117 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Taconic State Park's pet-friendly camping areas feature multiple accommodation options in both the Copake Falls and Rudd Pond sections. Dogs are permitted throughout the campground areas with standard leash requirements. Both tent and RV sites welcome pets, along with select cabin options that allow dogs. Macedonia Brook State Park Campground and Housatonic Meadows State Park similarly accommodate campers with pets, providing access to hiking trails where dogs can join their owners. Sites with tent platforms often include picnic tables and fire pits, though campers note the proximity between sites can limit privacy for those camping with active dogs.
Several Appalachian Trail shelters near Lakeville permit dogs for hikers exploring the region with their pets. Brassie Brook Shelter and Riga Lean-To both welcome dogs on leash, with several hikers reporting positive experiences bringing their pets to these remote sites. Bear boxes are available at most backcountry sites, important for proper food storage when camping with pets. The hike to these shelters requires moderate physical conditioning, with steep inclines and rocky terrain challenging for dogs and owners alike. Alander Trail Campground in Mount Washington State Forest provides a more secluded option for primitive camping with pets, requiring a 1.5-2 mile hike to reach the pristine sites that feature fire pits, bear boxes, and picnic tables at each location. The campground remains remarkably clean despite its remote location, with virtually no trash found throughout the area.
"However, clean, dog friendly and good hiking nearby! Great for a getaway but not my first choice of campgrounds in NYS."
"There are 2 dog friendly loops at the back. Overall, very quiet and friendly. 2 lIfeguarded swimming areas — a kiddie pool and a deep area with floating dock to jump off of."
from $21 - $175 / night
Check Availability"Tons of kids activities to keep the little ones busy and great hikes around! Tons of waterfalls in the area and the highest point in Connecticut."
"I happened upon Lone Oaks Camp Site when looking for someplace to stay in north eastern Connecticut."
"This campground is also dog friendly so bring your fur babies!"
"This is a really interesting campground that's situated on a hill overlooking Rudd Pond in Taconic State Park. "
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability"The campground has a lake with boat rentals. Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
"We decided on Lake Taghkanic. Lake Taghkanic State Park was not a long drive from NYC, maybe 2 hours. The campsite was very clean and maintained."
from $21 - $195 / night
Check Availability"Tall pines, the sound of the mighty housatonic river, and some car noise on the nearby 2 lane."
"The Housatonic river is wide and shallow but good for soaking on a hot day and right behind pretty much every campsite. The riverside sites have a clear view, the others you walk through the woods."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"teaching scouts of all ages how to take and prepare for the wilderness survival badges place is clean it has running water has a porta potty and festival you don't have to worry because the state of Connecticut"
"Our camp spot was right above the river the flows behind this spot. You can go sit down by the water. But be careful!"
from $14 / night
Check Availability"We started our hike at the under-mountain trailhead, located right off route 41, and climbed up the mountain. Be prepared for steep inclines, and lots of rocks."
"There's also a bear box near by. Room to camp your tent on the ground too if you wanted to or had more ppl along."
"You have to park at the entrance and hike in about 1.5-2 miles with everything on your back to get to the spots."
"Each spot is easy to find off the trail. They also have bear boxes at each site!"
"No matter where you start, you'll be hiking on some of the steepest parts of the Appalachian Trail in the northwestern Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts."
"We have plans to return with friends due to the proximity to home and easy access to local things to do."
from $79 - $229 / night
Check Availability
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.
ScoutThe campsite was great. Big and going after Labor Day means there was tons of space. Well priced. We did have neighbors that had a trailer and used their generator early in the morning and late at night. Beside that it was fantastic. We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it.
GuideLots of room in many sites for my 24 ft RV and 30 ft trailer. Big meadow in middle with new full playground set.
Dry camping but water available and a sewer dump. Gotta haul your own trash.
Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park.
Some nice hiking in the park.
GuideSuch a clean and well maintained campground. Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around. We had to move our tent as we had set it back too far and was not on the site pad and park ranger Brian who was very lovely came and asked us to move it and we had a nice chat. Lovely big dog park. There are some nice little walks and small hikes on the ground with a lake that you can rent kayaks or canoes. Close to Woodstock which is a cute town. Our site was a little exposed but the sites either side of us were closed for restoration thankfully. There are some more secluded and set back sites too though.
GuideMy first visit to New York state was amazing, largely in part due to my campsite at the Woodland Hills campground. I had a back in site and was having problems with my camper, and they were able to change to a pull through at time of check in. However, it was in early May and before the summer crowds. The pond has a fountain which sounds like a small waterfall at night, and wildflowers were in bloom. Very nice bathrooms and showers, and my dog loved the dog park.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
ScoutCan a campground be cozy? I think this place is.
It's not too big, and it's not too small, it's just right.
Bring decent tent pegs because you will probably hit a stone or two.
They sell huge bags of firewood for 8 or 9 dollars and it's much better than the plastic wrapped stuff you get at convenience stores.
Last time we went they were sold out and we had to buy (damp) wood elsewhere.
Each loop has a bathroom. They are clean and well-lit.
They have a single building for trash/recycle/reuse and for washing dishes. They also have a playground and a dog park.
The campsites are nice and shaded.
Each site has a picnic table and grill. The picnic tables can be moved around.
No Wi-Fi. Haven't tried to make a call so I'm not sure about that.
I'd feel safe here if I camped alone. Staff are friendly and helpful.
RangerCampsites Great campsites, wooded and cozy, though a little tight for longer rigs as our neighbors found out when they ran over a wooden post backing in. But spaced apart nicely with lots of vegetation between. Nice and level. Amenities Bathrooms are older and need of some repair but let me tell you I was very happy to see a normal shower head with real hot water! So no complaints here. Laundry facilities were clean and open 24/7 with reasonable prices 2.50/2.00 washer/dryer. And the dryers actually worked. Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue. We have Starlink but in a wooded campsite, connecting is an issue but luckily their WiFi was great. Had no issues and could stream just fine. Halloween! We visited mid October and folks had sites decorated and the KOA has trick or treating and other activities every weekend in Oct. we were SO bummed to be leaving on a Friday and miss the festivities because it looked really fun. Would definitely go back. Also, staff was super nice.
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.
Taconic State Park spans the New York and Connecticut border with elevations ranging from 400 to 2,000 feet. The region features mixed hardwood forests transitioning between New England's northern and southern forest ecosystems. Campgrounds near Lakeville, Connecticut experience moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season with higher humidity levels than western mountain regions.
Hiking to waterfalls: Access Bash Bish Falls via a trail connection from Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park. "There are plenty of hiking trails nearby and of course, trails to Bash Bish Falls which is beautiful. It was low the first time we visited and we were able to make it to the top of the falls to go swimming and the views were incredible," reports jackie G.
Fishing for bass: The fishing ponds near Rudd Pond Area — Taconic State Park support active angler activity. "The sites were a little close together, but being able to fish and catching 2 decent-sized largemouth bass made everything all ok!! There is plenty of fishing access from shore and you can rent a boat for the whole day to fish on the water," notes Rosie R.
Farm tours: Explore local agricultural operations during your stay. "We did an interesting tour of the neighboring farm where they make cow pots. Great place for a family," writes Jean T. about her experience at Lone Oak Camp Sites.
Stargazing: Take advantage of the dark skies at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground for impressive views of constellations. "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low," shares Seth K.
Privacy options: Some sites offer more seclusion than others within the same campground. "A lot of complaints that up front the sites were too close together and this was true, but more towards the back was more spacious and private sites," notes John E. at Copake Falls.
Water activities: Swimming areas provide relief from summer heat. "The swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock. Close to great hiking," mentions Emily F. about her experience at Taconic State Park.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities rank highly with visitors. "Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is," reports Perrin M. about Macedonia Brook State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife that campers frequently observe. "The taconic mountains offer some great flora and fauna. We had several species of frogs and toads wandering about in the evening, giant millipedes were plenty, and even found a newt on our hike," describes John E.
Off-peak advantages: Weekday camping offers a significantly different experience than weekends. "This campground was one of the best I've been to. They have both platform and dirt tent sites, all sites come equipped with fire pits. Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime," notes Seth K. about Lake Taghkanic State Park.
Terrain challenges: Hiking trails throughout the area feature significant elevation changes. "No matter where you start, you'll be hiking on some of the steepest parts of the Appalachian Trail in the northwestern Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts," explains Tina D. about her trip to Laurel Ridge.
Pet vaccination requirements: Documentation for pets must be presented at check-in. "If you are traveling with a dog, be sure to bring proof of rabies— they ask," advises Erin B. about pet friendly camping at Taconic State Park.
Water availability: Water sources vary significantly between developed and backcountry sites. "This is basic dry camping it is fun but there is no electric or water at the sites only in the bathhouse. So if you get a site close the the bathhouse you will have water close by," explains Amanda S.
Kid-friendly swimming: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas specifically designed for children. "2 lIfeguarded swimming areas — a kiddie pool and a deep area with floating dock to jump off of," describes Erin B. about the facilities at Taconic State Park.
Nature exploration opportunities: Low-impact activities for children abound throughout the area. "Nice campsites with little traffic. The brook was great for the kids to explore," shares Christopher W. about his family's experience at Macedonia Brook State Park.
Site selection for groups: When camping with multiple families, certain campgrounds offer adjacent sites. "Had a couple spots right next to each other on a group trip. The facilities were just what you needed after a long day of hiking and swimming," mentions jackie G. about Taconic State Park.
Activity planning: Some campgrounds offer structured programming for children. "Big fun for kids and adults. Two big pools, store, bar for adults with live entertainment. Tons of kids activities going on all day," reports Kim T. about Lone Oak Camp Sites.
Limited hookup locations: Electric and water connections are not available at all sites. "There are lots of trails to explore. Many unmarked. Campsites not private at all. Felt like I was sharing my site with strangers," notes Erica H. about the Rudd Pond Area.
Platform tent sites: Many campgrounds offer wooden platforms ideal for tent setup. "The platform sites are great it makes it real easy to set up a tent because of the platform that the tent goes on and the lake is ok," shares Amanda S. about her experience at Taconic State Park.
Pet accommodations: Many campgrounds in the Lakeville area welcome pets with specific rules. "This campground is large and has a variety of sites to choose from. It has a large field for seasonal and large rv's to small wooded sites for tents," explains Natalie N. about Lone Oak Campsites.
Parking limitations: Access varies significantly between campgrounds. "Absolutely love this spot and highly recommend if you're looking for a super private, true primitive camping experience. You have to park at the entrance and hike in about 1.5-2 miles with everything on your back to get to the spots," describes Kay D. about her experience at Alander Trail Camground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lakeville, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lakeville, CT is Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lakeville, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 117 dog-friendly camping locations near Lakeville, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
