Hendy Woods State Park Campground permits pets on leashes with specific designated areas for dogs near campsite loops. Multiple pet-friendly campgrounds provide accommodation options within 30 minutes of Comptche, including Caspar Beach RV Park & Campground which offers cabins suitable for visitors with animals. Most locations enforce standard leash requirements of six feet or less when outside vehicles or tents. Van Damme State Park Campground maintains year-round accessibility for pet owners with water and electric hookups available. Russian Gulch and Mackerricher State Parks offer additional pet-friendly options with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Visitors find that keeping food secured is essential as wildlife frequently investigates campsites. ['Visitors use The Dyrt to find real feedback on camping near Comptche, California.']
Paul M. Demmick Campground provides riverside sites particularly appealing to campers with dogs, offering access to shallow water spots where pets can cool off during summer months. The campground typically fills quickly on weekends while remaining relatively open mid-week. Several reviewers note minimal wildlife encounters at certain campgrounds, making them ideal for anxious pets or those prone to chasing small animals. Navarro Beach Campground permits dogs on the beach area where the Navarro River meets the ocean, creating opportunities for water-loving pets. Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort accepts both tent campers and RV travelers with pets, providing shower facilities and hookups in a wooded setting. Campers observe that foghorns at coastal campgrounds may disturb noise-sensitive dogs, particularly those camping at Albion River Campground where the sound cycles every 30-45 seconds throughout the night.
$45 - $160 / night
"Simple campground just outside of Mendocino/Ft Bragg. Steps from a beautiful sandy beach."
"bathrooms with outlets (I charged my EcoFlow battery in there) Paid showers • Free WiFi • Gift/info shop on-site • Bear boxes, fire rings, and picnic table at seemingly every site • Lush foliage with walk"
$45 - $70 / night
"centrally located in within Anderson valley,so one can go for a hike and (cool off in the Navarro river), go next door and eat organic apple, and Saunders down 128 (<1/4 mile) and sip some wine at the"
"We stayed one night and lived the site and area surrounding. There were so many beautiful sounding birds in the canopy above and our site was surrounded by redwoods and douglas firs."
$45 - $260 / night
"This state park was so much fun, very dog friendly! Campgrounds were nice and well kept, and just a short walk to the beach! I highly recommend:)"
"There are not many people in the off season so we were able to get a spot with direct access to the beach! Each spot has a picnic table and firepit."
$50 - $73 / night
"Even though you are so close to town this is off the beaten path and you can’t even get into this campground unless you have a reservation."
"The convenience of being so close to town, yet feeling like you’re in the forest is hard to beat. There are showers & restrooms, although the showers operate on quarters."
$47 - $72 / night
"The walk in sites are secluded and this park has all the amenities including free showers. Dog friendly. I hear it gets very busy in the summertime."
"Our spot was nice and clean and next to the creek. Large enough for our three cars three tents and extra table and plenty of room to set up chairs around the fire for us."
$45 - $140 / night
"Clean bathrooms, drinking water was right next to our site."
"This is a lovely, peaceful campsite with so many positives. Great hiking trails, a small protected beach, helpful camp host, and well-maintained showers and flush toilets."
"I just reviewed the campground and the posting indicated that dogs are not allowed!"
"It is right off of the highway, yet it feels so secluded. The beach is beautiful and the campsites are roomy."
$10 - $35 / night
"The camp is right next to the road, but traffic was minimal. There is some hiking in the area, but no trails from the campground, you will need to drive to a trailhead."
"Nice campsite with around 27 ish spots. First come first serve at $35 as of 2025. I went tent camping but you can probably bring in a small RV."
"3 sites are currently closed due to COVID to encourage social distancing; sites fill up quickly on weekends; no on-site camp host, but Cal Fire does come through to write receipts and pick up trash."
"We were just a few steps from the pool, which was clean, but pretty cold. It didn’t seem like it was heated. If it is, it’s not heated well."
"The Mendocino redwoods RV resort just outside of Willits on CA-20 to Fort Bragg, California, was 3 years ago a KOA resort."
Scoutcentrally located in within Anderson valley,so one can go for a hike and (cool off in the Navarro river), go next door and eat organic apple, and Saunders down 128 (<1/4 mile) and sip some wine at the Navarro winery. Big bonus for pet owner this park has trails that you can walk your dog on!
GuideWe originally were going to Fouts Creek Campground but it was HOV weekend (Presidents). Lots of dirt bikes and law enforcement. National Forest pulled in officers from surrounding forests and Sheriff Depts.
With a 35' Class A our options were limited. A Ranger suggested Letts Lake. There is a narrow one lane newly paved road that goes up to Dixie Glade equestrian camp, from there it is dirt. Taking it slow, we made it to Letts Lake and parked in spot 12. It was a tight fit, but we made it.
There are two additional campgrounds at the opposite end of the lake but they are closed for winter. As there was no water or trash service there was no fee. Typically $5.00)
The lake is small with no motors allowed but easy to walk around. Pet friendly in fact all but one campsite had at least one dog. Fire damage to the forest is substantial but new growth is already starting
RangerBeautiful campground sitting next to water with dense forest and ground cover. Clean shower and restrooms that include hot water, hand soap, paper towels, mirrors and electrical outlets. Friendly camp host and hike and bike area. Extra fee for pets.
GuideThis spot was a great little find. There is a trail from the campground to the park and beach area which is nice for a stroll. The campground is amongst the trees along the river. I would recommend the spots along the river over those on the inner side. Make sure to get a reservation in advance as it fills up. The spots are a little close together, but the big trees offer some separation. There is a pet fee of $2 per pet fyi.
TravelerMeh…
I had high hopes for this place, but overall, I’m unimpressed.
The good: Park staff is very responsive. Very close to the 101 with no highway nose.
The bad: No reservations. It is first come, first served. Poison Oak EVERYWHERE. No designated pet areas. Very tightly packed with no privacy. Hot with very little shade. Bathrooms are old, outdated, full of cobwebs and dirt. Low water pressure and n the showers.
ScoutWe stayed one night and lived the site and area surrounding. There were so many beautiful sounding birds in the canopy above and our site was surrounded by redwoods and douglas firs. I wanted to stay longer! Needless to say, I'll be back! I think this is my new favorite place. It was a little noisy at times but that's because it's fourth of July weekend and the site next to us had two families having a great time together. I was worried they might keep me up all night but they were respectful of quite hours which was nice. Pets are allowed which I also love. Next time I am bringing my pupper!
Scoutbathrooms where clean, park ranger was super nice, and i love how the trees gave lots of shade. the campsite we got was pretty big as well. also extremely pet friendly
GuideDesigned for families, this KOA a lot. A petting zoo, water play, pool. arcade and events. We were there for movie night. They had a big screen and showed a film for the kiddos. Good stopover.
LegendAt $30 per night for a tent, this campground is a bit intense.
This is a drive up site. The online source for it is outdated but the site is a good place to stop if you just need a space for the night.
It is a combo trailer park, RV sites, and Tents sites so the navigation might be a little tricky in parts. There are power sites and water sources placed around the area.
There is a bath house in the middle of the park but if you are camped in the tent sites, it is pretty far away.
There are a couple porta potties set up that are closer to the tent sites.
Cash or check only here. No cards taken.
Make sure you check the pet rules too, they are very strict on them. We were lucky enough to not have our dogs with us this trip.
The sites are pretty secluded by shrubs so you do get a sense of privacy in places. The turns driving around might make RV camping a little tricky.
Comptche sits at the crossroads of coastal influence and redwood forests in Mendocino County, creating a unique camping environment where temperatures can vary 15-20 degrees between day and night. Summer highs typically reach the mid-70s while winter brings significant rainfall averaging 40 inches annually. Camping near Comptche offers access to both dense inland forests and coastal areas within a 30-minute drive.
River exploration: River access at Paul M. Demmick Campground provides shallow water spots perfect for cooling off during summer months. "This is a beautiful little spot in the redwoods. Shaded, peaceful and lovely... There is creek access in the camp with a small day use area by the creek," notes Cary A.
Redwood hiking: Visit the ancient groves at Hendy Woods State Park where two accessible old-growth areas showcase massive trees. "The two redwood groves are easily accessible from the campsite, and the campsite itself is pretty nice. Quiet, nicely located and I always have a little bit of service (Verizon) at the campground," shares Sophia B.
Beach and tide pool exploration: Just across Highway 1 from Russian Gulch State Park Campground, discover protected marine environments. "From the small beach you can play in the waves and launch protected kayaks into the small bay. On the right day there are some tidepools," explains MarinMaverick.
Mushroom photography: The coastal climate creates ideal conditions for fungi enthusiasts, especially during winter months. "I always come to Hendy Woods with my camera, especially in the late winter, early spring to do some mushroom photography. So much to see here!" recommends Sophia B.
Privacy between sites: At Pomo RV Park & Campground, vegetation provides natural separation between campsites. "Great campground! Spots have tons of trees/greenery in between so it feels very secluded," writes Tasha P., while Michael C. notes "the sites are very private, many nestled between thick brush (blackberries!) and many back far enough from the road that it seems like you're boondocking."
Easy beach access: Several campgrounds offer direct routes to shorelines. "Campground is adjacent to the beach. You can hear the ocean and sometimes catch peeks of the ocean from the campground," reports Mea H. about MacKerricher State Park, while Russian Gulch features "a small protected beach which never appears crowded."
Year-round availability: Unlike seasonal locations further inland, pet friendly camping near Comptche remains accessible throughout winter months. "We went tent camping but you can probably bring in a small RV... It's only a 20 ish minute drive to the coast, which can be nice since the trees give you a blockage of the rough winds from the coast," shares bobby J. about Paul M. Demmick Campground.
Cell service in remote areas: Many visitors appreciate connectivity in otherwise remote settings. "I always have a little bit of service (Verizon) at the campground. Hendy woods is a perfect campground for a weekend getaway because of its prime location," notes Sophia B.
Weather patterns: Coastal fog frequently affects campgrounds near the ocean while inland sites receive more sunlight. "The campsite was very quiet. The space in our site was large and there was a good buffer with other sites. The trees also offered a lot of shade during the hot summer days," reports David G. about Hendy Woods.
Site selection strategy: Campgrounds vary dramatically in layout and privacy levels. At Navarro Beach Campground, "The campground has roughly 10 sites that are bunched up in parallel with one another, except for 1 site that is separated by some brush. If you don't mind camping within 15 feet of another group potentially, this place is incredible," advises Kealan B.
First-come availability patterns: Non-reservation campgrounds fill predictably. "Paul Dimmick is a nice little campground in the redwoods... The campground doesn't have a lot of sites, which I prefer, and is first come, first served so get there early if you're going for the weekend (mid-week is wide open)," shares L.
Wildlife expectations: Animal encounters vary significantly between locations. "Very odd" reports L. about Paul M. Demmick, noting: "it appears to be mostly devoid of wildlife. We saw one Scrub jay and one ground squirrel while we were there and no bees, butterflies, or insects. And there was absolutely no birdsong."
Water activities for kids: Van Damme State Park offers swimming options during summer months. "If you want to go swimming you have to either ride your bike or drive to the entrance and park at the day use area by the bridge. The swimming hole is nice but can get packed at times. There is a rope under the bridge," explains David G.
Multi-day camping strategies: Plan for weather variations throughout your stay. "Three perfect days at the coast. Got there on Monday morning. The grounds were mostly empty So it was very easy to claim a spot. We stayed until Wednesday afternoon," shares sonja S. about Navarro Beach.
Educational programs: State parks offer organized activities for younger campers. "The junior ranger program and nightly events for families helped keep the kids engaged in the camping experience. Park rangers hosted guided hikes, nighttime stargazing (with telescopes), and nightly campfires," reports beercore about Hendy Woods.
Safety precautions: Some areas require additional vigilance. "There's quite a bit of poison oak, be aware of where you are walking," warns beercore about Hendy Woods, while Nancy M. cautions about leaving valuables at Van Damme: "Our site and tent were burglarized while we were gone for part of a day."
Site access challenges: Narrow roads affect larger vehicles at many campgrounds. "The campground loop roads are not one way. Make sure to figure which direction to approach for the easiest backup," advises Todd B. about Hendy Woods.
Alternative overnight options: Self-contained vehicles have unique privileges at certain locations. "The bonus to that however is that the park allows overnight parking for RVs across the highway in the beach parking lot, I want to say it was a $5 fee," notes Erik C. regarding Van Damme State Park.
Hookup availability: Electrical service varies significantly between campgrounds in the Comptche area. "Clean site? - Yes. Clean bathroom? - Yes. Flush toilet? - Yes. Showers? - Yes, token operated," documents Mea H. about MacKerricher State Park, adding "Dump station? - Yes, mandatory $10. Water fill? - Yes, free."
Beach proximity trade-offs: Consider whether ocean access or shelter is more important. At Pomo Campground, "This campground is protected by a buffer of coastal trees. It's not nearly as windy at the campground as it is on the beach," explains Mea H.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Comptche, CA is Van Damme State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
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