Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Essex, CA

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Essex, CA

754 Reviews of 91 Essex Campgrounds

• C

  Cameron B.

  Guide

  Jun. 23, 2019

  Emerald Forest Cabins & RV

  Redwood Pleasantries

  This is a very lovely campground clean of trash with quaint with cabins and campsites tucked between redwoods and Douglas fir trees. Campground looks lush and loved.

  They offer cabins, RV and tent sites.

  Additionally there is a Video Arcade, Horseshoe pit, dog park, celebration hall with board games/puzzles, a mini mart, playground, gazebo, and multiple bath/shower houses and laundry facilities.

  They periodically have special events during the weekends. We lucked out with live music and wine tastings.

  Incredibly close to town but still immersed in the woods.

  Only negative is that it’s close to 101 and car traffic can be heard at times. However, there are many song birds around camp to make your stay pleasant.

  Highly recommend!

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• 

  Colleen E.

  Traveler

  Jul. 9, 2021

  Giant Redwoods RV & Cabin Destination

  Quiet Redwoods Getaway

  This is a beautiful campground in Meyer’s Flat, CA. The area of Myers Flat is a little “sketchy” but the campground is very well kept and they close the gates at night which is nice. There are nice little cabins on site as well as RV sites. We stayed for 3 nights and it was very enjoyable. Driving and biking along Avenue of the Giants was the highlight of this area! There is a little dog park, volleyball court, playground, swimming area. (we didn’t swim due to the algae warning for northern CA) It’s along Eel River. There’s also a great market and coffee shop nearby that we took advantage of! (pricey but the only place around) The staff is so kind and Vicki was a great help while we made our reservation over the phone. Overall, we would stay again!

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• 

  Queeriam A.

  Guide

  Aug. 11, 2023

  Van Duzen County Park - Pamplin Grove

  Best place to camp!

  Incredible views, quiet, easy river access, pet and kid friendly, showers, on site friendly hosts, and the best trails through old growth that you rarely get in a campground. It’s a magical place, and affordable. Worth sacrificing the cell signal, there’s a pay phone in the entry lot. I’ve been twice now, and can’t wait to go back.

• J

  Jessica R.

  Guide

  Aug. 22, 2018

  Samoa Boat Ramp County Park

  Glorified parking lot with transients and rude neighbors

  I stayed at this campsite twice two years ago. The first time was in the spring (April) with my daughters and the second time was in August that year. This is not a campsite per se, but rather a parking lot in which you chose a parking spot directly next to someone else and if you have a tent pitch it directly behind your car in the scraggly grass and sand sticker plants. There is zero privacy or distance between campers.

  The fee is $20 per night. The bathrooms are disgusting. The best thing about them was a family of nesting birds above the door to the ladies restroom. We were able to watch the babies for a while which was fun, but there is also the chance that you’ll be pooped on while entering or leaving the bathroom.

  The first time was just okay. We camped inside the back of my Toyota Highlander amongst mostly RVs, most of which left their loud generators and bright outside lights on long after quiet hours. I finally had to knock on our neighbors R.V. door to ask them to turn out the outside light which was shining directly into our car.

  This wasn’t terrible and was completely outshone by a half day spent on the beach in the dune area. Locals surfed as families. The community seemed so tight knit and inviting. We left deciding that we’d definitely come back to spend a day on the beach later in the summer. Also, the local Samoa Cookhouse is nearby with family style breakfast, lunch and dinner served. It is a historic site and museum that used to serve the loggers in the area the food and service is awesome and has become a much looked forward to stop on our road trips to California.

  When we came back we came with my husband, choosing to camp at the boat launch area again because of its proximity to the beach. The late summer campers were a very different crowd. Mostly they seemed transient. There was garbage everywhere. Beer bottles, wild pets - even an actual pig, run down RVs that were clearly full time housing for large, loud families filled the parking lot. There was loud partying far into the night.

  I had my daughters car camp and locked them in while my husband and I slept in a tent behind the car. We kept being woken by a loud noise that I couldn’t identify. I thought it sounded like a bear, then maybe a plastic barrel being pulled across the concrete. Eventually - after very little sleep - we discovered it was our neighbor who had some sort of terrible sleep disorder. It was bizarre. After he woke in the morning he proceeded to urinate in from of my daughters onto the water spigot rather than in the restroom which was 50 feet away. My husband was horrified and asked what would ever possess me to bring him there. Lets just say that the beach was not reason enough.

  I would not stay here again. I did not feel safe or that this was a sanitary. The price seems to attract people who are not camping so much as homeless. The bathrooms don’t get serviced often and even if they did I’m sure they’d be trashed in a matter of hours.

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• 

  Katie S.

  Guide

  Aug. 16, 2017

  Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park Campground

  Camping amongst giants

  Amazing campground nestled amongst the heart of the Redwood Trees. Lots of shade throughout area but limited privacy due to proximity of sites and road noise. Bathhouse has water and basic shower amentities. Nice hiking trails to explore the Redwoods within walking distance of campground. Great location to explore the forest and access the rugged California coastline.

• A

  Angela

  Scout

  Mar. 6, 2022

  Redwood Coast Cabins & RV Resort

  Shockingly horrible

  I don't even know what to say, except pick somewhere else. Last summer we stayed for a few days. I reserved a few days for this summer. Got the reservation confirmed by email- didn't notice my name was misspelled by one single letter- and stopped in to the office to inquire about paying early. It turned out they gave me a reservation under the wrong name and that I was actually, in fact, banned from the park. What??? They revealed that in their system I was banned due to"pet damages". My service dog did not cause any property damage and the cabin was left clean. I asked if there was any detail about these supposed damages and no, there were not. I asked if there was someone I could speak to as no one had ever contacted me about this issue. The larger blond woman said,"I am the only one"(that I could speak with) and added that I was also banned from shoreline park- which I had never been to. The hold on my credit card is still there. It's only a few dollars but I'm going to cut my losses. Last time we stayed we were prohibited from flushing tp down the toilet and the bathrooms were not clean at all. The Wi-Fi never worked and the power went out preventing me from using my bipap. Also the pool and playground areas were so closely monitored it was a bit uncomfortable being on camera and confronted about a minor rule violation (within moments like I was being closely watched) that was quickly righted. I believe in second chances but this was just an insult to my sensibilities.  Weird staff, pretty unfriendly. There are plenty of other friendlier and more accommodating beautiful cabins and resorts to choose from in Humboldt.

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• 

  Alexander G.

  Scout

  Apr. 19, 2021

  Klamath River RV Park

  This is paradise on the river. Amazing, clean super friendly staff.

  We rolled in late to this campground it was around 10pm just before they close for the night.  We was greeted by a very friendly Camphost who check us in and took us to our sites. When we woke up in the morning it was amazing we couldn't believe our eyes how beautiful the view of the river and the nature that surrounding this place. We rolled in our rv along with family members who stayed in the tent sites located literally right on the Klamath river.

  I want to add that this campground is gated so one is driving through the property during the night. It is quite and very safe, kids friendly,  pets friendly they have trails in the forest. Super duper cozy coffee house on the property along with freshly made Flatbread pizza on the weekends. Facilities are very clean I mean spotless, laundry room is squeaky clean with new washers and dryers. I work from my house and the internet was superb looks like wifi6 is what they are running in the campground so i was able to work remotely. 

  I usually don't write reviews like this but people need to know about this place. Gary who is the owner and his team are amazing people they gave me maps and very knowledgeable about things to do in the area they are centrally located just few minutes to redwoods park.  I also want to add that they stay on top of everything this is not the place where you see trash or loud drunk party people.

  This place is relaxing and rejuvenating. 

  I give them 10 stars they work hard to make memories and comfort for us the traveler's.

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• 

  Erin S.

  Legend

  Aug. 1, 2020

  Hidden Springs Campground — Humboldt Redwoods State Park

  Family friendly campground beneath the redwoods

  I stayed here in late July for three nights with my 6 year old daughter and our 3 friends.  Site 13 was easily large enough for four tent set-ups in separate areas of the site, though none of them were completely level.  There are three kinds of sites in the campground - those backed against the woods or the fence separating the campground from the ranger houses, those in the middle, and those next to the Ave of the Giants.  The ones with the most room and privacy were backed up against the woods/fence, and we were in one of those sites. Each sites has a metal fire barrel (with half grate), a picnic table, and enough room to park two vehicles. Each site also has redwoods growing in them and often large stumps (many with steps cuts into them for climbing).  Water spigots are available about every other site. 

  This was a very family friendly campground. My daughter and her friend loved playing among the trees and stumps, and riding her scooter around the loop.  Rangers frequently walked/drove around the campground and a camp host went around every morning to check sites and car tags.  Of the three nights we were here, only one was kinda loud with music and voices, but they went subdued around 11 pm. The only other bother were the three dogs in the adjacent camp that were....  well, dogs (they barked a lot). Road noise was present but not distracting. 

  The location was great. You could stroll over to the visitor center (rangers set up on the outside over the weekend) or across the street to the nature trails.  A short drive takes you into Myers Flat or Founders Grove, and you are smack in the middle of the Ave of the Giants. I would have given this campground 5 stars, if it wasn't for the comfort stations (bathrooms).  They had a sewage backup/clog the day we arrived, so we didn;t have showers for the time of our stay. They brought in port-a-potties within hours of the restrooms being closed, but not sinks or soap.  With CV-19, I was not happy about not having a clean restroom facility.  

  Despite this, however, I was glad I went.  The area was beautiful and peaceful. We went strolling around the redwoods and swimming in the Eel River (south fork). Would recommend.

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• G

  Grace

  Traveler

  Nov. 8, 2021

  Big Lagoon County Park

  Decent

  We stopped in on our way down the 101. It was very convenient being close to the beach and near the highway. The best part about this campground is the seclusion. It’s far enough away from the highway to block out road noise and close enough to the beach to hear waves. We drove in without a reservation and found a nice site. The trees are beautiful and the weather was nice.

  Unfortunately, since it’s on a lagoon and not the actual beach the mosquitoes were killer even in November. The bathrooms aren’t very clean and the campsites were not very clean themselves with empty cans scattered around. I found the campsite to be too expensive for what it is ($25/night + $2/dog).

  I would say that this is a good spot for stopping in for a night but that’s about it.

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