you’re able to grab a sandwich on the go made with locally sourced ingredients and high-end restaurants with extensive wine lists and delicious menus. All-in-all, should Torrington doesn’t have what you are looking for, Hartford is just another half hour further to the east and has even more restaurants to choose from.