Rhode Island State Campgrounds

Rhode Island DEM runs five state campgrounds: Burlingame and Charlestown Breachway and East Beach, all in Charlestown, plus Fishermen's Memorial in Narragansett and George Washington in Chepachet. Burlingame is by far the largest, with about 700 sites and 20 cabins. Only Fishermen's Memorial has electric, water and sewer hookups. All five are booked through Reserve America, and 2027 bookings are on hold while DEM picks a new provider.

The Five Campgrounds

Burlingame State Campground, Charlestown

About 700 rustic sites and 20 cabins beside Watchaug Pond, with tent sites, trailer sites without hookups and group sites. No utilities. Restrooms with coin-operated hot showers, playground, arcade, camp store, freshwater beach, boat ramp, canoe rentals and hiking trails. Pets allowed. Restroom rebuild through April 2027, with fewer sites and the beach closed in 2026. Full guide: Burlingame Campground.

Charlestown Breachway State Campground, Charlestown

75 sites on the east side of the breachway, within walking distance of a lifeguarded beach, with views of Block Island Sound and strong saltwater fishing. Fully self-contained RVs only: no tents, pop-ups or canvas campers. No open fires, no pets, no utilities. Peak-season maximum stay is 7 nights. 2026 season started April 10. Guide: Charlestown Breachway.

East Beach State Campground, Charlestown

Specialty camping on three miles of undeveloped barrier beach, reached only by four-wheel drive. Self-contained 4WD units only, with a Barrier Beach Permit; no tents, travel trailers or fifth wheels, and no pets. Parts may close for nesting piping plovers. Peak-season maximum stay is 7 nights. 2026 season started May 23. Guide: East Beach.

Fishermen's Memorial State Campground, Narragansett

1011 Point Judith Road, Narragansett. DEM lists 147 trailer sites and 35 tent sites, with basketball, tennis and horseshoe courts and a playground, in what DEM calls a "seaside village" setting. It is close to Roger Wheeler, Salty Brine and Scarborough state beaches and about a mile from the Block Island Ferry dock. The only state campground with hookups:

• Area 1: electric, sewer and water; RVs only
• Area 2: electric, sewer and water; tents or RVs
• Area 3: no utilities; tents and canvas pop-ups only
• Area 4: electric and water; tents or RVs (DEM warns the power is not enough for RV air conditioning in extreme heat)

Pets allowed. DEM calls it extremely popular and advises booking early. 2026 season started April 10.

George Washington State Campground, Chepachet

Inside the roughly 4,000-acre George Washington Management Area on Bowdish Reservoir. The 100-acre camping area has 74 gravel sites for trailers and RVs, hike-in tent sites, two group-camping shelters and four cabins. No utilities; flush toilets in the shower buildings plus composting toilets. Some sites are hike-in only, up to about 0.4 miles. Pets allowed. 2026 season started April 10. DEM gives the address as 2141 Putnam Pike (its campground list says 2185 Putnam Pike).

Side-by-Side

• Tents: Burlingame, Fishermen's Memorial (Areas 2–4), George Washington
• Trailers without hookups: Burlingame, George Washington
• Hookups: Fishermen's Memorial only
• Self-contained RV only: Charlestown Breachway; East Beach (4WD)
• Cabins: Burlingame (20), George Washington (4)
• Group sites: Burlingame, George Washington
• Pets: Burlingame, Fishermen's Memorial, George Washington (up to two dogs or cats); not at Breachway or East Beach
• Peak maximum stay: 14 nights in 21 days, except 7 at Breachway and East Beach

Rates

DEM uses one rate table for all five, per site, per night:

• Tier 3, no hookups (including Charlestown Breachway): $18 resident, $36 non-resident
• Tier 2, electric, water and/or drive-through access: $24 resident, $45 non-resident
• Tier 1, waterfront views and/or full hookups and/or drive-through access: $28 resident, $55 non-resident
• Primitive cabins: $50 resident, $75 non-resident

Online and call-center bookings add an $8.75 non-refundable reservation fee. Rules for cancellations and minimum stays are on the reservations page.

Which One to Pick

• Tent camping in the woods near the ocean: Burlingame.
• RV with hookups: Fishermen's Memorial.
• Self-contained RV on the water: Charlestown Breachway, if you can live with the 7-night limit and no pets.
• Four-wheel-drive beach camping: East Beach.
• Quieter woods in northern Rhode Island, or a hike-in site: George Washington.
• A cabin: Burlingame or George Washington, both rustic.

Shared Rules

All five follow DEM's camping policy: no alcohol, no fireworks or weapons, quiet hours 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., generators 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., check-in from 1 p.m., check-out at 11 a.m. See rules and regulations.