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Lake Compounce Campground accommodates campers with pets at its Bristol location near New Britain. The campground features tent sites, RV spots with water and electric hookups, as well as pet-friendly cabins and glamping options. Pets must be leashed in public areas, and campsites include picnic tables and fire rings where campers can enjoy time outdoors with their dogs. Bathroom facilities are exceptionally clean with spacious, well-maintained shower areas that are convenient for campers returning from outdoor activities with pets. The campground operates seasonally from May 1 to October 31 and maintains a 4.5-star rating among visitors.
Onion Mountain Park offers free primitive tent camping where pets are welcome on hiking trails and at campsites. Small campfire pits are available at the walk-in tent sites, which require a short hike from the parking area. Black Rock State Park Campground and Gentiles Campground also permit pets, with Black Rock providing electric hookups and seasonal operation from May to September. Wildlife encounters are possible at area campgrounds, with some visitors reporting coyote sounds at night. During summer months, pet owners should watch for ticks and spiders common in Connecticut's wooded campsites. The bathrooms at Gentiles Campground received recent renovations, creating more convenient facilities for campers with pets.
"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."
"We were passing through Connecticut and needed a place to crash. Loved this campsite! Very chilled and secluded in your own site. I liked that it felt like a litrle community but still quotr private."
"Hawes is one of the few campgrounds in CT that's dog friendly. The sites are nice and large, with room for trailers, and they also have a few cabin sites as well."
from $17 - $50 / 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"We arrived at the parking lot of Onion Mountain Park at around 2 pm and proceeded to get our bags packed for the hike."
"It’s up the yellow or blue trail depending on which one you take. However, it’s not a long walk to the parking area from the campsite."
"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 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"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"We got a tent spot and it was perfect since it was the furthest one away and there was no one near us which is probably why we loved it so much bc we were so isolated. a little disappointed in the site"
"However one issue was the garbage situation. Had to walk a long distance to throw out the trash."
from $74 / night
Check Availability"Sites are pretty close together and the campground is close to a fairly busy road. The pool and laundry areas were clean and seemed newer."
"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."
"We stayed near the water. Clean private bathrooms were a plus. Clean pool but only 3 feet deep."
from $72 - $122 / 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
RangerI really wanted to like this place. It's in a very cool area that I didn't expect to be so awesome. First main issue was how bad the cell reception is. Normally, I'd day that's a perk for camping but we're full-timers and work on the road so it is important for us. Next, the place is massive and they are more about make money than making people comfortable. What could easily be a very nice and spacious pull-thru spot are 2 back to back back-ins. Unless you're lucky enough to get an end spot, those are pull-thru. Pros: awesome dog park, great office with laundry, activities, arcades, adult only room, community campfire, indoor pool with lifeguard, the staff is nice, there's a lake for swimming, boating, catch and release fishing. Their basketball court is on a shuffleboard court, playground is nice though. Close to Old Sturbridge Village and many cool hikes and MA cities.
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.
Campsites near New Britain, Connecticut offer overnight accommodations ranging from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spaces. The region sits at approximately 500 feet above sea level with a temperate climate that allows for a camping season typically spanning May through October. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, with summer daytime averages reaching 80-85°F during peak camping months.
Fishing opportunities: At Austin Hawes Memorial Campground in American Legion State Forest, campers can access trophy trout fishing directly from their sites. One visitor noted, "Excellent campground for tent campers. Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots."
Swimming access: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas for cooling off after hiking. At Black Rock State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the lake for swimming, with one camper mentioning, "the campground also has a lake for swimming, trails for hiking, and some nice quiet areas for fishing."
Hiking trails: Onion Mountain Park has primitive camping with connected trail systems. A camper shared, "We ended up finding a very primitive spot off the blue trail (on top of the mountain), where we settled down for the night. The spot is not very big so make sure to bring a smaller tent."
Amusement park access: Lake Compounce Campground provides unique entertainment options with its attached amusement park. A guest mentioned, "This is attached to an amusement park but far enough away not to be a bother. If ever in the area again we will definitely stay again."
Spacious shower facilities: Campgrounds prioritize clean bathroom facilities. At Lake Compounce Campground, a reviewer emphasized, "Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper."
Privacy levels: Some sites offer more seclusion than others. At White Pines Campsites, a visitor shared, "We stayed at site 85 in Sunny Crest and liked having some privacy. The sites nearby had some trees providing space between each site."
Campsite layouts: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground features strategically designed sites. One camper observed, "Well spaced out lots, you have a lot of privacy, there is a drive in movie theater 10 min away (we always tailgate a movie as tradition) it's close to a bunch of quaint towns."
Recent renovations: Some campgrounds have updated facilities. At Cozy Hills Campground, visitors appreciate the updates: "Sites are well maintained, with fresh wood chips and groomed gravel. Family activities, like archery, were excellent."
Wildlife encounters: Be aware of local wildlife at campgrounds near New Britain. At Lake Compounce Campground, one camper reported, "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."
Bug preparation: The region has typical woodland insects. One camper at Onion Mountain Park advised, "There are a lot of bugs so be prepared, and we did put a bear bag about 100 feet away."
Campsite slope concerns: At White Pines Campsites, visitors noted terrain issues: "A lot of the sites we drove by were pretty sloped - I would recommend a drive though if you can beforehand."
Seasonal operations: Most dog friendly campgrounds near New Britain operate seasonally. Cozy Hills Campground runs from April 15 to October 15, while Austin Hawes Memorial Campground is open May through September.
Pool safety features: Gentiles Campground has convenient pool facilities. A visitor noted, "There's two brand new bathrooms on site one of which is conveniently located right by the pool."
Kid-friendly water depth: Cozy Hills Campground features a pool designed with younger swimmers in mind. A camper mentioned, "Pool is very nice for families - with no deep end, really safe for younger kids."
Activity options: Lake Compounce provides various recreational facilities. A camper shared, "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention its next to the amusement park."
Quiet hours enforcement: Some campgrounds maintain more family-friendly environments than others. A camper at White Pines noted uneven enforcement: "Saturday night a large overnight party arrived, set up speakers and played loud music for most of the evening. So much for a peaceful camping trip."
Site configurations: Many campgrounds near New Britain have unique layouts. At Lake Compounce Campground, an RVer advised, "The sites were long so even though you face your neighbor, the sites were long enough that our door wasn't directly across from our neighbor."
Dump station access: Some campgrounds lack full hookups. An RVer at Lake Compounce Campground noted, "None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out."
Connection quality: For those needing to stay connected, Branch Brook Campground offers better-than-average connectivity. An RVer reported, "Better wi-fi than most campgrounds. My wife and I both were able to work with mostly no issues, though there were some situations where it would go out."
Terrain navigation: Some campgrounds present driving challenges. A visitor to Gentiles Campground cautioned, "Stayed one night....roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near New Britain, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near New Britain, CT is Lake Compounce Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near New Britain, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 108 dog-friendly camping locations near New Britain, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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