Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Paso Robles, CA

This is a clean quite place to stay. Only about 5 min from Paso Robles. nice dog park for your dog.

Stayed here in July while celebrating our wedding anniversary in Paso Robles wine country. Nice amenities, big pool, live music Saturday night. Very small store with minimal supplies. About 5 minutes east of downtown Paso. Will definitely return.

Nice clean place Good sites : have concert sites but am in sand Seems pretty level Been raining so lots of dirt gets in my trailer 🙁 Nice clean warm washrooms and showers are great Laundry facilities good but had trouble getting washer then the dryer to work. Front staff big help with this Good close location to Paso Robles Have a pool and hot tub but have not used them

I ended up stopping here to camp in between a trip from Joshua Tree to Big Sur and I couldn't be happier that I did. The people managing the property are super welcoming and nice. And having the opportunity to relax in the hot springs in between stretches of driving was really pleasant. I'd definitely recommend this place for anyone looking to camp in the Paso Robles area.

We loved it here. The resort is so clean and very well kept. Lots of amenities: gym, pool, bar and bistro, miniature golf, etc. Elite sites offer great views but even the 'low end' premium sites are incredible. You can lock in a site for an extra $30.

Full hook-ups, free WiFi, cable.

Guided activities are held throughout the day for families and evening activities (live music, Cornhole tourney for the adults). There is plenty to do here, you won't be bored.

Downtown Paso Robles is 15 minutes away but there are wineries all around. Reservations for tastings have been required at most.

Great location for Paso Robles, sadly we're only passing through. Full hookups, flat paved or unpaved sites depending on what you select. We chose the cheapest during mid January so it was about $64.

Only con is that our site is right next to the main street so it's noisy. We were site 94 and 95.

I thought planes would be a concern since that's the name of the street we're on but not at all.

Their gym was clean with more cardio equipment than lifting. Only dumbbells. We wish we came during when they brought wine from vendors but that's only Thursday- Sunday I think but still it was nice. Fire pit, jacuzzi and pull very clean.

We camped at Cava Robles about 6 months after it opened.  We saw the two pools which were very nice.  Didn't use them because it was too cold (we were there in February).  They also have at least two dog parks and took our high energy dog there to run.  They also have a great playground for the kids.  There is also a little hiking/walking trail around the campground.

My Fiancé, two sons and I stopped here as a halfway point on our way to Huntington Beach. We’re definitely going to be going back for a minimum of two nights! The resort is clean, super friendly and has so much more to do than one quick night would fit. Dog parks, kid parks, a pool etc! The only thing was the Bistro was closed (because of covid) otherwise we can’t wait to go back and bring our friends!!

Amazing park, the staff were extremely friendly and the grounds were very clean. Bathrooms were very clean snd always stocked. Showers are a dollar, but you get a lot longer than you would expect.

They do charge extra for dogs, $3.50/day/dog, but was well worth it as they have beautiful large dog parks a mile behind the campsite.

There is also a large children's park, sports fields, and a botanical garden (which does cost extra).

Morrow bay beaches are 10-15 minutes away. Sylvester's burgers is also only 15 minutes away, which is well worth the drive.

18 Primitive that can easily fit trailers/RVs and they have full hookup sites as well.

Only downside is you are right next to highway 1, so it's a little noisy, but not horrible.

Doordash will also deliver here!

Was there for 4 days for the first time. Very well kept and a joy to stay at, found out about the gang of trash panda’s (raccoons) by another campers experience, would love to be there when the berries are ready to harvest as there were many vines all around the campground. Was very pet friendly as far as we were concerned. Looking forward to staying there again.

Washburn Campground at San Simeon State Park

The Washburn Campground at San Simeon State Park is our go-to campground for quick and easy camping in Central California. My boyfriend and I met at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and love visiting SLO and the surrounding areas. If we don’t want to pay to stay at a hotel and can’t crash with some friends, we like to set up our base-camp at Washburn, the primitive campground within San Simeon State Park. SSSP does have full campsites with hookups on its Creek Campground, but we prefer the views and the star gazing at the primitive Washburn sites - Washburn is on the top of a hill, with beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding hillsides and mountains. The fees for the primitive Washburn sites are $18 per night, versus $35 per night for the full campsites in the Creek Campground.

San Simeon State Park is easy to get to, as its right off Highway 1. You can make a reservation ahead of time, but you cannot select a specific site until you arrive. The ranger will ask you to go check out the campgrounds, and compile a list of site numbers that you are interested in. Once you return, they will go over the list with you and if one that you like is available, that site is yours.

Each primitive campsite has a fire ring and a bench, and there are pit toilets available. These are the nicest pit toilets I have seen anywhere. There are water spigots in Washburn, which have had running water for the last year or so; the water had previously been shut off due to the drastic drought. I believe there are plumbed toilets in the lower Creek Campgrounds, but we have yet to go down and confirm that.

Some sites are on the perimeter of the Washburn are more barren, but most sites have trees for some shade. Because you are right by the ocean, it can get pretty cold at night. Each site has a picnic bench and a fire pit - I can’t recall if the fire pits have grates. We generally do not cook while we camp at Washburn, as we usually pick something up in the nearby cities. Sebastian’s Store in San Simeon has GREAT burgers and various barbecue sandwiches. There is also a Hearst Ranch wine tasting room in the same shared building that sells frozen steaks from Hearst Ranch - great quality steaks, if you will be camping for a couple nights I suggest getting some Hearst steaks to cook while you are there.

There is a great new-ish restaurant and bar called Centrally Grown just down the road on Highway 1. This place has great, locally sourced food, and a good bar. We have been there for dinner, breakfast, and just for drinks, and have always had a great experience - the view from the upstairs restaurant is GORGEOUS. Centrally Grown is part of what looks like a compound called Off The Grid - it has a Bed and Breakfast, some goats and chickens, an event space for bands, and a very very interesting garden. Even if you want to just stop in for a coffee or pastry, I think Off The Grid is worth seeing - we like sitting in the garden with coffee.

I am a rock hound and Central California beaches have some reach rocks! To the North is Big Sur, so small jade can be found. There are moonstones from Cambria, and lots of agate and quartz.

The small town of Harmony (literally - it has a population of 18) is worth the visit - there is a lot of local art to be seen and purchased there at the hand blown glass shop and the pottery shop. There is also a winery and ice cream.

The elephant seals are always fun to go watch, and individuals can sometimes be seen on San Simeon beach. This beach is open to the public, and the seals are not behind any barriers as they are at the rookery. If you see a seal on the beach, give him lots of space and don’t harass him - elephant seals are huge animals, and are quicker than you’d think.

The Firestone Walker Brewery is in nearby Paso Robles - if you like beer, the tour is super interesting, and they have a tap room and store. The tap room restaurant is very good.

CAMPSITE SPECS

Fees: $20/night (primitive site fee)

Plumbed Toilets: No - pit

Drinking Water: Yes

Showers: No

Picnic Table: Yes

Firepit: Yes

Cooking Grate: Yes

Shade: Yes

Cell Service: Limited

Animal Bins/Food lockers: No

Trash: Yes

My experience was a wee bit different than anticipated... I arrived just prior to the forcasted “Pineapple Express”. Check in was painless, campground was not packed. Once parked the doggos and I enjoyed a few hours on the beach before sundown. It started raining cats and dogs during the night, 7am the rangers advised that evacuations could be in store....3pm we had to leave the campground and we were directed further down the coast to Oceana. The new campground was also flooded, but I was able to find a spot with a small patch for the dogs to do their thing without having to wade through water. The next day broke to a beautiful sunrise. The rangers and the park police were awesome, I felt completely at ease knowing that they were vigilant for our safety. Both campgrounds are beautiful in each their own way.

You can camp just steps from Spooners Cove (great place for swimming!) in Islay Creek Campground. It’s in the Montana De Oro State Park. There are about 50 campsites on either side of a in and out kind of lollipop road up on a flat hill above Spooner’s Cove. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with grill, and there are a couple of clean vault toilets scattered in the campground. There are some nice trees, but most sites are not suited to hammocking. Many sites will be in full sun most of the day, and there is not much privacy. There is a trail that cuts through the campground, and there are many trailheads nearby. I would not suggest bringing your dog with you because while pets are allowed in the campground, they are not allowed on the trails or on the beach. Also, if you want a fire plan on bringing your own wood or buying it from the camp host as you are not allowed to forage for downed wood. The camp host didn’t seem to have a problem with me collecting some of the wild nasturtiums to add to my dinner (so fun to have edible flowers on my salad, wish I took a picture!).

Supposedly there is a horse camp not too far away, but I can neither confirm or deny as I did not go looking for it.

Great little place of Hwy 1. Cell phone...AT&T...no service. I thought I had a nice spot. Ground is a bit slanted. The spots to the left and right of me seemed way better for tents as far as flat goes. I use a popup and the pavement was good. If your looking for a ocean view site 6 is the only one. If you want seclusion 23 or 33 are surrounded by foliage. Group site 1 is also the best for seclusion, site 2 and 3 are side by side. Site 12, 13, 22, 23, 32 and 33 against the back are the best IMO. There is poison ivy so be careful with pets.

Easy walk to Sand Dollar Beach but you have to take a few stairs down for access.

If it hadn’t been for the mudslide closure of Rt 1 on the coast, I never would have found this tucked away campground. It is actually on the Fort Hunter Ligget military base, but it is open to the public (unless there is a military exercise that closes things down). It sits back a little ways from the road so it is nice and quiet, even with the military garage next door. I’m not sure what the spindly trees were, but they provided some light shade and a place to hang a hammock (but not in all sites). The sites are spread out a bit so you are not on top of your neighbors. Most sites have a picnic table and fire pit, and some have grills. Everything was super dry, but there was no ban on fires (yet). The privy was closed, so there were porta potties and a hand washing station. This campground was almost empty while I was there, but apparently it is very popular during hunting season. I thought the rates were reasonable, but it was the first time I had seen an additional fee for pets (altho at $2, not a big deal). I also thought it was interesting that they had monthly rates. If you are RV’ing it, there are full hookups available. There wasn’t much to do here; I suppose there are social hiking trails for hunters, thou I didn’t see any trail heads. There is a mission on the base that is apparently one of the older ones in California, but I was in a hurry to move on and get back to the coast.

We love this campground and stay here whenever we're going through the area. It's got a mellow, chill vibe, and other campers we meet here have all been nice and friendly.

Dump station is no longer free for campers, it's now $10, which is the case for all California State Parks now.

Att and Verizon have weak but usable service, and the WeBoost does help here.

It's a nice walk to the beach, though dogs are not allowed. There are coin op showers here, but last time we were here we tried to use them and the water was freezing cold.

Still $20/night plus $8 online reservation fee.

Great site! We found availability on the spot in early June Monday-Thursday. Hot showers $.25/min. Nice sites. $35/ night for tent or RV spots with flush toilets and hot showers. $20/night for the rugged area with no showers and outhouses. Both areas have faucets. Each spot has fire pit and picnic table and a nice wide parking spot. Nearby trails lead to beach. Dog friendly campsite, no extra fee. Trails not dog friendly, neither is the closest beach but there’s 5 miles of dog friendly beaches just north.