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Wolf's Den Family Campground provides spacious tent, RV, and cabin accommodations for campers traveling with pets. Located in East Haddam, the campground features electric and water hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables at most sites. The family-oriented park maintains a clean environment with a fishing pond at the back of the property. Sites measure approximately 50x30 feet, offering ample room for pets to settle alongside their owners. Campers note the campground is well-organized with kind staff and good spacing between sites, creating a comfortable environment for both pets and their owners. GrandView CampResort & Cottages in Moodus and Markham Meadows in East Hampton also welcome pets with similar amenities and clean, well-maintained facilities.
Hiking opportunities exist near several pet-friendly campgrounds, with Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground offering nearby trails where leashed dogs can explore. Gillette Castle State Park provides additional walking paths with scenic river views for pet owners seeking day excursions. Campers should be prepared for varying terrain and wildlife encounters when exploring with pets. Most campgrounds enforce standard leash policies and require proof of current vaccinations upon check-in. The facilities typically operate seasonally from April through October, with Wolf's Den Family Campground open from the first weekend in May to the last weekend in October. Veterinary services can be found within reasonable driving distance of most campgrounds, though pet owners should research specific locations before their stay.
"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"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."
"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"
"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
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"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!"
"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 Availabilityfrom $30 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Machimoodus is one of the newest outposts just outside Boston and NYC. My bf and I went during one of the snowiest weekends all winter, but it was completely worth it!"
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.
ScoutStandard crabgrass parking lot with drunks driving around on golf carts and RV's stacked on top of each other. The woman who runs the office is a very angry person and it made the entire visit unpleasant, which is no surprise as she has been hostile and unwelcoming the several times I've visited. Pool looks nice though I guess, I've never dared to use it for fear of breaking one of the many unwritten and unspoken rules. A great place for people who enjoy eating dinner next to your neighbor's septic pipe. I called to ask if they allowed dogs and was told "NO" just to arrive and be asked to park next to the dog park.
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
GuideWe stayed for 3 nights, the sites and camp were very clean and well maintained. Everyone was very friendly, lots of things to do - pool, bocce, volleyball, horseshoes, arcade, a small field to play frisbee or ball, mini-golf (mini-golf landscape needs to be refreshed a bit) there is even a very small fenced in dog park which was nice if you want to let your dog off leash to play. We did not experience any screaming kids all night.
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.
TravelerBowdish Lake Camping Area is the worst campground we have ever been to and we travel fulltime! Their website states: $1,800-$3,600 per season (look for yourself on their website if you don’t believe me). We get there after reserving site Blue 65. They then charged us $3,900. Why? We have no idea! Then they charged us an additional $75.00 for our truck. Why I don’t know? Then they charged us an additional $50.00 for having our own kayak. Then they charged us an additional $50.00 for a small dog, $100.00 for large dogs (by the way they have no dog park). Then they charged us an additional $100.00 for cable. Then they charged us an additional .50 cents per kWh ( which cost us an average of$250.00 extra per month). The public facilities are filthy. They do not supply any toilet paper, hand soaps, hot water, etc. They charge you an additional charge by coin operated showers (cold water only) that are crawling with spiders, bugs and cobwebs.
Pet-friendly campgrounds near Portland, Connecticut offer varied terrain and camping experiences within 20 miles of the town center. Most campgrounds in this region sit between 200-500 feet above sea level, with sites nestled in mixed hardwood forests characteristic of the Connecticut River Valley. Summer temperatures typically reach 85°F during peak camping months, with cooler 70°F days in spring and fall.
Hiking at Devil's Hopyard: Located in East Haddam, the park features trails suitable for leashed dogs alongside scenic waterfalls. "We hiked and went fishing nearby. There are few places to purchase goods on the way to the site so stock up before arriving," notes Christine K. at Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground.
Beach activities: At Madison's Hammonasset State Park, campers can walk short distances from their sites to enjoy Long Island Sound beaches. "You can ride your bike from your site to the playground, store, beach, local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or our family favorite, meig's point nature center," shares Tiffany T. about Hammonasset State Park Campground.
Pond recreation: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Portland feature fishing ponds and swimming areas. "There is a nice lake to float on, a clean pool to swim in, activities every weekend. I camp here seasonally and love it," explains Laura M. about Waters Edge Family Campground.
Spacious sites: Campers frequently mention the ample site sizes in the region. "Very spacious tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Sites measure approximately 50x30 feet common," notes Jeremy G. about Wolf's Den Family Campground.
Weekend activities: Most campgrounds organize regular community events. "They had activities for the kids on weekends and holidays. They are close to local beaches and hiking trails," says Matthew about Riverdale Farm Campsites.
Proximity to attractions: Campgrounds in this area provide convenient access to multiple points of interest. "Nearby attractions are Gillette Castle and Goodspeed Opera. The campground itself is really nice. Cable TV at most sites," explains Kevin J. about Wolf's Den Family Campground.
Site reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. "The sites do fill up FAST over the summer up until school starts back up so if you plan to camp, BOOK AHEAD!" advises Bianca M. about Hammonasset State Park.
Pet restrictions: Some parks have seasonal limitations for dogs. "Be noted PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the summer. We were not aware of this," cautions Laura L. about Hammonasset State Park Campground.
Wildlife awareness: The region has active wildlife populations. "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. Won't be surprised if I see a bear in the morning," reports A.J. at Lake Compounce Campground.
Consider privacy levels: Sites vary significantly in privacy throughout the area. "We weren't sure what to expect- we picked this campsite last minute because of the location. It was really nice: our water and electric site was surrounded by super tall trees and although the sites were close, it didn't seem crowded," writes Erin M. about Waters Edge Family Campground.
Pack for insects: Bugs can be problematic at certain times. "The camp sites 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. I don't mind the noise but the nats (little black flies) make it nearly impossible to enjoy an evening," explains Bianca M.
Check bathroom facilities: Restroom quality and availability varies between campgrounds. "The downside is that the owner is straight crazy. One minute she's friendly, the next minute she's blaming us for things we never did," cautions Claire M. about Riverdale Farm.
Hookup limitations: Not all sites offer full hookups or appropriate connections. "There is no sewer hookups, but there is a dump station. 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," mentions Tina about Lake Compounce Campground.
Site access considerations: Some campgrounds have terrain challenges. "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," advises Kevin J.
Internet availability: Connectivity varies between parks. "The internet was horribly slow and kept dropping connections. This is an RV park, they advertise internet so you would figure it would work," reports Matthew about Riverdale Farm Campsites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Portland, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Portland, CT is Hammonasset State Park Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 39 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Portland, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 122 dog-friendly camping locations near Portland, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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