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Macedonia Brook State Park Campground allows pets at its 159-acre wooded site in Kent, Connecticut. Several campgrounds in the area accommodate campers with dogs, including Lake Waramaug State Park, Housatonic Meadows, and Cozy Hills Campground. Most require pets to remain on leash at all times, with leashes typically limited to six feet. The dog park at Cozy Hills features a three-foot fence that smaller dogs can't jump, though active breeds like border collies may clear it easily. Campgrounds generally provide basic pet amenities including designated pet waste disposal areas and water access. Tent, RV, and cabin options exist for pet owners, with Cozy Hills offering 178 sites that accommodate various camping styles.
Hiking trails throughout the region welcome leashed dogs, with Macedonia Brook's trails offering moderate to challenging terrain suitable for active pets. Campers report that Kenneth L. Wilson Campground in nearby New York features a wonderful dog park that visiting pets enjoy. Wildlife encounters are common in the area, so securing food in appropriate containers prevents raccoon problems. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours that apply to barking dogs as well. During summer months when temperatures rise, shaded sites provide better comfort for pets. Several campgrounds close for the season after Labor Day, with most operating from May through early September. Veterinary services are available in nearby towns, though emergency options may be limited during overnight hours.
"My family has been camping at Lake Waramaug for over 20 years. I can say most of what’s been said is true or partially so but whether it’s bad or good depends on your point of view."
"One of my favorite so far , went with family , to comply w covid and social distancing, the camp only rent your site and no one on your left or right or across ! Amazing !"
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"teaching scouts of all ages how to take and prepare for the wilderness survival badges place is clean it has running water has a porta potty and festival you don't have to worry because the state of Connecticut"
"Our camp spot was right above the river the flows behind this spot. You can go sit down by the water. But be careful!"
from $14 / night
Check Availability"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
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 $17 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $70 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The campground is right on Bantam Lake which is great for boaters/kayakers fisherman and families. I have found the east side of the lake to be much more windy than the west side of the lake. "
"Beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing. Small little island"
"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"Less then 10 min drive from town, but hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service."
"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
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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.
ScoutThe campsite was great. Big and going after Labor Day means there was tons of space. Well priced. We did have neighbors that had a trailer and used their generator early in the morning and late at night. Beside that it was fantastic. We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it.
GuideLots of room in many sites for my 24 ft RV and 30 ft trailer. Big meadow in middle with new full playground set.
Dry camping but water available and a sewer dump. Gotta haul your own trash.
Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park.
Some nice hiking in the park.
GuideSuch a clean and well maintained campground. Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around. We had to move our tent as we had set it back too far and was not on the site pad and park ranger Brian who was very lovely came and asked us to move it and we had a nice chat. Lovely big dog park. There are some nice little walks and small hikes on the ground with a lake that you can rent kayaks or canoes. Close to Woodstock which is a cute town. Our site was a little exposed but the sites either side of us were closed for restoration thankfully. There are some more secluded and set back sites too though.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
GuideMy first visit to New York state was amazing, largely in part due to my campsite at the Woodland Hills campground. I had a back in site and was having problems with my camper, and they were able to change to a pull through at time of check in. However, it was in early May and before the summer crowds. The pond has a fountain which sounds like a small waterfall at night, and wildflowers were in bloom. Very nice bathrooms and showers, and my dog loved the dog park.
ScoutCan a campground be cozy? I think this place is.
It's not too big, and it's not too small, it's just right.
Bring decent tent pegs because you will probably hit a stone or two.
They sell huge bags of firewood for 8 or 9 dollars and it's much better than the plastic wrapped stuff you get at convenience stores.
Last time we went they were sold out and we had to buy (damp) wood elsewhere.
Each loop has a bathroom. They are clean and well-lit.
They have a single building for trash/recycle/reuse and for washing dishes. They also have a playground and a dog park.
The campsites are nice and shaded.
Each site has a picnic table and grill. The picnic tables can be moved around.
No Wi-Fi. Haven't tried to make a call so I'm not sure about that.
I'd feel safe here if I camped alone. Staff are friendly and helpful.
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.
Dog-friendly camping options exist throughout the South Kent area of western Connecticut. This region sits in the foothills of the Berkshires with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,100 feet above sea level. The area's climate features warm summers with temperatures averaging 70-85°F and humidity levels between 60-70%. The region has both wooded hillside campsites and lakeside options with varying regulations for pets.
Hiking with dogs: Most trails in Macedonia Brook State Park require leashed pets. "Macedonia State Park is a lovely little spot to camp. I stayed there for a night and it was very quiet and very safe. Our camp spot was right above the river the flows behind this spot," notes visitor Catina C. about Macedonia Brook State Park Campground.
Fishing with your dog: Bantam Lake offers shoreline fishing access where leashed pets can join you. "Clean and quiet. Beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing. Small little island," reports Mary C. about her experience at Point Folly Campground.
Swimming areas: Only designated swimming zones allow dogs, and rules vary by park. One camper at Black Rock State Park noted, "Beautiful state park, very clean... fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers... stores within a 5 minute drive."
Privacy between sites: Some campsites offer more separation than others. "Sites are HUGE. Bathrooms, water, showers are close by. You will almost always have a view of the water," mentions katrina M. about Lake Waramaug State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: "We have stayed there many times. We have a few favorite sites. We have also seen a bear eating food from the dumpster at housatonic meadows," reports Dawn D. about her experiences at Housatonic Meadows State Park Campground.
Waterfront camping: Several parks offer sites near brooks, rivers, or lakes. "Point Folly is a small, quiet campground that has water, pit toilets and I think a dumping station. The campground is right on Bantam Lake which is great for boaters/kayakers fisherman and families," explains Judy S.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have spotty reception. "No cell service. Loved the drive to the camp and following the winding brook. The camp sites were laid out kind of odd, making some of them right up on a neighbor spot," reports Neil T. about Macedonia Brook State Park.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: From full showers to pit toilets. "Clean private bathrooms were a plus. Clean pool but only 3 feet deep," says Kim T. about Cozy Hills Campground.
Seasonal availability: Most state park campgrounds operate from Memorial Day weekend through early September. "The staff greeted with warm welcomes and big smiles. Even when I arrived on a rainy Sunday. Stayed until Friday. And the grounds staff smiled and waved as they went by," describes Topher L. about Black Rock State Park Campground.
Enclosed dog areas: "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," warns Kim J. about Cozy Hills Campground.
Kid-friendly fishing spots: "Kids caught about 20 fish. The pool is nice, no deep end. It's very hilly. A golf cart is recommended if your site is far from the pool," advises Rino S.
Insect protection: Mosquitoes can be prevalent in wooded areas. "While I would probably skip Macedonia on the weekends in summer since it looks like it could get packed, a little more off season and during the week it was great. Hardly anyone around, we had a site right next to the stream," suggests Marque D. from Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground.
Limited hookup options: Many state parks have minimal or no hookups. "No water or electric hookup but I have solar and a generator and they have a wash area for dishes and REALLY HOT showers... They also have a dump station and a place to fill up ur water tank as well," explains Topher L.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "This time we tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. Site 11, while large, was uneven and had some large tree roots that would be easy to trip over," reports Kristin about Kettletown State Park.
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds have difficult approaches. "The roads around the campground are very narrow with a lot of blind curves. Be careful and aware when driving, and I think cyclists are taking a gamble," cautions Mo S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near South Kent, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near South Kent, CT is Lake Waramaug State Park Campground with a 3.1-star rating from 9 reviews.
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