52 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation permits dogs on leashes throughout its expansive grounds, offering tent and RV camping with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park also welcomes pets while providing electric hookups, showers, and laundry facilities. The sites at Ward Pound Ridge are positioned far apart from each other, creating a more private camping experience despite the well-manicured grounds. Kettletown State Park Campground in Southbury, Connecticut accepts pets at its tent, RV, and cabin sites from May through September. Croton Point Park maintains pet-friendly policies across its tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with drinking water, electric hookups, and picnic tables available.
Trails at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation accommodate both hikers with dogs and horseback riders, with port-a-potties positioned close to campsites for convenience. Dogs must remain leashed on all trails to protect local wildlife. Campers with pets should be aware of bear activity in the Harriman State Park area, particularly at Beaver Pond Campground. The enclosed dog park at Cozy Hills Campground features a 3-foot fence that may be insufficient for more athletic breeds like border collies. Blydenburgh County Park includes a large dog run where pets can exercise off-leash. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours, though enforcement varies by location and season. Mosquitoes can be prevalent at certain campgrounds, particularly in wooded areas like Clarence Fahnestock State Park, so appropriate pet-safe insect protection is recommended.
"Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to."
"Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
from $21 / night
Check Availability"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
"The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
from $30 - $60 / 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"Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail. 30 or so sites around a central public restroom."
"Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms"
"The beach is in a walking distance. You can swim or fish there. This camp site has a relatively new and clean facility. There are many farms near by where you can get fresh veggies and fruits."
"However there are too many loud families and the sites are too close in proximity for me."
from $24 - $250 / 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"Love the proximity to NYC - I always look for areas that are not too far, but not too close to NY. Beautiful but small-ish tent sites."
"We are looking forward to stopping by Round Pond again in the near future."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"* cottages far enough away from each other
- fire ring with Adirondack chairs
- dumpster and recycling within walking distance
- lots of bone dry firewood around for campfire
- walkable beach"
"Overall my experience was positive. Camping Sites
Each camping site has a picnic table and barbeque grill."
from $24 - $320 / night
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GuideI grew up in Long Beach. If you’re looking for a spot to camp so you can surf, this is perfect! It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around.
benefits: allows dogs childrens playground beach programs like movie nights throughout the summer
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.
ScoutVery nice family oriented, places the beach, which is great except for the birds watch out they come at you. They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything.
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!!
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.
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.
GuideThe actual beach isn't too nice; not soft sand, broken shells, and cigarettes. However, the campgrounds have nice facilities like a shop, good showers, a playground, and volleyball courts. Be noted PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the summer. We were not aware of this.
ScoutBeautiful campsites! Lots of lean to sites with fireplaces in them. You have to go in person to make a reservation and pay. The camp area is beautiful, especially in the fall. Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to.
The Westchester and Fairfield County regions surrounding New Canaan, Connecticut have an average elevation of 350 feet above sea level with a humid continental climate featuring four distinct seasons. Summer camping temperatures average 75-85°F with humidity levels reaching 70-80%. Fall brings cooler temperatures and vibrant foliage, creating ideal camping conditions from September through early November.
Hiking on varied terrain: At Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, trails accommodate both hikers and horseback riders through 40+ miles of pathways. "This is a great place for camping. The shelters are great for people who want to camp and not have to worry about unplanned weather. The best part of this campsite are the endless trails in the area. I believe there are over 40 miles of trails in this area," notes Ethan K.
Fishing in stocked ponds: Clarence Fahnestock State Park offers fishing opportunities across multiple waterways. "If you are into fishing, there is another lake and two ponds that our neighbor campers said were great for catching panfish - one fisherman said he had caught several bass weighing over 3 pounds," reports Shelly B.
Off-season beach access: Some campgrounds maintain special beach privileges for campers. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," notes Courtney D. about Fahnestock State Park.
Elevated tent platforms: Platforms protect tents from ground moisture during wet weather. At Beaver Pond Campground, "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," writes Ethan K.
Shelter options for unpredictable weather: Some campgrounds offer structures beyond traditional tent sites. "I've been coming here for years. They have great sights and are open all year round. I've stayed in hammocks, tents, leantos, and even did a good share of car camping. All of the shelters have fire pits and some have interior fireplaces," explains Paul R. about Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
Communal dishwashing facilities: At Beaver Pond Campground, Ethan K. particularly enjoyed "the communal sink which made it very convenient and easy to wash dishes and fill up water."
Bear awareness: Several dog friendly campgrounds near New Canaan require proper food storage due to local wildlife. "'Welcome to Bear Mountain' grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area. I mean, we are in Bear Mountain, what do you expect?!?" shares Steve W. from Beaver Pond.
Reservation systems vary by park: Some parks require in-person bookings. "There is no phone or internet reservations and has to be made in person at the office. I would recommend call earlier and come in few minutes earlier to 9 am when the office opens to find the best spots," advises Anil S. about Ward Pound Ridge.
Water quality monitoring affects swimming: Kettletown State Park Campground occasionally restricts water activities. "The week I was there there was a high bacteria count, so no swimming was allowed. Also, when swimming is allowed, there isn't a lifeguard," reports Elaine C.
Site selection matters: At pet-friendly campgrounds near New Canaan, site privacy varies significantly. "The sites at Clarence Fahnestock are very different so it's useful to go in person and select the area. This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance," recommends Asher K.
Campground patrol consistency: Enforcement of quiet hours varies by location. At Croton Point Park, "The site was very loud (dance music) until after 11pm. Quiet time at 10pm. Great site for a party, try to stay away from this end of the site or choose a site away from other bookings if you'd like quiet," advises Jonathan C.
Wildlife encounters for kids: "The park itself offers many of its own attractions, including swimming, hiking, kayaking, cabin rentals, and a host of other family-oriented activities just along the Hudson. Wildlife: deer, rabbits, turtles," reports W L. from Heckscher State Park.
Seasonal adaptations: RV campers should check park operating schedules. "About 30 minutes from sleepy hollow and tarrytown NY and only an hour to central park!! Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint. Free Hot showers in the bathrooms, with plenty of room to change," recommends Megan B. about Beaver Pond.
Utility restrictions: Some campgrounds limit electrical access. At Hammonasset State Park Campground, "Most sites don't have hook ups so you have to run off battery and water storage tanks if you have a RV," cautions Jason B.
Late-season camping advantages: Some campgrounds offer quieter experiences during off-peak times. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available. Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great," shares Rebecca S. about Beaver Pond.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near New Canaan, CT is Ward Pound Ridge Reservation with a 4.5-star rating from 10 reviews.
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