Dog-Friendly Camping near Griswold, CT

Campgrounds near Griswold, Connecticut offer diverse camping experiences in the eastern Connecticut woodlands. The area features rolling terrain between 300-500 feet elevation with typical New England seasonal patterns—cold winters, mild springs and falls, and warm summers with occasional humidity. Most campgrounds in this region remain open from April through October, with several offering extended seasons into November for fall foliage viewing.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Salt Rock Campground provides direct access to the Shetucket River for fishing. "We took our kayaks up to the dam and fished our way back," shares camper Tristan M., who visited with a work group and enjoyed the experience despite the pools being closed during their early June visit.

Water recreation: Odetah Camping Resort features a pond that's perfect for paddling. "We went two years in a row each on Halloween! They had great amenities and activities for the kids," reports Brian P., highlighting the campground's seasonal events alongside water access.

Hiking trails: The trail system at Mount Misery Campground offers various difficulty levels for hikers. "We hiked to the overlook of Mt. Misery and had a great time geocaching and enjoying the trails," mentions Sue B., who visited during fall foliage season despite drought conditions affecting the colors.

What campers like

Private camping areas: Hidden Acres Campground offers riverside sites with natural privacy. "We all got separate sites scattered along the river it was beautiful. We tubed down river, fished the pond, swam in the pool," reports Erik M., who appreciated how the campsites maintained a "roughing it camping feel" despite nearby amenities.

Recreation facilities: Sunfox Campground offers multiple activity options for visitors. "Super clean, friendly environment very nice playground and pool plus a nice lake to swim and fish in," notes David P., highlighting the well-maintained facilities at this family-oriented campground.

Budget-friendly options: Mount Misery offers economical camping close to Griswold. "We spent $17/night, and we know what to expect at that price point," explains Sue B., who found the value acceptable despite its rustic nature, noting "we had 4 people and 3 dogs on our site, and had plenty of room for our travel trailer and 2 tents."

What you should know

Campground size varies: Burlingame State Park Campground in nearby Rhode Island is substantially larger than most local options. "Burlingame is HUGE. We were there the weekend after Labor Day weekend in 2014, and it was pretty quiet. Nice for biking, cute little beach, dog friendly," mentions Katelain T., who also advises "Bring quarters for the showers."

Site spacing considerations: Some campgrounds have limited privacy between sites. "The sites are a bit close, but with so much to do you don't spend that much time at your site," observes Happy Camper L. about Odetah Camping Resort, indicating the trade-off between site proximity and available amenities.

Seasonal variations: Amenities availability changes throughout the season. Sean R. notes, "I believe we camped there too early in the season to fully enjoy the grounds. The pool, splash pad, and nearly everything else was non operational or locked up still," regarding their spring visit to Whispering Pines Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Activity scheduling: Whispering Pines Campground offers planned events for children throughout the season. "Going to try to get back in 2023 because we found out there are weekends that the camp has special things for the kids to do and dj nights, which would be a lot of fun," says Charles, who appreciated the campground's balance of natural setting and entertainment options.

Swimming options: Consider campgrounds with multiple water features. "New pool and hot tub," mentions Matt O. about his stay at Odetah, which adds to the list of water recreation options beyond natural water bodies at many campgrounds in the area.

Entertainment variety: Look for campgrounds with multiple activity types. "Plenty of areas to walk our dogs and have them swim. Playgrounds, bath houses throughout and fully stocked camp store with anything you could ever need," says April L. about Strawberry Park, noting its combination of natural and developed recreation spaces.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategies: Mystic KOA offers various RV site options with different privacy levels. "If you want to be up near the action– pool, bar car, and other activities– get a site in the front section. We wanted to be as far away from that as possible," advises Nancy W., highlighting the importance of choosing sites based on preferred atmosphere.

Hookup availability: Check which utilities are included at your selected campground. "Hundreds of sites, some level some not, some dirt sites, some grassy, some with a ton of shade, some out in the open," explains Andrew P. about Burlingame State Park, noting "there are two dumping spots each with two dumps" despite limited hookups at individual sites.

Dog-friendly accommodations: Many campgrounds near Griswold welcome pets with specific guidelines. Eric C. observed at Mount Misery Campground: "Lots of dogs but people are pretty good about keeping them on leashes," noting this dog friendly campground provides good trail access while mentioning "There is a rod and gun club in the forrest and it can be heard throughout the day. Not obtrusive but skittish pups won't like it."