Best Dog-Friendly Camping near West Mystic, CT

Mystic KOA's pet policy extends to all accommodation types including tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options at their North Stonington location. The campground features 266 sites with full hookups for RVs and provides amenities like drinking water, electric service, and fire rings at pet-friendly sites. Sun Outdoors Mystic (formerly Seaport RV Resort) allows pets at their Old Mystic location, offering a clean, well-maintained environment with gravel sites that accommodate RVs and tents. Most campsites include picnic tables and fire rings, with both water and electric hookups available. Campground bathrooms and showers are kept spotless and freshly painted. The Dyrt includes reviews of campgrounds near West Mystic, Connecticut.

Crocker's Boatyard in Connecticut provides a unique marina camping experience where pets are welcome at their waterfront RV sites. The gated property offers security for campers with pets, with water and 50-amp electrical hookups positioned conveniently at each site. Rocky Neck State Park Campground in Niantic permits pets at their drive-in and walk-in sites from late May through September, while Niantic KOA welcomes pets across their tent, RV, cabin, yurt, and glamping accommodations. Campers note the highway noise at some campgrounds can be disruptive, particularly in Mystic KOA's Safari area which sits adjacent to Interstate 95, though the convenient location provides quick access to downtown Mystic's attractions and pet-friendly walking areas.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near West Mystic, Connecticut (102)

    1. Burlingame State Park Campground

    51 Reviews
    Charlestown, RI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (401) 322-8910

    $18 / night

    "Good for pets, there are two dumping spots each with two dumps,I would definitely go back."

    "It's about an hour away from us-- but it felt like a different place."

    2. Mystic KOA

    25 Reviews
    North Stonington, CT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 599-5101

    "Lots of places around to go sightseeing. Most of the area isn’t dog friendly, so be careful if you take your pet. No problem at the campground"

    "During our stay we enjoyed our campsite as it was close to the pool. The grounds were beautiful to walk on with water nearby and little places to explore."

    3. Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    South Lyme, CT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 739-1339

    "The beach is about a 1 mile walk or drive from the campground.  The walk is lovely and I have seen deer, turkeys, many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife along the way."

    "Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads."

    4. Crocker's Boatyard

    10 Reviews
    New London, CT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 443-6304

    $50 - $75 / night

    "Which was walking distance from the boat yard. Had a bite to eat at the Blue Duck, it was fine. Saw the show and walk back to the boat yard."

    "Easy access to the boatyard at night; pulled in, picked a spot and all good. Enjoyed the pool.

    Walked to Fort Trumbull.

    Recommend Crockers."

    5. Strawberry Park

    13 Reviews
    Griswold, CT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 886-1944

    $60 - $120 / night

    "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"

    "It was a bit too cold outside but the pools and hot tubs looked nice. Splash pad was clean and used by kids. Lots of roads to bike on and walk dogs. Live band on Saturday night was nice."

    6. Sun Outdoors Mystic

    6 Reviews
    Mystic, CT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 817-5696

    "This park is in a great location for exploring Mystic. You are close to downtown, the aquarium, Mystic Seaport and other attractions."

    "Seaport RV is a great, spacious campground with many amenities and a location close to Mystic."

    7. Niantic KOA

    13 Reviews
    South Lyme, CT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 739-9308

    "His place in Niantic Connecticut very close to downtown and the beach which they have a shuttle for. The staff is very friendly, courteous and knowledgeable of the area."

    "Close to level parking pad, with table and very nice brick firepit. Sites not too close together. I had woods behind me. I would definitely camp here again."

    8. Odetah Camping Resort

    13 Reviews
    Bozrah, CT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 889-4144

    "Tucked away in the woods I never knew this was there! Beautiful pond and a good mix of seasonal and overnight sites as well as cabins. Plenty of areas to walk our dogs and have them swim."

    "We had two sites side by side for our group of 7 and two dogs. The staff will deliver wood right to your site. The only con is the sites are not very private...at all."

    9. Aces High RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Montville, CT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 739-8858

    $74 - $80 / night

    "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."

    "Sites and roads are a pea gravel material and each site has large grassy areas around it. It was a quiet area with ponds and creeks and a generally relaxing setting."

    10. Hopeville Pond State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Griswold, CT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (860) 376-2920

    $17 - $50 / night

    "General: There are three sections to this campground: five canoe sites; 16 sites including one cabin behind the ranger station and what I would assume is the main section with 61 sites."

    "Hopeville Pond is a moderate sized state park campground located along a river and offering fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities."

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Showing results 1-10 of 102 campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near West Mystic, CT

611 Reviews of 102 West Mystic Campgrounds


  • A
    Oct. 16, 2021

    Newport RV Park

    Clean sites and easy hiking trails

    The campground is close to relatively easy hiking trails and Portsmouth Dog Park. Clean site areas, but many are on a slight slop so leveling blocks are needed. We Took one of the nearby Trails get to the Portsmouth Publick House restaurant, which is dog friendly, for lunch. The waterfall along the blue trail is picture worthy.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2020

    Waters Edge Family Campground

    Incredible campground

    Most 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.

  • I
    Oct. 26, 2020

    Newport RV Park

    Best dog park

    We got a great pull through full hookup with a 5 minute walk to a huge dog park. There are also a bunch of beautiful trails right from the park

  • Steve T.
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Fort Getty Campground

    Tent campers

    Perfect location for a summer / beach camp. Mostly for RVs but tent site #6 was great. Views of the ocean to wake up too and tucked away from main area.

    Worst part is you can’t bring your car on the site. Do not understand this, especially since it was over 95° and we have dogs that need AC, one if which is 14. We did sneak the car up by asking an RV camper to use his land because they block off the entrance with giant tree trunks.

    More good stuff, the private pet friendly beaches were great! Small but perfect to relax. No problems with the pets at all and old but clean bathrooms.

  • K
    Jun. 25, 2020

    Wilderness Lake Park

    Really enjoyed our time here

    Quaint 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.

  • Rose P.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Ashaway RV Resort

    Rude Staff

    Standard crabgrass parking lot with drunks driving around on golf carts and RV's stacked on top of each other. The woman who runs the office is a very angry person and it made the entire visit unpleasant, which is no surprise as she has been hostile and unwelcoming the several times I've visited. Pool looks nice though I guess, I've never dared to use it for fear of breaking one of the many unwritten and unspoken rules. A great place for people who enjoy eating dinner next to your neighbor's septic pipe. I called to ask if they allowed dogs and was told "NO" just to arrive and be asked to park next to the dog park.

  • K
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Strawberry Park

    Great atmosphere

    Great 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

  • Sarah A.
    Aug. 13, 2023

    Newport RV Park

    Nice, but further out than we thought

    This park was very nice, but they advertise being 5 miles away from historic Newport, and it’s more like 8. There are zero bike paths that are immediately accessible and Newport drivers are not walker/biker friendly. No sidewalks on the Main Street to get you here. Ubers and Lyfts can be scarce and very expensive depending on the time of day. Between $16 to $78 rides…so, if you’re not towing, just something to be aware of. Neighbors were super nice and there is a great dog park (we think it’s city owned) with super nice doggo humans. Was good for a short stay - we just wish we had known how far out it really was because we really would have loved to spend more time downtown.

  • R
    Aug. 14, 2020

    Whispering Pines Campground

    Great family campground

    We stayed for 3 nights, the sites and camp were very clean and well maintained. Everyone was very friendly, lots of things to do - pool, bocce, volleyball, horseshoes, arcade, a small field to play frisbee or ball, mini-golf (mini-golf landscape needs to be refreshed a bit) there is even a very small fenced in dog park which was nice if you want to let your dog off leash to play. We did not experience any screaming kids all night.


Guide to West Mystic

Pet-friendly campgrounds near West Mystic offer camping options along the coastal Connecticut region where the Thames River meets Long Island Sound. This area features a mix of forested state parks and privately-owned campgrounds within a 20-mile radius of West Mystic, with elevations generally under 300 feet. Summer temperatures average 70-85°F with higher humidity levels near the water.

What to do

Paddle the Pachaug River: From Hopeville Pond State Park Campground, kayakers can enjoy an 8-mile paddle south to the end of the pond and up the Pachaug River. "From here, we paddled south to the end of the pond and up the Pachaug River, eventually reaching the dam at Pachaug Pond. It's an 8 mile paddle with some tricky spots to navigate, but very pretty!" notes camper Cynthia K.

Ferry to Block Island: When staying at Crocker's Boatyard, take advantage of the walking-distance ferry to Block Island. "We took the ferry to Block Island which was also walking distance from the boat yard. Block Island a must see. Took the 5 pm ferry back," shares James G. The round-trip ferry typically takes about an hour each way and runs several times daily during summer months.

Visit Fort Trumbull: History buffs can explore Fort Trumbull, a short walk from several campgrounds. "Sunday we went and visited Fort Trumbull which is also walking distance away. Very nice place to visit and learn. Also took a tour of the Coast Guard Ship at Fort Trumbull," explains a Crocker's Boatyard visitor. The fort features military exhibits and coastal views.

What campers like

Waterfront camping access: Many campers praise the canoe sites at Hopeville Pond State Park Campground for their direct water access. "The gem is the canoe sites at the north of the campground. These are tent only. You park and walk about 100 yards to the site. Sites CN02, CN03 and CN04 have direct waterfront on the pond. You can launch kayaks, paddle boards, etc right from the site!" says Jason S.

Pool access for hot days: Strawberry Park offers multiple swimming options that campers consistently highlight. "Six pools with adult only pool and splash pad for the kiddos. Basketball courts, pickle ball court, softball field.. u name it they have it," notes Erick B. The adult-only pool provides a quieter swimming option during peak summer months.

Dog-friendly swimming areas: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near West Mystic feature dedicated pet swimming spots. At Aces High RV Park, campers appreciate the creek access for pets. "There is also a creek area for dog swimming. Our two labs loved it!" reports April L. Most dog swimming areas don't require leashes while in the water but do require owner supervision.

What you should know

Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds in the West Mystic area experience traffic noise due to proximity to major roads. "You can hear the highway very well at night, particularly in the safari field," notes a Mystic KOA reviewer about the Interstate 95 noise.

Varying pet policies: Dog-friendly campgrounds near West Mystic have different pet policies worth checking. Rocky Neck State Park Campground allows pets at drive-in and walk-in sites but not on beaches. "Pets are allowed at their drive-in and walk-in sites," while Hopeville Pond State Park differs completely: "Pets are not allowed at this campground!" warns Lee D.

Seasonal operation: Most state park campgrounds in the area operate seasonally. "This state park has a campground and a separate day use area for swimming and picnicking," explains Cynthia K. about Hopeville Pond. Rocky Neck State Park typically operates from late May through September, while private campgrounds like Aces High RV Park remain open year-round.

Tips for camping with families

Rainy day alternatives: When camping with children during wet weather, Strawberry Park offers numerous indoor options. "When my family went here it poured! And we were thankful that there were so many things to do, painting ceramics, karaoke, an arcade (at the time it had DDR which was all the rage). Bingo is always a family favorite and they even had that as well!" shares Michelle D.

Beach access timing: At Rocky Neck State Park, arriving early secures better beach spots. "Great Beach, but beware, it can be crowded!!!! So get their early if you do go to the beach," advises Michelle D. The main beach parking lot typically fills by 10am on summer weekends.

Wildlife awareness: Several campgrounds have active wildlife that requires food storage precautions. "The skunks are friendly! Great for kids!" notes Jean V. about Rocky Neck, while Herbert advises at Hopeville Pond to "Be careful of the chipmunks, that are great sneaks that will sneak a chip or some small morsel if avail."

Tips from RVers

Levelness varies by campground: RVers report significant differences in site levelness across area campgrounds. At Sun Outdoors Mystic, "Our site was a nice long, level pull-thru. Hook-ups were placed in ideal locations for the pad which was gravel," notes Nancy W.

Hookup availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups for RVs. "No hookups, lol. This is a con in the heat of the summer if you want/need AC," reports Jessica A. about Burlingame State Park. At Niantic KOA, "No sewer hook up, but they do provide a honey wagon pump service, once, free of charge," explains Bernie C.

Site selection for privacy: For RVers seeking more privacy, look for specific loops or areas. "If you want privacy and quiet, I recommend the F Loop," shares Cynthia K. about Hopeville Pond, while at Odetah Camping Resort, "The cabins in the S section are off to themselves and have lots more space."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near West Mystic, CT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near West Mystic, CT is Burlingame State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 51 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near West Mystic, CT?

TheDyrt.com has all 102 dog-friendly camping locations near West Mystic, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.