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Black Rock State Park Campground allows pets throughout its campsites, offering tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with pet-friendly policies in place. Located in Watertown, this established campground operates from May through September with bathrooms, showers, and drinking water available for campers and their four-legged companions. Gentiles Campground in Plymouth maintains year-round pet-friendly sites with water hookups and designated pet areas. Branch Brook Campground provides creekside sites where dogs can enjoy water access, though some campers note the sites are relatively close together. Lake Compounce Campground in Bristol accommodates pets at their tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options, featuring a playground area where families can gather with their dogs. The bathrooms at pet-friendly campgrounds are generally well-maintained with clean shower facilities.
Point Folly Campground provides lakefront access at Bantam Lake where dogs can cool off during summer camping trips. Hiking trails throughout White Memorial Conservation Center connect to the campground, offering extensive walking routes for dogs and their owners. Cozy Hills Campground in Bantam maintains 178 sites with full hookups where pets are welcome, operating from mid-April through mid-October. Most campgrounds require pets to remain leashed at all times, with designated pet waste disposal stations throughout the grounds. Local campers frequently mention Black Rock State Park as their go-to location, citing the variety of hiking trails and stream access that dogs particularly enjoy. Nearby attractions include Leather Man Cave, Whitestone Cliffs, and Tory's Den, all accessible with leashed pets on surrounding trails.
"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."
"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"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"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"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 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"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."
"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"
"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"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"
"However one issue was the garbage situation. Had to walk a long distance to throw out the trash."
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.
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.
LegendLet me just start off by saying we did stay at the end of the season so the campground was quiet… But this is a stunning park and totally worth a stop if you’re traveling via hwy 84! They had such great customer service and the amenities are on point. 2 separate ponds: one for fishing, one for swimming; large outdoor games; Rec hall with video games, 50¢ pool table, live music; volleyball; boat rentals; and even a baseball diamond! (We picture kickball more than baseball happening here) Facilities were east to use and clean. Sites were wide open and easy to access, my only complaint being that they offer “full hookups” but you’re told to just leave your grey tanks open. We chose to wait and dump on our way out. If you’re a pet owner, you’ll absolutely love the dog run!
Camping around Thomaston, Connecticut centers on the western highland region of the state, with elevations averaging 700-900 feet above sea level. The terrain features dense hardwood forests, rocky outcroppings, and small streams that feed larger waterways such as the Naugatuck River. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during camping season, while spring and fall campers experience cooler conditions requiring appropriate gear.
Fishing access: Lake Waramaug State Park Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities in its 656-acre lake. "Great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available," notes camper G Y.
Hiking trails: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground provides access to numerous trails in American Legion State Forest. "Beautiful, quiet, great fishing, great hiking!" says Emily T. The camp sits adjacent to the Farmington River, creating opportunities for both water and land activities.
Wildlife viewing: Bear Creek Campground includes natural areas where wildlife frequently visits. One camper reported, "This is an interesting camp ground. As I am set up for bed I see one other large green tent that looks deserted... I hear coyotes. Won't be surprised if I see a bear in the morning" (A J.).
Clean facilities: Kettletown State Park Campground maintains well-kept facilities. "I love kettletown, it's a favorite that is very close to home. It's a small camp ground and it's absolutely beautiful. The bathrooms are always kept clean and stocked and there are a ton of watering spots," writes Taylor C.
Privacy levels: White Pines Campsites offers varied site layouts with different privacy levels. "We stayed at site 85 in Sunny Crest and liked having some privacy. The sites nearby had some trees providing space between each site," reports Becca Z., though she notes many sites have slopes.
Swimming options: During summer months, several campgrounds offer swimming. "The pool is nice, clean but a little cold. Will definitely come back," mentions Rebecca S. about Cozy Hills Campground, while Lake Waramaug provides lake swimming better suited for young children.
Campsite spacing: Branch Brook Campground has relatively close sites. "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," notes Benjamin A., highlighting both drawbacks and amenities.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds in the region have poor connectivity. Austin Hawes Campground has "no cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it," according to Katherine P.
Accessibility factors: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. Gentiles Campground has "roads that were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs," according to Mae, making it challenging for larger setups despite its year-round operation.
Age-appropriate swimming areas: Lake Waramaug's swimming area works better for younger children. "The swimming area is an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then it's probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in)," advises Mo S.
Activity options: White Pines offers family-friendly amenities. "Large clean pool my kids loved swimming in. Staff is super nice. Small arcade," reports Kim T., mentioning features beyond natural attractions.
Site selection strategy: When camping with children at Cozy Hills Campground, consider transportation needs. "It's very hilly. A golf cart is recommended if your site is far from the pool," suggests Rino S., particularly relevant for families with young children who tire easily.
Site accessibility: At Bear Creek Campground (Lake Compounce), RV sites have specific configurations. "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., noting the layout accommodates larger rigs despite the proximity to neighbors.
Hook-up limitations: Some campgrounds lack full 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," notes Ray B. about Bear Creek Campground.
Terrain considerations: Many Connecticut campgrounds feature uneven terrain. At Point Folly Campground, "The water front sites on the West Side seem to flood easily if it rains," warns Judy S., relevant information for those with RVs seeking level, dry sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Thomaston, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Thomaston, 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 Thomaston, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near Thomaston, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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