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Strawberry Park's 550-site campground accommodates dogs with a dedicated pet park area where dogs can play off-leash. Located in Preston, Connecticut, the park operates seasonally from May through October with full hookup sites for RVs, tent camping areas, and pet-friendly cabins. Rocky Neck State Park Campground in nearby Niantic also welcomes pets at their wooded campsites, offering both drive-in and walk-in access for tent and RV campers. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the area require dogs to be leashed when not in designated off-leash areas, with leashes typically restricted to six feet maximum. Many campgrounds provide waste stations throughout the grounds, though campers should always carry their own waste bags. The large dog park at Melville Ponds Campground receives consistent praise from visitors who appreciate having a secure area for pets to exercise. Campers reference The Dyrt for top tips on camping near Gales Ferry, Connecticut.
Several hiking trails near Mount Misery Campground in Pachaug State Forest accommodate pets on trails through wooded terrain. Located approximately 15 miles from Gales Ferry, this pet-friendly campground offers more primitive camping experiences with sites spaced for privacy. Trails range from easy lakeside paths to more challenging woodland routes, with most allowing leashed dogs. The dog park at Newport RV Park spans a sizable area with separate sections for large and small dogs, making it popular with campers traveling with multiple pets. Weather considerations become important when camping with pets in this region, as summer temperatures can reach uncomfortable levels for dogs left at campsites. Most RV parks provide full hookups allowing climate control for pets during day trips. Local pet policies generally restrict dogs from certain beaches during peak summer season, but several campgrounds offer private shoreline areas where dogs can swim year-round.
"The beach is about a 1 mile walk or drive from the campground. The walk is lovely and I have seen deer, turkeys, many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife along the way."
"Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads."
from $20 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Which was walking distance from the boat yard. Had a bite to eat at the Blue Duck, it was fine. Saw the show and walk back to the boat yard."
"Easy access to the boatyard at night; pulled in, picked a spot and all good. Enjoyed the pool.
Walked to Fort Trumbull.
Recommend Crockers."
from $50 - $75 / night
Check Availability"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"
"During our stay we enjoyed our campsite as it was close to the pool. The grounds were beautiful to walk on with water nearby and little places to explore."
"Good for pets, there are two dumping spots each with two dumps,I would definitely go back."
"It's about an hour away from us-- but it felt like a different place."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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"
"It was a bit too cold outside but the pools and hot tubs looked nice. Splash pad was clean and used by kids. Lots of roads to bike on and walk dogs. Live band on Saturday night was nice."
from $60 - $120 / night
Check Availability"His place in Niantic Connecticut very close to downtown and the beach which they have a shuttle for. The staff is very friendly, courteous and knowledgeable of the area."
"Close to level parking pad, with table and very nice brick firepit. Sites not too close together. I had woods behind me. I would definitely camp here again."
"Tucked away in the woods I never knew this was there! Beautiful pond and a good mix of seasonal and overnight sites as well as cabins. Plenty of areas to walk our dogs and have them swim."
"We had two sites side by side for our group of 7 and two dogs. The staff will deliver wood right to your site. The only con is the sites are not very private...at all."
"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."
"Sites and roads are a pea gravel material and each site has large grassy areas around it. It was a quiet area with ponds and creeks and a generally relaxing setting."
from $74 - $80 / night
Check Availability"This park is in a great location for exploring Mystic. You are close to downtown, the aquarium, Mystic Seaport and other attractions."
"Seaport RV is a great, spacious campground with many amenities and a location close to Mystic."
"Lots of fun at the beach, kayaking on the lake or just hanging at your site. Petting zoo, craft cabin, arcade, bingo and lots more!"
"The peacocks roaming around are the cherry on top. Overall, just a wonderful campground."
ScoutThe campground is close to relatively easy hiking trails and Portsmouth Dog Park. Clean site areas, but many are on a slight slop so leveling blocks are needed. We Took one of the nearby Trails get to the Portsmouth Publick House restaurant, which is dog friendly, for lunch. The waterfall along the blue trail is picture worthy.
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.
GuideWe got a great pull through full hookup with a 5 minute walk to a huge dog park. There are also a bunch of beautiful trails right from the park
TravelerPerfect location for a summer / beach camp. Mostly for RVs but tent site #6 was great. Views of the ocean to wake up too and tucked away from main area.
Worst part is you can’t bring your car on the site. Do not understand this, especially since it was over 95° and we have dogs that need AC, one if which is 14. We did sneak the car up by asking an RV camper to use his land because they block off the entrance with giant tree trunks.
More good stuff, the private pet friendly beaches were great! Small but perfect to relax. No problems with the pets at all and old but clean bathrooms.
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
GuideThis park was very nice, but they advertise being 5 miles away from historic Newport, and it’s more like 8. There are zero bike paths that are immediately accessible and Newport drivers are not walker/biker friendly. No sidewalks on the Main Street to get you here. Ubers and Lyfts can be scarce and very expensive depending on the time of day. Between $16 to $78 rides…so, if you’re not towing, just something to be aware of. Neighbors were super nice and there is a great dog park (we think it’s city owned) with super nice doggo humans. Was good for a short stay - we just wish we had known how far out it really was because we really would have loved to spend more time downtown.
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.
Rocky Neck State Park Campground near Gales Ferry, Connecticut sits at sea level along the Long Island Sound, with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F. The campground operates seasonally from May through September, offering tent sites and RV campsites across wooded terrain. Camping options range from basic to full hookups, with several waterfront or water-view sites available.
Beach access from campgrounds: Rocky Neck State Park Campground connects directly to beaches where campers can enjoy swimming and shoreline activities. The state park beach is a short walk from most campsites. "Every site had a central bathhouse and they have a variety of tree covering options for each campers preferences. The campsite is only a short walk from the beach and available mountain bike and hiking trails," notes Mauricio R. from Rocky Neck State Park Campground.
Kayaking opportunities: Several campgrounds offer kayak access to rivers and inlets. Crocker's Boatyard offers unique harbor-front camping with water activities. "We took the ferry to Block Island which was also walking distance from the boat yard. Block Island a must see. Took the 5 pm ferry back," shares James G. from Crocker's Boatyard.
Historic exploration: Fort Trumbull State Park sits near camping options, offering military history exhibits. "Sunday we went and visited Fort Trumbull which is also walking distance away. Very nice place to visit and learn. Also took a tour of the Coast Guard Ship at Fort Trumbull," explains another Crocker's Boatyard camper.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds with regularly maintained facilities receive the highest ratings. "The bathrooms and showers are spotless and newly painted. Our site didn't have sewer, but the electric and water were working fine. We saw maintenance people making repairs while we were there," reports Pam R. about Sun Outdoors Mystic.
Pool amenities: Several campgrounds feature swimming pools as alternatives to beach swimming. "This KOA provides a lot to do for kids and families. The pool is small and usually crowded, but still very well kept. And then there's mini golf, hay rides, and lots of fun planned activities," mentions Cynthia K. about Mystic KOA.
Convenient locations: Campgrounds situated near attractions receive positive feedback. "Nice campground, friendly people and staff. Really nice that you can walk to the trails/beach and Rocky Neck," notes Matt R. about the convenient trail access at Niantic KOA.
Site privacy varies: Campground layouts range from open fields to wooded areas with varying degrees of privacy. "There is no defined pad, instead just hookups to back in next to so you have lots of flexibility as to how you park. The back of our site was open to a large field which was nice but across the street in front of us where rental cabins that were always busy," explains Nancy W. about Burlingame State Park Campground.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds sit near major roadways, creating ambient noise. "You can hear the highway very well at night, particularly in the safari field," warns a Mystic KOA camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Gales Ferry, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Gales Ferry, CT is Rocky Neck State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Gales Ferry, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 115 dog-friendly camping locations near Gales Ferry, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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