Van Damme State Park Campground across from the coastal beach permits pets with some trail limitations. The campground features spacious sites nestled in redwoods with fire rings, picnic tables, and food storage cabinets. Dogs are allowed on the beach but restricted on most hiking trails, limiting exploration options for pet owners. Campsites in the upper loop provide more privacy and a forest setting, though some sites lack shade after recent tree work. The main camping areas accommodate tents, RVs, and self-contained vehicles, with special overnight parking allowed for RVs in the beach lot for the same rate. Sites are equipped with bear-proof storage boxes, essential for properly storing pet food and supplies overnight.
The nearby beaches offer excellent opportunities for dogs to explore tidepools and driftwood during low tide. Trails in the Pygmy Forest area allow limited access for leashed pets, though the quarter-mile boardwalk has very limited parking available. The campground stays cool year-round with temperatures typically in the 60s during day and 40s at night, making it comfortable for pets but requiring owners to pack accordingly for the wet coastal weather. Wildlife sightings, including skunks and black bears, have been reported in the campground area, requiring vigilant pet supervision. Fort Bragg and Mendocino provide nearby access to pet supplies, veterinary services, and pet-friendly dining options when camping supplies run low.
$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 - $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."
$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."
$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."
$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."
$59 - $99 / night
"It's not much to look at when you drive up on highway 1 but behind that facade is a great Campground. There are different sections and the upper loop is definitely the best."
"The entrance to this campground is behind a store so it technically is hidden. What it lacks in privacy of sites it definitely makes up for in amenities."
$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."
"A lot of people bring their dogs but I’ll bring my bangle he’s 10 years old and he loves the outdoors."
"The beach has lots of character, tons of driftwood that people have moved around and made crude huts out of. The river is off to the side and flows out to the ocean, and is great for kayaking."
"Actual RV sites are not special but the campground sits underneath the wooden bridge and at the mouth of the river, so beautiful location. Fog horns at night make it quite mystical."
"The drive to Albion, Ca was beautiful. We arrived at the Campground and the nice fact was being able to reserve and choose our campsite."
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!
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.
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.
LegendTalk about secluded. 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 front building shows all the sites available and even has maps ready for pick up when you arrive to the campground.
There is a shower house and Laundry building in the center of the campground.
Sites are a bit tight together but have adequate privacy utilizing trees and shrubs.
The loops are well laid out but would be tight for a longer RV to come into.
Ideal for couples since tent camping is $35 per night for 2 people, and extra adult is $17.50. And $1 per pet per night.
GuideWe stayed in one of the premium hot tub sites, where you get your very own hot tub. Highly recommend, my kids absolutely loved it and so did I! 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. We also went to the playground several times, which is super fun. The splash pad was a family favorite. The petting zoo, was also super cute and the animals seemed like they were well taken care of. The mini golf course was a blast, as well as the RC track. There was a ton to do, and we all had a blast. The staff was super friendly.
Coastal campgrounds near Little River offer diverse pet-friendly options ranging from beachfront settings to redwood forests. Most sites maintain temperatures in the 50-60°F range throughout summer, significantly cooler than inland areas. The Mendocino coastline's unique microclimate creates foggy mornings that typically clear by midday, making afternoon hikes with pets more enjoyable.
Beach exploration: Navarro Beach at Navarro Beach Campground combines river and ocean access. "The Navarro River flows into the Pacific here, and this is a great site to watch seals in the ocean and otters in the river. People build incredible driftwood structures on the beach," explains reviewer Norma Y.
Kayaking and paddling: Fort Bragg provides protected waters for pets and owners. "A forest of trees right across the street from the crashing surf. Lovely! It has a wonderful tent camping area back away from RV's in the Redwoods and many other trees," notes Rosemary A. about Caspar Beach.
Hiking with pets: Fern Canyon at Russian Gulch State Park Campground offers accessible trails. "Great Fern Canyon trail and waterfall trail back in the gorge. You can explore all the Mendocinio Coast from here," writes MarinMaverick.
Crabbing and fishing: Albion River provides pet-friendly waterside activities. "The view is incredible the campsite is along the Albion River then it spill into Albion Cove and that opens to the Pacific Ocean. Ocean fishing in kayaks or boat and crabbing along the pier is often why people come here," reports Claudia J.
Privacy between sites: Pomo RV Park & Campground features natural separations. "Each site has shrubbery around it. It feels like you are in a world by itself," notes Loren P. Sites provide separation that's hard to find at more open coastal campgrounds.
Year-round accessibility: Most pet-friendly locations remain open throughout winter. "The sites have privacy in the fact that there are hedges grown between each one, unless you book a group site. The convenience of being so close to town, yet feeling like you're in the forest is hard to beat," shares Hannah S.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Protected coves attract marine mammals. "Short walk to the beach. Beautiful camp sites. Trees are beautiful all around the sites," explains Jeanette C. about Mackerricher State Park.
Protected swimming areas: Hendy Woods State Park Campground offers river access. "There is a rope under the bridge. The water hole is also deep enough in where you could jump from the bridge!" says David G. about the swimming hole.
Shower costs vary: Many campgrounds charge for showers. "Showers require tokens. This seems pretty standard in California State Parks but it's successful at deterring us from showering every night. One token gives 4 minutes of showering. Each token is $1," explains Mea H. about Mackerricher State Park Campground.
Off-season advantages: Winter camping means fewer crowds but cooler temperatures. "It was breezy and rained on and off. 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," notes Reese F.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. "The Wifi is iffy and att is not so great but it's worth the stay regardless," mentions Rowan B. about Hidden Pines Campground.
Reservation requirements: First-come sites fill quickly in summer months. "The only reason for 4 stars is because the campsites cannot be reserved ahead of time, so it is a first come first serve situation," explains Autumn J. about Navarro Beach.
Private sites for noise management: Russian Gulch State Park Campground offers secluded options. "Been here a couple of times.. the campsites are so beautiful and surrounded by trees. We couldn't even see our neighbor, it was private and secluded," Christina H. reports.
Junior ranger programs: Educational opportunities keep children engaged. "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," shares reviewer beercore.
Beach access with limited hazards: Protected coves offer safer water play. "The beach is naturally enclosed and has some climbable rocks towards the left as well as some makeshift structures made of driftwood. The river follows the road to the campsite and connects to the ocean right on the beach," notes Kealan B.
Poison oak awareness: Keep pets and children on established paths. "There's quite a bit of poison oak, be aware of where you are walking," warns beercore about Hendy Woods.
Limited large rig access: Caspar Beach RV Park & Campground works best for smaller rigs. "Its a super cramped campground for big rigs. Much nicer and more privacy if tenting. The best spot is 'ocean view' but its time to change the name," advises marcus K.
Special overnight parking: Beach lots sometimes permit RVs. "There is an added bonus for all self contained vehicles. Since there's a temporary bridge in place, they are allowing self contained vehicles (potty in your vehicle) to stay at the beach parking lot instead of a camp site. That means you can wake up to a view of the beach," mentions Heather G.
Site selection strategies: Research specific sites before booking. "Make sure you look through the pictures of each site on the reservation page. They all are slightly different in size, privacy, and whatnot. There are several sites that 'share' a common open space if you're in a group," suggests Michael C.
Narrow campground roads: Some parks present navigation challenges. "Great location close to the beach, close to Mendocino and Fort Bragg. The problem is that the spaces are very narrow, especially if you have slide outs," warns Theo A. about tight quarters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Little River, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Little River, CA is Van Damme State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Little River, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 67 dog-friendly camping locations near Little River, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
