Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Stamford, CT

I 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

This 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.

Campsite allows dogs, however, the beach does not. They have a small dog run on the other side of the large beach parking lot. Very clean, friendly employees.

This park is about 6 minutes away from our home. It's a small park. It's great if you have little ones. Dogs are welcome.There's a large dog run so the fur babies will have a great time too. Staff is super nice. Bathrooms are just okay. Sites are close and very buggy but "tis the season". We didn't explore the trails but heard they were good.

Camp on grass! Lovely trees. Everyone is nice. Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms

Very dog friendly-- I found the trails pretty confusing- we went in circles a lot which was confusing and frustrating. But it was a beautiful park!

I go here if I want amennities. They have full hook-ups for my RV. The staff was nice and they were dog friendly!

So it's about a mile to three miles to the closest campsites on the western side. Very secluded, and peaceful weekend by the water. Make sure to get a reservation if you're going in between march 15 and labor day. The only disappointments were that there are no campfires allowed and no dogs, but it's very understandable why. The park and is protected which is the only reason it has stayed beautiful all this time, so let's not stop now!

We purposefully chose a drive in spot close to home to try out our dogs in a tent for the first time. The site was lovely with a nice sized fire pit and grill. It was hidden back so gave us some privacy from the neighbors. We were only there one night and it’s not probably somewhere I’d stay more than that. The dense woods made for mosquito heaven. The biggest issue is we had incredibly noisy neighbors and despite the fact there are “quiet hours” we didn’t have a single park ranger or official enforce them. These people were yelling, screaming, blasting music until nearly 3am. There was no way to contact anyone either as the numbers provided were to the offices that were closed.

My wife, 14 month old, two dogs and I did an overnight trip on site 77n on a Wednesday evening. We had a very nice time. The site was mostly clean other than small camping detritus. We had a good amount of space between us and the other sites and we had no disturbances other than our son wanting to play all night.

The site had one picnic table, a stand up coal grill, and a fire ring with drop down grill. There were a good number of dumpsters around the camping park and a bathroom building with a shower stall in the respective rooms and a hot water sink on the outside.

My only complaint is that the check in time is on the late side (5pm) and the check out was a bit early (10am).

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. Site was close to bathroom but secluded enough to feel safe. It wasn’t wooded so almost no shade during day. Sites 7, 8, and 9 next to us were closed for social distancing. Camp grounds were clean and well maintained. Friendly staff. Dog friendly. Not much to do with kids besides beach during day.

Beach is across the street from camp grounds....2 min drive. Very nice complex with new concession stand and bathrooms. Got very crowded after 10a and water is murky in certain areas, not much space to spread out and swim. Didn’t feel comfortable in water with so many people at times but we went during heat wave so that most likely played a part.

Where can I begin the place is great it's perfect for 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 d e e p it's just a phone call away it does have some cell service but you got a gift towards the building I believe there's a repeater or a satellite relay in the building I'm not sure. all in all: 10 out of 10

Wonderful weekend visit in the off season. Site was level, pretty spacious and easy to back into. Campsites are located close enough to the beach/marsh. Multiple playgrounds for the kids although they were closed due to Covid. No sewers sites that I could tell, and water was off because we were a week shy of the season opening. Needed to move to dump station prior to leaving (2 night visit) and had to drive to fill the fresh water tank once while there. Nice neighbors. Dog friendly. People obeyed the quiet hours. I have not one complaint. There were hiking trails and geocaching on site. 4 stars bc no sewer at the campsite and we like full hook ups and honestly I’m guessing this is a county rule but the playgrounds could’ve been open. Outside and socially distanced after dealing with Covid for a whole year and most local parks and playgrounds being open since last May... that was upsetting. All in all we had a great weekend. Close to the LI aquarium as well! Many stores and a golf course near by too!

I tented here while doing a river stream reconstruction project in southern Connecticut.

To start, access to the river was great, though no swimming was allowed because of an algae bloom. The shorter hiking trails in the area were really beautiful.

Site 32 and the upper loop was not great though. The sites were super close together and the boundary lines were unclear, so my neighbors ended up using my fire ring to secure their tent. The picnic table seemed to be shared between sites and had boards missing, so it was challenging to use when available.

Overall, folks seemed to be there in larger groups for celebrations so things were loud well past midnight, which was challenging given how close each site was. I realize this is very time specific but there was no management presence around quiet time, and this happened both evenings I was there, so I got the sense that quiet times didn’t really apply.

The location was great especially for folks closer to the major metro areas, but I’ll be looking elsewhere if I’m ever in the area again.

Pros: Better wi-fi than most campgrounds. My wife and I both were able to work with mostly no issues, though there were some situations where it would go out. Same with streaming, we could stream a show but it would occasionally have to buffer so it wasn’t great but again, better than most campgrounds. 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.

Cons: As a disclaimer to this I want to emphasize that we had nothing physically dangerous happen to us nor any real threat of that. However, my wife just felt it important to mention that as a woman she would have felt unsafe camping here alone due to the fact that it was mostly men camping here, one of which did make her feel a bit uncomfortable. So she just felt it was good to warn any potential women who might be camping alone that this may not feel like the safest campground for you. Our site had a “deck” outside which was great but it had some very weak boards that you could have easily fallen through. They did have mats over those spots (as pictured) but it still felt very unsafe to walk on. Other reviews have mentioned that it didn’t seem like the office was ever opened and while we never had a reason to go to the office, it was closed early in the day when we arrived and we never saw anyone who appeared to work for this campground so I can imagine it could have been difficult to get any assistance if you needed it.

Overall: Not the worst place you could stay at by any means but definitely not the best. Just a very average campground that’s probably best for if you’re just passing through the area.

Camp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.

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. Note that we are a Scout family and my husband and son have camped many days well off the grid with only the gear and food in their backpacks. That skews our point of view. 

First off, Connecticut’s state campgrounds are not KOA’s. 

Do not expect top of the line activities that private campgrounds have.

What it does have are clean, large sites that are partially wooded and not out in the open. 

The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available. The swim area is marginal- best for little ones. 

This park is remote from all conveniences- pack it in or expect a drive. There have been several times I’ve driven to the Dunkin Donuts miles down the road for coffee but I find using a French press is more convenient. For takeout there’s the White Horse on 202. It’s ranked a top restaurant in the state - the food is good. 

Never have we had issues with wildlife besides squirrels and ducks. Leave no trace is important - it keeps the unwelcome wildlife out. 

There have been issues with the bathrooms off and on over the decades. It seems like they’ve finally fixed everything. Our trip of 7/27-28 showed everything was fine.

The only on-site services are firewood and ice sales. The little food shack is out of business. 

Yes, cell service is basically non-existent. Our trip this weekend was the first time we received more than 1 bar in 20 years. Actually we were a bit disappointed because this camp ground is a great place to disconnect and relax. Being forced to put away the devices is heaven in my mind. You can drive about 5+ minutes out and get cell service. Regarding rowdiness, of the 20+ times we’ve camped only twice was it a problem. 

Also, this place is not glamping. The area is rural, so cows do moo at 6am, and kids are up even earlier. If you like to sleep in skip and rent a B&B. 

Also if you want a better place to swim go to Mt.Tom state park about 10 minutes up the road. It’s a day use only park-no camping- but the lake is gorgeous and there are very few people there.

Fahnestock State Park, Carmel, NY

Busy Campground on Weekends!

This park has a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean! They even have boat rentals - or you can bring your own boat to launch! 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!!

Weekends - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck! We stayed in site number 1, and I found it to be just wooded enough. Almost all of the sites offered privacy.... Even when the campground was full. I do feel the campground bathhouse really needed more attention... while it had clearly been painted this past year, it was very “buggy” - and did not appear to have been thoroughly cleaned since spring... (yuck!).

PRODUCT REVIEW: As a ranger for Dyrt.com, sometimes I am offered the opportunity to test and review various products. At Fahnestock State Park in New York state, I reviewed my Gregory Maven 55L Women’s backpack (see accompanying video).

Weighing in at 3 pounds 6 ounces, the Gregory Maven was a nice mid-weight pack for me to take on my yearly 2 1/2 week Appalachian Trail hike.

Normally, I like to save the best for last when I do a review; however, this time I just can’t wait to spread the news about my favorite features! The Maven has a Matrix Ventilation System, which provides exceptional ventilation on the pack’s back panel. This kept my back from being its usual sweaty mess! The second feature that blew me away was how cool my water stayed in this backpack! With other packs, the water gets warmed up from heat radiating off the hiker’s back. This didn’t happen with my Gregory pack! Every pull off my water - from the beginning of the day until hours later - provided me with a refreshingly cool drink. I actually questioned other hikers with Gregory packs to see if I was the only one experiencing this - The other hikers, who had different Gregory models, confirmed that their backs and water were staying cooler too! Added bonus: I was able to pull out the hydration sleeve and use it as a daypack a few times!

The Maven’s pockets helped me keep my pack much more organized than in the past. It has a lower sleeping bag compartment, top pocket with separate zipper areas (one has a place to attach a car key!), side pockets, hip pockets, and even pockets on the shoulder harnesses! I can’t forget the front pocket, which held the rain fly!

The pack fit was great, but do be careful to check your sizing if you are looking at both the 45L and 55L. While I am a XS/S with the 55L, I would have been a S/M with the 45L.

I used this pack for 2 1/2 weeks backpacking over 200 miles on the Appalachian Trail through the states of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Maven did an outstanding job keeping my possessions organized and dry as well as keeping me comfortable and happy on the trail! This will definitely be my pack of choice for future hikes!

TL;DR- Skip to last 3 paragraphs for summary/opinion section 

I booked my site online as I believe is the only way to do so. The online system was not very informational and the camp site map didn’t really give any insight into any differences between sites for choosing one. So I chose the first site on the list, site#2. I’m guessing this is fairly common for a guest to book the first site on the list. This is important later. 

I drove down from Connecticut to Long Island to find the main routes to the campsite all went through New York’s parkways. There are height restrictions on the parkways so RVs and semis cannot travel on them without a high risk of crashing into the bridges and getting the tops ripped off like a tin can. Google Maps doesn’t have an option for large vehicles so I made my way manually and the trip took an extra hour or more to arrive than planned. Not anyone’s fault- just divulging for awareness. 

Arrived at the site, was greeted by a man who said he didn’t have anyone on the list arriving that day and if I could show him the email confirmation. I did, he confirmed, showed me to my spot- site#2- right by the entrance. He gave me rundown on campsite rules- quiet hours, gates closing hours, where to park if arriving afterwards, etc then he helped me back my 5th wheel into the spot. Very nice. 

I booked the site for 1 week initially until 11/2- over the Halloween weekend during a nor’eastor. So much of the first week was rainy and windy. The campsite is flat and open, no trees, no nothing really. 2/6 days we had part sun. It was the last week the site was open for the season and there was only about 15 sites occupied. Not sure how many sites are there but it seemed like 100+. A day ahead of my departure date- Nov 1- I decided to just go ahead and extend my stay until the end of the campsite season, Nov 6. I again went to book online to extend. The site was giving a message saying“partial availability” and it looked as if the site I had had been booked for Nov 3 for one night. It was late at night so I planned on talking to the office the next day Nov 2 to see if I had any options to try and stay on site#2. 

Nov 2- One of the site managers, Bill, knocked on my camper and said someone was coming tomorrow and that I was supposed to move over one site to site#3. I posited the chance that maybe we could contact the new reservation and see if they specifically wanted that site or if they just chose it first on the list and wouldn’t mind having another site, as the park was 90% empty. Bill understood and told me he had no control over that but I should talk to the office manager Michelle. Nov 2 was election day and the office was closed so I planned on speaking with Michelle the next morning Nov 3 before the new reservation arrived, as check-in time is 1pm. 

Nov 3- 930am another camp manager knocks on my camper to tell me to move- I inform him I was going to ask the office to potentially stay, and he said he had no power over the move/stay issue but that Michelle was in the office. 

I went to the office and was greeted by a woman at the reception desk- I asked to speak to Michelle- she asked what it was regarding- I said I was and RV camper at site#2 and would like to ask a question. Michelle came to the desk and immediately had a defensive posture. I didn’t have high hopes for this conversation. I said“Good morning! My name is Matt- I’ve been staying on site#2 for a week now and I believe you had a one-day reservation for my spot and I was wondering…-“ Michelle then cut me off and said“You have to move.” I said that I understood the reservation policy but if it wouldn’t be too much to ask to maybe reach out to the new campers on my behalf to ask if maybe they wouldn’t mind another site as all the sites are the same and they likely just booked the generic website by choosing the first site on the list…she cut me off again and said“You have to move.” I asked if she was interested at all in hearing me finish my question or didn’t care. She said“You have to move.” 

I told her that her not even hearing me out was poor customer service and that I would write a review telling others of my bad experience. She said“That’s okay cause you’ll be blocked from coming back!” WOW. 

Interesting customer service response to block a guest that just paid over a grand to stay at a basic site who only wanted you to TRY and find out if the new campers booked that site specifically. 

__________________________ 

That was my explanation of the circumstances, here is my opinion: The campground is fine but nothing special. There’s industrial stuff going on right near the site I chose and along the whole east fenceline and there is no close entrance to any beach area. The closest fence line to the campground has no beach access and has a huge sign that says STAY OUT- TICKS! Its a good 10 minute walk to the beach through a concrete parking lot and basketball courts. I believe it was around$100/night to stay here. It’s hard to get to with an RV due to the parkways. The online reservation system is clunky and shows no photos or have much detail. The on-site staff has no authority to do anything other than enforce the rules set by the office. Michelle the office manager was curt and uninterested in anything I had to say at all. Then got very defensive and rude. It took me 35-40 minutes to unhook sewer, power, water, attach the fifth wheel to my truck, put the slide-outs in unlevel everything, re-park the the trailer 20 feet away, unhook the trailer, re-level it, hook up up sewer, water, power,& extend the slides- all because Michelle didn’t want to make a call or send an email to say“hey! we had a camper in site#2 extend his stay and was wondering if you wouldn’t mind site#3?”- I believe they would have 100% said yes and 100% believe they booked the site based on it being the first site open on the booking system just like I did. If they said no- I would have been fine with moving per policy- if the campsite had any differences whatsoever between sites(shade, trees, lake nearby, etc) I would have been fine with it- not even a“I’m sorry sir, but we have a policy to…and we are committed to abide by it. Sorry for the inconvenience..”- Michelle did not even care to allow me to finish asking my question before she rudely sent me away and threatened to block me from staying here ever again. 

UPDATE- No one ever showed up and parked in that site. 

I guess as a business owner who was also in customer service industries for over 20 years my philosophy is that if you can do something small or easy to try and help out a customer and make them happy then you should do so. Maybe I’m naive. I approached everyone I spoke with calmly and openly and the response was uncalled for at the least. 

Michelle- Thanks for being a dismissive inhuman devoid of any empathy to remind me that there are people like you out there. Another example of enforcing blanket policies that aren’t really applicable to the current situation to excuse yourself from any responsibility for being a nice person. 

Advice to future campers- stay here if you like- it’s close enough to the beach, train, food, Long Island things to do, etc- a little pricy, but expected in the area- but I hope that you do not need any reason to interact with office staff.

Stayed three nights and had an amazing time, super cozy by the fire in our shelter and our site was minutes from some amazing trails. plenty of space at each shelter site and they have a lovely staff :)