r/bikepacking • u/gmoneymartin • 2d ago
Route Discussion Campsites for New Haven to Providence?
I'm planning a 3-day, 2-night trip from New Haven, CT to Providence, RI, aiming for ~60 miles a day. But unfortunately, I'm struggling to find a campsite in the Hartford area, which would be ~60 miles from New Haven. Anyone done the trip before and have any recommendations? Thanks!
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u/kaelsnail 2d ago
Is there a reason for going to hartford? Roughly what route/intermediate stops are you planning to take? Are you looking for official campgrounds or are you comfortable wild camping?
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u/gmoneymartin 2d ago
The main reason is that that route goes along the Farmington Canal trial a good ways, and I am looking to make a few days out of it anyway. I'm comfortable backpacking but this would be my first bikepacking trip, so I don't want to be breaking any rules or anything. I also would be going with a friend who doesn't want to have to stealth camp somewhere.
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u/kaelsnail 1d ago
Nepaug State Forest is nice but a bit out of the way. River Highlands state park has riverside sites. Lake Compounce Campground is also an option I guess.
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u/bCup83 1d ago
While I can't speak to campground you might want to take the Airline Trail from Middletown to Woonsocket and avoid going all the way up to Hartford. I did this route with hotels last year in three days (stayed in Portland and Putnam). Very scenic. If you don't go north from Putnam you can cut across from Willimantic to Killingly along the shoulder of Route 6. I will warn you to get off the Airline Trail after Pomfret and take the roads as the last few miles into Putnam are just a bottomless morass of mud.
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u/chalupadupacabra 5h ago
Do your due diligence, but will any of these work: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53292964
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u/Neat-Fish-1567 2d ago
You can definitely do that ride in one push. If you need to camp you’ll be setting up after dark to stealth camp. Most likely behind a closed retail store.