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Trap Pond State Park Campground features pet-friendly camping loops with water and electric hookups for RVs and travel trailers. Campers with dogs can reserve sites in any of the five camping areas, including the wooded D Loop where sites have good tree coverage and some offer unobstructed pond views. All sites come with fire rings and picnic tables. The spacious walk-in tent sites in Loop E provide more privacy and seclusion for campers with pets. Dogs must remain on leashes throughout the campground. Many dogs stay on leads at campsites, and the park's trails offer excellent opportunities for walking pets. The bathhouses are clean with warm showers, and the camp store stocks pet essentials among other camping supplies.
Dogs enjoy exploring the park's network of trails, which include both hiking paths and wide, flat stone dust trails suitable for pets. The pond offers additional recreation, though pets are not permitted to swim in the water. Canoe and kayak rentals provide opportunities to paddle through the scenic cypress trees while leaving pets at the campsite. The campground provides free bike rentals with donations accepted, allowing campers to explore with dogs on leash. Sites in Loop A are recommended for families with pets and children due to their proximity to the playground area. The natural setting attracts wildlife, so campers should check their pets for ticks after outdoor activities. Cape Henlopen State Park and Killens Pond State Park also welcome pets in their campgrounds, with Delaware Seashore State Park offering additional pet-friendly beach access within an hour's drive.
"This is Delaware which is flat land. The one issue with most every site are the trees. Most every site has a tree to watch out for."
"We were able to get a yurt as a walk up after the office closed thanks to the help of a kind staff member. The yurt was cozy and had a waterfront view of the pond."
from $22 - $56 / night
Check Availability"There is also a section of walk-in tent sites, each with 1 parking spot semi close by. (Bring a wagon if you stay at one of these)."
"There are miles upon miles of walking and biking trails. There are nice play facilities for kids, loads of water and beach access."
from $42 - $136 / night
Check Availability"It was almost hard to sit outside. The weather was sunny but cooler than we’d hoped. Our site faced the inlet and bridge which was beautiful but again with the wind we couldn’t sit outside much."
"This is an absolutely excellent park at the Delaware Shore. We had beautiful walks down by the Indian River Inlet and through the park itself."
from $42 - $425 / night
Check Availability"There is an arcade, camp store, heated pool, playground, dog park, and mini golfing! The main pavilion has rentals for recreational equipment at no extra cost (hula hoops, balls, etc.)"
"We loved riding the bus to the water park (which is free) but we chose to drive to Assateague because they only drop off and pick up at the visitors center and the distance from there to the beach was"
"Wood was cheaper then usual (5 dollars per bundle) and is located under a self serve honor system payment across from site 3."
"Travel trailers, pull behinds, motorhomes are not allowed. Tents, cars, overlander SUVs, minivans and small Class B camper vans are allowed. Nothing over 25 ft allowed."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"The park is pet friendly. The ranger was very vigilant and friendly. We met new friends and even attended a concert at their pavilion 🥰"
"Park is that the Electric loop (B) has all of the sites on the outside of the drive loop so you are not looking across the road at other campers."
from $18 - $77 / night
Check Availability"Pristine beach and easy access to Bay. The state park has immaculate bathhouses. The mosquitos are no joke. Bring your grill Some loops are pet friendly."
"Be careful to not get too close to the horses, they are WILD horses. It is pet friendly on the sites as well as the beach, but they need to be leashed. This site was sooo much fun."
from $28 - $39 / night
Check Availability"Restaurants, bars, pool, beach, dog park and beach, game room, well stocked store, the list goes on and on. We had to cancel this years trip there but just took a day trip and stopped in."
"Very pet friendly which is huge for us. It is a bit of a ride to Rehoboth Beach but you don’t have to venture out."
"Great site close to beaches. Campsites are surrounded by blueberry bushes. Each site has fire pit and a grill. Able to use nearby pavilion to relax during rain. Job Johnny was extra clean!"
"Nice view of wooded area loved having the shade, nice hot outside shower"
from $55 / night
Check Availability"Bugs were crazy bad in the dog park and the moisture rich tent areas. Bring bug spray or a flame thrower."
"Great location, the friendliest and most helpful staff, beautiful surroundings, lots to do, kid and pet friendly"
GuideWhat a great visit are having. Beautiful location with lots of space for everyone. Great beach and tiki bar. Pools for the family and very pet friendly. We stayed in the ‘big rig’ site within Club Castaway right on the water as we have a 40ft rig. Amenities are clean, staff friendly and helpful. Our dog, Daisy, loved the beach and the dog park and socialization w her pooch friends. Will be back.
ScoutGreat park, awesome amenities. Would definitely go back. Price is not cheap but the amenities make it worth it. Can’t wait until the zip lining courses are back open. Stupid COVID!
Bugs were crazy bad in the dog park and the moisture rich tent areas. Bring bug spray or a flame thrower.
ScoutThis is our favorite campground! It is close enough to ocean city we can enjoy the beach daily but far enough to relax in the woods! This campground is the small sister campground to frontier town. They have a free shuttle bus to provide transportation to assateaque island, frontier town, and ocean city. Campers here are eligible for discounts at frontier town as well! We tent camp but there are RV sites and cabins as well. There is an arcade, camp store, heated pool, playground, dog park, and mini golfing! The main pavilion has rentals for recreational equipment at no extra cost (hula hoops, balls, etc.) There are also themed weekends and scheduled activities throughout the week! The bathhouses are cleaned many times a day and the showers are spacious enough. The staff here is friendly and welcoming. Each tent site is far enough away from the other that you feel spread out and private. This is definitely a place I recommend to friends and family.
GuideBeautiful camping spot with all the amenities. Loops with electric or no electric, Pet-friendly loops and non-pet friendly loops. I have been camping there off and on for 40 years first as a kid and now with my family. I love to go there every year at all seasons of the year. The best campground I've ever found in Maryland. Close proximity to both Ocean City and Assateague Island.
GuideI stayed here for two nights during the week in late April 2019.
The weather in late April was generally OK, other than the wind. The wind was so strong that none of my tent stakes would stay in the sand, and when I was finally able to secure a stake by putting something heavy on it, the wind ripped my guy rope. Brutal. I couldn't even start a campfire because the firepit was downwind and very close to my car and tent, and I didn't want them to go up in flames.
I guess the wild horses are OK, but I didn't find them particularly interesting. They are definitely not very shy--one of them stuck his nose right in my tent.
I had my dog with me at this campground--IIRC the campgrounds in this park in VA are non-pet friendly, but the campgrounds in MD are pet-friendly (but I might have that backwards, so check their websites to make sure!).
GuidePlenty of room for big rigs. Sites are spacious and roads are wide. Hookups work great and it has the best wifi I've ever seen. Hotspots throughout the park. It is on the Rehobeth Bay. They have sites on the bay or on the shores of the lagoons. Restaurants, bars, pool, beach, dog park and beach, game room, well stocked store, the list goes on and on. We had to cancel this years trip there but just took a day trip and stopped in. They are still adding amenities throughout the park. The staff is excellent. Golf cart, kayak, and bike rentals are available. This is an excellent park to bike ride and kayak in. Just outside the campground is a public boat launch into the bay. It's a neat place to sit on the docks and watch the boats or fish. Crabbing and clamming can be done right at the campground. The offer a shuttle to Rehobeth Beach which is a great idea because the parking at the beach is limited.
GuideTitle says it all! Great location, the friendliest and most helpful staff, beautiful surroundings, lots to do, kid and pet friendly
ScoutIf I could give them a negative star I would. My daughter(5) was attacked by a Pitt bull while riding her bike at our site( loop h). When trying to confront the owners in(loop g) to get their site to report to the police they refused to give any information and proceeded to speak vulgarity. Then stated their dog never bit her when I witnessed the incident as well as another family. The family lied to the ranger saying their dog never touched my daughter and the ranger made not only my family leave but my parents as well who had another week to stay. Im extremely disappointed that my daughter's well-being was never discussed it was if they didn't care. They never even came to our site I had to the ranger again to even have someone come to my site. The pet rules state that any pet that is dangerous loud or is a problem at the park would be ask to leave immediately however they were not told to leave. My family had to.
LegendLast family trip of the year and it didn’t disappoint. We stayed in site D25 again just as we did 2 yrs ago. It’s a pull through site as are all sites in loop D. This is pet friendly and has electric and water. Dump station is across from loop D. There are 5 loops with Loop E being tent and cabins/hurts only. That Loop also has island tent sites. We couldn’t walk into that area. Each loop or area has its own bathhouse which appear to all be individual family style bathrooms.
The layout of the sites in loop D is not typical. All sites in this loop are pull through and parallel to the road, so the left drivers side of your camper faces the road and the right side faces your camp area. If you stay in an inside loop site you will be facing the camper on the other side of the loop. For instance D11 and D14 face each other. The distance between sites across the loop isn’t huge or blocked by any foliage but didn’t seem to be an issue for our friends who stayed in D24. If you stay on the outside of the loop you will either face the woods (higher numbered sites) or loop C through the trees ( lower numbered sites). Our site is pretty level as are most sites. This is Delaware which is flat land.
The one issue with most every site are the trees. Most every site has a tree to watch out for. Other loops are all back in sites and many of those have trees to keep an eye on as well. This is a shaded campground. At the end of each loop is a pier on the pond which is large and beautiful. There are playgrounds in each loop and bike rentals at the camp store.
The tent area is walk in but they provide wheelbarrows or carts to haul your stuff. These sites are very private and well spaced off the walk-in path and from each other. The cabins and yurts are also walk-in but again you have the use of carts. Some of the cabins are facing the pond and offer gorgeous views.
There is a primitive group camp area complete with bathhouse, screened in pavilion, open air pavilion, numerous picnic tables, horseshoe and volleyball courts and sits at the point so the views of the pond are plentiful.
There is a disc golf course within walking distance and the weekend we were there a competition was happening. There is a day use area with boat rentals and lots of trails for hikers or horses to use.
The town of Laurel nearby has a few stores. I found This and That Country Store which was so cute. The owner was super nice. The beach areas of Delaware are not too far away if you want a beach day.
This has become one of our favorite campgrounds in DE.
Trap Pond State Park Campground sits within the northernmost stands of baldcypress trees in the United States, about 4 miles from downtown Laurel, Delaware. The 3,653-acre park features terrain that remains relatively flat with elevations between 20-50 feet above sea level. Fall camping offers more privacy and moderate temperatures around 50-70°F, with significantly fewer insects than summer months when humidity levels can exceed 80%.
Paddle among baldcypress trees: Trap Pond offers unique opportunities to explore ancient baldcypress stands by water. "We spent four nights on the island site and loved it. We walked around the pond and rented boats and kayaks for the day and rowed back to our site which the kids loved. They got to spend the day learning to paddle on the pond," shares Lucia B.
Explore historic military structures: Cape Henlopen State Park Campground provides access to WWII-era observation posts. "As a former military installation, there are lots of military historical items and sites. Underground bunkers and batteries and such. There's a wonderful observation tower built on top of one of these that affords beautiful 360 degree views and photo opportunities," explains Lisa B.
Fish year-round: Multiple area parks offer fishing access. "Martinak State Park has beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports," notes Laura M. The pond at Trap Pond allows catch-and-release fishing from shore or boat, with species including largemouth bass, bluegill, and pickerel.
Off-season tranquility: Camping during shoulder seasons provides a quieter experience. "We visited off season (early April) and absolutely loved it. The location was great and the beaches are quiet. I hear it gets packed and I see that it's hard to book if you don't book early," mentions Chris G. about Cape Henlopen State Park Campground.
Free bike rentals: Several parks offer complimentary bicycle access. "They also had a bike shed where you can sign out bikes for free for the day which was super neat," Lucia B. says about Trap Pond. Similarly, Cape Henlopen offers "Free bike rentals...some with baby seats and trailers."
Clean facilities year-round: Delaware Seashore State Park Campground maintains its facilities well throughout all seasons. "Reasonably clean, especially being so close to the ocean. No garbage receptacle which was slightly annoying. The utility hooks are outside of the showers compromising some privacy," notes Lee D. This consistency extends to winter months when other parks might reduce services.
Wildlife precautions: Local parks host diverse wildlife requiring preparation. "The natural setting attracts wildlife, so campers should check their pets for ticks after outdoor activities," especially in warmer months when ticks are most active at Trap Pond.
Site selection matters: Redden State Forest Campground offers different camping experiences across its areas. "Sites 8-18 are level, packed gravel pads with benches, fire pit, grill, and picnic table. The restroom featured on the map is just a portalet," Evan C. reports. He adds, "Sites 1-7 are dirt/grass sites and probably would be ideal for tenting/staking."
Reservation requirements: Many parks have moved from first-come systems to reservation requirements. "This is no longer a first come, first served campground. Reservations must be made in advance at bookyoursite.com, only 3 days consecutive allowed," BA K. explains about Redden State Forest. Most parks in the region require bookings 6-12 months ahead for prime summer dates.
Playground accessibility: Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway (formerly Fort Whaley) prioritizes children's activities. "They have an arcade, camp store, heated pool, playground, dog park, and mini golfing! The main pavilion has rentals for recreational equipment at no extra cost (hula hoops, balls, etc.) There are also themed weekends and scheduled activities throughout the week!" shares Randi J.
Educational nature programs: Many Delaware parks offer learning opportunities. "Has a Nature Center, very nice campground and clean bath houses. Has events for children for Easter and at the Nature Center," mentions Penny K. about Trap Pond. These programs typically run on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Water feature access: When temperatures rise, water access becomes essential. "The waterpark is great and had something for everyone. The area for the younger kids has two small pile and various slides and water features. The larger pool has a lily pad obstacle course, a small slide and more water features," explains Phinon W. about Killens Pond State Park Campground.
Site specifications: Delaware parks vary in RV accommodation. "Sites are fairly spacious and have an interesting semi-circle pull through layout so backing in not required. They are not level and have a sandy base so it took a bit of work to finally get the rig level, even with auto-levelers," Jim G. notes about Trap Pond.
Bathhouse access: Even with RV amenities, public facilities remain important. "All loops have a life guarded beach. The beach on the other side had no lifeguard, but dogs were allowed on that beach and the water seemed a bit calmer and clearer over there," mentions Gayle B. about Delaware Seashore State Park Campground. "The bathhouse and concession stand at the beach is very nice."
Pet-friendly considerations: Many parks around Laurel accommodate pets with specific designations. "The campground provides free bike rentals with donations accepted, allowing campers to explore with dogs on leash," making pet-friendly camping near Laurel, Delaware accessible year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Laurel, DE is Trap Pond State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 47 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 73 dog-friendly camping locations near Laurel, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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