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Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in American Legion State Forest accommodates pets at all campsites with spacious, well-spaced lots offering privacy for dogs and their owners. White Pines Campsites and Onion Mountain Park also welcome pets throughout their grounds, with tent sites, RV spots, and pet-friendly cabins available. Most campgrounds require pets to remain on leash at all times while on the property, with designated areas for exercise. Clean bathrooms and hot showers are accessible at most locations, though Onion Mountain Park features more primitive camping without facilities. Sites are generally spread out enough to minimize conflict between pets at neighboring campsites. Many campgrounds offer firewood and ice for purchase on-site, with campsites including fire rings where pets can rest nearby during evening relaxation.
Hiking trails connect directly to several campgrounds, providing excellent opportunities for dog walking and exercise. The Farmington River runs alongside Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, offering fishing opportunities while pets remain leashed nearby. Seasonal considerations affect pet comfort, with reviewers noting significant mosquito activity during summer months requiring appropriate protection for both humans and animals. Bug spray is essential when camping with pets in this region, particularly at Austin Hawes and White Pines. The primitive nature of Onion Mountain Park appeals to those seeking a more natural experience with their pets, with sites accessible via yellow or blue trails from the parking area. Some campers have spotted black bears in the area, particularly around White Pines Campsites, requiring proper food storage and pet management to prevent wildlife encounters.
"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"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"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."
"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"
"Tons of kids activities to keep the little ones busy and great hikes around! Tons of waterfalls in the area and the highest point in Connecticut."
"I happened upon Lone Oaks Camp Site when looking for someplace to stay in north eastern Connecticut."
"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
Check Availability"Trails are right near the sites so def scope out your spot before purchase. Has a full shower/bath and sink for washing very well kept and water pump rnot to far from the site."
from $17 / 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"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."
"We stayed near the water. Clean private bathrooms were a plus. Clean pool but only 3 feet deep."
from $72 - $122 / 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.
GuideMy first visit to New York state was amazing, largely in part due to my campsite at the Woodland Hills campground. I had a back in site and was having problems with my camper, and they were able to change to a pull through at time of check in. However, it was in early May and before the summer crowds. The pond has a fountain which sounds like a small waterfall at night, and wildflowers were in bloom. Very nice bathrooms and showers, and my dog loved the dog park.
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.
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!!
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.
TravelerI have camped here many times. There are three campsites; two that require short hikes (.5 miles and .75 miles, respectively) and a third that can be driven to. Each one is far away from the others. The two that are closest are still divided by several hundred feet of wooded area; you can hear if someone at the other campsite shouts loudly enough, but you can't hear normal conversation or see any lights.
There is no cell phone coverage at any of the campsites (if you care about that while camping).
All of the campsites are right next to the Shepaug River. There is a very crude outhouse between campsites #1 and #2, but none at #3. Each campsite has a designated fire pit, and the Steep Rock Association provides ample firewood. SR 1 and SR 2 both have picnic tables at them; SR 3 does not. Pets are welcome; there are many people hiking and camping with dogs, and people ride horses down some of the trails.
On 9/2/17, when camping at SR1, we saw a Dumpster on the side of the trail that leads from campsite SR1 to campsite SR2. I have never seen a Dumpster anywhere at Steep Rock before, so I don't know if that is a permanent new addition or if it was there temporarily.
Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the Steep Rock Association office during the week.
ScoutThis is a nice family friendly campground that makes for easy trips. There are a variety of sites available, from open field sites to more wooded and private areas. 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. Not pet friendly unfortunately.
The Farmington River Valley defines the Canton Center area with elevations ranging from 350 to 1,200 feet. Campgrounds in this region experience typical New England seasonal variations with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and 55-65°F at night. The dense hardwood forests provide substantial shade at most campsites.
Fishing the Farmington: Access prime fishing spots directly from Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, located along the Farmington River. "Excellent campground for tent campers. Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots," notes Tom C. The river is designated for trophy trout with catch-and-release regulations.
Small aircraft watching: Gentiles Campground sits adjacent to a small airfield. "There is an airport next to CG, but it is for single engine private planes only so not a problem," explains Michael H. Children can watch private planes take off and land throughout the day from many campsites.
Hiking nearby trails: The region offers numerous interconnected trail systems. "Check out Leather Man Cave, Whitestone Cliffs, Tory's Den, and Buttermilk Falls nearby," suggests Michelle B. from Black Rock State Park. Most trails are moderate difficulty with elevation changes under 500 feet, suitable for day hikes with dogs on leash.
Private wooded sites: White Pines Campsites offers secluded tent sites in wooded areas. "Our site was T3 and it was spacious and spread out from other tent sites. There was a tiny creek meandering behind the site and the woods just went on for miles," shares Sylvia P. The tent sites provide more privacy than the RV section.
Clean facilities: Cozy Hills Campground maintains excellent bathrooms. "Clean private bathrooms were a plus," notes Kim T. Jon R. adds, "Sites are well maintained, with fresh wood chips and groomed gravel." The campground regularly updates its facilities.
Access to swimming: Many campgrounds in the area feature swimming options. "The pool is very nice for families - with no deep end, really safe for younger kids," explains Ann S. about Cozy Hills Campground. Most pools open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with typical hours of 10am-7pm.
Wildlife encounters: Bear awareness is essential when camping in this region. "We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours," warns Sylvia P. at White Pines Campsites. Food storage in vehicles or bear boxes is necessary.
No cell service: Several campgrounds have limited connectivity. "No cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it," mentions Katherine P. about Austin Hawes Memorial Campground. Download offline maps before arrival.
Primitive camping options: For those seeking a more rugged experience with dogs, Onion Mountain Park provides basic sites. "We ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain), where we settled down for the night," describes Nora S. These sites require a short hike from parking areas.
Dog-friendly activities: Many trails connect directly to campgrounds for convenient dog walking. "I like the sites," says Marshall S. about Onion Mountain Park, noting it's "a very casual site and good for your first trip, you are close to your car and the road in case you need it so no need for a bear bag."
Family entertainment: Lone Oak Camp Sites provides scheduled activities for children. "Tons of kids activities to keep the little ones busy and great hikes around!" mentions Ashley A. Activities typically run from 10am-4pm on weekends during peak season.
Swimming safety: Pool depths vary by campground. Rino S. notes about Cozy Hills, "The pool is nice, no deep end." This makes supervision easier for families with young children while still providing cooling relief during hot summer days.
Site selection considerations: Lake Compounce Campground offers spacious RV sites. "Even though you face your neighbor, the sites were long enough that our door wasn't directly across from our neighbor," explains Tina. Request end sites for additional space.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "Not a negative against the camp site but bring your bug spray! Bugs and ticks abound but it's nature," advises Anthony and Kim C. about Austin Hawes Memorial Campground. They recommend using the dump station upon departure rather than during busy check-in times.
Road navigation: Some campgrounds feature challenging access roads. "Roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs," warns Mae about Gentiles Campground. Call ahead for specific route recommendations if driving an RV longer than 30 feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Canton Center, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Canton Center, 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 Canton Center, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 108 dog-friendly camping locations near Canton Center, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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