Lake Compounce Campground accommodates pets with spacious tent, RV, and cabin sites alongside unique glamping and yurt options. Wolf's Den Family Campground and GrandView CampResort & Cottages provide pet-friendly accommodations with picnic tables, fire rings, and water hookups. Markham Meadows welcomes pets at their wooded sites with electric hookups and a central location for exploring the Connecticut River valley. Riverdale Farm Campsites and Waters Edge Family Campground offer cabin options where pets can stay with their owners. Bear Creek Campground includes a designated pet area and maintains clean facilities with pet waste stations. Sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, though some lack shade for pets. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed when outside and may limit the number of pets per site.
Hidden Lake Farm provides a peaceful tent camping setting for pet owners, with drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings available. The five-site property offers a quiet environment away from the typical campground noise. Hammonasset State Park Campground permits pets at both drive-in and walk-in sites, providing easy access to Connecticut's largest shoreline park. Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground features hiking trails suitable for leashed dogs, with tent and RV sites available from April through September. Wildlife encounters are common at these natural settings, so keeping pets secured is essential. The bathrooms at Bear Creek Campground are exceptionally clean but can be a considerable walk from some tent sites. Most campgrounds in the area enforce quiet hours starting around 10 PM, which helps prevent excessive barking issues and maintains a peaceful environment for all campers.
"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."
$20 - $70 / night
"I 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."
"Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite. Well kept showers and bathrooms are abundant and the camp store has the majority of what you need."
"This place is off Route 9 in Connecticut on the east side of the Connecticut River (major RT 9 highway is on west side)."
"Nice camp ground in the woods near hadlyme"
$14 / night
"There are trails behind the sites along a large marsh. The wildlife was incredible, a beaver family family lives in the marsh so every night around 10 they would be up splashing around loudly."
"The sites are very open, not wooded so you have little privacy from adjacent sites."
$5 / night
"We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."
$45 - $100 / night
"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."
"This is our families favorite camping location. On the pond at Waters Edge. When asked where they want to camp my 5 and 7 year old will always respond with Waters Edge."
"The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground. The kids who work here are so friendly and the playground is nice."
"Sites are very close to one another. Level pull through site. Quit in the evening!"
$30 - $70 / night
"Machimoodus is one of the newest outposts just outside Boston and NYC. My bf and I went during one of the snowiest weekends all winter, but it was completely worth it!"
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.
ScoutStandard crabgrass parking lot with drunks driving around on golf carts and RV's stacked on top of each other. The woman who runs the office is a very angry person and it made the entire visit unpleasant, which is no surprise as she has been hostile and unwelcoming the several times I've visited. Pool looks nice though I guess, I've never dared to use it for fear of breaking one of the many unwritten and unspoken rules. A great place for people who enjoy eating dinner next to your neighbor's septic pipe. I called to ask if they allowed dogs and was told "NO" just to arrive and be asked to park next to the dog park.
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
GuideWe stayed for 3 nights, the sites and camp were very clean and well maintained. Everyone was very friendly, lots of things to do - pool, bocce, volleyball, horseshoes, arcade, a small field to play frisbee or ball, mini-golf (mini-golf landscape needs to be refreshed a bit) there is even a very small fenced in dog park which was nice if you want to let your dog off leash to play. We did not experience any screaming kids all night.
GuideSomewhat crowded
staff was very nice. Lots of places around to go sightseeing. Most of the area isn’t dog friendly, so be careful if you take your pet. No problem at the campground
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!!
The Cromwell area of Connecticut sits at approximately 280 feet above sea level along the Connecticut River valley, offering moderate temperatures that range from 20°F in winter to 85°F in summer. Camping options span from state parks with basic amenities to private campgrounds with full hookups, most operating from April through October when temperatures are most favorable for outdoor recreation.
Fishing at nearby waterways: Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground provides excellent fishing access. "Go here every spring for opening day of fishing season and camp the entire weekend," notes Allan D. The nearby stream offers trout fishing opportunities within walking distance of campsites.
Hiking local trails: Hammonasset State Park Campground features multiple hiking paths with wildlife viewing. "Great hiking and bird watching. Friendly staff. Amazing sunset scene," reports Ossama B. The park's trail system connects to beach areas and a nature center.
Water recreation activities: Waters Edge Family Campground offers multiple water-based options. "There's a nice lake to float on, a clean pool to swim in, activities every weekend," says Laura M. The campground maintains rental kayaks for use on their small pond.
Spacious sites: Wolf's Den Family Campground maintains larger camping areas. "Spacious lots very clean and organized facility," reports Jacob S. The sites include fire rings and picnic tables at each location.
Clean facilities: Bear Creek Campground at Lake Compounce receives high marks for cleanliness. "Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper," notes Diane R. Bathroom facilities include individual shower stalls with hot water.
Quiet atmosphere: Hidden Lake Farm offers a peaceful setting with only five tent sites total. The limited capacity ensures a quieter camping experience compared to larger facilities. Ashley F. describes it as "Quiet and Private," making it suitable for those seeking a more secluded pet-friendly camping option near Cromwell.
Site configurations: Lake Compounce Campground features an unusual layout. "You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded," explains Diane R. Sites are arranged in a pull-through configuration with doors facing each other.
Facility access: Bathroom accessibility varies widely between campgrounds. "It's quite a walk to the bathrooms," reports Nichol P. about Bear Creek Campground. Some tent sites are positioned significantly far from shower buildings.
Pet restrictions: Hammonasset State Park Campground has seasonal pet policies. "Be noted PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the summer," warns Laura L. Visitors should confirm current pet regulations before booking, as rules may change seasonally.
Playground access: Wolf's Den Family Campground features multiple play areas. "Family oriented park. Mini golf, pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, lots of playgrounds for the kids," reports Jeremy G. The recreation areas are centrally located within the campground.
Beach proximity: Riverdale Farm Campsites offers convenient beach access. "Really close to Hammonassett beach and one of my favorite restaurants the 'log cabin'," shares Nick H. The campground is approximately 20 miles from Mystic and other coastal attractions.
Scheduled activities: GrandView CampResort & Cottages provides organized events for children. While maintaining a "Beautiful, quiet, clean" atmosphere according to Lisa C., the campground schedules weekend activities that appeal to families with children of various ages.
Hookup availability: Markham Meadows offers partial hookups for recreational vehicles. "Electric and water available. Dump station on the way out," notes Karena G. Most sites include 30-amp service with central dumping facilities.
Road access considerations: Riverdale Farm Campsites has some access challenges. "The road into the campground is narrow and winding, so larger RVs may have trouble," cautions Joel R., though he notes that several large rigs were present during his stay. The campground entrance includes a security gate with limited turning radius.
Site leveling: Bear Creek Campground features generally level sites. "Sites were large enough for RV," confirms Ruth K., though she notes there is "NO privacy" between neighboring sites. The relatively new facility was designed with larger rigs in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cromwell, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cromwell, CT is Lake Compounce Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Cromwell, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 118 dog-friendly camping locations near Cromwell, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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