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Austin Hawes Memorial Campground offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with pets allowed throughout its spacious, riverfront sites. White Pines Campsites provides pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, glamping options, and yurts. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities with hot showers and toilets. At White Pines, the sites near the tent area T3 back up to woods that extend for miles, creating natural walking paths for dogs, though campers should remain vigilant as black bears have been spotted in the area. Cozy Hills Campground and Lone Oak Camp Sites also welcome pets with 178 sites available at Cozy Hills.
Farmington River access at American Legion State Forest creates excellent opportunities for dogs who enjoy water, though the river is catch-and-release only for fishing. The hiking trails throughout the area provide exercise options for pets, with Henry Buck Trail specifically noted for its dog-friendly terrain. Campers should come prepared with ample bug spray as the summer months bring heavy mosquito activity. Most campgrounds maintain quiet hours, though weekend evenings can become noisy at some locations with seasonal campers playing music. White Memorial Conservation Center's Point Folly and Windmill Hill campgrounds offer more secluded options for those seeking a quieter experience with their pets, with recent visitors noting the "quiet woods atmosphere with trails" and clean facilities.
"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 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
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"Tons of kids activities to keep the little ones busy and great hikes around! Tons of waterfalls in the area and the highest point in Connecticut."
"I happened upon Lone Oaks Camp Site when looking for someplace to stay in north eastern Connecticut."
"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."
"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"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"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 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 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.
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.
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!!
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!
The campgrounds near Torrington, Connecticut span diverse terrain from mountain foothills to lakeside settings, with elevations ranging from 600-1,200 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F with evening lows around 55-65°F. Campgrounds in this area experience moderate to heavy rainfall during spring and early summer, often creating muddy conditions at tent sites.
Fishing the Farmington River: Access trophy trout fishing at Austin Hawes Memorial Campground, where catch-and-release regulations apply. Austin Hawes Memorial Campground provides riverfront sites perfect for anglers. "Excellent campground for tent campers. Right on the farmington river and off the main road with access to many many other favorable fishing spots," notes Tom C.
Explore nearby trails: The region offers numerous hiking options within a short drive. "There is a lot of good hiking that can be done within a 20 min-1/2 hour 8-12 mile drive. A good one would be the Steep Rock Association's Macricostas Preserve, where you can hike up and see the sun set over the lake," suggests a visitor to Lake Waramaug State Park Campground.
Water activities: Bantam Lake at Point Folly Campground provides opportunities for boating and swimming. "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," says Judy S.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous site dimensions. At Black Rock State Park Campground, "The sites are very spacious and clean. The park itself is also well kept and clean. Lot of good hiking trails with a scenic view and waterfall to discover," shares Tanya B.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathrooms. "The bathrooms are nice, maintained, and well lit. You can get ice and firewood at the camp store at the entrance," notes Emily M. about American Legion State Forest.
Quiet atmosphere: Windmill Hill - Connecticut White Memorial Campground receives praise for its peaceful setting. "I booked site 5 for the week. Great experience! Quiet woods atmosphere with trail's. Wonderful place to camp. Very clean," says Sara R.
Wildlife encounters: Bears and skunks are common at several campgrounds. At White Pines Campsites, "We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours. I'm sure they are fed well."
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have poor connectivity. "No cellphone service, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about it," explains Katherine P. about Austin Hawes Memorial Campground.
Weekend noise: Several campgrounds experience increased noise levels on weekends. Lone Oak Camp Sites has "Entertainment all weekend with lots of staff. Play areas, pool over 21 bar area bands etc." according to Dominic M.
Site location considerations: At Lake Waramaug, "You hear a lot of cars going by if you're at a site that backs up to the main road."
Swimming options: Several parks offer swimming areas for children. "The swimming area is an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then its probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in.)" explains one camper about Lake Waramaug.
Planned activities: Cozy Hills Campground offers structured entertainment for kids. "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," shares Ann S.
Pet-friendly considerations: When camping with dogs at pet friendly camping near Torrington, Connecticut, bring appropriate containment. "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," warns Kim J. about Cozy Hills Campground.
Bring extra entertainment: Some campgrounds have limited on-site activities. "Plan on bringing your own food and cooking. It is a 10 mile drive that takes about a half an hour to complete to get any take-out," advises a Lake Waramaug visitor.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. Lake Compounce Campground provides alternatives: "Does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station," notes Ray B.
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have uneven terrain. At White Pines Campsites, "A lot of the sites we drove by were pretty sloped—I would recommend a drive though if you can beforehand."
Limited amenities at state parks: State park campgrounds typically offer fewer services. "CT's state campgrounds are not KOA's. Do not expect top of the line activities that private campgrounds have," explains a Lake Waramaug camper.
Space considerations: Some RV sites offer limited privacy. At Lake Compounce Campground, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Torrington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Torrington, CT is Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Torrington, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 101 dog-friendly camping locations near Torrington, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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