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Lake Compounce Campground welcomes pets across its diverse accommodation options including tents, RVs, cabins, glamping sites, and yurts. Sites feature water and electric hookups, firewood availability, picnic tables, and clean shower facilities. Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in American Legion State Forest provides spacious, well-spaced sites where dogs can enjoy the natural surroundings without feeling crowded. Visitors use The Dyrt to find real feedback on camping near Bloomfield, Connecticut. Several campgrounds in the area maintain dog-friendly policies while offering varying amenity levels—from more developed facilities at Bear Creek to primitive options at Onion Mountain Park. The tent spots at Lake Compounce are relatively small and close together, requiring pet owners to manage their animals carefully in the limited space.
Onion Mountain Park offers free, primitive pet-friendly tent camping with fire rings but no amenities such as water, electricity, or restrooms. The hiking trails at American Legion State Forest provide excellent opportunities for dogs to explore, with the Farmington River accessible for fishing and paddling with pets. One camper noted the park is mosquito-central in summer months, making bug spray essential for both humans and pets. Nearby facilities include the Pleasant Valley General Store, which provides camping supplies, live bait, and fishing gear. White Pines Campsites operates from April through Columbus Day weekend, giving pet owners seasonal camping options with RV hookups, tent sites, and cabin accommodations. Wildlife awareness is important, as coyote activity has been reported at some area campgrounds.
"We were passing through Connecticut and needed a place to crash. Loved this campsite! Very chilled and secluded in your own site. I liked that it felt like a litrle community but still quotr private."
"Hawes is one of the few campgrounds in CT that's dog friendly. The sites are nice and large, with room for trailers, and they also have a few cabin sites as well."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"People left their left over food scraps in the grass by my camp so not only has my dog been eating it, I also hear coyotes. Won’t be surprised if I see a bear in the morning.."
"Affiliated with Lake Compounce Amusement Park adjacent to campground."
"We arrived at the parking lot of Onion Mountain Park at around 2 pm and proceeded to get our bags packed for the hike."
"It’s up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take. However, it’s not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite."
"We got a tent spot and it was perfect since it was the furthest one away and there was no one near us which is probably why we loved it so much bc we were so isolated. a little disappointed in the site"
"However one issue was the garbage situation. Had to walk a long distance to throw out the trash."
from $74 / night
Check Availability"The kids had a blast fishing and riding their bikes around. We are going to make this a yearly thing from now on!!"
"This is over the boarder in mass from ct We did a three month seasonal Site Staff is super nice and helpful We had a nice quite spot even though we where in the road to the lake"
"If you’re a pet owner, you’ll absolutely love the dog run!"
"We came to discover new bike trails and this one was close to the Hop bike trail which we enjoyed very much"
from $45 - $68 / night
Check Availability"Not many tenting sites but along a beautiful lake. Pets allowed. Bathrooms close by 10, something to keep in mind. And they’re cash or check only!"
"Connecticut is LACKING when it comes to outdoor activities when compared to some of the places around the country."
from $70 / night
Check Availability"We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites."
"There’s two brand new bathrooms on site one of which is conveniently located right by the pool. Owners are doing new renovations to make this place look good!"
from $55 - $150 / night
Check Availability"The campground also has a lake for swimming,trails for hiking, and some nice quiet areas for fishing. Well maintained bathrooms, with available showers, are also spread throughout the grounds."
"Beautiful state park, very clean .. fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers .. stores within a 5 minute drive. Most of the camp ground site are not secluded .."
from $17 - $50 / night
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ScoutWe have enjoyed our stay. Nice campground with lots of activities and things to do. However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high. While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there.
GuideMost amazing weekend with tons of woods (privacy is huge for us). Very friendly guests and staff! Amazing weekend with lots of fun for the kids and even the dogs! We’ve been to campgrounds with playgrounds worse than the waters edge dog park. Every one of us had a great time with the perfect campsite deep in the woods (still able to park my 26’ camper trailer). Swimming pool, great playground, among lots of trails and wooded area surrounding almost every site. Best camping weekends we’ve ever had have been at Waters Edge.
TravelerQuaint little campground. Not many tenting sites but along a beautiful lake. Pets allowed. Bathrooms close by 10, something to keep in mind. And they’re cash or check only! Taylor Pond is not far and a great hike to bring both kids and pets. This campground was perfect for us and our dog. Bring your own kayaks or use the campgrounds free of charge.
ScoutGreat family campground with lots of activities. A little pricey. Plenty of open space a dog park area. 3 pools a kiddie pool and outdoor in ground hot tub. Golf cart rentals. Very clean and accommodating
RangerI really wanted to like this place. It's in a very cool area that I didn't expect to be so awesome. First main issue was how bad the cell reception is. Normally, I'd day that's a perk for camping but we're full-timers and work on the road so it is important for us. Next, the place is massive and they are more about make money than making people comfortable. What could easily be a very nice and spacious pull-thru spot are 2 back to back back-ins. Unless you're lucky enough to get an end spot, those are pull-thru. Pros: awesome dog park, great office with laundry, activities, arcades, adult only room, community campfire, indoor pool with lifeguard, the staff is nice, there's a lake for swimming, boating, catch and release fishing. Their basketball court is on a shuffleboard court, playground is nice though. Close to Old Sturbridge Village and many cool hikes and MA cities.
TravelerBowdish Lake Camping Area is the worst campground we have ever been to and we travel fulltime! Their website states: $1,800-$3,600 per season (look for yourself on their website if you don’t believe me). We get there after reserving site Blue 65. They then charged us $3,900. Why? We have no idea! Then they charged us an additional $75.00 for our truck. Why I don’t know? Then they charged us an additional $50.00 for having our own kayak. Then they charged us an additional $50.00 for a small dog, $100.00 for large dogs (by the way they have no dog park). Then they charged us an additional $100.00 for cable. Then they charged us an additional .50 cents per kWh ( which cost us an average of$250.00 extra per month). The public facilities are filthy. They do not supply any toilet paper, hand soaps, hot water, etc. They charge you an additional charge by coin operated showers (cold water only) that are crawling with spiders, bugs and cobwebs.
ScoutWe had an incredible stay at Douglas Forest RV Resort! From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by how peaceful and well-maintained everything was. The RV sites are spacious and easy to navigate, with full hookups and strong Wi-Fi— a big plus for us since we work remotely on the road. What really sets this place apart is the location. You’re literally steps away from Douglas State Forest, which made morning hikes and evening strolls absolutely magical. It’s pet-friendly too, and our dog loved the wooded trails and open areas. The staff was super friendly and helpful, and the camp store had everything we needed. Even though the recreation area is still being built, the amenities already in place more than made up for it. We’re already planning our next trip for summer when the pool opens! If you’re looking for a relaxing spot that blends nature with convenience, look no further. Douglas Forest RV Resort is a true hidden gem!
TravelerClean, family friendly campground. Pet friendly with plenty of area to walk. Close to I-95 and 15 minutes from the beach. fishing areas for the kids. Spots are well organized and no issues with hookups. Propane is available at the store.
LegendI had a hankering for East Coast seafood, so I picked Hammonesett Beach State Park for Connecticut. Our 2nd state of 5.
Hammonesett Beach has a huge campground. They divide the loops with names. I unfortunately chose Pequot. This loop has THE WORST bathrooms/showers on the South side of the campground. Looks like they were built in 1950s with rotten wood siding. Dirty. The showers were outside the bathroom- there was a bench & hooks OUTSIDE! We found out all the other loops had modern bathhouses.
My first impression of this campground is it's loud, crazy busy & there's traffic noise from the beach road. I actually liked it! This is a fun campground for families. There were kids on bikes, scooters, skateboards,roller blades. Watch your speed! They don't always watch out for your car.
I found out most people stay through Sunday & leave on Monday. There were still lots of campers left. Lots of tent campers.
I chose site 14 on the Pequot Loop because I thought I would have a view of one of the ponds. There was tall vegetation, so that was out.
The sites on the other side of the loop were right by the main beach road. Noisy during the day, but quiet at night.
There are some sites with shade, but most are sunny.
There's no electricity at most of the sites. Our site was full sun(yay for the solar panel!). On Beach Road in the campground there's 2 rows of full hookup sites, but they go FAST! I tried.
NO PETS! Including dogs.
No WiFi, but there's cell service. At least 5 dump stations.
The beach was popular.
There was a stream running from a pond that kids were playing in.
They have a beautiful Nature Center. A couple of easy hikes through one of the preserves.
This was a good base camp for the area. Gillette Castle & other state parks are within driving distance. Connecticut is a beautiful state!!
Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in American Legion State Forest offers spacious campsites across 30 acres of woodland terrain. Located 23 miles northwest of Bloomfield near Pleasant Valley, this park sits at 800 feet elevation along the Farmington River. The camping season runs May through September with temperatures ranging from 50°F nights to 85°F days during peak summer months.
Fishing the Farmington River: The Farmington River at Austin Hawes Memorial Campground provides excellent trout fishing opportunities. "Trophy trout river with excellent fishing, but catch and release only," notes camper Melissa R. The river access makes it easy for anglers to spend the day on the water.
Explore hiking trails: The Henry Buck Trail near Austin Hawes Memorial Campground offers moderate terrain for day hikes. "Our family likes to get out into the hiking trails and hit activities in the area vs the all inclusive campground experience and this camp site provided just that," writes Anthony and Kim C. Most trails are well-marked with distance indicators at trailheads.
Swimming and paddling: Several campgrounds offer water recreation options. "We jumped in the river and got out of the heat," shares Ashley B. about her experience at Austin Hawes. At Lake Compounce Campground, campers mention, "It would have been nice if they had a place to swim (in the camping area) besides for at the main park," indicating swimming is available at the adjacent amusement park.
Private, spacious sites: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Bloomfield feature well-spaced campsites. At White Pines Campsites, campers appreciate the layout: "We stayed with a group of friends - about a dozen in all. It was easy to coordinate with the staff to get a few tent sites and a cabin in close distance." The campground accommodates groups while maintaining adequate spacing.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention facility quality. "Bathrooms are nice, maintained, and well lit. You can get ice and firewood at the camp store at the entrance," reports Emily M. about Austin Hawes Memorial Campground. At Prospect Mountain Campground, one visitor noted, "I flew up here from Louisiana and met my sister in a primitive tent site. The grounds were absolutely beautiful and very well maintained!"
Seasonal activities: Many pet-friendly camping areas near Bloomfield offer structured recreation. "Prospects Mountain is a great campground for families with younger kids. They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides," explains Sandra S. These scheduled events provide entertainment options beyond natural attractions.
Cell service limitations: Some campgrounds have connectivity challenges. At Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, "No cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it," states Katherine P. This can affect communication and navigation plans.
Bug preparation essential: Insects can be problematic during summer months. "In the summer, this place is mosquito central, so bring lots of bug spray or be eaten alive!" warns Katherine P. about Austin Hawes Memorial Campground. Ticks are also present in wooded areas.
Site selection matters: Campground layouts vary significantly. At The Quarry Campground, "Sites were wide open and easy to access, my only complaint being that they offer 'full hookups' but you're told to just leave your grey tanks open," notes Brittany V. Researching specific site characteristics before booking improves satisfaction.
Water recreation options: Several campgrounds offer swimming and fishing opportunities for children. At Prospect Mountain Campground, "Great pool with time for adult only swim time," mentions Gale S. This allows families to cool off during hot summer days while providing structure.
Playground access: Wilderness Lake Park provides family-friendly amenities. "Quaint little campground. Not many tenting sites but along a beautiful lake. Pets allowed," says Kailie G. The campground offers free kayaks and canoes for lake exploration.
Wildlife awareness: Parents should monitor children around wildlife areas. At Lake Compounce Campground, one camper reported: "People left their left over food scraps in the grass by my camp so not only has my dog been eating it, I also hear coyotes. Won't be surprised if I see a bear in the morning." Proper food storage prevents wildlife encounters.
Hookup considerations: RV sites vary in amenity levels. At The Quarry Campground, "Overall fantastic spot! They advertise full hu but turns out to be a lie when you pull in... all full hi is given to seasonal customers. We did receive a pull thru with 50/30/20 and water," reports Brittany V. Clarify exact hookup options when booking.
Site privacy varies: RV parks have different spacing approaches. At Lake Compounce Campground, "You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded. Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great," explains Diane R. Research site maps before selecting specific spots.
Seasonal availability: Most pet-friendly RV campgrounds near Bloomfield operate on limited schedules. White Pines Campsites runs from "April 16 to Columbus Day weekend," making advance reservations essential during peak summer months. Off-season options are limited in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bloomfield, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bloomfield, CT is Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bloomfield, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 119 dog-friendly camping locations near Bloomfield, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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