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Ward Pound Ridge Reservation offers lean-to shelters and tent sites for campers with pets. Located in Pound Ridge, New York, about 30 minutes from Darien, this park permits dogs on leash throughout the campground and on its extensive trail system. Campsites are described as large and private with access to hiking trails. Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown provides another option for pet owners, featuring grass camping areas with nearby hiking paths. Both parks maintain clean restroom facilities and allow pets in tent and RV camping areas. The dog-friendly trails at Ward Pound Ridge span over 40 miles through varied terrain, making it popular for overnight trips with pets. Sites are spaced far enough apart to provide privacy for campers with active dogs.
Hiking trails throughout these pet-friendly campgrounds accommodate leashed dogs year-round. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation's trail system features creek crossings and open fields suitable for dog walking, while Blydenburgh offers a 7-mile loop trail around the lake where dogs can cool off. Campground pet policies typically require leashes no longer than 6 feet, proper waste disposal, and keeping pets attended at all times. Both campgrounds maintain porta-potties or restrooms close to camping areas, essential for families camping with pets. Most sites include fire pits and picnic tables where dogs can rest nearby while owners prepare meals. Parks enforce quiet hours that help prevent excessive barking disturbances, creating a peaceful environment for all campers.
"Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to."
"Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail. 30 or so sites around a central public restroom."
"Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms"
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
"The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
from $21 / night
Check Availability"The beach is in a walking distance. You can swim or fish there. This camp site has a relatively new and clean facility. There are many farms near by where you can get fresh veggies and fruits."
"However there are too many loud families and the sites are too close in proximity for me."
from $24 - $250 / night
Check Availability"We love this State Park because it's close to our home for a quick getaway. This time we tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. "
"I love kettletown, it’s a favorite that is very close to home. It’s a small camp ground and it’s absolutely beautiful."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"* cottages far enough away from each other
- fire ring with Adirondack chairs
- dumpster and recycling within walking distance
- lots of bone dry firewood around for campfire
- walkable beach"
"Overall my experience was positive. Camping Sites
Each camping site has a picnic table and barbeque grill."
from $24 - $320 / night
Check Availability"It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around."
"They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything."
"This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station. Not much else. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room."
"Basicly a parking lot, but the location can't be beat. 2 ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away that will take you yyo manhatten."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability
GuideI grew up in Long Beach. If you’re looking for a spot to camp so you can surf, this is perfect! It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around.
benefits: allows dogs childrens playground beach programs like movie nights throughout the summer
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.
ScoutVery nice family oriented, places the beach, which is great except for the birds watch out they come at you. They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything.
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.
ScoutBeautiful campsites! Lots of lean to sites with fireplaces in them. You have to go in person to make a reservation and pay. The camp area is beautiful, especially in the fall. Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to.
Rangerthis place seemed okay to begin with, but then you start noticing that the bathrooms are run down and not well kept, the lots are near an expressway that constantly has loud traffic, and there are tons of feral cats wandering and sometimes even begging for food. i probably would like to find a different place to stay during my next visit
GuideCamp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.
GuideWard Pound Ridge is very well known to the locals as a great place for sled-riding in winter (Pell Hill area) and a place for big group gatherings. The many different trails are frequented by the locals as well. In recent years, the county government also allow bow-hunting of deer to control its population during the months of October to December.
As far as camping as a family, it is not too exciting a place for us. The grounds are far too well trimmed, as you can see in one of the videos. There is wide open space and the paths are well paved so kids can have fun riding the bikes or running around. There is also many trails of various difficulty levels to suit everyone, including horseback riders. The Trailside Nature Museum is also fun for the kids.
There are lean-to sites as well as tent sites. A maximum of eight people in two tents are allowed at each site. But if you really do have a party of eight, one picnic table seems to be inadequate. The sites are much farther away from the comfort stations than most campgrounds we have been to. But there are port-a-potties very close to the sites, which is very important when you have young kids.
All in all, it is not a place I would recommend if you want to get close to nature.
Pet friendly camping near Darien, Connecticut offers multiple options within a 30-mile radius. The coastal Connecticut region sits at elevations averaging 25-50 feet above sea level with a humid continental climate that brings warm summers and moderate precipitation year-round. Campgrounds in this area typically receive 45-50 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush surroundings during peak camping season from May through October.
Hiking with elevation gain: Clarence Fahnestock State Park provides varied terrain for dog owners just 35 miles from Darien. "There is great hiking and a lake you can get to and swim in right from the campsite. If you are in to apple picking it is a short drive and it is easy to get into town to take the train to and from NYC," reports camper Asher K.
Stargazing without light pollution: At Kettletown State Park, located 20 miles from Darien, campers can view night skies away from urban light. "It's a great place. The sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience," notes camper Jeremy S. from nearby Ward Pound Ridge.
Seasonal activities: Fall brings special opportunities at regional parks. "We make a habit of going during the end-of-summer/fall when you can watch the leaves change along the hiking trails, go apple and pumpkin picking near the campsites, and eat some scrumptious apple cinnamon doughnuts and drink pumpkin hot chocolate," writes Robyn S. about her experiences at Fahnestock State Park.
Platform tent sites: Beaver Pond Campground offers an alternative to standard ground tenting. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," notes Ethan K.
Private sites at reasonable rates: Cost-conscious campers appreciate Wildwood State Park for its value. "Good campground. Good hiking, clean, close facilities and well maintained. Lake is great and only a short walk, but no swimming. Sites are open and fairly close would be only negative," says Michael G. about nearby Blydenburgh Park.
Off-season tranquility: For those seeking a quieter experience with pets, timing matters. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great," reports Rebecca S. about Fahnestock State Park.
Reservation requirements: Croton Point Park has specific booking processes. "The reservation process is a bit wonky. You need to call (no online reservations) and then wait for an e-mail, but the e-mail does not tell you your assigned site; you have to wait until you check in to find out your site," explains Lee D.
Fire pit availability: Not all sites provide fire rings. "Lame not having a fire ring, you have to rent one or bring your own. Beach is beautiful, very rocky, bring your water shoes," shares Ossama B. about his stay at Wildwood State Park.
In-person site selection: For Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, direct booking is required. "There is no phone or internet reservations and has to be made in person at the office. I would recommend call earlier and come in few minutes earlier to 9 am when the office opens to find the best spots," advises Anil S.
Protected swimming areas: Heckscher State Park provides designated swimming zones. "They have a shop at the entrance to get supplies if you need it and you can rent firepits and buy firewood. The ice cream trucks comes by as well. There is a playground just for the campground," notes Giselle P.
Playground access: Some campgrounds include child-friendly amenities. "Beautiful campsites! Lots of lean to sites with fireplaces in them. The camp area is beautiful, especially in the fall. Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available," reports Misty V. about Ward Pound Ridge.
Seasonal program availability: Check for special events when planning trips with children. "On one visit there was a magician performing for the camp goers. I've even been there while there was a philharmonic concert near the campground," shares Giselle P. about Heckscher State Park.
Navigating parkway restrictions: Consider route planning for larger vehicles. "I drove down from Connecticut to Long Island to find the main routes to the campsite all went through New York's parkways. There are height restrictions on the parkways so RVs and semis cannot travel on them without a high risk of crashing into the bridges," cautions Matt S. about Nickerson Beach Campground.
Hookup variations: Beaver Pond Campground offers specific amenities for RVs. "The RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities," shares Lori R. about her experience at nearby Wildwood State Park.
Quiet times enforcement: Some campgrounds maintain stricter noise policies than others. "Quiet time at night is laughable as the enjoyment of being in nature rages on into the early morning. I'm not overly bothered by the late nights and chorus of noise, but living in the megalopolis that I call home, it would be nice to not have the ruckus constantly follow you," notes Steve W. about his stay at Beaver Pond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Darien, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Darien, CT is Ward Pound Ridge Reservation with a 4.5-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Darien, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 dog-friendly camping locations near Darien, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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