How to Find Pet Friendly Campgrounds on a Road Trip

A campground may advertise itself as pet-friendly, yet put your dog in a small site on gravel, right next to an access road. So don’t rely on the paw-print symbol if you’re hoping to stop at a pet-friendly campground. A good overnight stop will let your animal feel at home. It will let you unwind. And it will keep the drive for tomorrow in sight.

To many road trippers, their pet is part of the crew. Maybe you have a trail-loving Labrador, a cat who calls your camper van home or a senior dog who wants a quiet spot in camp. With a bit of planning before you head out, you could turn what might otherwise be a problem into another reason to take a scenic route.

Start With the Kind of Camping You Actually Want

Often, “pet-friendly” at a state park, national forest campground, private RV park or dispersed campsite means different things. Before comparing policies, think about what kind of stop would work for your drive.

Often public campgrounds are near lakes, trails and open skies. They may well require leashes for pets and restrict where they can go in the season. With national parks, pets tend to be welcome in campgrounds and developed areas of the park, but not on most backcountry trails, in park buildings or around most lakes. If you’re bringing your dog on the trip, you might well want to consider a scenic park over a hiking destination.

Often private RV parks and campgrounds will have dog runs, a place to wash your pet, paths for walking and other amenities. But policies there might restrict breed, size or number of dogs. And there could be a fee, ranging from a small charge per night to a deposit.

If you’re planning a longer stay, consider a campground near activities you’d like to do as a family. A site by the lake would be no use if your pet couldn’t reach the water. A campground near downtown could well work if there are pet-friendly patios nearby, shaded sidewalks and a coffee shop. If you plan a trip by destination alone, you risk driving an hour into the evening with a bored dog in the back seat.

How to Find Pet Friendly Campgrounds That Fit Your Route

First, plan your route. Then look for campgrounds along it. That way, you can factor in fuel, driving time, trail access and the needs of your living, breathing passenger.

Roadtrippers can help you plan a trip with lots of stops and locate campgrounds near points on that trip. Pick a few campgrounds in the area of your likely stop, particularly if you’re heading into a national park in fall, doing leaf-peeping, or traveling on a holiday weekend. Your original choice of campground might be full, muddy from rain or further from the highway than you’d hoped.

When looking at options, read the description of each property rather than using filters. Look for “pets allowed,” “dog park,” “leash required,” “only two pets” and “no pets on the beach.”

And check reviews of the property from other travelers. They may reveal more than the basic listing. Is the dog park well maintained? Do the sites have shade? Will road noise keep your dog alert?

When you aren’t sure of a policy or your pet isn’t typical, call the campground. They may allow dogs but not cats in their cabins. They may let pets in tent sites but not in their rental units. They may want to see your pet’s vaccination records when you check in. Five minutes on the phone is worth more than showing up and being caught off guard.

Look Beyond the Campsite

Best of all, think of your pet-friendly campground as part of a pet-friendly day. What’s within walking or driving distance of your campsite? A trail where dogs are welcome, a vet, a grocery store with pickup, and maybe a place to pick up ice or pet food in case you run low.

And in particular, if you’re in the country, think about how high elevation, heat, and distance between towns could upend your plans. Say the weather forecast is for 95 degrees and your campsite has no shade. A nearby air-conditioned spot or cooler elevation is not a luxury.

Follow the Rules Like a Good Neighbor

Campground rules for pets aren’t meant to spoil your weekend in the pines. They help keep wildlife wild. They help avoid conflict between campers. And they help make shared spaces more enjoyable for everyone.

Often, campgrounds require a short (six feet max) leash outside a designated dog area. Others won’t let you leave your pet in an RV or tent. That can be inconvenient if you’d like to go on a museum tour, take a walk with a ranger or head up to the overlook. But it keeps your pet from getting stressed by barking, from getting too hot, from running off and from encountering wildlife.

Look at rules about water. Often a dog is welcome in camp but not on the beach, dock or certain shorelines. In bear country, don’t put out your pet’s food, treats or bowl. In snake country, keep your pet’s paws and nose away from brush piles. And always pick up waste. More often than not, that’s the quickest way for someone to lose sight of the trail.

If your dog gets skittish around strangers, choose a campsite away from the playground, bathhouse and loop through the campground. An RV site that pulls through at the front of the campground could be convenient for you. But it’s often busy and noisy. A back-in site near a path might well be more enjoyable for you and your dog.

Pack for Comfort at Camp, Not Just the Drive

Your road-trip kit for your pet should help get him from home to camp. But it should also account for weather, delays and the general chaos of travel outdoors. In it, you’d want food, water, bowls, medication, proof of vaccinations, waste bags, leash and harness or carrier.

But you might also want items to make your trip easier. For example, a long leash for use at your site (if allowed), a light or collar for walking at night, a towel for cleaning muddy paws, tick prevention, and a blanket or bed from home.

A few extra items are especially useful for campers:

Where allowed, a stakeout system for your pet. Never in place of supervision.
A collapsible bowl for water at the overlook, at the gas station and on hikes. Take paw balm or booties for hot sand, pavement, snow or dirt.
An ID tag on your pet with your phone number (one you’ll pick up on the road) and a picture of your pet, taken recently.

And think about the heat of the day and the cold of night if you’re tent camping. RVers, don’t count on the air conditioner. Power can go out, there are rules for using a generator and even a parked RV can get hot.

Think about whether your pet could be in danger if left alone in the heat of the day or cold of night. And don’t rush to unload camp after a long drive with your dog on a retractable leash around the picnic table. First, take a leash walk to the bathroom. Let your pet check out the nearby area. In just a few minutes, he or she may well blow off a lot of pent-up energy that otherwise could result in pulling on the leash, barking or trying to get away.

Make Arrival Easy on Your Pet

Early in the day, put out food and water for your pet and store his or her food away from mealtime, particularly in areas where coyotes, bears and raccoons live.

If you’re in a tent, remember your pet will hear more than you. A rustle outside in the night could well turn into a loud announcement in your campsite.

Know your pet’s personality. Some will thrive in a busy campground and welcome every cyclist by their tent. Others will do better in a quiet campsite, with shorter trips and routine. There’s no point forcing your pet out on a trail through a crowded campground or into the night if he or she could be more comfortable sitting by the fire for a quiet evening.

Leave Room for the Weird and Wonderful

The joy of a road trip is that the best stop is not always the one you planned weeks ago. You may spot a roadside fruit stand with a grassy picnic area, a lakeside trail just beyond your planned exit, or a small town whose main street begs for an evening stroll.

When you choose campgrounds with pet needs in mind, those detours become easier to say yes to. Keep water handy, know the rules before you arrive, and give yourself a backup option when the road gets interesting. Your pet may never understand why the world’s largest ball of twine was worth the stop, but they will remember the window-down miles, the new smells, and the campfire routine waiting at the end of the day.