Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Hemet, CA

Lake Hemet Campground welcomes dogs at its sites across all accommodation types—tent areas, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping facilities. The pet-friendly grounds feature spacious sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water. Pets must remain leashed throughout the camping area with cleanup mandatory. Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV Resort offers another pet-accommodating option near Hemet, with full hookup sites available to dogs of all breeds. The geese wandering the property provide unexpected entertainment for visiting pets. Golden Village Palms RV Resort maintains clean, dedicated dog parks at opposite corners of the property with 24/7 security staff monitoring the grounds, creating a safe environment for pets and owners alike.

Dog-friendly hiking trails surround the Hemet area campgrounds, with Mount San Jacinto State Park providing access to pet-accessible paths when leashed. Weather considerations impact pet camping experiences seasonally, with summer heat requiring extra water and shade for dogs. Many local campgrounds maintain restrictions on leaving pets unattended in RVs or tents, even with air conditioning running. Nearby shopping includes Target and other major retailers where campers can purchase pet supplies if needed. Lake access varies by campground, with some properties allowing supervised water activities for dogs while others maintain strict on-leash policies near shorelines. Dogs at Wilderness Lakes particularly enjoy watching the resident waterfowl from a distance, though reviews note the goose droppings can be problematic on walking paths.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Hemet, California (256)

    1. Lake Skinner Recreation Area

    27 Reviews
    Temecula, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 926-1541

    $25 - $45 / night

    "Clean, pet friendly and good for kids."

    "This is a great family campground right around the corner from Temecula, Murrietta, and Menifee."

    2. Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground

    41 Reviews
    Moreno Valley, CA
    15 miles

    $25 - $300 / night

    "Already been here twice once in 01/25 and 11/25 great campsite some have access to running water facet if not there are some that are close by, have also close by trash bins, has a little shop near by"

    "It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more!  "

    3. Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV Resort

    17 Reviews
    Menifee, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "In the back of a small town 2 miles behind a stater brother's. Most sites are near level on gravel and close together. Laundry uses quarters or a third party app to pay."

    "When you enter the park, they give you a map and you drive around and choose the site you like and park."

    4. Idyllwild Campground — Mount San Jacinto State Park

    30 Reviews
    Idyllwild, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 659-2607

    $25 - $45 / night

    "Lake Fulmor is 3 miles away to take pups swimming off leash.  Idyllwild is a charming town for small town vibe. Nice trails close to PCT and rock climbing by Humber Park."

    "Kinda close to main road. But, store close by. Around the corner next to the village."

    5. Lake Hemet Campground

    40 Reviews
    Mountain Center, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 659-2680

    $45 / night

    "I've been coming to Lake Hemet for several years. The campground is clean and the fishing is good, most of the time."

    "I've been camping at Lake Hemet since I was a kid, and absolutely love it there."

    6. Stone Creek Campground — Mount San Jacinto State Park

    16 Reviews
    Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 659-2607

    $20 - $35 / night

    "My sister, her 3 kids, and 2 dogs jumped into the car and headed out towards Idyllwild, CA."

    "Located near Idyllwild, this is the smaller, less rowdy campground associated with the tourist town."

    7. Hurkey Creek Park

    21 Reviews
    Mountain Center, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 659-2050

    $30 - $35 / night

    "A lovely campground located a mile away from Hemet lake. The creek is fun for the little ones to play.. hiking and relaxing area.. the views are great and it's never to over crowded."

    "This is one of our family's favorite campgrounds because it's a quick drive from San Diego (and OC) and it gives us our "mountain fix" when we don't have time to drive to the Sierra Mountains."

    8. Temecula-Vail Lake KOA

    20 Reviews
    Cleveland National Forest, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 303-0173

    "This campsite is definitely kid and dog friendly! My kind of campsite. Pool was clean and open. My son loved the bmx bike trails."

    "We enjoyed a 6 night stay at the Temecula/Vail Lake KOA over New Years.  "

    9. Banning Stagecoach KOA

    13 Reviews
    Banning, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 849-7513

    "Very clean, dog friendly ( with dog park) helpful nice staff, propane available, small playground and swimming pool, picnic tables and grills at each site"

    "The dog park was honestly amazing, I loved it & then dogs loved it."

    10. Marion Mountain

    11 Reviews
    Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 382-2922

    $20 / night

    "Located in the San Bernardino National Forest, within the San Jacinto District, Marion Mt. Campground is one of the best camping sites in Southern California."

    "After walking around the entire campground well most spots were very nice. We did find that the spots in the center lacked privacy."

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Showing results 1-10 of 256 campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Hemet, CA

1941 Reviews of 256 Hemet Campgrounds


  • R
    Aug. 16, 2020

    Hurkey Creek Park

    A lovely get away

    A lovely campground located a mile away from Hemet lake. The creek is fun for the little ones to play.. hiking and relaxing area.. the views are great and it's never to over crowded. Showers and toilets available. You can hear owls and coyotes at night.. I love it here!!!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2026

    Joshua Tree RV & Campground

    Friendly staff, comfortable park, clean amenities

    Comfortable partial hookup sites, pet friendly, and nice people. Theres a dog park next door. The bathrooms are clean, and the laundry facilities work well (although coin only, no cards).

  • Milagros B.
    Jun. 2, 2021

    Escondido RV Resort

    🚙Campground🔹

    Location near I-15 and Gas stations. Staff is kind and professional. Full hookups. Fill propane avaible. Resort-style amenities. Heated outdoor Pool. Nice dog park. Access to a park for walking. 🔹For sure we will stay again and recommend🔹

  • kelly N.
    Mar. 16, 2022

    Banning Stagecoach KOA

    Nice clean park

    Very clean, dog friendly ( with dog park) helpful nice staff, propane available, small playground and swimming pool, picnic tables and grills at each site

  • Moo
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Oceanside RV Resort

    For tent campers - pretty solid place for a quick couple stays

    First, the campsite has the MOST CLEANEST restroom and shower booths I have ever visited for tent camping. This is no doubt that for those folks who are needed for good built qaulity toiletery, this will be your location.

    For the down sides;

    1. The trains - There is a rail right behind the tent sites so if you are looking for the tent sites with quiet location: PLEASE STAY AWAY from here. the trains do not operate from around 10 pm, back on operating starting from 5 am.

    2. for T1 tent site, BE AWARE that there is a dog park RIGHT next to the tent site: there will be a urine odor all over the place.

    3. If you are planning on cooking, just be aware that there is no proper location to do a dish wash. You would need some sort of wipes to do.

  • L
    Dec. 16, 2022

    Catalina Spa and RV Resort

    Adequate & ok for an overnight stop

    Not a very attractive drive in. Lots and lots of trash in the shrubbery and fields along the highway. Reservation and check in was easy. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. The RV park itself is attractive and seems to be fairly well maintained. It seems there are two rv areas. A lower older area and an upper newer and more attractive area. We were in the older area. Site was gravel with a small concrete area. Unfortunately, no one there seems to care about the dog poop everywhere (not exaggerating!). We and the people behind us parking had to clean dog poop off our site before we could set up. When walking our dog we saw poop everywhere. Dog park was ok, but on the small side and would be better with a gravel base instead of the dirt (very, very dusty and results in a dirty, dusty dog). There is a huge field adjacent and owned by the rv park that you can walk and or run your dog. But also full of poop. Bathroom smaller, older in the lower area. Much nicer, more modern bathrooms in the newer area. Two laundry rooms but no front loaders and the older laundry room only had two washers and two dryers. Can use quarters or an app. Pool and spa seemed pretty popular but we didn’t use. Area could really use some lighting at night. Very dark with minimal lighting in the older section. Trash is picked up every morning if you leave outside your site.

  • Jeff T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2024

    Escondido RV Resort

    Amazing resort style amenities. Spacious sites

    People are complaining about freeway noise, we stayed in site 3 (the closest site to the freeway) and it was quiet as a mouse from inside our (insulated) RV. Amazing amenities. Dog park, pool, clubhouse. We loved site 3 so close to the amenities and restrooms. Overall amazing stay

  • Jason M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2025

    Golden Village Palms RV Resort

    Don't Let the Town Deter You!

    Being reasonably close to our home base, we frequent this park with the family. Major grocery and shopping establishments are nearby, with Target directly across the street, In-n-Out, local parks, and the like. Our kids love the pool area, grandparents love the pickleball courts, and there are always fun activities to do throughout the year. Full-timers are friendly and inclusive of newcomers and passer-throughs. Dog parks are clean and located at either corner of the park. The entrance security kiosk is staffed 24/7, and they'll even help spot you while parking your rig. We cannot say enough good things about this place. 

    Check their website for events and specials.

  • Milagros B.
    Jun. 2, 2021

    Pala Casino Spa Resort

    🚙Forest campground🔹

    🔹location in front of Pala Casino. 🔹Great guest services. Full hookups sites. Propano fills available. The spot are big as well, each spot have a picnic table! Resort-style amenities. Nice Pool, kids playground and dog park great! Near Gas station and small market! 🔹We sure

    will stay again and recommend


Guide to Hemet

Stone Creek Campground in Mount San Jacinto State Park offers camping at 4,000 feet elevation with distinct seasonal temperature variations. Located within minutes of Idyllwild, the campground features spacious sites surrounded by pine and manzanita trees. Winter temperatures can drop significantly at night while summer brings warmer days with cool evenings, creating ideal conditions for year-round outdoor activities.

What to do

Mountain biking trails: 3 miles from town: Lake Skinner Recreation Area provides multiple trails for biking enthusiasts. "There are 3 different camping loops that seem to have their own personality. They have a kids playground, and a splash pad for the warmer months," explains david N., noting that many visitors bring bikes to enjoy the terrain.

Fishing at local reservoirs: Daily permits required: Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground offers productive fishing opportunities. "This lake has been good to me and my friends, always catch something, maybe not a lunker but fun," reports John H., who regularly fishes there. Note that fishing requires a California state license plus a daily use fee.

Hiking to scenic viewpoints: Multiple difficulty levels: The area's elevation provides unique hiking experiences. "There is a nice mile hike around the perimeter of the park," shares Tom W. about exploring the trails. Many campgrounds connect directly to trailheads, allowing campers to access nature walks straight from their sites.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Regular maintenance: Idyllwild Campground receives praise for its upkeep. "Great campsite within 5 minute walk of downtown idyllwild. Plus less than 2 hours from drive to Palm Spring Tram up to Mt. San Jacinto and a great way to cool off in the summer or see snow in the winter. Showers and clean bathrooms!" notes Michael K.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening: Campers report seeing diverse wildlife including deer and birds. "We keep coming back here. Great little campground with clean air, starry skies and big trees," says Jeannie B., who enjoys the natural setting and animal spotting opportunities.

Family-friendly activities: Playgrounds and water features: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Hemet include dedicated recreation areas. "The pool seemed very nice & clean. The dog park was honestly amazing, I loved it & then dogs loved it," shares Alysa R. about her experience at a local campground.

What you should know

Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds: Marion Mountain offers more secluded options. "Sites are nice and spacious but doesn't seem to have a whole lot of privacy. We got lucky and went on a week day were the only ones camping there," reports Shannon L. Weekday visits typically mean fewer neighbors.

Reservation systems differ by location: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come-first-served. "Was able to get a first come first serve site on a Saturday in October. Most sites were reserved but not everyone showed up. For first come first serve you must pay via cash or check using the drop box - no option for credit cards," explains Isabelle S.

Water availability is seasonal: Water access changes throughout the year at several locations. "It got really cold at night, about 10 degrees colder that Idyllwild Town limits. And there was a no open flame aloud because of how dry it was—which we did not know until we arrived. Might want to check that out," cautions Christian M.

Tips for camping with families

Choose campgrounds with dedicated play areas: Hurkey Creek Park offers family-oriented facilities. "A lovely campground located a mile away from Hemet lake. The creek is fun for the little ones to play.. hiking and relaxing area.. the views are great and it's never to over crowded," explains Renea B., who visits with her family.

Pack for temperature fluctuations: Mountain elevations cause significant day-to-night temperature changes. "Weather was cold and windy but not too bad. Bring insulation for your water hose or have some type of method that will keep your water lines from freezing. Our water hose froze the first night," shares Donovan about his experience.

Consider site location within campgrounds: Some sites offer more privacy than others. "We decided 4 stars because the forest service failed to post our reservation for site #06 (which has the best view but not much shade). We were here mid July on a Thursday and there were only 2 other sites occupied. Beware the unreal amount of mosquitos," warns Collier T.

Tips from RVers

Check hookup availability before booking: Several pet-friendly camping areas near Hemet offer various hookup options. "Last minute booking... we got a site with no electricity just water and sewer. Got a bit warm but it was manageable," notes Raf A. about his experience at Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV Resort.

Consider site levelness for larger rigs: Many mountain campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Campsites arent the biggest, and fairly close together. Lake is easy to get to from anywhere. Rental boats on the lake. Free showers, and good bathrooms," explains Ken B., noting that site selection impacts comfort.

Research generator policies: Rules vary significantly between campgrounds. "They don't have enough 50amp sites and not all of them are always working. This park is first come / first served and they don't prohibit a 30amp rig from taking a 50amp site, so you can see the problem," warns david N., suggesting early arrival to secure appropriate hookups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hemet, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hemet, CA is Lake Skinner Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 27 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hemet, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 256 dog-friendly camping locations near Hemet, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.