Camping With Your Dog In America’s Campgrounds
As a general rule dogs are usually welcome in private campgrounds. National camping resort chains like KOA and Jellystone are also dog-friendly. Many public campgrounds will welcome your dog. Small town park campgrounds are always a good bet. National forests are also excellent places to camp with your dog. But state parks can be a different story. Below are rules governing dogs in America’s state park campgrounds.
Alabama
Dogs are allowed in tents or campers in all state park campgrounds. Some of the state’s cottages, cabins and chalets have also been designated as pet-friendly.
Alaska
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds and in the state’s 50 or so public use cabins.
Arizona
Dogs are allowed in the campgrounds and in a select few camping cabins. No more than two dogs per cabin.
Arkansas
Dogs are welcome in all state campgrounds but not in the cabins.
California
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds but not permitted in any park buildings and usually not allowed on trails or sandy beaches. Dogs are also not permitted in any designated environmental campsites.
Colorado
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds and even in some cabins and yurts for an extra $10.
Connecticut
Dogs are prohibited in all state park camping areas. Dogs are allowed in the three state forest campgrounds but only one per site. At the Salt Rock Campground two dogs are permitted per site. Dogs must have rabies vaccination and owners may be required to show proof.
Delaware
Dogs are allowed in all state campgrounds but not in any cabins or yurts.
Florida
Dogs are permitted in all state campgrounds but are not permitted on beaches or playgrounds, or in bathing areas, cabins, park buildings, or concession facilities. Dogs are required to be vaccinated against rabies but if you haven’t taken your dog to Florida for awhile, proof is no longer required at campgrounds.
Georgia
Dogs are allowed in all state campgrounds.
Hawaii
Dogs are not allowed in state park campgrounds.
Idaho
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds but not in yurts and most cabins.
Illinois
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds but not in the Rent-A-Cabins.
Indiana
Dogs are welcome in all state campgrounds.
Iowa
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds.
Kansas
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds.
Kentucky
Dogs are welcome in state campgrounds but not in lodges and cottages.
Louisiana
Dogs are not allowed in any state overnight facility.
Maine
Dogs are permitted in the state’s dozen campgrounds.
Maryland
Dogs are not allowed in the following state park campgrounds: Assateague, Cunningham Falls, Deep Creek Lake, Fort Frederick State Park, Greenbrier, Martinak, and New Germany. Other parks may have only a few dog campsites.
Massachusetts
Pets are allowed in all state campgrounds EXCEPT Boston Harbor Islands camping and Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Dogs are not permitted in cabins or yurts. Proof of rabies vaccination is required upon registration at the campground.
Michigan
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds. In a twist, rather than limiting campsites for dogs, some Michigan state campgrounds have established “pet-free” portions of the campground.
Minnesota
Dogs are allowed in the campgrounds but not in cabins.
Mississippi
Dogs are welcome in all state campgrounds.
Missouri
Dogs are welcome in all state campgrounds but not in any buildings. There is a limit of two dogs per site but you can apply for an exemption.
Montana
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds. Dogs are not permitted in yurts but can stay in some tipis and cabins.
Nebraska
Dogs are welcome in all state campgrounds but cannot stay in the Union Pacific Caboose at Two Rivers State Recreation Area.
Nevada
Dogs are allowed in all state campgrounds.
New Hampshire
Dogs are not allowed in Franconia Notch campground. Dogs are not allowed in Hampton Beach State Park campground from April 1 to September 15. Dogs are not allowed in Mt. Sunapee State Park campground during the Arts and Crafts Festival. Dogs are not allowed in Ahern State Park campground. Dogs are not allowed in Ellacoya State Park campground. Dogs are not allowed in Cannon Mountain RV Park. Dogs are not allowed in Lafayette Campground. Dogs are not allowed in Monadnock State Park campground. Dogs are not allowed in Pawtuckaway State Park campground. Dogs are not allowed in White Lake State Park campground. Other than that you can probably camp with your dog in a New Hampshire state campground. Maybe. But don’t go anywhere near a state beach, picnic site or historic site with your dog.
New Jersey
Dogs are NOT permitted in any state camping facility.
New York
Dogs are allowed in most state park campgrounds except Hither Hills, Lake Taghkanic, and Wildwood. Dogs are not allowed in any park buildings.
North Carolina
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds but not in any buildings.
North Dakota
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds.
Ohio
Dogs are allowed in all state campgrounds with a maximum of two per site. Dogs are welcome at select cottages at the following state parks: Burr Oak, Cowan Lake, Dillon, Hueston Woods, Lake Hope, Maumee Bay, Pike Lake, Punderson, Pymatuning, Salt Fork, and Shawnee. And the Resort Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake offers a number of pet-friendly rooms.
Oklahoma
Dogs are allowed in all state campgrounds and may stay in some of the cabins and lodges but it is at each manager’s discretion so you will need to call.
Oregon
Dogs are allowed in all state campgrounds but cannot stay in yurts, cabins or tipis.
Pennsylvania
Dogs are allowed in 30 of Pennsylvania’s state park campgrounds (out of abut 50 total campgrounds). This is up from a pilot program of just six campgrounds from a few years ago so more tail-friendly facilities are possible in the future. There is a two-dog limit in the tentsites.
Rhode Island
Dogs are not allowed in state campgrounds; you may be required to show proof of rabies vaccination. Two dogs per site.
South Carolina
Dogs are permitted in the state campgrounds but not around the lodging facilities.
South Dakota
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds but cannot stay in any buildings like lodges or cabins.
Tennessee
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds.
Texas
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds.
Utah
Dogs are allowed in all state campgrounds but cannot stay in any park buildings.
Vermont
Dogs are permitted in state campgrounds. Lake Carmi has one pet-friendly cabin; otherwise no dogs are allowed in state cabins or cottages.
Virginia
Dogs are allowed in state campgrounds and cabins. A fee is charged per pet per night. Dogs are not allowed to stay in Poplar Hill Cottage at the Southwest Virginia Museum. Proof of current rabies vaccination is required at check-in.
Washington
Dogs are allowed in state park campgrounds.
West Virginia
Dogs are allowed in state park campgrounds.
Wisconsin
Dogs are permitted in most state campgrounds except Pinewoods family and group campground and the west loop of Whitewater campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit. Some other campgrounds have pet-restricted areas.
Wyoming
Dogs are allowed in state park campgrounds.
