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Lake Compounce Campground in Bristol accommodates pets at its maintained sites less than 15 minutes from Newington. The campground offers a range of pet-friendly options including tent sites, RV spots with electric and water hookups, and cabin accommodations. Leashed pets are welcome throughout the property, though guests note that walking areas are limited to designated sections. The campground features clean facilities including showers and restrooms that receive regular maintenance. Sites have varying levels of shade, with tent areas offering more tree coverage than the more open RV section. The campground operates seasonally from May through October, with most visitors reporting the best experience during weekdays when the grounds are less crowded and more peaceful.
Hammonasset State Park Campground provides another pet-friendly option approximately 35 miles from Newington, with spacious sites that accommodate tent camping, RVs, and cabin stays. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the campground, with easy access to walking paths along the shoreline. When planning camping trips with pets, travelers should prepare for wildlife encounters as several campers report hearing coyotes in the area at night. Most campgrounds in the region enforce strict pet waste cleanup policies and require current vaccination records upon check-in. Local veterinary services are available in nearby towns, with the closest emergency animal hospital located in Hartford, approximately 8 miles from Newington. The sites at River Highlands State Park River Campground provide scenic river views but campers should be prepared for natural encounters, including spiders in the outhouse facilities.
"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"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"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."
"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"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"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"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."
"This is our families favorite camping location. On the pond at Waters Edge. When asked where they want to camp my 5 and 7 year old will always respond with Waters Edge."
from $45 - $100 / night
Check Availability"However one issue was the garbage situation. Had to walk a long distance to throw out the trash."
"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"
from $74 / 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
GuideSomewhat crowded
staff was very nice. Lots of places around to go sightseeing. Most of the area isn’t dog friendly, so be careful if you take your pet. No problem at the campground
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.
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.
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!!
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!!
Campgrounds around Newington offer diverse terrain across Hartford County, with elevations ranging from 30 to 250 feet above sea level. The area experiences all four seasons distinctly, with summer camping season typically running May through October when temperatures average 75-85°F during the day and 55-65°F at night. Many campgrounds report wildlife activity including deer, raccoons, and occasionally black bears.
Fishing opportunities: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground provides excellent access to trophy trout fishing on the Farmington River. "Trophy trout river with excellent fishing, but catch and release only," notes Melissa R., who found the campground "fairly quiet" with "no planned activities."
Hiking trails: White Pines Campsites offers varied terrain for day hikes. "Hiking trails were nice, good variety of easier and more difficult terrain," reports Becca Z. Many trails connect to larger state forest systems allowing for extended backcountry exploration.
Swimming options: Hammonasset State Park Campground provides beach access within walking distance from campsites. "Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite," explains Tiffany T., who recommends biking "from your site to the playground, store, beach, local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or our family favorite, meig's point nature center."
Spacious sites: Tent campers appreciate the roominess at Austin Hawes Memorial Campground. "A few nice sites, most are ok, some small. Ours backed up to the river and was large but hiking trail along river had a lot of traffic," shares Melissa R.
Clean facilities: Lake Compounce Campground maintains modern bathroom facilities. "Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper," notes Diane R., adding that despite sites facing neighbors, there's "enough room between you don't feel invaded."
Wildlife viewing: Nature enthusiasts report diverse wildlife sightings. "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," reports A.J. at Lake Compounce, highlighting the importance of proper food storage.
Site preparation: At White Pines Campsites, some visitors report site cleanliness issues. "When we got to our spot, it was covered in hundreds and hundreds of nails and broken glass. Maintenance ended up having to get a shovel to get most of the nails up but we still spent the first few days of our stay picking up nails and glass," explains Kristen L.
Weekend noise levels: Several campgrounds become louder on weekends. "Night fell and the place turned into Margaritaville. The seasonal RVers have really taken over the place and while some have tasteful decor and lights, others not so much," notes Sylvia P. about White Pines Campsites.
Cell service limitations: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground has minimal connectivity. "No cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it," mentions Katherine P., who appreciates the campground's large sites and river access.
Activity planning: Black Rock State Park offers multiple family recreation options. "Very Beautiful Place To Visit With Family and Friends! Rangers and other campers were very friendly. Lot of good hiking trails with a scenic view and waterfall to discover," shares Tanya B., noting the beach "was nice, just a bit crowded."
Dog-friendly options: River Highlands State Park River Campground welcomes pets but requires preparation. "The campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river. As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this)," advises Alicia B.
Reservation timing: Booking early is crucial for dog friendly campgrounds near Newington, particularly at popular spots. "We enjoyed our stay. It was quiet. The salt water pool was clean. Booked a site for October before we left," mentions Rebecca S. about Waters Edge Family Campground, highlighting the importance of advance planning.
Hookup limitations: Waters Edge Family Campground provides electric and water but not full hookups. "We enjoyed our stay. It was quiet. The salt water pool was clean," notes Rebecca S., who found most pet-friendly campsites near Newington clean but with limited services.
Dump station access: Many campgrounds offer dump stations rather than sewer hookups. "Very well maintained and friendly staff will stay again when in the area. Does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station," reports Ray B. about Lake Compounce Campground.
Site arrangement: RV sites often have a specific orientation. "Easy entry, long pull thrus. You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded," explains Diane R. about Lake Compounce, adding that "restrooms are clean and spacious" and "showers are great."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Newington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Newington, 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 Newington, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 110 dog-friendly camping locations near Newington, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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