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Lake Compounce Campground accommodates tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites where pets are welcome. This well-maintained campground near Southington offers electric hookups, water, and full bathroom facilities with clean showers. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings with firewood available for purchase on-site. The campground features a small playground and recreational activities including tennis courts and basketball. While the tent sites are somewhat close together with limited privacy, the RV sites provide adequate space between neighbors. The campground is conveniently located next to Lake Compounce Amusement Park but positioned far enough away to maintain a peaceful camping environment. Wildlife sightings including coyotes have been reported in the area.
Black Rock State Park Campground provides pet-friendly accommodations with scenic hiking trails suitable for leashed dogs. The park features spacious, clean campsites with electric and water hookups plus modern toilet and shower facilities. Hiking paths offer varying difficulty levels with spectacular views and a waterfall to discover. The beach area tends to get crowded during peak season. Gentiles Campground and Branch Brook Campground also allow pets with varying amenities. Most campgrounds in the region require pets to remain leashed at all times, and owners should bring waste bags as dedicated pet waste stations are limited. During summer months, early morning or evening walks are recommended to avoid hot surfaces that can damage paw pads. Veterinary services are available within 10-15 minutes of most campgrounds in the area.
"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."
"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"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"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 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"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"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
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."
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
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.
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.
Campsites near Southington, Connecticut sit within New England's coastal upland terrain at elevations between 200-600 feet. The region features deciduous forest cover with seasonal brook and river access points that swell during spring runoff. Summer temperatures typically range between 75-85°F during day with cooler evenings around 55-65°F, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for tent camping.
Fishing opportunities: At Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, you'll find excellent trout fishing along the Farmington River. "Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots," notes reviewer Tom C. The river allows catch-and-release fishing with varied access points throughout the campground.
Hiking trails: The area offers trails suitable for various skill levels. Black Rock State Park Campground features "a variety of trails for hiking with a scenic view and waterfall to discover," according to Tanya B. The park's trail system connects to nearby natural features including streams and rocky outcroppings.
Swimming areas: During warm months, several campgrounds offer swimming facilities. Kettletown State Park provides a swimming hole, though water quality varies seasonally. Jennifer H. mentions, "The kids can run around until their energy out for the night! Plus you would see awesome stars during the nighttime!"
Privacy options: Kettletown State Park Campground offers sites with varying levels of seclusion. While sites can be close together in some areas, Elaine C. notes, "The campsites are varied, you can tent camp, use a camper, or they also have a few cabins you can rent." Some sites along the outer loops provide more separation from neighbors.
Convenient location: Many campers appreciate the strategic location of Lake Compounce Campground for overnight trips. One camper stated, "This was good for an overnight stop on our way south. We couldn't find much else along our route, but this wasn't too bad." Its accessibility makes it popular for travelers passing through the region.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses rank high among camper priorities. A Lake Compounce visitor remarked, "Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper." Most campgrounds in the region feature regularly cleaned bathroom facilities, though quality and accessibility vary by location.
Site spacing considerations: Several campgrounds feature sites in close proximity to each other. At Branch Brook Campground, "Spaces were decent sized. We were in site 16 and it was on the creek which was a decent view and gave us plenty of space to sit outside and for our dog to have space to roam."
Seasonal insects: Bug activity intensifies during summer months. One Austin Hawes visitor advised, "In the summer, this place is mosquito central, so bring lots of bug spray or be eaten alive!" Ticks remain active from April through October, with highest concentrations in wooded areas and tall grass.
Pet friendly camping near Southington, Connecticut: Most campgrounds allow leashed pets with specific restrictions. Cozy Hills Campground has a dedicated dog park, though one visitor noted, "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."
Youth activities: Cozy Hills Campground provides structured programming for children. "Lots and lots of activities for kids! Arts & Crafts, Arcade, Bingo, Casino Night etc. Pool is very nice for families - with no deep end, really safe for younger kids," reports Ann S. Scheduled activities typically run weekends during peak season.
Playground accessibility: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Lake Compounce, according to one camper, "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention its next to the amusement park." Playground equipment quality varies significantly between locations.
Water safety considerations: Swimming areas require parental supervision as lifeguards aren't always present. A Kettletown visitor mentioned, "When swimming is allowed, there isn't a lifeguard," highlighting the need for family water safety plans. Water quality testing often dictates whether swimming areas remain open during summer months.
Hookup variations: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of hookups. At Gentiles Campground, "Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites. Most sites seem pretty level, but there are some steep roads in the CG."
Dump station access: Not all pet friendly camping sites near Southington, Connecticut provide sewer hookups. At Lake Compounce, "None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out," notes one RVer. Plan for appropriate tank capacity based on length of stay.
Site layout considerations: Many RV sites position rigs with shared common areas. "You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded," mentions a Lake Compounce camper. Site dimensions and positioning impact privacy levels throughout campgrounds in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Southington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Southington, 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 Southington, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 101 dog-friendly camping locations near Southington, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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