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Russian Gulch State Park Campground accommodates pets across its variety of campsites for tent and RV camping. The park's secluded sites offer privacy for campers with dogs, with clean facilities including flush toilets and paid showers nearby. Pet owners must keep dogs leashed at all times and clean up after them. Sites are equipped with food storage cabinets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The small private beach area within the park allows dogs, providing a less crowded alternative to other coastal beaches in the area. Van Damme State Park Campground and Caspar Beach RV Park & Campground also welcome pets, with Caspar Beach offering cabin accommodations in addition to tent and RV sites.
Dogs are permitted on the beach areas at Russian Gulch and Van Damme State Parks but must remain on leash. The babbling creek running through Russian Gulch provides a pleasant sensory experience for pets during camping stays. Most campgrounds in the area have little to no cell service, so pet owners should research nearby veterinary options before arrival. Fort Bragg, just north of Mendocino, offers the closest pet supply stores and veterinary services. Weather along the Mendocino coast remains cool year-round, often with fog and mist, so pets should have appropriate shelter during camping trips. Morning dew and coastal dampness mean pet bedding can get wet quickly in tent camping situations, especially in sites located on the creek side of Russian Gulch where limited sun exposure keeps everything slightly damp.
"Campground can be foggy in summer months, but is very close to the beach where ocean kayaking is common. Only a few minutes away from Mendocino. Bathrooms have flush toilets and showers are available!"
"Simple campground just outside of Mendocino/Ft Bragg. Steps from a beautiful sandy beach."
from $45 - $160 / night
Check Availability"This campground is only a couple miles north from fort Bragg and then just a bit further south is the cute coastal town of Mendocino."
"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:)"
from $45 - $260 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $50 - $73 / night
Check Availability"Conveniently located between Ft. Bragg 6 miles to the north and Mendocino 3 miles south. Points of interest include Caspar Beach right here in the cove, Pt."
"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."
from $47 - $72 / night
Check Availability"We stayed one night here in early October, after exploring the Mendocino area on a campervan road trip. Campsite was quiet and secluded, lots of trees so was pretty quiet and private."
"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."
from $45 - $140 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $59 - $99 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Nice park behind mobile home park. Tight sites but beautiful views. Very nice and helpful staff, dog friendly park."
"Located next to Pomo Bluffs Park and over looking the ocean and the Noyo River/Bay. Stayed 6 days in November paid $250. Full hook ups with cable."
from $58 - $63 / night
Check Availability"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."
"There was a small creek behind the campground which was nice. It was about a 30 minute drive to fort Bragg made for an easy day trip. The campground is maintained by cal fire $20 a night."
"Jackson State Demonstration forest is about 6 miles from fort Bragg on hwy.20 Campground is about 3 miles down a dirt road down into the forest from the highway. Beautiful, clean and peaceful."
TravelerInner sites on a meadow have lots of space! Outer sites are in a more wooded landscape. Campground can be foggy in summer months, but is very close to the beach where ocean kayaking is common. Only a few minutes away from Mendocino. Bathrooms have flush toilets and showers are available!
LegendWe stayed at Hendy Woods for one night in early October. What a beautiful campground! Nestled under a redwood forest with great running/hiking trails in the park. Very close to multiple wineries (we visited 3) as well as Anderson Valley Brewing Company (fun local craft brewery, beer was good and a fun outdoor seating area.
Campground was clean, not busy at the time we were there so plenty of privacy and peace and quiet. Bathrooms were clean, water close to our site, and there were showers available which was nice. We did a trail run on the trails right in the park and it was so much fun! So cool to run around all of those big trees. Found the tree home of the "Hendy Hermit", a man who had lived inside a tree "fort" in the hendy woods many years ago and was somewhat of a local legend. Highly recommend this campground. This was a perfect stop as we headed down the coast from Mendocino. The drive there is beautiful, past a whole bunch of wineries.
GuideWe've spent most of our twenty years of camping together off the beaten path, avoiding the likes of anything KOA, but for our RV's maiden voyage we thought we'd start with the Machester Beach KOA, and we were very glad we did. We arrived early evening as camp activities were getting underway, setting up to the soundtrack of Beetlejuice showing nearby. The site was clean, KOA's office and service staff were very friendly, not that corporate-disengenuous-give-us-a-good-rating friendly, but real, authentic hospitality. Everything quieted down after 10:00p. We stayed for four days, enjoying everything the area has to offer from Mendocino to Point Arena and had one of the best camping experiences of our lives, and it wasn't just the RV that made it that way.
One little-known secret about this site is that the beach (a moderate walk away) is the home of the Manchester Cable Station, built by AT&T in 1954 on the United States’ closest point to the Hawaiian Islands, where the internet backbone starts its journey across the Pacific.
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!
LegendWe stayed one night here in early October, after exploring the Mendocino area on a campervan road trip. Campsite was quiet and secluded, lots of trees so was pretty quiet and private. Clean bathrooms, drinking water was right next to our site. There were hiking trails right nearby, but sadly we arrived fairly late and were leaving the next morning so we didn't get to do much exploring. Area was pretty damp so a little chilly because of that. there were giant yellow banana slugs all over, which was pretty neat to see. Site had a picnic table and fire ring. Lots of open sites when we arrived (mid week in early Fall), no reservation needed. Convenient to explore Mendocino/Fort Bragg area, we took a walk around Mendocino and visited the glass beach. I would like to go back and explore the hiking there!
http://adventuresneaker.com/2017/03/23/california-road-trip-days-7-8-9-bodie-historic-ghost-town-lake-tahoe-russian-gulch-state-park/
ScoutSimple campground just outside of Mendocino/Ft Bragg. Steps from a beautiful sandy beach. Water fill up station with hose is available, wifi is strong (we ended up in a site right next to the visitor centre where the router is). No cell reception though (AT&T). Bathrooms are clean.
Note: there are lots of hikes here apparently but dogs are not permitted on any trails so I can't speak to the quality/experience of these.
GuideWe stayed at Site 13 during our stay but noticed that Site 11 looked great. It was very shaded, with several tall trees, was flat, and had more room for tents. The trail for the Bog Trail is right next to the site and the bathroom is around the corner.
Campground: The park ranger was super nice and showed us the areas where we could take our pup. The campground is dog friendly, although only the Bog Trail allows dogs(or you can walk along the paved road). Dogs are also allowed at the beach across Highway 1. The beach is really pleasant- it was a quiet and relaxing spot to watch the waves. The bathrooms were well maintained and the showers had hot water(it costs 4 quarters for 5 minutes or can buy tokens from the camp host). The lower loop is more open, and the river sites and upper loop are more forested. There isn't service in the park, even close to the entrance, but the park does have wifi. Mendocino is only a 5 minute drive away if you need to pick up groceries, dinner, etc.
GuideTDLR: This campground was generally very nice and I would come back, but I wouldn't recommend site 13.
Campground: The park ranger was super nice and showed us the areas where we could take our pup. The campground is dog friendly, although only the Bog Trail allows dogs (or you can walk along the paved road). Dogs are also allowed at the beach across Highway 1. The beach is really pleasant - it was a quiet and relaxing spot to watch the waves.
The bathrooms were well maintained and the showers had hot water (it costs 4 quarters for 5 minutes or can buy tokens from the camp host).
The lower loop is more open, and the river sites and upper loop are more forested.
There isn't service in the park, even close to the entrance, but the park does have wifi.
Mendocino is only a 5 minute drive away if you need to pick up groceries, dinner, etc.
Site 13: The table, bear box, and squirrel box (?) were all oddly close together. We couldn't figure out where folks typically put their tent so we squished it next to the bear box. The other potential area would be right next to the road and on a slanted part of the ground.
Would definitely come back, we just wouldn't stay in site 13. Sites 11 and 12 looked good for tent sites.
GuideWe stayed at Site 13 during our stay but noticed that Site 12 looked nice. It had a small tree for shade, was flat, and had more room for tents.
Campground: The park ranger was super nice and showed us the areas where we could take our pup. The campground is dog friendly, although only the Bog Trail allows dogs(or you can walk along the paved road). Dogs are also allowed at the beach across Highway 1. The beach is really pleasant- it was a quiet and relaxing spot to watch the waves. The bathrooms were well maintained and the showers had hot water(it costs 4 quarters for 5 minutes or can buy tokens from the camp host). The lower loop is more open, and the river sites and upper loop are more forested. There isn't service in the park, even close to the entrance, but the park does have wifi. Mendocino is only a 5 minute drive away if you need to pick up groceries, dinner, etc.
The Mendocino coastline maintains year-round cool temperatures, typically between 50-60°F, with frequent fog and mist creating distinctive camping conditions. Many campgrounds along this stretch sit within sight or sound of the Pacific Ocean, with some positioned at river mouths where freshwater meets saltwater. Several tent camping areas feature minimal protection from coastal winds, requiring proper gear and setup techniques.
Explore glass beach: Head to Pomo RV Park & Campground for easy access to Fort Bragg's famous glass beach. "Close to glass beach. Helpful staff. Within walking distance of the beach and a short drive to coastal towns," notes Tim J.
Kayak the river mouth: At Navarro Beach Campground, where the Navarro River meets the Pacific. "The river follows the road to the campsite and connects to the ocean right on the beach," explains Kealan B. "A great spot to watch seals in the ocean and otters in the river," adds Norma Y.
Hike fern canyon trails: Russian Gulch State Park Campground offers several hiking routes through dense vegetation. "Great Fern Canyon trail and waterfall trail back in the gorge," notes MarinMaverick. Marcia M. adds, "Great hiking trails, a small protected beach, helpful camp host, and well-maintained showers and flush toilets."
Secluded tent camping sites: The back loop at Pomo RV Park & Campground offers exceptional tent sites. Michael C. explains, "There is a loop at the back of the campground that has at least 10 grassy tent sites under a thick cover of pine trees. It's isolated by a path from the other RV sites, and I was really impressed by the area!"
Protection from coastal winds: Many campers appreciate Mackerricher State Park Campground's natural wind barriers. "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.
Private site layouts: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Mendocino feature natural dividers between sites. At Van Damme State Park Campground, Sarah B. notes, "In my opinion, the upper loop is a more legit campout setting. We loved the space and the trees." Some sites use hedges for privacy, as Nick R. explains, "Nice, quite, clean campground."
Shower tokens required: At Mackerricher State Park Campground, "Showers require tokens. One token gives 4 minutes of showering. Each token is $1," explains Mea H. Van Damme has similar pay showers, while Russian Gulch offers free shower facilities.
Limited cell service: Most pet-friendly campgrounds around Mendocino have spotty coverage. At Navarro Beach, Jack R. advises, "It's in a dead zone for cell service other than SMS." Plan communications accordingly.
First-come availability varies: When looking for dog-friendly campsites near Mendocino, timing matters. Autumn J. notes about Navarro Beach, "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." For holiday weekends, arrive by Thursday for best site selection.
Check tide pool timing: At Mackerricher State Park, Jennifer M. notes, "This campground is a short walk to the beach and hiking trails." Plan tide pool visits around low tide schedules posted at ranger stations.
Consider site location carefully: At Russian Gulch, Marcia M. explains, "The sites on that side of the creek get almost no sun during the day, so everything was a little damp all the time." Choose sunnier sites when camping with children to keep gear dry.
Bring driftwood activities: Navarro Beach Campground offers unique driftwood play opportunities. "People build incredible driftwood structures on the beach," notes Norma Y. Danielle F. adds, "So much driftwood huge old whole driftwood redwood trees. Fun for making makeshift forts and there are plenty of crafted playful driftwood structures to explore."
Dump station fees vary: At Mackerricher State Park, "The dump station has a mandatory fee of $10. You pay with a credit card. When payment is approved, the cap to the dump hole unlocks," explains Mea H.
Tighter RV spacing at private parks: When seeking dog-friendly RV camping near Mendocino, note that commercial campgrounds typically have closer sites. At Caspar Beach RV Park, Theo A. reports, "It's a super cramped campground for big rigs. Much nicer and more privacy if tenting."
Upper loops recommended: For larger rigs, Theo A. recommends certain areas at Hidden Pines: "The upper loop is definitely the best. Book spot #10 which is the largest and has a good view. Other spots on the outside of the upper loop are good too."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mendocino, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mendocino, CA is Van Damme State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mendocino, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Mendocino, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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