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Cozy Hills Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate families with dogs of various sizes, though the dog park's three-foot fence may be insufficient for some athletic breeds. This established campground, open from April through mid-October, offers both tent and RV camping along with pet-friendly cabin options. Sites are well-maintained with fresh wood chips and groomed gravel. The enclosed dog park allows pets to exercise off-leash, but owners of border collies and other jumping breeds should maintain close supervision. Lake Waramaug State Park Campground also welcomes pets across its tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations. The campground maintains a strict policy requiring pets to remain leashed when outside designated exercise areas.
Several hiking opportunities exist for campers with dogs near Washington. Macedonia Brook State Park Campground provides pet-friendly tent and RV sites with access to trails where leashed dogs can explore. At White Memorial Conservation Center's Point Folly Campground, pets are welcome at waterfront sites that offer excellent access to Bantam Lake for dogs that enjoy swimming. The quiet, wooded atmosphere of Windmill Hill provides a peaceful setting for pet owners seeking a more secluded experience. Freedom Farm Homestead accommodates both tent and RV campers with pets across its 20 sites. Wildlife encounters are common in the area, so pet owners should remain vigilant, especially during dawn and dusk hours when local wildlife is most active. Pet waste stations are available at most established campgrounds.
"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"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 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"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"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"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"
"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 Availabilityfrom $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Tall pines, the sound of the mighty housatonic river, and some car noise on the nearby 2 lane."
"The Housatonic river is wide and shallow but good for soaking on a hot day and right behind pretty much every campsite. The riverside sites have a clear view, the others you walk through the woods."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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.
ScoutBeautiful campsites! Lots of lean to sites with fireplaces in them. You have to go in person to make a reservation and pay. The camp area is beautiful, especially in the fall. Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to.
Camping areas near Washington, Connecticut offer several pet-friendly options within the Litchfield Hills region. The area sits at approximately 500-900 feet elevation with a humid continental climate featuring distinct seasonal changes. Late spring through early fall brings average temperatures between 65-85°F during camping season, with occasional summer thunderstorms requiring adequate tent stakes and rain covers.
Fishing at Bantam Lake: Point Folly Campground provides direct lake access for anglers. "Clean and quiet. Beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing. Small little island," says reviewer Mary C.
Hiking scenic trails: Macedonia Brook State Park Campground offers multiple trail options. "The loop hike over the mountains was good, at times more intermediate than beginner and I wouldn't try to go it with younger kids. We did the east side one afternoon and the west the next," notes Marque D.
Swimming options: Most local campgrounds offer water access, though quality varies. "The swim area is marginal- best for little ones," explains G Y. about Lake Waramaug. For better swimming, "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."
Quiet weekday camping: For those seeking solitude, timing matters at Lake Waramaug State Park Campground. "If you go during the week the place is a ghost town," shares katrina M. Another camper notes, "We were there in early June, and were almost eaten alive by mosquitoes when we ventured into the woods."
Spacious campsites: Campgrounds in the area typically provide adequate room. At Cozy Hills Campground, sites are "well maintained, with fresh wood chips and groomed gravel," and "Most of the short-term sites are on a separate loop from the seasonals, which made for a nice short-term community."
Diverse terrain options: Black Rock State Park Campground features "a variety of sites available, from open field sites to more wooded and private areas." Mathew D. adds that it has "a lake for swimming, trails for hiking, and some nice quiet areas for fishing."
Limited cell service: Many Washington-area campgrounds have poor connectivity. "There is no cell service in that area," according to Tom J. regarding Lake Waramaug. G Y. adds, "Being forced to put away the devices is heaven in my mind. You can drive about 5+ minutes out and get cell service."
Weather considerations: Kettletown State Park Campground and other local sites experience typical New England conditions. "We spent quite a bit of time in CT State Parks on this trip, and this was one of the best," notes DrDavid P., though he warns, "We were there in early June, and were almost eaten alive by mosquitoes when we ventured into the woods."
Variable bathhouse quality: Facilities differ widely between campgrounds. At Kettletown, Justin P. found "The picnic table seemed to be shared between sites and had boards missing, so it was challenging to use when available." Another camper noted that Black Rock has "well maintained bathrooms, with available showers."
Family activities: Freedom Farm Homestead and other dog-friendly campgrounds near Washington emphasize family experiences. At Cozy Hills, Ann S. mentions "lots and lots of activities for kids! Arts & Crafts, Arcade, Bingo, Casino Night etc."
Kid-friendly water areas: Some swimming areas are better suited for younger children. "Pool is very nice for families - with no deep end, really safe for younger kids," notes a Cozy Hills reviewer. At Bear Creek Campground, a visitor mentioned it "would have been nice if they had a place to swim (in the camping area) besides for at the main park."
Noise levels: Consider timing for quieter family experiences. At Lake Compounce Campground, a reviewer observed the "CG is pretty empty during the week and gets busy during the weekend." At Macedonia Brook, Ford S. found "a beautiful tranquil setting (at least during the week)."
Site selection and terrain: At Lake Compounce Campground, RV sites have specific layouts. "You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded," notes Diane R., who appreciated that "whoever planned this campground is/was a camper."
Hookup availability: Most dog-friendly campgrounds near Washington offer various hookup options. Lake Compounce has "electric, water and cable TV connections" but no sewer at sites. Ray B. notes it "does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station."
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain. At Gentiles Campground, a reviewer found "roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs." Evaluate access before arrival, especially at Macedonia Brook where some roads can be difficult during wet conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Washington, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Washington, CT is Cozy Hills Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Washington, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near Washington, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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