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Odetah Camping Resort's pet-friendly grounds include numerous amenities for campers with dogs. The resort offers a variety of accommodation options including tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping units, all welcoming pets. Waters Edge Family Campground and Strawberry Park also accommodate pets with spacious sites surrounded by tall trees providing natural shade and privacy. Most campgrounds in the area enforce standard leash policies, typically requiring dogs to be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet when outside designated off-leash areas. Several Connecticut state parks near Gilman allow pets, including Rocky Neck State Park Campground and Devil's Hopyard State Park, though specific pet areas may be limited. Campground staff generally expect pet owners to clean up after their animals, with waste stations available throughout most properties. Campground data and reviews near Gilman, Connecticut is regularly updated on The Dyrt.
Salt Rock Campground features dedicated pet exercise areas where dogs can stretch their legs after traveling. Nearby hiking trails offer excellent opportunities for pet owners to exercise their dogs, with several state parks providing pet-friendly paths with varying difficulty levels. Many campgrounds in the area have implemented pet waste stations to maintain cleanliness. During summer months, owners should be mindful of hot pavement and provide ample shade and water for pets, as temperatures can reach uncomfortable levels for dogs. Some sites like Mystic KOA provide designated dog walking areas around the perimeter of the campground. While most sites accommodate pets of all breeds and sizes, some reviews indicate that campers should verify specific breed policies before booking, as restrictions can vary by location. Many campgrounds charge additional pet fees ranging from $2-10 per night per pet, with some placing limits on the number of pets allowed per site.
"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."
"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."
from $45 - $100 / 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"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."
"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."
from $14 / night
Check Availability"We were close to activities and enjoyed an afternoon tubing down the river. The bathrooms weren't the cleanest, but we've seen worse. We enjoyed our time here."
"we had a group from work head out here. we reserved Coyote Run, and had the field to ourselves, it was a bit of a walk to the shower from there, but we had our own outhouse, bring a light for night time"
from $33 - $100 / night
Check Availability"General: There are three sections to this campground: five canoe sites; 16 sites including one cabin behind the ranger station and what I would assume is the main section with 61 sites."
"Hopeville Pond is a moderate sized state park campground located along a river and offering fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Swimming pool, facilities, small lake as well larger lakes in the surrounding area. Great location and campground. Love it."
"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."
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.
Connecticut campgrounds near Gilman accommodate pets with specific guidelines and designated areas. The terrain ranges from forested sites at Hopeville Pond State Park to waterfront locations at Devils Hopyard, with elevations generally below 500 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-85°F during camping season, while spring and fall camping periods can see overnight temperatures dropping into the 40s.
Hiking with dogs: At Hopeville Pond State Park Campground, trails wind through wooded areas and along the water. One visitor noted, "There are many trails for hiking and a beach for swimming. There is a boat launch too" and that it opens "earlier than many of the others, in early April."
Fishing spots: Bring fishing gear to cast at multiple locations. At Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground, campers enjoy "fishing for brook trout" according to reviews. Another visitor mentioned going there "every spring for opening day of fishing season and camp the entire weekend."
Water activities: Kayaking is popular at several pet-friendly campgrounds. At Devil's Hopyard, "the waterfall was a quick walk away and you could hike down to the river for a quick dip. The river isn't deep enough for a full swim but still was good enough on a hot day."
Beach access: Rocky Neck State Park Campground offers a beach within walking distance from most sites. A reviewer stated, "Campsite is only a short walk from the beach and available mountain bike and hiking trails." Another mentioned, "Beautiful campground right near the beach. Hiking trails along the coast line."
Privacy between sites: Waters Edge Family Campground gets praise for site layout. One camper shared, "Our water and electric site was surrounded by super tall trees and although the sites were close, it didn't seem crowded." Another noted the "privacy is huge for us" and that they had "the perfect campsite deep in the woods (still able to park my 26' camper trailer)."
Pool facilities: Multiple campgrounds offer pools as alternatives to natural water bodies. A visitor at Waters Edge described "a clean pool to swim in" while another mentioned they have "a salt water pool" that was "clean."
On-site activities: Many pet-friendly campgrounds near Gilman provide scheduled events. At Strawberry Park, visitors appreciate that "there are plenty of other things for kids to do like mini golf, hay rides, an arcade" and that "Bingo is always a family favorite."
Group camping options: Some parks offer designated group sites. At Salt Rock Campground, one reviewer mentioned they "had a group from work head out here. We reserved Coyote Run, and had the field to ourselves."
Seasonal restrictions: Some campgrounds have limited operational periods. Hopeville Pond operates from "May 26 to September 4" while Rocky Neck is open from "May 26 to September 29."
Reservation requirements: Most pet-friendly sites near Gilman require advance booking. At Odetah Camping Resort, availability can be limited in peak season, with one visitor noting the resort has "a good mix of seasonal and overnight sites as well as cabins."
Facility differences: Bathhouse quality varies significantly between parks. At Devil's Hopyard, "Latrines are provided, but water is not; due to contamination, you'll need to bring your own." Meanwhile, Odetah has "bath houses throughout and fully stocked camp store."
Noise levels: Some campgrounds have issues with evening noise. A Devil's Hopyard visitor reported "noisy obnoxious neighbors and there are no staff on site to monitor noise levels."
Best swimming options: Look for campgrounds with supervised swimming areas. Rocky Neck State Park Campground has a "beautiful beach" that "can be crowded. But it is worth it. Nice food shack. Great family place."
Playground access: Salt Rock Campground offers "a pool and recreation area for the kids." Another family-friendly option is Hopeville Pond, where one parent shared it provides "many things to do for kids and families."
Movie nights: Some campgrounds host outdoor films. At Salt Rock, "Saturday nights there is a 'movie night' on the field."
Pet exercise areas: When traveling with both children and pets, look for sites with dedicated areas for both. Waters Edge features what one visitor called "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."
Site leveling: Many RVers note the importance of checking site grades. At Rocky Neck State Park Campground, sites have "one paved parking spot" though one visitor warned theirs "was very muddy."
Hookup availability: Hookup options vary significantly near Gilman. At Odetah Camping Resort, sites feature full utility access, with one RVer noting they have "sites with a good mix of seasonal and overnight sites" that accommodate various RV sizes.
Dump station access: Not all dog-friendly campgrounds offer on-site dumping. At Hopeville Pond, visitors appreciate that "some of the site have 50A/20A electric hookups and there's a dump station available."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Gilman, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Gilman, CT is Odetah Camping Resort with a 3.9-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Gilman, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 125 dog-friendly camping locations near Gilman, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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