🌤 Weather at Hopeville Pond State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29–70 °F | 58–84 °F | 34–76 °F | 21–43 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Norwich Public Utility Plt, 7 mi away, elevation 20 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Wooded Campground and Swimming Pond in Eastern Connecticut — 554 Acres, 80 Campsites Including Electric and Water Hookups, Rental Cabin, Sandy Swimming Beach on Hopeville Pond, Fishing, Hiking Trails Through Pachaug State Forest, Griswold New London County Connecticut
Hopeville Pond State Park is a 554-acre state park in Griswold, New London County, Connecticut. The park features a wooded campground with 80 sites including tent, RV, and electric/water hookup options, a rental cabin for those preferring indoor lodging, a sandy swimming beach on Hopeville Pond with lifeguard staffing in summer, fishing in Hopeville Pond for bass, panfish, and trout, hiking trails that connect into the surrounding 27,000-acre Pachaug State Forest (the largest state forest in Connecticut), a boat launch for non-motorized and small motorized boats, picnic areas with tables and grills, and a dump station for RV campers.
Hopeville Pond is eastern Connecticut’s camping headquarters — an 80-site wooded campground tucked within the 27,000-acre Pachaug State Forest, the largest state forest in Connecticut. The campground fills up fast on summer weekends — book through ReserveAmerica early.
The sandy swimming beach on Hopeville Pond is lifeguard-staffed during summer and open to both campers and day-use visitors. The pond itself offers good bass and panfish fishing, and trout are stocked seasonally.
Things to Do
- Camping — 80 sites: tent, RV, electric/water hookups, cabin
- Swimming — sandy beach, lifeguards in summer
- Fishing — bass, panfish, stocked trout
- Hiking — trails into 27,000-ac Pachaug State Forest
- Boating — launch for non-motorized + small motors
- Picnicking — tables and grills
Camping Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Sites | 80 — wooded, tent + RV |
| Hookups | Select sites: electric + water |
| Cabin | 1 rental cabin available |
| Dump Station | Yes |
| Reservations | ReserveAmerica — book early |
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Griswold, New London County, CT |
| Size | 554 acres |
| Adjacent | Pachaug State Forest (27,000 ac) |
| Swimming | Sandy beach — lifeguards in summer |
| Managed By | Connecticut DEEP |
| Coordinates | 41.5775° N, 71.8086° W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hopeville Pond State Park have camping?
Yes — Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold, Connecticut offers 80 wooded campsites including tent sites, RV sites, and select sites with electric and water hookups. A rental cabin is also available. The 554-acre park features a sandy swimming beach with lifeguards in summer, fishing for bass and stocked trout, hiking trails connecting to the 27,000-acre Pachaug State Forest, and a boat launch. Reservations are available through ReserveAmerica — book early for summer weekends.
Last updated: May 2026
Wildlife & Nature
Hopeville Pond State Park’s 554-acre forest and 100-acre pond create a diverse ecosystem in Connecticut’s eastern Quiet Corner. The pond supports warmwater fish including largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and panfish. Painted turtles bask on every available log, their colorful shells gleaming in the sun. The surrounding oak-hickory forest produces acorns and nuts that sustain wild turkey flocks, gray squirrels, and white-tailed deer through winter. Eastern box turtles — slow-moving forest dwellers that can live over 100 years — are occasionally found crossing park roads. The park’s campground provides an excellent base for exploring eastern Connecticut’s “Quiet Corner” — the least developed and most rural region of the state.
Nearby Attractions
Pachaug State Forest — Connecticut’s largest (27,000+ acres) — surrounds the park with extensive trail networks for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Green Falls Reservoir in Pachaug offers secluded fishing and paddling. Foxwoods Resort Casino (Mashantucket Pequot) and Mohegan Sun — two of the largest casinos in the Western Hemisphere — are both within 20 minutes. Mystic Seaport Museum is 30 minutes south. Sterling and Voluntown retain their 18th-century agricultural character — stone walls, weathered barns, and working farms define the landscape.
More parks nearby: Pachaug State Forest is a short drive away, while Salt Rock State Campground lies a short drive away.
⛺ Camping at Hopeville Pond State Park: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | 80 sites — 80 sites in a heavily wooded setting near the pond, some accessible from the water; 11 campsites offer electric and water hook-ups. Standard sites $17 resident/$27 non-resident per night; hookup sites $27 resident/$37 non-resident (plus processing fee). Bathhouses with hot showers, dishwashing, and potable water. Alcohol-free campground. Car-top boat launch available from the camping area. |
|---|---|
| Cabins & Lodging | One rustic cabin: two-room layout with double bed and two sets of bunk beds, comfortably sleeps four with space for up to six. Three-night minimum. $50 resident/$60 non-resident per night plus processing fee, 15% occupancy tax, and refundable $50 security deposit. |
| Pets | No pets allowed in the campground. |
| Reservations | Reserve online via Reserve America or by phone at 1-877-668-CAMP (2267); $9 processing fee applies to all reservations. |
| Special sites | Dumping station on site. Six-person maximum per site. Maximum stay 14 days. Firewood and ice available for purchase. |
| Season notes | 2026 season: opens Friday, April 17 and closes Monday, October 12 at noon. 2027 season: opens Friday, April 16 and closes Monday, October 11 at noon. |
Camping questions about Hopeville Pond State Park
Can you camp at Hopeville Pond State Park?
Yes. Hopeville Pond State Park has 80 campsites. 80 sites in a heavily wooded setting near the pond, some accessible from the water; 11 campsites offer electric and water hook-ups. Standard sites $17 resident/$27 non-resident per night; hookup sites $27 resident/$37 non-resident (plus processing fee). Bathhouses with hot showers, dishwashing, and potable water. Alcohol-free campground. Car-top boat launch available from the camping area.
How do you reserve a campsite at Hopeville Pond State Park?
Reserve online via Reserve America or by phone at 1-877-668-CAMP (2267); $9 processing fee applies to all reservations.
Are there cabins at Hopeville Pond State Park?
One rustic cabin: two-room layout with double bed and two sets of bunk beds, comfortably sleeps four with space for up to six. Three-night minimum. $50 resident/$60 non-resident per night plus processing fee, 15% occupancy tax, and refundable $50 security deposit.
Are pets allowed at the Hopeville Pond State Park campground?
No pets allowed in the campground.
Source: ctparks.com (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Hopeville Pond State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets on a leash are permitted in most Connecticut state parks and forests, but not in buildings, swimming areas or state park campgrounds.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Pets must be leashed and under control at all times; in state forest camping areas the leash may be no longer than 7 feet.
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are prohibited in swimming areas; Sherwood Island and Squantz Pond State Parks ban pets entirely April 15 - September 30.
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are banned from all state park campgrounds; they are allowed only in the American Legion, Pachaug and Salt Rock state forest campgrounds, but not on rustic cabin sites.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Pets prohibited year-round at Dinosaur State Park and in the formal gardens and beach at Harkness Memorial State Park.
Are dogs allowed at Hopeville Pond State Park?
Pets on a leash are permitted in most Connecticut state parks and forests, but not in buildings, swimming areas or state park campgrounds. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via portal.ct.gov. More: Connecticut state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
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