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Fort De Soto Campground allows pets at all 238 waterfront sites along the Gulf of Mexico. Pet owners enjoy dedicated dog beaches and fenced dog parks with separate areas for large and small dogs. St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, Clearwater RV Resort, and Avalon RV Resort are additional pet-friendly options within 15 miles of Belleair Beach, providing full hookups and accommodating various camping styles including tent, RV, and cabin camping. Many sites at these parks are small and crammed together, with one campground offering only 11 inches between neighboring RVs. Pet areas typically require dogs to remain on leash except in designated dog parks, with some parks enforcing breed and weight restrictions. Encore Vacation Village enforces a 20-pound weight limit for pets.
The dog beach area at Fort De Soto Park provides one of the few off-leash swimming opportunities for dogs in the Tampa Bay region. Nearby Caladesi Island State Park allows pets on boats but requires them to remain leashed on trails and beaches. The park's ferry service from Honeymoon Island accommodates leashed pets for transportation to the island. Campgrounds in the area typically provide pet waste stations and water sources, though amenities vary significantly by location. Many parks lack traditional camping features such as fire rings and picnic tables, focusing instead on RV hookups and basic services. Temperatures in summer months can be dangerous for pets, with hot pavement potentially causing paw burns, making early morning or evening walks necessary during hot weather.
"Be advised that there is only one section thst allows pets and limited areas that pets are allowed but has a nice dog beach and off leash dog park."
"It’s not a National Park surrounding a national treasure but it might as well be. The park has three loops. All have waterfront sites and inner loop sites."
from $38 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Wanting to be close to them I opted for one of the small tent sites at the end of the park where I car camped in my Subaru Outback."
"Located on the water. Lots to do. Great for kids & pets."
"It is pet friendly and everyone seems to clean up after their pets. The pool is clean and clear and that works for me."
"The beach is a 5 minute drive and pet friendly! The Pinellas bike trail is also located right behind the park and easy to get on. I will definitely come back to this campground."
from $45 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Next to honeymoon island state park and just south of anclote Boat camping ONLY — tents/Rvs are not permitted.
First come/first serve boat slips, pet friendly (yay for dogs)"
"One of the last undeveloped barrier islands in Florida. It's around 650 acres with tons of boardwalks and hiking."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"The park is small, parking is crammed, and there’s a lot of older trailers but overall it’s a great location. This is our go to location when we have appointments at Bay Pines VA!"
"The dog park was adequate and my dog enjoyed it. I probably wouldn't stay here again just cause of the price and road noise. We camped at Clearwater/ Lake Tarpon KOA Holiday in a Fifth Wheel."
from $45 - $120 / night
Check Availability"Off a very busy road hidden behind a hotel and a restaurant. Very clean and tidy park with RV sites and park models. Huge laundry room and very nice bath houses. Customer service is good."
"Best location for moving around the area. Use Drew not Gulf to Bay to move across the city. Great customer service Suzy and the crew are very helpful. "
"Sites were small, Service was friendly, Okay amenities- small pool, dog ‘park’ was a tiny walking area. Expensive considering location and amenities."
"The sites are a little tight but that's normal for most of Florida, specially in a heavy populated are like Clearwater. It's unbelievably quiet although it's right off of US 19. Staff is so great."
"Very dog friendly with doggy bag stations and dog parks. Right on the bayou with a kayak launch and docks for fishing and relaxing. We like it so much that we made it our home base for our travels."
"There’s a place to fish, a place to chill on the dock and not fish, trees are everywhere and lots of random wildlife roaming around. Staff has been super friendly too."
from $47 / night
Check Availability
ScoutBeautiful park! Clean, quiet, large private spaces, and nice bath facilities. Be advised that there is only one section thst allows pets and limited areas that pets are allowed but has a nice dog beach and off leash dog park.
LegendOne of my favorite places to camp in Florida, hands-down. You can only get to this camping spot by water. Must reserve, no pets & no alcohol.
We saw sting rays, a baby turtle, many different birds & other wildlife within 5 minutes of parking the boat.
Amazing views.
Campfires not permitted in summer months due to sea turtle nesting.
GuideStayed here for a week in May - quiet, pretty campground with friendly staff, a petting zoo and vegetable farm on property. We enjoyed the produce market, but you could also go in the fields and pick your own. Camper sites had enough room between them, the electric/water sites had good tree cover for shade. There were cabins, a silo, and covered wagons you could also stay in. There's a big dog park, but not much shade there. There's a winery just 1 mile away. The Sarasota beaches and mangrove kayaking are an easy 45 minute drive away. The only thing I wished they had was a pool... Overall, we had a nice time here.
GuideThis is one of the best parks anywhere. It’s not a National Park surrounding a national treasure but it might as well be. The park has three loops. All have waterfront sites and inner loop sites. One is set up for tents, folding campers and small teardrop style trailers. One is conducive to big rigs but it’s a tight fit and one handles all, but allows pets. There’s lots of wildlife, particularly raccoons. A short drive or bike ride from the campground lands you at the old fort, or a ferry to Egmont Key for the day, or a beach with a view of Tampa Bay and the Skyway bridge, or the amazing north beach which has been listed several times as the best beach in America. It’s a truly gorgeous park. Kayaking, SUP, dog parks, dog beach as well as coyote, rattlesnakes, amazing shore birding, white pelicans, eagles, ospreys, roseates, manatees, dolphins... hard to get reservations but well worth it.
Our return to this park year after year resulted in us building a home in the area for our endless summer adventures.
GuideLithia Springs Conservation Park is a hidden gem for camping in Florida. The campground is clean, well-maintained, and tucked away in a peaceful natural setting. Sites are spacious with plenty of shade, and the amenities like restrooms and picnic areas are kept in great shape. The best part is being just a short walk from the beautiful natural spring, perfect for swimming and cooling off. It’s a great spot for families or anyone looking to relax and enjoy the outdoors. I’ll definitely be coming back!
GuideSites were small, Service was friendly, Okay amenities- small pool, dog ‘park’ was a tiny walking area. Expensive considering location and amenities.
GuideNice place to stay in Palmetto. I just moved into my RV and this was my very first camping stop so I had TONS of questions and needed quite a bit of help. The staff were super friendly and the neighbors were extremely helpful in showing me how to get everything set up. They have a nice pool and laundry facilities - would recommend coming with a separate vehicle as there's not much within walking distance, but it's only a short drive to Tampa, St. Pete, and the Sarasota/Bradenton area. They also have a nice size, fenced-in dog park with a dog walking path, so bring your furry friends!
GuideThis park is full of great adventures. If you like to hike, there are a bunch of different trails to walk and they run alongside the river. You may even have the opportunity to catch site of some alligators as this river is very populated with them. There is also a cute shop and cafe so if your not feeling up to cooking, you can head there. At the shop you have the opportunity to swim in the pool, rent kayaks, canoes, and bikes. I also love that they are pet friendly. I take my dog everywhere (and sometimes my cat) and they enjoyed the trails just as much as I did!
LegendIn Palmetto, easy access to Tampa, Sarasota, Gulf Beaches, and many other areas of Florida in a few hours driving distance.
Pet-friendly.
Fort De Soto Campground sits on five interconnected islands covering more than 1,136 acres at the southern end of Pinellas County. The campground's elevation averages only 3-5 feet above sea level, making it susceptible to flooding during storm surges. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with high humidity levels from June through September.
Kayaking mangrove trails: Fort De Soto Campground offers access to multiple kayak launch points. "Ft Desoto is hands-down the go-to spot in my local area. The beaches are gorgeous, there are plenty of secret trails, a dog beach, general store, historic walks, boat ramps, kayak access, and much more," notes Alyssa D.
Bike trail exploration: The Pinellas Trail connects to several campgrounds in the area. At St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach KOA Holiday, "the Pinellas county trail runs along side KOA and they rent bikes and fun little tricycles to ride the trail or use in campground," says Joy H.
Historical fort visits: The historic fort at Fort De Soto offers educational opportunities. "Great park with days worth of activities! The historic fort, scenic beaches, trails for hiking or biking, etc made for a great visit! Tons of wildlife - we saw raccoons, dolphin, manatee, tons oftons of Birds," reports Brennan H.
Waterfront camping: Many sites offer direct water access with marine life viewing. At Fort De Soto Campground, "We had neighbors on both sides and across (this places always sells out) and it was still fairly secluded. They did a great job at keeping a lot of natural growth to maintain privacy and a true tropical feel. We have an inflatable raft that we took out in the water. We were greeted by dolphins, sting rays and manatees," says Joe R.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. "Office staff is amazing. The upkeep here is like a machine. Daily trash p/u by 10am (don't leave it out over-night, or critters might get it first!) Mail forwarding; AMAZON delivery. Super easy to hit all the attractions locally. Restaurants close. Undoubtedly the Cleanest showers I've ever seen," shares Cher C. about Clearwater-Lake Tarpon KOA.
Privacy between sites: Despite proximity, vegetation creates natural barriers at some campgrounds. "Very private spots lots of trees. Lots of bugs in the summer time," notes Ralph B. about Fort De Soto Campground.
Reservation timing: Securing spots requires advance planning. "Note that they do start booking 6 months out and open up 10% of the sites for the weekend each Friday at 7am if you want to try and get lucky," advises Joe R. about Fort De Soto.
Bug preparation: Mosquitoes can be intense, especially in summer months. At Encore Vacation Village, "This is a mosquito heaven!!! Being bug spray or candles! You will see a large amount of bugs in your area…. They used to spray. But now they don't… with a pond down the street there is No end in site for air borne bug issues," warns Julia Marie H.
Water access limitations: Not all waterfront sites provide direct water entry points. At Caladesi Island, "These camping 'sites' are really just boat slips which allowing you to overnight at the docks on the island. However, the main draw of staying overnight at the dock is that it allow you to get onto the beaches and explore the trails before too many people start arriving on the ferry or other boats," explains Elliott B.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer child-friendly play areas. At Fort De Soto, "There is a playground with good swings and also a sturdy playground that offered plenty of opportunity for my four year old to blow off some steam. The ground is all recycled rubber, which I love as a parent," notes Joe R.
Swimming options: Pools provide alternatives to beach swimming. At Bay Bayou RV Resort, "We're currently on our maiden voyage with our new to us fifth wheel and couldn't be happier with our experience here! The staff is friendly, the pool is huge, the park is very clean and it's convenient to a variety of shopping," shares Ashley C.
Pet-specific considerations for families: When bringing family pets to pet friendly camping near Belleair Beach, carry vaccination records. At Fort De Soto, "This campground is a County Park in Pinellas County. Well maintained with some of the best beaches in the US. There are three loops one for guests with pets. BRING YOUR RABIES VACCINE PAPERS!" emphasizes David G.
Site spacing awareness: RV sites vary significantly in size throughout the area. At Avalon RV Resort, "Sites were small, Service was friendly, Okay amenities- small pool, dog 'park' was a tiny walking area. Expensive considering location and amenities," notes Skylar T.
Navigation challenges: Some parks have difficult entry points. At Encore Vacation Village, "Be careful entering the park. Very sharp turns. Many full time residents with older park models," warns Ray P.
Age restrictions: Some campgrounds enforce RV age policies. At Caladesi RV Park, "Called to check in and Managers had gone home for the day it was 3pm. Refered to a website that did not work. Called again and the prices on line did not match the fees we had to pay," reports Rich T., while another camper notes, "When we called to reserve a last minute site, they told us our camper had to be 10 years old or newer. Ours is 20 years old but in great shape. They asked for photos, once I sent them, they let us book a site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Belleair Beach, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Belleair Beach, FL is Fort De Soto Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 141 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Belleair Beach, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 134 dog-friendly camping locations near Belleair Beach, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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