Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Homestead, FL

Larry & Penny Thompson Park welcomes pets at most campsites, offering both primitive tent sites and full-hookup RV spaces where dogs can stay with their owners. Southern Comfort RV Resort maintains pet-friendly policies with breed and size restrictions, while Miami Everglades RV Resort provides a large open field where many campers run their dogs off-leash despite standard leash requirements. The Boardwalk RV Resort in Homestead accommodates pets in both RV sites and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds require pets to remain on leash outside designated exercise areas, with length restrictions typically six feet. Pet waste stations are available at the larger resorts, though more primitive camping areas like Gods Country in Miami and Redlands Acre Campground offer fewer pet amenities despite allowing animals. Sites at Larry & Penny Thompson Park are mostly shaded with easy access to pet walking areas. Visitors with pets often note that the agricultural area around Redlands offers more open space for dog activities than campgrounds closer to Miami.

Most campgrounds near Homestead provide designated pet walking areas rather than dedicated dog parks. Key Largo Kampground & Marina allows pets but has limited grassy areas, with most of the terrain consisting of sand and shell material that some dogs find uncomfortable. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground permits pets at campsites but restricts them from beaches and visitor facilities. When planning summer visits with pets, prepare for extreme heat and mosquitoes that affect both humans and animals. Several campgrounds near Homestead offer shaded sites that provide relief during hot weather. At most locations, pets must be attended at all times and cannot be left at campsites unattended. Wildlife concerns, particularly alligators near water bodies, necessitate keeping dogs away from lake edges and water features. The Miami area has several emergency veterinary clinics within 30 minutes of most Homestead campgrounds, though services are more limited when traveling toward the Keys.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Homestead, Florida (35)

    1. Encore Miami Everglades

    17 Reviews
    Cutler Bay, FL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "I wouldn't recommend this campsite for actual campsite, but rather the excellent location and fun activities and amenities of the park.  "

    "This place is situated in the mirror middle of acres upon acres of ornamental trees and shrubs for sale by various companies."

    2. Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    19 Reviews
    Cutler Bay, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 232-1049

    "It is close to the Encore Everglades park (about 4 miles) so we stayed here after we departed.  The campground is divided into pods and each pod has about 15 or so sites. "

    "sites: no pets allowed. welcoming atmosphere. mostly shaded. near residential neighborhood but quiet. flat sites. amenities: large bathhouse. clean. other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide."

    3. Southern Comfort RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Florida City, FL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 440-9562

    "This park is located right off Route 1 in Florida City. For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size."

    "Close to the Keys, Everglades, Bkscayne and shopping. Staff was helpful. I will go back."

    4. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground

    32 Reviews
    Key Largo, FL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 451-1202

    $36 / night

    "My wife, cat and I got on the wait-list for John Pennekamp while RV camping in West Palm Beach for the winter. With a few days notice, we got a campsite and drove down to the keys."

    "Dogs are allowed but there were so many when we went it was difficult to walk our dogs. Great place to snorkel, small beaches, fishing, boat rentals."

    5. The Boardwalk RV And Mobile Home Resort

    2 Reviews
    Homestead, FL
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (305) 248-2487

    "Lock your stuff up if you're going to leave anything outside. The lots are huge and clean"

    6. Redlands Acre Campground

    1 Review
    Homestead, FL
    1 mile

    $45 / night

    7. Gods Country in Miami

    1 Review
    Homestead, FL
    4 miles
    +1 (305) 244-5201

    $30 / night

    8. Homespun Farm

    2 Reviews
    Homestead, FL
    5 miles
    +1 (786) 752-5260

    $25 - $50 / night

    "He was quite positive about maybe January/ February."

    9. Key Largo Kampground & Marina

    19 Reviews
    Key Largo, FL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 451-1431

    $75 - $130 / night

    "It was tight getting our 32ft pull behind back to our spot, but folks all came out to offer tips and help us get around. So we actually got parked in fairly short order."

    "It was a very relaxing place with a site close to the water. Lots of good restaurants within a short bike trip. Also a grocery store close by. The staff was very friendly."

    10. Elliott Key — Biscayne National Park

    4 Reviews
    Cutler Bay, FL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (305) 230-1144

    $25 - $35 / night

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Homestead, FL

372 Reviews of 35 Homestead Campgrounds


  • Cannon W.
    Jul. 16, 2020

    Flamingo Campground — Everglades National Park

    Stargazers Paradise !

    If you want to get to a spot with the LEAST light pollution of anywhere in America, this is the place! You are able to see 3x the stars you can normally see anywhere else in America. This is a very remote location so be sure to bring what you need in with you and be sure to gas up before you come from Homestead. It is an hour at least from civilization. The campgrounds are well taken care of. One of my favorite campsites to escape everyone and everything. The showers could be updated but not terrible to be so far off of the beaten path. I would definitely recommend this campsite and would come back.

  • Felicia R.
    Apr. 8, 2023

    Key Largo Kampground & Marina

    Not what I expected

    So first ...the lits are privately owned. There is an HOA. Owner of site has authority over site not the staff. So if the staff makes an error with dates of your visit and the owners show up to stay at their site....you will need to pack up. Happened to us. The area is mostly fulltime/permanent traders that have been converted into a trailer house. Laundry room is not air conditioned. The "store/gift shop" is more of a check in and mail/package pick up. Dog friendly but not alot of grassy areas for dogs to play and do there business. 90% of area is like sand seashell material. There is a very small beach area...no dogs allowed. Kids playground is nice. Pool was opened...I did not go into pool area. We took our 2 digs down to Marathon FL to a dog park. Very nice and quiet with nice walking trail. I would not recommend this camp site.

  • Karen S.
    Jan. 12, 2024

    Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    Quiet and Peaceful Campground, trees, greenery and option for long term

    This is a very nice campground which is part of the Miami-Dade County park system.  It is close to the Encore Everglades park (about 4 miles) so we stayed here after we departed.  The campground is divided into pods and each pod has about 15 or so sites.  We were in pod 4 site 20 (420 lol).  We booked this camp with the intent to stay for a month or longer as my husband had an opportunity to Captain boats in Miami.  

    The park was very quiet.  Most of the campers were retirees, a few families with kids, but we were there in early January.  The grounds are nicely maintained with lots of places to walk and open space with trees.  They don't allow dogs off-leash and although it is adjacent to the rest of the Larry & Penny park, dogs are not even allowed in the main park, at all.  We did however find a few dog parks within four miles or so which were nice.

    They have a very nice pool which was open daily Wed- Sunday 11am - 5pm.  It was raining and rather dreary during our stay so we didn't use the pool.  They have a nice Clubhouse and it looked okay with tables, chairs, books, puzzles, but again very quiet.  Not many activities except for a few and we didn't stay long enough to participate.  After a week, we decided to make moves back home to Lake Tahoe.  It was unseasonably cold, raining so no boat work and not an ideal spot for the dogs.  They don't have WiFi and since we were planning a longer stay, purchased the Starlink system since I work remote during the winter.  Starlink worked great, but costs $500+ to get started and then $120 or so a month.  If you are looking for an affordable long term/monthly stay, it is great.  The rates were $850 a month for full hook-ups.  They had last minute space available, too.  

    If you are in the area, check out the Miami Zoo.  We were there when they had the "Zoo Lights" a super fun evening event.  They have other events at the Zoo and lots to do nearby.  You are closer to town than Everglades Encore, but still close to the agricultural area.  I recommend but not as fun or as many activities as some other places.

  • Thom T.
    Oct. 10, 2018

    Southern Comfort RV Resort

    Best Park in Florida City

    This park is located right off Route 1 in Florida City. For the area this is a large park. I believe over 150 sites. The sites are decent in size. The park fills up quickly come the winter time with the “ Snow Birds” but the park overall is wonderful. There is a bar/Tiki Hut on premise and a big swimming pool open year round. This is a pet friendly park but with a breed and size restriction, so call ahead if you have Fido with you.

  • B
    Jun. 7, 2016

    Larry & Penny Thompson Park

    good place

    sites: no pets allowed. welcoming atmosphere. mostly shaded. near residential neighborhood but quiet. flat sites. amenities: large bathhouse. clean. other attractions: zoo. beach/waterslide. I would go back again.

  • Pavel T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2018

    Sawgrass Recreation Park

    This place saved my life!

    Sawgrass Recreation area primary businesses are airboat tours and petting zoo, however they have a small primitive campsite at the back as well. I was trying to ride my bicycle from Ft. Laudardale to South Bay, but the head wind was so strong that I was moving at a snail's pace. Luckily, this place is conviniently located just off the state route 27, an oasis of civilization on a 30 mile strech of nothingness. the camground is only open during dry season, which is late winter.

  • Liz M.
    Mar. 22, 2021

    Midway Campground — Big Cypress National Preserve

    Good for families/groups; lots of road noise

    This site was beautiful and well kept. The gentleman (park ranger?) who greeted everyone and made sure the rules were followed was very nice and answered all of our questions. I appreciated that he was around as it make me feel safer if I were to travel alone. This is a great site for families or groups as the sites are close together so one could reserve 2 and have a lot of room for multiple tents/cars. On the other hand, if you are looking to get away from people, this is not it. The sites are close to each other with little to no barriers/designation lines between them. This is a great site for those testing camping with their dogs or small children. Not too far of a trip, great walking space, and the ranger is great about making sure all dogs are kept on leash. It is near to the Oasis Ranger Station and the Florida Trail, as well as loop road and Shark Valley. The stars were absolutely incredible being so far from major cities. Other than how close the tent sites were, my one big negative is the amount of road noise. The closest campsites are maybe 100 meters from the Tamiami Trail so if you're a light sleeper, it is less than ideal.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 19, 2023

    Key Largo Kampground & Marina

    Cozy and Friendly

    It was tight getting our 32ft pull behind back to our spot, but folks all came out to offer tips and help us get around. So we actually got parked in fairly short order.

    The dog walk area near our site was pretty small and it’s bookended by tent camp sites. My dogs were more interested in the goings on than doing their business and we couldn’t really walk them away from it.

    That being said. The location is great! As I mentioned in the title. It’s cozy and friendly and pretty quiet.

    The marina is nice. And the beaches were great launch points for kayaks.

    I would, and probably will, stay here again.

  • S
    Jan. 10, 2023

    Davie / Fort Lauderdale KOA

    Very unkind management

    I am writing this review to shield anyone who is camping & going through a difficult time in life, because no one deserves to be treated as we were. Unfortunately, I would never stay at this KOA ever again. It makes me very sad & upset to know that such unkind, greedy people run this campground- one of the few KOA’s in all of Florida. My family and I are going through a very rough time due to illness. We come here to be at a family wedding, to forget, to be happy & comfortable. We are big travelers all across the continental United States, and have stayed at nearly every KOA in the entire country. This is the first and hopefully last time I have ever had to write a review to protect people from coming to a campground. If you HAVE to stay here do not stay in spot 89. The KOA workers walk dogs they cannot control, that bark VERY loudly at 8AM. And all throughout the day, dogs walking past and barking. Absolute torture. We were charged for having 2 cats, $10. Never been charged for two cats that don’t leave the camper but, okay. When we got to the site, we discovered that we paid $120 for a spot with an enormous pile of dirt & construction on it. Not being dramatic. But honestly, I really didn’t care about that much. What bothered me was how they treated people. I pride myself on always being kind to people because you don’t know what anyone is going through. What bothered me was a man with facial hair on a golf cart telling me (who owns the camper & paid for the spot) to leave immediately because my sisters rental car was “not registered at the office”. He saw us come in and drove all the way back to the office to look at our registered cars. How bored and and angry at life do you have to be to care about that? Just wow. He tried to charge us money to register my pregnant sister coming to visit us for 2 hours because we “didn’t register her rental car at the office?” I have never experienced anything like that. Turns out there was one nice woman who is shorter and has dark brown hair in a ponytail, she was kind enough to tell us the TRUTH that we just had to park it in a designated spot. LOL. Why wouldn’t you tell someone that in the first place? Because you can get money out of them the first way. How cruel and greedy is that? I will never associate myself with this campground ever again. The nasty looks we received from staff during our stay was laughable. I look forward to sending a very accurate depiction of our lovely stay at the Davie KOA to the KOA Owners Association Board of Directors. I hope you desperately unhappy people can heal yourselves and find true happiness & love in this life.


Guide to Homestead

Homestead, Florida sits at the southern tip of mainland Florida, just 9 miles from the entrance to the Florida Keys and 12 miles from Everglades National Park. The area has a tropical climate with year-round warm temperatures averaging 75-85°F and high humidity, especially during summer months. Camping options range from established RV resorts with full hookups to more primitive tent sites within the surrounding natural areas.

What to do

Snorkeling and diving excursions: Biscayne National Park is primarily underwater and accessible by boat from Homestead. "Enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, and everything water. A boat is needed to reach these campgrounds and are tent only," notes Lindsay B. about Elliott Key — Biscayne National Park.

Fruit stands and local produce: The agricultural area surrounding Homestead features numerous tropical fruit farms and roadside stands. While staying at Encore Miami Everglades, Jennifer A. recommends, "Close to Miami Everglades is a fruit stand called Robert Is Here. Don't miss it!"

Kayaking through mangroves: Paddle through the unique ecosystems of coastal mangrove forests. At John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Elliott B. shares they had "an amazing time renting a kayak and exploring the coves through the mangroves and doing some snorkeling there. We could swim around with some huge Tarpin which could have cared less about us being in their home."

What campers like

Access to multiple national parks: Homestead's location allows campers to visit both Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. Paula C. notes about Miami Everglades RV Resort, "An easy drive to visit the Everglades National Park and the Biscayne National Park."

Affordable camping options: Budget-conscious travelers appreciate the reasonable rates at some campgrounds. Tod H. reviews Larry & Penny Thompson Park saying, "At $17/night for a tent site, we got wifi, access to laundry, great showers, and a perfectly adequate site."

Tropical plant nurseries: The Homestead area is known for its agricultural character. Joseph notes about Miami Everglades RV Resort, "It is technically a Miami address, but there are more nurseries and farms than a Miami feel." Similarly, Butch S. observed the resort is "situated in the mirror middle of acres upon acres of ornamental trees and shrubs for sale by various companies."

What you should know

Security concerns at some locations: Take normal precautions with valuables. At Larry & Penny Thompson Park, Marta L. cautions, "Our Ford F-250 King Ranch 4x4 diesel got stolen in the middle of the day from right in front of our RV at this park. This state park is NOT secure!"

Varying water quality for swimming: Not all waterfront areas are suitable for swimming. Jennifer E. shares about Key Largo Kampground & Marina, "The beaches at this campsite are not what you would think for the keys nor would I consider them a beach, maybe more like a launch site or previous boat launch. The water looks more like a swamp."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Homestead, FL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Homestead, FL is Encore Miami Everglades with a 3.5-star rating from 17 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Homestead, FL?

TheDyrt.com has all 35 dog-friendly camping locations near Homestead, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.