Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Avilla Beach, CA

We stopped here for a few nights so we could hook up to shore power for a bit, do laundry, dump etc. The campground itself is small and old so the sites can be a little small for the larger rigs. Bathrooms and showers were clean. People who run it were extremely accommodating - it was difficult for us to access the dump hookup in our first assigned site (we have a macerater with a very short hose) so they moved us to a better site. Easy walking/biking access to Avila beach (4.8miles round trip), and quick drive from Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo. They allow leashes pets and have a small dog park and pet “walk,” and while these are great, I also like to walk my dog around the whole campground when we can’t take her walks elsewhere, and this campground is very limiting. They have several signs up where dogs aren’t allowed.

Overall, this is a great location if you want access to the beach and nearby towns with nice basic amenities.

I’m a newbie camper but really enjoyed this campground. Stayed in Chumash. Sites were big enough and private enough. Nice dog park. Nice couple of hikes in the park. Very quiet. Would definitely stay again.

We have gone twice in the last couple months to this campground. The first time was because it was the last spot available anywhere in slo county and we wanted to take our 2 young kids camping. We enjoyed the fact that there was a park a short walk from the campground and a nice hike down the road past the park. There is also a dog park, golf course and botanical garden within walking distance. The only con is that you can hear the highway from the campground but it’s honestly not horrible. We stayed 4th of July weekend the first time and the golf course set off a big booming firework both nights at 11 pm on the dot which was pretty annoying. The 2 times we have gone people are very respectful of the quiet times. The showers were above my expectations and the bathrooms were very clean. I believe it’s $3 for 5 minutes in the shower. The water pressure was strong and the water was HOT. The bishop loop is pretty exposed during the day but the hook up loops have a ton of shade. My family will probably go back and it’s only about 25 minutes from our house.

Morro strand in Morro Bay, CA is so perfect. Pets allowed, great water pressure in the showers, laundry is cheap and it's also right around the corner from the beach! Your can hear the waves crashing at night, which is very peaceful to fall asleep to. Perfect weather year 'round and they have a great staff.

My wife,son and I stayed here May 11-13 in our class C. We even brought our two dogs. A quick get away during the lock down. This was one of the few campgrounds we found that were taking reservations. They only took full hookup sites because bathrooms, showers and laundry are closed. The playground was open. Fun bounce pad. There is frisbee golf and horse shoes. They even have an Emu that is friendly and your kids can pet. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly. The campground was pretty empty except for a very few brave campers and the staff. It is a short walk down to Lake Santa Margarita. We stayed in site 28. AT&T cell service was zero to very poor at our site. WiFi was poor and slow. They advertised good WiFi in our spot but it just wasn’t so. A bit pricey but we just wanted to get out of the house. We would stay here again.

Jalama Beach offers great walks along a long beach that is nestled in a cozy bay. Surfers, couples & families can enjoy this beautiful place. Watch for tar on the sand & pack some petroleum jelly to help remove it in case you step on it barefoot. There’s a small freshwater stream that flows right into the shore where your pets & kids like to splash around & play. Lots of driftwood & rocks pepper the shore so bring water shoes.

This lake and the one up the road, San Antonio Lake , are very popular motor boating locations in north San Luis Obispo County. Camping in the summer months are very hot and crowded and not cheap. On the positive side, the lake is huge with narrow passages where you can get off the main lake and fish or just have fun. Jet skis, kayaks etc are permitted. There is a beach for kids near the marina area campground. The campground is part of the private Lake Nacimiento Resort located near the marina and extends along the shore toward the dam with various types of sites. Some sites have direct access to your temporarily moored boat. It gets a bit noisy in the evening as college students party after a long fun day on the lake. All services are available even a store. Three stars for noise and crowds and prices ( tents 35$ hookups 50$, plus pet fee, vehicle fee,etc.)

This campground has 3 loops: Bishop (no hookups), Chumash (FHU), and Romauldo (FHU).

We stayed in Bishop loop, which is basically a park with some gravel strips for tents or RVs and some grass with a picnic table and fire pit in between.  It is really close to the freeway and you can hear cars all day and all night.  You are really close to your neighbor.  There are no hookups here, but there are a few threaded water spigots throughout the loop. The cost to stay here per night is $25 to $36, depending on weekday/weekend/holiday.  

Chumash and Romauldo are full hookup sites (20 and 30 amp only), and are much more expensive ($40-50 depending on weekday/weekend/holiday).  These sites have much more space and privacy in between the sites.

Neither the primitive loop nor the FHU loops is worth the high cost of the campground, in our opinion.  It's a good place to explore other nearby places, but at Bishop anyway, it felt like staying in a day use park and not a campground.  Sites not very level - our blocks were not enough to level out our RV.

There are clean flush toilets and coin operated showers.  Not sure how much the showers are. See photo.  It only said to deposit $1 so I'm not sure if it's unlimited time for just $1? There are trash dumpsters and segregated recycling bins.

There is a $3.50 per pet per night fee, though it didn't come up while I was making reservations and the attendant checking us in didn't mention it. I only happened to see the fee when looking at the info board on our last day.

According to the info board there is also a $13 fee for second vehicles.  

Unlike other campgrounds in California we've stayed in recently, visitors seem to be allowed here.  Other campers had people visiting and there were people coming and going all day long.

There is no RV dump at this campground.  Sneaking into one of the full hookup sites to dump your tanks before you leave is one suggestion though.

Good cell service here.

If we ever found ourselves having to stay here again, I would choose site 11 in Bishop loop.  Though very close to #12, site #11 is in the corner and offers the most privacy and view of the grassy hill - - the most campground-like feel of this loop.

Simple campsite, no laundry facilities. Internet connection is poor. No family with kids, but dog friendl

We’ve stayed several visits and it’s constantly clean and dog friendly. Great bike paths north and south. Decent eats out as well. Windy often.

Really enjoyed our first visit to this site. Lots to do. Very dog friendly. Closed to downtown Pismo. Easy access to the beach. Will go again.