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Dog-Friendly Camping near Paxton, MA

112 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Spacious Skies Minute Man campground in Massachusetts accepts pets with tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Pets are permitted at several nearby established campgrounds, including Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham, Wells State Park in Sturbridge, and Camp Coldbrook in Barre. Some campground reviews indicate varying degrees of pet-friendliness despite allowing pets - Pine Acres has been described by some campers as "NOT dog friendly" with "rude workers," while others mention enjoying the dog beach for swimming. Most sites require pets to be leashed at all times in common areas, though specific pet amenities vary by location.

    Pet owners camping near Paxton should be aware that Wells State Park Campground offers pet-friendly accommodations from May to October with hiking trails suitable for dogs. The adjacent wildlife management areas near Camp Coldbrook provide additional exploration opportunities for campers with pets. Lake Dennison Recreation Area allows pets and offers seasonal camping from late May to early September. George Washington State Campground in nearby Chepachet, Rhode Island permits pets and operates from mid-April through Columbus Day. Campers report bathroom and shower facilities vary widely in cleanliness and condition across these locations, with some campgrounds enforcing quiet hours at 10 p.m. that may affect evening dog walks.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Paxton (112)

      1. Pine Acres Family Camping Resort

      4.0(15)5mi from PaxtonRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Great for kids and pets. We love taking the dog to the dog beach for a swim. Camp store is great, fun fishing on the lake and tons of activities for the kids."

      "Miles and miles of country/forests surrounding pine acres, however pulling in you’ll soon realize how much goes on inside the campground."

      from $70 - $115 / night

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      2. Wells State Park Campground

      3.7(16)13mi from Paxton57 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Beautiful campground in a nice central location nearby several nice towns in Central Massachusetts."

      "This is a great campground located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on walker pond. Brand new bathroom/shower facility this year. Offers hiking, biking, swimming, fishing. Nice and quiet also."

      from $17 - $55 / night

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      3. Camp Coldbrook Golf & RV Resorts

      3.0(4)10mi from PaxtonRVs, Tents

      "The campground was large enough to tire out the dogs walking around, staff was friendly, helpful and welcoming!"

      from $28 - $58 / night

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      4. Spacious Skies Minute Man

      4.4(29)26mi from Paxton9 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The dog park was nice as well.  The campground is close to many restaurants and gas stations also. Cell service with AT&T and T-Mobile was great."

      "At first (and this has nothing to do with camp it’s the people and their pets that make or break a visit) we had lots kid noise some had 8 kids!!"

      from $44 - $999 / night

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      5. Pout and Trout

      1.8(4)9mi from PaxtonRVs, Tents

      "This campground is located near two beautiful disc golf courses and the reason we stayed. The campground itself was fantastic, the owner at the front building was very helpful and so sweet."

      6. Sutton Falls Camping Area

      3.8(6)16mi from PaxtonRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Cute quiet place with a lake. Family run very friendly. They only thing I didnt love is they remodeled one set of bathrooms in the back and the front was the old set."

      "Cabins and RV sites across the lake, along with beaches for swimming. Bathrooms located on P1 peninsula. Canoe rentals on-site. Lovely picnic dining area alongside covered bridge and waterfall."

      from $40 - $65 / night

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      7. George Washington State Campground

      4.4(26)28mi from Paxton80 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "So if you are confused about things like location, let’s knock that out first: This campground is located near 2185 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814."

      "The campground was safe, nicely laid out so we could have a series of sites next to one another. Biking was a blast for the kids along with trail hike around pond, beach, and fishing."

      from $18 - $75 / night

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      8. Cold brook Campground and Resort

      4.0(1)10mi from PaxtonRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Pet friendly."

      from $77 / night

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      9. Otter River State Forest

      4.1(14)23mi from Paxton77 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Swimming in a pond or a short drive to a bigger lake (camping pass covers both). One of my favorites. It's kind of a hidden gem in north central Massachusetts."

      "I loved it here, it was a great little campground for massachusetts"

      from $17 - $55 / night

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      10. Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

      4.6(14)25mi from Paxton147 sitesRVs, Tents

      "The North loop also has a small beach; for the East loop, you’ll either need to walk to the day use are, which features a larger beach, or drive around to it."

      "The loop closer to the entrance has a lot of private sites. Although if you have one closer to the main road, it is quite noisy with road sounds. But many of the sites in the middle are more quiet."

      from $17 - $35 / night

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Paxton, MA

    614 Reviews of 112 Paxton Campgrounds


    • 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.

    • Courtney Lopes F.
      Aug. 13, 2021

      Normandy Farms Campground

      This is what Glamping was made for

      First things first- no bugs!! That’s right I didn’t know what I was missing till I notice I wasn’t getting bit alive by mosquitoes!!! They spray for them!!! So you can enjoy the outside without the pesky bites that come with camping!

      Then of course there is the luxury of having two pools, a ton of fun activities for kids, (fishing , dog park, horseshoes, tennis, basketball, etc)! It’s probably my favorite spot in New England merely for all the luxuries that come with this site!!!

      Plus you are close to Gillette and shopping!! Can get better then that!

    • C
      May. 23, 2019

      Normandy Farms Campground

      A great place to stay!

      I’ve been coming here with my family for years and it’s always a great time. Very clean camp sites, bathrooms and showers, roads, and playgrounds...all public areas are immaculate. Lots of activities for kids, teens, and adults. Great dog park. Sites are large and level and free from low hanging branches. Staff is friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend Normandy Farms Campground. You won’t be disappointed.

    • Rob G.
      Jul. 10, 2019

      Pine Acres Family Camping Resort

      One of our favorite places to stay

      Beautiful clean campground! Great for kids and pets. We love taking the dog to the dog beach for a swim.

      Camp store is great, fun fishing on the lake and tons of activities for the kids.

    • SANDIE B.
      Jun. 4, 2019

      Normandy Farms Campground

      A true 5 star campground!

      There is NOTHING you could want and not have at this campground/RV resort!  The family that runs it are at it 24/7 so you have the time of your life.  Many pools and one is adults only, there are all kinds of activities every weekend day.  Ball field, dog park, it has every thing including smiles!!  I actually store my rig here so I see the cleanliness of this park and the care that goes out to all campers!!

    • RThe Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 23, 2020

      Pine Acres Family Camping Resort

      Great spot in the middle of nowhere

      Miles and miles of country/forests surrounding pine acres, however pulling in you’ll soon realize how much goes on inside the campground. AWESOME pools (very kid friendly), parks, dog park, hiking trails and even sections off of the trails to find your own private beach on the water. Went there in a tent rather than our camper, which turned out to be better. Tent sites were very dispersed and way up on the top of the mountain. Camper sites seemed a little close but worth the sacrifice due to the incredible environment. On the more expensive side but worth the money if you have kids. Another big plus was the abundance of wood to get from fallen trees (not having to pay for the expensive bundles at the store) and the size of the fire pits

    • D
      Jul. 23, 2023

      Spacious Skies Minute Man

      Great PLace to Stay

      My family and I stayed at this campground overnight on the way to and from Acadia. The staff was very nice to deal with. The sites were ample size and space for our rig and needs. The pool looked very nice, and the rec room was impressive, with games and movies for campers to enjoy. The campstore was very nice and even had a video library that campers could sign out movies to watch free of charge ( their selection was pretty impressive). There was bocce, horshoes and volley ball courts that were well maintained and had the needed equipment so that anyone interested could play. The dog park was nice as well.  The campground is close to many restaurants and gas stations also. Cell service with AT&T and T-Mobile was great.

    • Sammii D.
      Jun. 20, 2019

      Thousand Trails Sturbridge

      Nice, yet cramped and no cell reception

      I really wanted to like this place. It's in a very cool area that I didn't expect to be so awesome. First main issue was how bad the cell reception is. Normally, I'd day that's a perk for camping but we're full-timers and work on the road so it is important for us. Next, the place is massive and they are more about make money than making people comfortable. What could easily be a very nice and spacious pull-thru spot are 2 back to back back-ins. Unless you're lucky enough to get an end spot, those are pull-thru. Pros: awesome dog park, great office with laundry, activities, arcades, adult only room, community campfire, indoor pool with lifeguard, the staff is nice, there's a lake for swimming, boating, catch and release fishing. Their basketball court is on a shuffleboard court, playground is nice though. Close to Old Sturbridge Village and many cool hikes and MA cities.

    • R
      Jan. 20, 2021

      Bowdish Lake Camping Area

      Wow! Beware of all the extra charges and filthy facilities

      Bowdish Lake Camping Area is the worst campground we have ever been to and we travel fulltime! Their website states: $1,800-$3,600 per season (look for yourself on their website if you don’t believe me). We get there after reserving site Blue 65. They then charged us $3,900. Why? We have no idea! Then they charged us an additional $75.00 for our truck. Why I don’t know? Then they charged us an additional $50.00 for having our own kayak. Then they charged us an additional $50.00 for a small dog, $100.00 for large dogs (by the way they have no dog park). Then they charged us an additional $100.00 for cable. Then they charged us an additional .50 cents per kWh ( which cost us an average of$250.00 extra per month). The public facilities are filthy. They do not supply any toilet paper, hand soaps, hot water, etc. They charge you an additional charge by coin operated showers (cold water only) that are crawling with spiders, bugs and cobwebs.


    Guide to Paxton

    Lake Dennison Recreation Area near Paxton sits in central Massachusetts at around 900 feet elevation, with forested camping sites spread across a mixed hardwood ecosystem. The camping areas around Paxton feature numerous small lakes and ponds, with seasonal temperature variations making late spring through early fall the primary camping season. Water levels in area lakes fluctuate seasonally, affecting swimming and boating conditions.

    What to do

    Kayaking and paddle sports: Lake Dennison Recreation Area has a clean lake perfect for family water activities. "The lake is clean and the beach is clean and soft(ish). Sites are wooded and shady and not RIGHT on top of each other, but pretty close together," notes reviewer Alan at Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground.

    Disc golf courses: Near Camp Coldbrook, campers can access excellent disc golf courses. "This campground is located near two beautiful disc golf courses and the reason we stayed," reports Megan B. who stayed at Camp Coldbrook.

    Hiking trails: Multiple trails connect campgrounds to wilderness areas. "Tucked away just outside Sturbridge on the road to Spencer (rt-49) is one of Mass State Parks nicest little gems... Great little swimming lake as well as a popular hiking trail," mentions Cliff M. about Wells State Park.

    What campers like

    Swimming beaches: Many campgrounds feature beaches for cooling off during summer months. At Pine Acres, "Pool and splash pad along with sandy beach" are available according to Katelyn D. who visited Pine Acres Family Camping Resort.

    Recreational variety: Campgrounds near Paxton offer multiple activities within each property. "Great pools, lake, store, very clean and well maintained. Lots of little ones having a great time here," says Steve K. about Pine Acres.

    Fishing opportunities: Several area lakes provide good fishing spots. At Sutton Falls, "kids had a blast with the boat rentals and fishing," according to Dr. D., who visited Sutton Falls Camping Area.

    Paddleboard access: Lakes with direct campsite access make water sports convenient. "It is so convenient to camp right on the lake. We can drop our paddle boards in any time and explore the lake," explains Juliet P. about Lake Dennison.

    What you should know

    Site conditions vary: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain for larger vehicles. "We booked site #39 online, based on proximity to bath house. No pictures of individual campsites on the ReserveAmerica booking site... the site seemed nice, but was very un-level, with a steep, narrow driveway," reports Jen V. about Wells State Park Campground.

    Bathroom facilities: Quality and cleanliness of facilities varies widely. At Lake Dennison, one camper noted "The bathrooms also were in poor shape and not well cleaned. Over the course of our 3 night stay, they just got worse with overflowing toilets and trash."

    Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds have limited seasons. George Washington State Campground operates "mid April to Columbus Day" while Lake Dennison is open from "late May to early September."

    Road noise: Some campsites experience traffic noise. At George Washington, one reviewer mentioned, "It is very noisy, the road has heavy traffic. I was disappointed that I picked a hike in site and it sounded like I was camped on the side of a highway."

    Tips for camping with families

    Beach activities: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Paxton offer swimming beaches specifically designed for families. "This is a gorgeous campground with clean facilities and responsive rangers. The sites on the North side are spacious & quiet... The lake is perfect for swimming, kayaking, and fishing," notes Bonnie B. about Lake Dennison Recreation Area.

    Event calendars: Check campground activity schedules when booking. At Spacious Skies Minute Man, "With a full calendar of events (some free, some cost $) you will never be bored. Quiet time is quiet time which is great for families," says Brian G.

    Private site options: For families wanting space, select more isolated sites. At Otter River, "I loved this little campground, it was relaxing, beautiful, and had enough to keep us busy!" mentions Matt R. about Otter River State Forest.

    Tent-only areas: Some campgrounds have designated tent sections away from RVs. George Washington has "tent-only sites which are numbered T1-T5. I stayed in T5 and it was the best of the bunch because it had the most privacy and space, including a grassy area."

    Tips from RVers

    Hookup availability: Most pet friendly campgrounds near Paxton offer various levels of hookups. "Grounds well kept. Shaded sites. Quiet areas in lower roads with mostly seasonal. Reasonable cost. 30 amp only. Many full hookups. Pet friendly," reports Keri H. about Cold brook Campground and Resort.

    Site spacing considerations: RV sites have different spacing standards than tent areas. At Spacious Skies Minute Man, "Site seems level for the most part, made of gravel. Heated pool, laundry, Wi-Fi that works, cable, 50 amp FHU. Roads are a little interesting to navigate, and definitely aren't the straight lines on their map!" notes Brittany V.

    Leveling challenges: Some sites require significant leveling equipment. At Pine Acres, one camper mentioned "Pretty tight to maneuver bigger rigs. Sites are small-ish, but they work."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Paxton, MA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Paxton, MA is Pine Acres Family Camping Resort with a 4-star rating from 15 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Paxton, MA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 112 dog-friendly camping locations near Paxton, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.