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Lake Compounce Campground provides pet-friendly accommodations with variety in site types including tent camping, RV spaces, cabins, glamping areas, and yurts. Pets are welcome throughout the campground, with clean facilities and spacious shower areas particularly appreciated by guests with animals. Sites are designed in a face-to-door configuration but are long enough that doors aren't directly across from neighbors, offering reasonable privacy for pet owners. The bathrooms are exceptionally well-maintained for a campground that allows pets. Sites in the 80's and 90's sections at Black Rock State Park Campground offer more privacy for campers with dogs, with convenient access to a stream where pets can cool off.
Nearby hiking opportunities include pet-accessible trails at Black Rock State Park, Leather Man Cave, Whitestone Cliffs, Tory's Den, and Buttermilk Falls. Most campgrounds provide basic pet amenities including drinking water access and designated areas for waste disposal. Gentiles Campground offers year-round pet-friendly camping but has narrow, steep roads that can be challenging for larger vehicles with animals. Branch Brook Campground features creek-side sites that provide ample space for dogs to roam while remaining leashed. During peak season, the swimming areas at these campgrounds can become crowded, so early morning or evening visits are recommended for pet owners seeking quieter water access for their dogs. Wildlife encounters are possible, with campers reporting coyote activity near some sites.
"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."
"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 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"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"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"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."
"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"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"
"I 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."
"Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite. Well kept showers and bathrooms are abundant and the camp store has the majority of what you need."
from $20 - $70 / night
Check Availability"However one issue was the garbage situation. Had to walk a long distance to throw out the trash."
"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"
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.
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.
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!
Lake Compounce Campground offers alternatives for campers traveling with pets near Wolcott, Connecticut. The area sits within the Naugatuck Valley region at elevations ranging from 700-900 feet, with moderate summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s during peak camping season. Most campgrounds remain open from May through October, with several offering extended seasons into fall.
Fishing opportunities: White Pines Campsites has a small pond for fishing on-site. The property includes "hiking trails were nice, good variety of easier and more difficult terrain," according to Becca Z., making it suitable for different skill levels.
Swimming options: Cozy Hills Campground provides a pool that maintains consistent depth. As Rino S. notes, "The pool is nice, no deep end," making it safer for inexperienced swimmers.
Historic exploration: Explore the trails near Gentiles Campground, where Michelle B. points out: "Local stores are within 10 minutes... hikes nearby, you have Leather man, Tory's, Whitestone cliffs, Buttermilk, Black Rock and plenty more." These historic sites offer glimpses into Connecticut's past.
Clean facilities: Branch Brook Campground receives positive feedback for maintenance. Charlie & Danielle B. report: "The staff was friendly, the bathrooms were great" despite some site positioning issues.
Creek-side camping: Branch Brook offers sites along moving water, which many reviewers appreciate. Sites positioned on the creek "gave us plenty of space to sit outside and for our dog to have space to roam," providing natural entertainment and cooling.
Family activities: Cozy Hills Campground schedules regular events. Ann S. shares: "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."
Site privacy concerns: Some campgrounds offer limited separation between sites. At Cozy Hills, Ann S. notes the "real lack of privacy at almost all the sites we saw. It was more like staying in a summer cottage colony. Most sites were not wooded and provided no buffer from one to the next."
Wi-Fi reliability: Black Rock State Park Campground offers technical amenities that surprise some campers. Topher L. mentions: "Was able to just relax and do some school work and watch some webinars and get some much needed work done."
Seasonal considerations: Gentiles Campground operates "All year" according to listing information, making it an option for off-season camping near Wolcott. Jacob S. confirms: "Was here for Three months and it was during the winter and didn't have any problems."
Arrival timing matters: During weekdays at Point Folly Campground, waterfront sites may be more readily available. Judy S. advises: "The water front sites on the West Side seem to flood easily if it rains," suggesting campers select sites based on weather forecasts.
Insect preparation: White Pines requires proper bug protection. Sylvia P. warns: "Also beware of bears. We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours."
Site selection for children: At Black Rock State Park Campground, Topher L. shares his experience: "The family next to me offered me dinner one night after I spent the whole day working on my RV. Spanish rice chicken the works the plate could barely hold it all," highlighting the community atmosphere that benefits families.
Dumping facilities: White Pines Campsites provides dump facilities that sometimes experience issues during peak times. Kristen L. notes: "While we were dumping our gray tank, the dump clogged," suggesting RVers arrive with empty tanks when possible.
Site leveling challenges: Gentiles Campground presents terrain difficulties for larger vehicles. Mae reports: "roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs," recommending smaller units for this property.
Power reliability: Austin Hawes Memorial Campground offers RV sites without full hookups but provides alternatives. Anthony and Kim C. explain: "Not a negative against the camp site but bring your bug spray! Bugs and ticks abound but it's nature."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Wolcott, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Wolcott, CT is Lake Compounce Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 12 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 91 dog-friendly camping locations near Wolcott, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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