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Lake Compounce Campground accepts pets at its established sites with electric and water hookups. The campground features full facilities with clean bathrooms and showers, making it convenient for pet owners. Campers have access to drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings at pet-friendly sites that accommodate tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping options. Tent spots are small and close together with quite a walk to bathroom facilities. Other pet-friendly options include Hammonasset State Park Campground, Gentiles Campground, and Hidden Lake Farm, all allowing dogs with varying amenities. Wolf's Den Family Campground in East Haddam permits pets with restrictions, providing water and electric hookups for RVs plus pet-friendly cabins and glamping options.
Hiking trails near pet-friendly campgrounds offer exercise opportunities for dogs, though owners should maintain leash control and bring waste bags. Totoket Valley RV Park provides a small campground with good electrical service, clean water, sewer connections and grassy sites with picnic tables. Wildlife encounters are possible at several campgrounds, with one camper noting food scraps attracting coyotes near their campsite. Bear Creek Campground's playground offers a family-friendly environment when camping with pets. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Meriden operate seasonally from spring through fall, with Gentiles Campground open year-round for those needing winter accommodation with pets. Temperature fluctuations require campers to prepare appropriate shelter and water for pets during Connecticut's variable weather conditions.
"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."
"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."
from $20 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites."
"There’s two brand new bathrooms on site one of which is conveniently located right by the pool. Owners are doing new renovations to make this place look good!"
from $55 - $150 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"The campground also has a lake for swimming,trails for hiking, and some nice quiet areas for fishing. Well maintained bathrooms, with available showers, are also spread throughout the grounds."
"Beautiful state park, very clean .. fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers .. stores within a 5 minute drive. Most of the camp ground site are not secluded .."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We love this State Park because it's close to our home for a quick getaway. This time we tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. "
"I love kettletown, it’s a favorite that is very close to home. It’s a small camp ground and it’s absolutely beautiful."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $55 / night
Check Availability"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
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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.
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
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!!
TravelerClean, family friendly campground. 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. Propane is available at the store.
Travelerwe love camping at Mount Misery! The sites are private, it’s usually pretty quiet, and it’s one of the only campgrounds around that is pet-friendly. We always have a good time!!
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.
ScoutThis is a nice family friendly campground that makes for easy trips. There are a variety of sites available, from open field sites to more wooded and private areas. The campground also has a lake for swimming,trails for hiking, and some nice quiet areas for fishing. Well maintained bathrooms, with available showers, are also spread throughout the grounds. Not pet friendly unfortunately.
Pet friendly camping near Meriden, Connecticut offers several options for outdoor enthusiasts within a 30-mile radius. The area sits in the central Connecticut valley at around 350 feet above sea level, with surrounding terrain ranging from gentle hills to more rugged forest landscapes. Late spring through early fall temperatures typically range from 50-85°F, though summer nights can drop to comfortable sleeping temperatures in the mid-60s.
Fishing spots: At Black Rock State Park Campground, campers can access both lake fishing and stream fishing options. "Beautiful state park, very clean... fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers... stores within a 5 minute drive," notes reviewer Michelle B. The nearby stream is accessible from the back right camping area in the 80-90 site numbers.
Historic attractions: When staying at Wolf's Den Family Campground, visit nearby landmarks. "Nearby attractions are Gillette Castle and Goodspeed Opera. The campground itself is really nice. Cable TV at most sites," explains Kevin J. The campground's location provides a good base for exploring eastern Connecticut's historic sites.
Swimming options: Many campgrounds offer swimming, but options vary significantly. "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention its next to the amusement park," reports Nichol P. about Bear Creek Campground. At Hammonasset State Park, beach access compensates for limited shade: "campground was a bit crowded and not much shade but the short walk to the beach made it worth it," according to Stephanie S.
Clean facilities: Kettletown State Park Campground receives high marks for maintenance. "The sites are very spacious and clean. The park itself is also well kept and clean. Lot of good hiking trails with a scenic view and waterfall to discover," says Tanya B. The bathrooms with showers are distributed throughout the grounds.
Family-oriented activities: Riverdale Farm Campsites offers structured entertainment. "Update: They have changed days for me many times when I had issues with the camper. Never once asked questions or even treated me differently. No extra cost," shares Nick H. The campground schedules regular activities like bingo with prizes and beach shows.
Variety of accommodation types: Multiple campgrounds accommodate different camping preferences. "They have cabins, teepee and tent sites. This is attached to an amusement park but far enough away not to be a bother," describes Diane R. about Lake Compounce Campground. The arrangement of sites at some parks allows for privacy despite proximity to neighbors.
Wildlife awareness: Prepare for potential wildlife encounters when camping with pets. One camper at Lake Compounce noted, "This is an interesting camp ground. As I am set up for bed I see one other large green tent that looks deserted. 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." Proper food storage is essential with pets.
Site privacy varies: Many campgrounds have limited separation between sites. At Hammonasset State Park Campground, "The campgrounds are clean and spacious but very open, being a beach there are a few campers who enjoy staying up quite late and listening to music," reports Bianca M., who adds that "the nats (little black flies) make it nearly impossible to enjoy an evening."
Bathroom facilities: Quality and access to bathrooms differ considerably between parks. "Also there is only one set of facilities for the whole place. It's quite a walk to the bathrooms," mentions Nichol P. about Lake Compounce. In contrast, at Kettletown State Park, "Well maintained bathrooms, with available showers, are also spread throughout the grounds."
Playground access: Bear Creek Campground provides recreational facilities for children. "Great time! Would have been nice if they had a place to swim (in the camping area) besides for at the main park," says Danny A. The playground area serves as a central gathering point for families.
Swimming safety: Some parks have swimming restrictions families should know before arrival. At Kettletown State Park, "when swimming is allowed, there isn't a lifeguard," notes Elaine C. Other parks like Hammonasset may occasionally close swimming due to bacteria levels, which one reviewer experienced during their visit.
Site selection strategy: For family camping, research specific site locations. "I would recommend reserving early to get some of the more private campgrounds on the outskirts and near the woods or you may be in the field with everyone else," advises Jackie G. about Hammonasset State Park Campground. Corner sites typically provide more room for family activities.
Electric hookup information: At Totoket Valley RV Park, "Small campground with good electrical, clean water, sewer and a friendly owner. Each site has grass and a picnic table," reports Tara N. The site is described as perfect for exploring the local area or even catching the train to New York City.
RV site dimensions: For larger rigs, site selection requires planning. At Wolf's Den Family Campground, "50x30 sites common. I would recommend to stay here if in the area," says Jeremy G. The reviewer notes the park has power and water at every site, but no sewer hookups.
RV height restrictions: Some older campgrounds have limitations. "Really long or tall RV will need to stay close to the front of the campground, as typical older campground is not designed for 40 foot long or 10 foot high campers," warns Kevin J. about Wolf's Den Family Campground, although the grounds are described as peaceful with good amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Meriden, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Meriden, CT is Lake Compounce Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Meriden, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 98 dog-friendly camping locations near Meriden, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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