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Best Dog-Friendly Camping in Connecticut

472 Reviews

Hammonasset State Park Campground provides overnight pet accommodations with designated pet-friendly sites throughout its facilities in Madison. Dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than 7 feet at all times, including in camping areas and along the shoreline trails. Both tent campers and RV owners can bring pets, with similar pet policies extending to the cabin areas where one pet per reservation is typically allowed. Rocky Neck State Park Campground and Kettletown State Park Campground maintain comparable pet regulations with accessible waste stations positioned near main camping loops. Seasonal campers at Odetah Camping Resort consistently rate the pet-friendly atmosphere positively, noting the clean facilities and helpful staff contribute to a quality experience with animals.

Connecticut's woodland campgrounds offer extensive trail networks for pet exercise, with Austin Hawes Memorial Campground at American Legion State Forest featuring several miles of dog-friendly hiking paths directly accessible from camping areas. Designated dog-walking zones at Brialee Family Campground provide ample space for animals to stretch their legs, while their cabin accommodations include pet-friendly options with proper advance notification. Wilderness Lake Park permits leashed pets throughout its waterfront camping areas, though dogs are prohibited from swimming in the main beach area. Most campgrounds require current vaccination records presented at check-in, with common pet fees ranging from $5-10 per night depending on the facility. Strawberry Park's spacious sites allow comfortable placement of pet enclosures, though their glamping accommodations maintain stricter pet limitations than standard camping sites.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites in Connecticut (81)

    1. Hammonasset State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    Website
    +1 (203) 245-1817

    $20 - $70 / night

    "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."

    2. Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    South Lyme, CT
    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."

    3. Mystic KOA

    25 Reviews
    North Stonington, CT
    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."

    4. Brialee Family Campground

    14 Reviews
    Ashford, CT
    Website
    +1 (800) 303-2267

    $25 - $150 / night

    "Along with a pool, they also have a beach and a separate beach for dogs."

    "Swimming lake, canoeing lake, pool, playgrounds. Choice of shade in trees or open field. Nice sites. Decent laundry and showers. Great place with kids.....lots of seasonal, but plenty short term."

    5. Crocker's Boatyard

    13 Reviews
    New London, CT
    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."

    6. Wilderness Lake Park

    14 Reviews
    Willington, CT
    Website
    +1 (860) 684-6352

    $70 / night

    "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!"

    "Connecticut is LACKING when it comes to outdoor activities when compared to some of the places around the country."

    7. Austin Hawes Memorial Campground — American Legion State Forest

    13 Reviews
    Riverton, CT
    Website
    +1 (860) 379-0922

    $17 - $50 / night

    "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."

    8. Kettletown State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Stevenson, CT
    Website
    +1 (203) 264-5678

    $17 - $50 / night

    "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. "

    "Semi private with great view and nice walks to the water. Noise was not a problem overnight as to having problems with noises neighbors at other CT state parks."

    9. Strawberry Park

    13 Reviews
    Griswold, CT
    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."

    10. Lake Compounce Campground

    12 Reviews
    Bristol, CT
    Website
    +1 (860) 583-3300

    "Affiliated with Lake Compounce Amusement Park adjacent to campground."

    "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.."

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos in Connecticut

36 Photos of 81 Connecticut Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews in Connecticut

472 Reviews of 81 Connecticut Campgrounds

  • Kim J.
    Jun. 8, 2025

    Cozy Hills Campground

    Very nice campground however…

    We 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • D
    Jun. 4, 2018

    Mystic KOA

    Very nice

    Somewhat crowded

    staff was very nice. 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

  • Cynthia K.
    Aug. 29, 2024

    Hammonasset State Park Campground

    Connecticut

       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. 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!!

  • Tom S.
    Dec. 10, 2021

    Aces High RV Park

    Nice campground

    Clean, 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.

  • Michael O.
    Aug. 16, 2017

    Steep Rock Association

    Great secluded campsites!

    I 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.

  • Amanda P.
    Jun. 24, 2018

    Mount Misery Campground

    One of our favorites!

    we love camping at Mount Misery! The sites are private, it’s usually pretty quiet, and it’s one of the only campgrounds around that is pet-friendly. We always have a good time!!

Guide to Connecticut

Connecticut offers a variety of pet-friendly camping options, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors with your furry companions. Here are some great spots to consider for your next adventure.

Tips for camping with dogs near Connecticut

  • At Hammonasset State Park Campground, pets are allowed, making it a great choice for families looking to enjoy the beach while bringing their dogs along.
  • Mystic KOA welcomes pets and features spacious sites, ensuring your dog has plenty of room to roam and play.
  • Brialee Family Campground is pet-friendly and offers a variety of activities that can include your four-legged friends, making it a fun family destination.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Connecticut

Pet owners appreciate the amenities offered

  • Strawberry Park provides a welcoming environment for pets, with plenty of space for them to explore and play.
  • Niantic KOA offers a shuttle service to nearby attractions, allowing you to easily take your pet along for day trips.
  • Riverdale Farm Campsites features clean facilities and a friendly atmosphere, making it a comfortable choice for pet owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which campgrounds in Connecticut allow dogs?

Connecticut offers several dog-friendly camping options across the state. Mount Misery Campground in Pachaug State Forest is known for its pet-friendly policy and private, quiet camping sites. Wilderness Lake Park welcomes pets and offers beautiful lakeside camping with nearby hiking trails like Taylor Pond that are perfect for bringing both kids and dogs. Other pet-friendly options include Hammonasset State Park Campground, Cozy Hills Campground, Aces High RV Park, Black Rock State Park Campground, Hidden Lake Farm, and Mystic KOA. Both private and public campgrounds throughout Connecticut increasingly accommodate pets, making it easier to find suitable options for camping with your four-legged family members.

What amenities are available at pet-friendly campgrounds in Connecticut?

Pet-friendly campgrounds in Connecticut offer various amenities to make your stay comfortable with your furry companions. Strawberry Park features multiple swimming pools, a kiddie pool, outdoor hot tub, and a dedicated dog park area. The campground also offers golf cart rentals and plenty of open space for pets to enjoy. Waters Edge Family Campground provides wooded sites for privacy, excellent playground facilities, and an impressive dog park that exceeds expectations. Other common amenities at pet-friendly Connecticut campgrounds include clean restrooms, shower facilities, camp stores with essential supplies, hiking trails, fishing areas, and recreational activities for the whole family.

What are the pet policies and restrictions at Connecticut camping sites?

Pet policies at Connecticut campgrounds typically include leash requirements and proper waste disposal. Cozy Hills Campground features an enclosed dog park, though note that the fence is only 3 feet high, which may not contain larger or more athletic dogs. Aces High RV Park is pet-friendly with ample walking areas for dogs. Most campgrounds limit pets to common areas and require them to be leashed when outside your campsite. Some locations may have breed restrictions or limit the number of pets per site. State parks generally allow pets but may prohibit them from beach areas, buildings, or certain trails. Always verify current pet policies when making reservations, as rules can vary significantly between campgrounds and may change seasonally.

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