Sonrise Palms RV Park in Cocoa features a gated dog park with plenty of toys for pets to enjoy. Several pet-friendly campgrounds in the area accommodate both short and long-term stays, with Joy RV Park and Encore Space Coast offering full hookups for RV campers traveling with dogs. Sites at Joy RV provide water, electric, and sewer connections, with rates among the most competitive in the region. Manatee Hammock Campground enforces clean-up policies with waste bag stations throughout the grounds and maintains a large off-leash dog park next to the Indian River where pets can run freely. Most campgrounds accommodate multiple pets per site, though some restrict certain breeds or impose pet fees. Tent campers with dogs will find suitable options at Wickham Park Campground, while cabin options exist at Jetty Park Campground. Park staff consistently enforce leash requirements outside designated off-leash areas for visitor safety. Bathhouses remain well-maintained for campers returning from outdoor adventures with muddy pets.
The fenced dog area at Sonrise Palms gets frequent compliments from pet owners who appreciate the secure space for dogs to exercise. Easy access to nearby beaches provides additional recreation for leashed pets, with Cocoa Beach approximately 30 minutes from most campgrounds. Several parks maintain kayak launches where dogs can join their owners for water adventures. Campers should note that freight train noise occurs nightly at Manatee Hammock, potentially disturbing sensitive pets during early morning hours. Summer temperatures require extra precautions for pets, with most campgrounds offering shaded sites to prevent overheating. Pet owners appreciate the proximity to veterinary services in Cocoa and Melbourne for emergency care. Wildlife encounters are possible near waterfront camping areas, so keeping dogs leashed protects both local wildlife and pets. The strategic location of campgrounds along the Space Coast puts pet owners within driving distance of Melbourne, Daytona Beach, and Orlando for day trips, making the area ideal for extended stays with pets.
$28 - $39 / night
"The are also very dog friendly and have a dog park. The dock is also the perfect place to catch some redfish or snook. Had a wonderful time in this tucked away little spot."
"Great location to walk down to the pier and watch the rockets launch from the space center. Nice swimming pool, store and laundry 3 on site. Ice big camp sites with lots of shade."
$24 - $100 / night
"Varied sites, walking distance from cocoa beach as well as watching rocket launches from Cape Canaveral and cruises ship launches. Sites vary from water only, water and electric to full hook ups."
"Love that the beach is only steps away. White sand, beautiful!1 Nice Jetty and multiple restaurants close by. Staff very friendly. Bathrooms are ok. One of my favorite campgrounds."
"Lots of long term RVers and very few sites for Thousand Trails Members. Very close to Cocoa Beach!"
"Located close to all attractions including disney, and the space center and lots of other great places to see. Park was nice, clean and such great people. The fishing was amazing."
"This is a very clean, pet and children friendly RV park. Gated dog park with lots of toys."
"Friendly staff, close to the beach, and several points of interest. We will be back!"
"The campground enjoys a strategic location with a nearby Sam's Club for shopping convenience."
$10 - $30 / night
"This location reminded me of the TV show ‘I Dream of Jeannie’. Located near Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral it is directly along the historic Banana River."
"Nice campground if you want to travel around the Cocoa Beach area. "
$77 / night
"Campers next to us pulled in after dark and stayed up partying til after 1am. Overall good camp ground- older facilities but they were clean."
"Close to I-95 and 15 miles Kennedy Space Center. Clean facilities and courteous management. very nice level concrete pull throug sites"
"It’s a great place with lots of bike/walking paths and wide open, quiet spaces. Hope to take advantage of the fishing ponds, mountain bike trails and archery range in future visits."
"It’s very close to shops but it doesn’t feel like it when you’re in the campground. Close to beaches. Lots of trails to walk or mountain bike."
$10 - $20 / night
"Located on the river across from Kennedy Space Center, it's a great spot to view launches with 20 or so spots along the river. Water/electric sites only, but there are two dump stations available."
TravelerVaried sites, walking distance from cocoa beach as well as watching rocket launches from Cape Canaveral and cruises ship launches. Sites vary from water only, water and electric to full hook ups. Staff are amazing and lots of security
LegendLots of long term RVers and very few sites for Thousand Trails Members. Very close to Cocoa Beach!
We enjoy this park a lot because it has so much to offer nearby, They have narrow spots but great landscaping. There are some permanent structures, mostly rentals and some that seem to be owned. You will get to feel and hear rocket launches from Cape Canaveral.
This park has easy access to the highway. Approximately 30 minutes from Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral.
They didn’t seem to have sections that were very different from one another.
Cell signals: Decent cell service for T-Mobile and AT&T
They have: A Pool 1 Hot Tub Shuffle Board Club House Mail Room Camp Store A small pond Alligators Laundry Several Fountains Friday Flea Market/Swap Meets Lots of clubhouse activities Community Board Hair Salon
The park is clean, quiet, safe, and near attractions we love.
ScoutThis is a very clean, pet and children friendly RV park. Gated dog park with lots of toys.
TravelerPricey but it's Disney. Lots of activities to do at the campground without going to the parks. Clean and well maintained campsites and bathrooms. The roads are narrow in the loops and the sites can be difficult to get into. Pet friendly with dog parks and trails.
LegendThere is something instantly calming about pulling into Sonrise Palms RV Park (you will want to note that misspelled 'Sonrise' otherwise you won't find this place on your GPS), tucked just off I-95 in Cocoa, where the pace slows down and the setting feels more like a quiet neighborhood packed with RVs than a busy campground, with spacious, mostly level sites, palm trees and greenery scattered throughout along with an EZ layout that makes settling in feel effortless. With around 80 to 90 full hookup sites, a heated pool, clean bathhouse and laundry, and even small touches like a dog park and canal fishing, this spot has all the essentials covered without feeling overwhelming. One evening, we grabbed a casual dinner nearby called The Grass Shack and came back to let the boys unwind at the pool while my hubby and I walked the grounds, spotting little bits of wildlife and enjoying that warm Florida night air before heading back for a cozy wind-down at our site. I would absolutely recommend this campground for families looking for a relaxed, low-key stay thanks to its quiet atmosphere, very clean bathroom and shower facilities as well as EZ access to nearby beaches, rocket launches and Space Coast adventures just a short drive away.
ScoutNo dogs allowed and they like many Florida parks should have some way for Fl residence to actually be able to camp in Florida but no they don’t 
TravelerTHIS quaint little park is so delightful. With so many gorgeous water birds and trees. The park sits off the Indian River and is the perfect place to catch a launch. The are also very dog friendly and have a dog park. The dock is also the perfect place to catch some redfish or snook. Had a wonderful time in this tucked away little spot.
GuideLoved our stay at Fort Wilderness. Our favorite Disney Resort. Super dog friendly with an amazing dog park. Great location and so many wonderful things to do here.
GuideGreat location to walk down to the pier and watch the rockets launch from the space center. Nice swimming pool, store and laundry 3 on site. Ice big camp sites with lots of shade. Dog park and showers. Fish from the pier and small boat launch from park.
Cocoa offers year-round camping opportunities with average winter temperatures of 60-70°F and summer highs above 90°F. Campgrounds sit within 10-30 minutes of beaches, with most offering full hookup sites for RVs. The area's proximity to Kennedy Space Center provides unique opportunities to view rocket launches from several campgrounds.
View rocket launches: Cape Kennedy RV Resort provides excellent viewing spots for SpaceX launches. "Great rocket launch view. Stayed for the night to watch the SpaceX rocket launch. Great view as soon as it cleared the trees," notes Daniel G. The campground's location in Mims puts campers in prime position for launch viewing.
Beach access: Jetty Park Campground offers direct beach access. "Great location, good sites. Easy access to restaurants/bars. Good beach biking, fishing, watching the cruise ships come and go," shares Angela S. The campground sits at Cape Canaveral with walking distance to the ocean.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide fishing access. At Manatee Hammock Campground, visitors enjoy waterfront fishing. "We watched the manatees and dolphins swim right by us on the real nice fishing dock," mentions Robin M. The campground sits directly on the Indian River.
Space launch views: Campers consistently praise the rocket launch viewing opportunities. Dave D. at Manatee Hammock Campground notes, "This is a nice campground that's located right on the intercoastal waterway right across from Kennedy Space Center. We saw two rocket launches while here."
Water access: The combination of river and ocean proximity appeals to campers. At Wickham Park Campground in Melbourne, "It's very close to shops but it doesn't feel like it when you're in the campground. Close to beaches. Lots of trails to walk or mountain bike," reports Mikella.
Strategic location: The central location puts campers near attractions. "Really close to the Space Center and easy access to SR528 and about an hour from the theme parks," shares Doug S. about Manatee Hammock Campground. Many campgrounds offer similar accessibility to attractions throughout the Space Coast region.
Train noise: Freight trains affect several campgrounds in the area. Jorge F. warns about Manatee Hammock: "Downside is freight train noise every night in the early morning hours and traffic noise, specially with campsites near the busy US-1."
Site sizes: Some campgrounds have limited space between sites. At Jetty Park Canaveral Port Auth, Mike Y. notes: "Sites are the smallest I have been to. When cooking in grill have to put awning in as they placed them close to the camping pad."
Military base options: For those with military access, Patrick Air Force Base offers camping. "Located directly along the historic Banana River, the campground currently has 156 full-service sites with 30/50 amp capability, ten primitive camping sites, two laundry and shower facilities," explains Jason B.
Dog-specific amenities: Beyond the fenced dog parks mentioned in existing descriptions, Sonrise Palms RV offers additional pet amenities. "This is a very clean, pet and children friendly RV park. Gated dog park with lots of toys," notes Tony W. The campground welcomes families with both children and pets.
Playground access: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Cocoa include facilities for children. At Wickham Park Campground, Alicia B. mentions, "We loved the fallen tree, and so do kids to climb! It was a nice hidden surprise." The park also features formal playground equipment.
Budget-friendly options: For families watching costs, Manatee Hammock offers reasonable rates. Annabel F. notes: "We booked last minute in January for an overnight stay with a 25ft RV. They were able to accommodate us. Majority of guests are here for long term. Paid 55$ for full hook-up."
Reservation strategies: Peak winter months require advance planning. For Manatee Cove at Patrick Air Force Base, Paula C. advises: "Reservations are not accepted except for active duty personnel and you are encouraged to call ahead as sites are only available on a first-come, first-served basis especially during November thru February."
Site selection importance: At Joy RV Park, choosing the right site matters. Amelie G. shares: "We've had the pleasure of staying at both site 185 and 11, and our experience was delightful with both choices! Each site is equipped with water hookups, electric connections, and sewage facilities."
Shaded vs. open sites: Consider the season when selecting sites. At Jetty Park Campground, Denis P. explains: "I originally booked site#30 based on the photos, which showed some tree cover. In reality, the site was mostly exposed. The staff was understanding and allowed us to move to a shaded spot directly across the road. The full shade was much appreciated in the heat."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cocoa, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cocoa, FL is Manatee Hammock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Cocoa, FL?
TheDyrt.com has all 101 dog-friendly camping locations near Cocoa, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
