119 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon welcomes pets at its sprawling Acton property featuring tent sites, RV spots, and pet-friendly cabins. All campgrounds near Palmdale require dogs to be leashed except in designated off-leash areas, with most limiting pets to three per site. Crystal Lake Recreation Area and LA RV Resort at Acton Camp offer cabin options for campers who prefer not to tent camp with their animals. Californian RV Resort enforces strict pet supervision rules, requiring owners to attend to their dogs at all times. The pools at Thousand Trails are notably large compared to other campgrounds, though pet owners should note these areas remain off-limits to animals. Dogs frequently disturb nearby campers when left unattended, with barking being the most common complaint in the RV camping sections.
Pet-walking paths at Buckhorn and Monte Cristo campgrounds provide dedicated areas for exercising leashed dogs away from main camping zones. Many Angeles National Forest campgrounds offer pet-friendly hiking trails where dogs can explore alongside their owners. Users note that cell reception varies dramatically between campgrounds, with T-Mobile service particularly unreliable at most sites—an important consideration for pet owners who may need to contact veterinary services. Horse Flats Campground in Pearblossom features tent and RV sites suitable for pets year-round, though the camping area lacks drinking water facilities. During summer months, the extreme desert heat requires extra precautions for pets, including adequate shade and additional water supplies. The Antelope Valley Fairgrounds RV Park provides a convenient overnight option with full hookups close to shopping areas where campers can purchase pet supplies.
"This trip we stayed down near the welcome center instead of Lot N and the experience didn’t even seem like the same RV Park. No loud music, no barking dog, less dust, and dirt."
"My only gripe about this section is I think there is either a dog breeder or humane society to the east. Sometimes all of the dogs just go crazy!"
"Beautiful trails near by, next to a stream, gorgeous views, and of course that mountain air! Trees are perfect for hammocks."
"It is set back from the road a little giving you a quieter experience away from the 2. This would be a good first car camping spot for families with young children."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Campground We had been driving around the campground loops for more than an hour, and had just about given up, when we say the sign for overflow camping near the exit of the Chilao campground loop"
"I’m no stranger to bugs being around I’m an avid camper but they seem Immune to repellants. Giant horse flys we’re in the area along with a lot of bees and gnats."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to freeway small grocery and great coffee shop close."
"Gated park high on a hill; like driving the hills of SF with a trailer. Lots of pull thrus. Well kept and landscaped. Front desk helpful and friendly."
"nice showers, well kept bathrooms, good parking. food shopping is close by. nice power hookups. 50 volt."
"We’ve done Crystal Lake probably 6 dozen times or more in our time in California and it never disappoints on the spectacular views."
"This is probably our favorite place to go considering we end up hear almost every other weekend year around. Camp cost and parking cost isn’t cheap but the views are great."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"I came in from the La side of the mountains and found it’s easier to go in from Palmdale with a rv or tt. If your hauling anything longer then 20 ft. Try for site 11."
"Or one right next to you if you don't have one. The water does not taste too good, but it serves for washing. A bear was on our stuff the first night. I whistled and it ran away."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Nice spot if you don’t want to drive far. Fantastic views. Get there early to get a spot with shade...we arrived in the late afternoon and the only spots had zero shade. It was so hot!!"
"OKAY... seriously this one of the best campgrounds near Los Angeles. My ultimate go to spot for an overnight camping trip."
"Will stay here again and they are very pet friendly which was nice."
from $55 - $132 / night
Check Availability"This past week had record high temperatures for all of Southern California, so I can’t say how representative our experience was compared to typically late fall trips in other years."
"It's an hours drive from LA and because the campground is at elevation it stays cooler during the hot months."
from $12 / night
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ScoutI camped here for a week and half and it was quiet. No water at sites but they have water. No service. I pulled a 26 TT. I came in from the La side of the mountains and found it’s easier to go in from Palmdale with a rv or tt. If your hauling anything longer then 20 ft. Try for site 11.
ScoutClose to town but no cell signal, this place is amazing! Large camping area and I’ve never felt crowded ! Quarter showers and laundry, and a dog park! Lots of deer in the area and Great Lake to fish at! They also offer some hook ups for the rv campers
GuideFirst of all, staff was amazing. We were originally supposed to arrive on a Tuesday and we’re not able to make it. Staff shifted our reservation instead of us eating the missed night cost. Also super accommodating allowing us to extend a day longer last minute. Park is tight quarters with 200 spots. Two laundry rooms/bathrooms with showers on site, plus a cute little dog park! We stayed for three nights. Every “road” in the park is themed with California or Hollywood themed decorations and murals. We were parked right next to a Mister Roger’s mural across from the laundry/bathrooms. My only complaint in the noise level at times which is not from the park itself. Helicopters would fly over randomly, sometimes at night and it could be annoying when trying to sleep. Otherwise, absolute GEM of a place!
GuideRV Park full of residence and full timers. Will accommodate one or more nights. Good place to recharge and do laundry. Everything looks mostly clean and the pool was nice too. Small dog park with real grass.
ScoutWe needed somewhere to stay for one night as we were finishing up a cross-country drive. We loved how quiet the area was. The grounds are clean and well-kept. Starlink and Verizon service both work great here. Pet-friendly and lots of dogs around while we were here. No complaints!
LegendA little gem hiding out in Lytle Creek! Easy access to a pretty trail right behind the campground. Very quiet and interspersed with long time stayers and temporary campers. I stayed in my van and had my cat and dog with me. Campfire wood was easily available and had its own picnic table. Beautiful scenery and we even got a dusting of snow! I stayed two nights while in town for work and it was perfect.
GuidePros: Large campsites
Clean-ish toilets
Lake within walking distance
Cons: Right near highway, noisy
Lots of flies during the day
tent sites are very flat
Last minute trip and decided to check out Lake Campground. There are 8 sites placed on this hilly area, with a vault toilet in the center of the campground. It is located right next to the highway, so it can be pretty noisy during the day as its a popular route for motorcyclists. The campground itself was fairly clean, and all the sites were very large and spaced well away from each other. The sites weren't very flat, so options to set your tent up were very limited. Some sites had some shade, others almost none. There were tons of flies, very active during the daytime, but went away during the evening. The vault toilets were the cleanest I'd seen (For vault toilets) and the staff came through the campgrounds several times a day.
Jackson Lake is a short walk from the campgrounds. It has a nice day use picnic area with coal grills, picnic benches, and four vault toilets (in pretty poor condition). The lake was pretty small and had a stagnant smell to it. Lots of people were fishing, and a few people waded into the waters. I saw people in rafts / kayaks later in the day. The area was covered in fleas so careful with pets.
TravelerVery clean, pet friendly.....great place for exercise, walking, biking, etc.. safe environment. Beautiful RV park. Take your time on site selections to maximize your experience; plenty of great views to meet your expectations.
LegendHardly anyone there when I went in March and felt like I had the place to myself! Hot showers and picnic table available. Just a 1 min walk down the hill to the lake - a perfect place to have my morning coffee! They allowed pets which is awesome. Super quiet, lots of stars, and a beautiful view. Couldn’t ask for better!
Camping in the Angeles National Forest near Palmdale, California offers cool mountain retreats ranging from 5,300 to 7,000 feet elevation. This high desert region experiences significant temperature swings, with summer days reaching 90°F and nights dropping to 54°F. Most campgrounds don't have running water, so campers need to bring their own supply for drinking and washing.
Bouldering adventures: Horse Flats Campground has become popular with rock climbers seeking accessible routes. "Nice place to stay for climbing - there is mostly bouldering in the area, with some trad stuff. Plenty of sites!" according to Kathleen L., who camps at Horse Flats Campground.
Scenic hiking options: The Silver Moccasin trail near Bandido campground offers a lovely short hike only about 1/2 mile from camping areas. A camper at Angeles National Forest Chilao Campground notes, "There are also great hikes with in the National Forest and access to the PCT but you do have to drive. I don't usually spend time at this site besides cooking and camping."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings and evenings provide the best chances to see local wildlife. "Animals seen: Black bear, deer (wandered through our site), red foxes, Stellar's Jays, woodpeckers, other birds," reports Forest G. who camped at Crystal Lake Recreation Area.
Mountain escape proximity: Angeles National Forest campgrounds provide quick getaways from Los Angeles. "We found this gem, just 1 1/2hrs from LA and you'd never know you were anywhere near the city. It's the perfect getaway, birds singing, and the scenery makes you feel like you're in Tahoe," shares C N. about Buckhorn Campground.
Stream-side camping: Several sites feature seasonal creeks running through the campgrounds. "Babbling brook to lull you to sleep at night. Very quiet after 10:00 pm. Great for families," notes Vickie C. about Buckhorn Campground. Similarly, at Monte Cristo Campground, "Nice campgrounds with lots of trees and big stones, and a creek that runs thru seasonally but it was dry when I visited 4/12/21."
Good cell service separation: Many campers appreciate disconnecting from technology. "No cell service so perfect getaway. Lots of hiking near by. First come first serve no reservations," reports Sarah S. about Buckhorn Campground.
Weather preparedness: Mountain temperatures fluctuate dramatically between day and night. "The temperature was warm during the day, but we definitely brought layers and adequate sleeping gear for the night. Even though it was 79 degrees in the day, temperature got down to 54 at night," advises Les R. who camped at Horse Flats Campground.
Weekend crowds: Most campgrounds fill quickly on weekends. "This place is lovely and a well designed campground. It is however very popular, you need to get there early to get a good spot," says Meghan W. about Buckhorn Campground.
Bear activity: Black bears regularly visit campgrounds in this area. A reviewer at Chilao Campground reports, "A bear was on our stuff the first night. I whistled and it ran away. In the morning today, we seen another, casually walking Into the grounds. It didn't seem aggressive or particularly interested in humans."
Insect concerns: Bug spray is essential, especially during warmer months. "The only thing I'd recommend is bug spray, there's lots of flying critters but that's about it," suggests a reviewer at Buckhorn Campground.
Best pet-friendly camping near Palmdale: Buckhorn Campground offers good spacing between sites for pets to settle comfortably. "Lots of space between campsites. Babbling brook to lull you to sleep at night. Very quiet after 10:00 pm. Great for families," notes a camper.
Kid-friendly amenities: Crystal Lake Recreation Area offers a cafe popular with families. "There are lots of spacious camping sites, clean bathrooms, running water, numerous of shade trees, and a cafe/store for all the things you forgot or for a ice cream treat on a hot day!" notes Chris B. about Crystal Lake Rec Area Campground.
Safety considerations: When camping with kids, check tables and surroundings thoroughly. "Campground was okay but be careful because there are black widows everywhere! Especially under the tables of the campsites. Be especially careful if you're traveling with kids," warns Joshua P. about Monte Cristo Campground.
Site selection strategy: For RVers at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, arriving during non-event days provides a quieter experience. "When we were there there was nothing going on at the fairgrounds, though I can imagine it would be a very different experience depending on what kind of events were happening," notes Corinna B. at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.
Size limitations: Angeles National Forest campgrounds have limited space for large rigs. "Goid for small RVs. Over 24 foot not recommended," advises Lauralyn J. about Buckhorn Campground.
Noise factors: Train activity affects several campgrounds near Acton. "This is a nice campground in a pretty scenic bit of the mountains. Sites are big and easy to access. BUT, there's about 4 trains a night that will come by with horns blowing," warns W B. about LA RV Resort at Acton Camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Palmdale, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Palmdale, CA is Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon with a 3.8-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Palmdale, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 119 dog-friendly camping locations near Palmdale, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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