Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Nevada City, CA

Collins Lake Recreation Area accommodates pets at its 88 designated sites, offering a range of options from tent camping to cabins and RV spots with hookups. Pets must remain on leash throughout the campground, with designated pet waste stations positioned near common areas. Scotts Flat Lake campground also welcomes pets with several trails accessible directly from the campground for morning walks. Bathroom facilities remain clean even during peak season, and tent sites provide ample shade for pets during summer months. The Greenhorn Campground at Rollins Lake allows pets at lakefront sites where campers can anchor boats directly in front of their camping spot.

South Yuba Campground provides pet-friendly camping with trail access to numerous swimming holes along the river. The campground features primitive facilities with composting toilets and requires proper waste disposal at least 200 feet from water sources. Nevada County Fairgrounds offers pet-friendly RV camping with full hookups, though sites can be cramped with limited space between neighbors. The fairgrounds has designated pet walking areas and enforces quiet hours at 10 PM to prevent excessive barking. Poison oak grows abundantly throughout the region's natural areas, so pets should be kept on established trails and checked regularly. Some campgrounds implement seasonal restrictions, with South Yuba open from April to October and Giant Gap operating from May to October due to weather conditions.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Nevada City, California (264)

    1. Collins Lake Recreation Area

    22 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 692-1600

    "Clean sites and pet friendly. We took the boat on our last trip here and had a great time. Great fishing spots!!"

    "Not a bad campsite, but was surrounded by RVs and people walking around. Can’t bring dogs onto the beach area which was a bummer, but was too crowded anyways"

    2. Manzanita Rock Meadow

    6 Reviews
    North San Juan, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 263-3656

    $40 - $55 / night

    "She told us of some cool hiking trails nearby, and where we could paddleboard. The spot was clean with lots of room to spread out. Our dogs loved it!"

    "Situated on 25 acres, this gem is truly the best place to relax and unwind. With beautiful scenery and so many outdoor activities to enjoy, we know you'll be planning your next stay before you leave."

    3. Nevada County Fairgrounds

    6 Reviews
    Grass Valley, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 273-6217

    "Very peaceful and the fairgrounds are open during the day to walk around."

    "Really nice with the lake and quiet woods feeling. No hassle booking and really reasonable price. Huge sites like 150x18 or there abouts."

    4. Greenhorn Capground at Rollins Lake

    7 Reviews
    Pinecrest, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 388-0328

    $42 - $53 / night

    "This is a smaller but nice lake. It hasn’t ever been over crowded when I’ve gone. The reason I like this spot is because campsites C3-C10 have the most shade you can hope for!"

    "They have a convenience store that is walkable distance to get supplies, food, candy from.

    You should reserve a spot right on the lake. If you have a boat you can anchor it right in front."

    5. South Yuba Campground

    4 Reviews
    Nevada City, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 941-3101

    $15 / night

    "Note google & garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction."

    "Use cat holes instead (200 ft from water please). Poison oak is everywhere. River views are spectacular."

    6. Giant Gap

    11 Reviews
    Gold Run, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 367-2224

    $24 - $48 / night

    "We took our one year old and two dogs here and it was awesome. Close to the water which had a nice beach area."

    "The site was spacious and a short walk to the reservoir and trail. We hiked around the entire reservoir and it was gorgeous."

    7. Scotts Flat Lake

    4 Reviews
    Forest Knolls, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 265-5302

    $39 - $51 / night

    "Scott’s Flat is just five miles outside of Nevada City. It is run by the Nevada Irrigation District. One of the many man made lakes in the region."

    "Reserved 2 campsites next to each other for  10 family members for Father’s Day weekend 2019.   Sites were large and not too close to each other so plenty of room to spread out.  "

    8. White Cloud

    6 Reviews
    Washington, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 478-6253

    $24 - $48 / night

    "I was watching my friends’ kids for the weekend, so we loaded up bikes and the dog and got out of the house for a couple of days. It was only a 20-minute drive from home in Nevada City."

    "This gem of a campground gives you wuick access to a variety of activities. A quick 15 minute drive takes you to Nevada City/Grass Valley and wine tasting."

    9. Laughing Buddha RV/Tent Camp

    4 Reviews
    North San Juan, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 263-3656

    $55 / night

    "It was quiet and private, but close to the hosts so they visited when I had questions about the best spots for swimming and hiking nearby."

    "Had a fire in the fire pit and enjoyed the quiet(except for the coyotes in the distance!). Galen, our host, was always available to answer questions and to bring extra firewood."

    10. Schoolhouse Campground (CA)

    7 Reviews
    North San Juan, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 478-6253

    $24 - $48 / night

    "There are trails for hiking or mountain biking. You are minutes from Bullards Bar which is one of the most beautiful lakes around. I definitely suggest a day trip to the lake."

    "It’s mixed RV and tent with no RV power so the generators are loud and you’ll be surrounded by them."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Nevada City, CA

848 Reviews of 264 Nevada City Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    South Yuba Campground

    nice wooded campground

    No cell signal here - speed test is from starlink. Note google & garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction.

  • Meg R.
    Nov. 10, 2020

    White Cloud

    Weekend Staycation

    I was watching my friends’ kids for the weekend, so we loaded up bikes and the dog and got out of the house for a couple of days. It was only a 20-minute drive from home in Nevada City. We enjoyed hanging around the campground, took a cruise over to Rucker Lake for some exploring. The campground is no-frills and right on the highway, but a nice place overall.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2020

    Inn Town Campground

    Just Awesome

    Super clean and friendly

    Not congested and close to many hiking trails Easy drive and close to Nevada City.

    Especially nice during Christmas Season. Feels like walking back in time. Do not miss!

  • Rishi  B.
    Nov. 1, 2021

    Inn Town Campground

    Camping near it all

    Great place to stay. You’re tucked away directly in nature but a 5 minute drive will get you to downtown Nevada city. “Downtown” is a small quaint historic area packed with great restaurants for vegans and organic lovers alike.

  • E
    Apr. 8, 2023

    Inn Town Campground

    The Best.

    I’ve stayed here many times, It’s the best! Just know that here on The Dyrt, the location on the map for some reason shows it as being many miles away from Kidder Ct: it’s marked as if it is at Higgins Corner, halfway to Auburn? Whereas it is in reality only a mile away from downtown Nevada City, off the Gold Flat exit. So I marked an edit to have this corrected on 4/8/2023; the moderators are to check that, and correct the map after veryifying.

  • Anna W.
    Feb. 21, 2021

    Scotts Flat Lake

    Foothills fun

    Scott’s Flat is just five miles outside of Nevada City. It is run by the Nevada Irrigation District. One of the many man made lakes in the region. There are bath houses, tent sites and no hookup RV sites. It is clean but can become loud with rowdy camping neighbors. A beautiful lake to boat, fish and swim.

  • M
    Aug. 10, 2018

    White Cloud

    Hostess with the mostest!

    This gem of a campground gives you wuick access to a variety of activities. A quick 15 minute drive takes you to Nevada City/Grass Valley and wine tasting. And a quick jaunt up the road to Washington, CA gives you the Yuba River and excellent gloat sites. The camp host, Pat, is a doll, friendly and good for a laugh. The camp is clean with firewood to buy, and plenty to forage on the ground. Pit toilets and portable toilets, large sites for tents and campers alike, its our favorite go to spot.

  • Nicole G.
    Oct. 9, 2020

    Inntown Campground

    Wonderful campground!

    My friends and I did a group trip to Inntown in September. We loved it so much we booked another weekend to go back before we left. The owners are incredibly friendly and helpful. The campsites are well maintained, there is water nearby all sites and they drive thru the campground once a day to pick up trash in case you don't want to haul it to the dumpster. They have dish washing stations and the absolute nicest, cleanest bathrooms/showers I've ever seen in a campground. They do not allow wood burning fires, but you can use a gas fire ring or rent one from the campground. It's just outside Nevada City but you feel completely in nature thanks to all the big redwoods in camp. We spent the days at Fuller Dam, and the Yuba River and Scotts Flat Reservoir are nearby too. Overall, this is a fantastic campground and I highly recommend.

  • Nicole G.
    Oct. 9, 2020

    Inn Town Campground

    Wonderful campground!

    My friends and I did a group trip to Inntown in September. We loved it so much we booked another weekend to go back before we left. The owners are incredibly friendly and helpful. The campsites are well maintained, there is water nearby all sites and they drive thru the campground once a day to pick up trash in case you don't want to haul it to the dumpster. They have dish washing stations and the absolute nicest, cleanest bathrooms/showers I've ever seen in a campground. They do not allow wood burning fires, but you can use a gas fire ring or rent one from the campground. It's just outside Nevada City but you feel completely in nature thanks to all the big redwoods in camp. We spent the days at Fuller Dam, and the Yuba River and Scotts Flat Reservoir are nearby too. Overall, this is a fantastic campground and I highly recommend.


Guide to Nevada City

Discover the best spots for pets-allowed camping near Nevada City, California, where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Dog owners appreciate the variety of amenities available

  • At Collins Lake Recreation Area, you’ll find electric hookups, drinking water, and clean facilities, making it a comfortable stay for both you and your pet.
  • Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs offers a market on-site, ensuring you have everything you need for a fun camping trip with your dog.
  • Sycamore Ranch RV Park features clean bathrooms and showers, along with shaded grassy sites along Dry Creek, perfect for your pet to explore.

Pet-friendly campgrounds include plenty of activities

  • At Greenhorn Campground at Rollins Lake, you can enjoy swimming, fishing, and even jumping off docks, making it a great spot for active pets.
  • Giant Gap is close to hiking trails and a beautiful reservoir, providing ample opportunities for outdoor adventures with your dog.
  • Nevada County Fairgrounds offers a peaceful environment where you can walk around the fairgrounds with your pet during the day.

Pet owners like the scenic surroundings and community vibe

  • Manzanita Rock Meadow is nestled in the woods, providing a serene atmosphere and stunning views, ideal for a relaxing getaway with your pet.
  • Lodgepole Campground is surrounded by Giant Sequoia trees and has a small creek running through it, creating a picturesque setting for you and your furry companion.
  • Auburn Gold Country RV Park is known for its friendly atmosphere and clean facilities, making it a welcoming place for pet owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Nevada City, CA is Collins Lake Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 22 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 264 dog-friendly camping locations near Nevada City, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.