Dog-Friendly Camping near San Mateo, FL

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near San Mateo, FL

1259 Reviews of 210 San Mateo Campgrounds

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Jan. 1, 2024

  San Mateo Estates RV Park

  Bizarre U-Haul Campground Outpost

  Welcome to the quaint village of Welaka, just due south about 20 minutes from Palatka, a central Florida destination with some great lakes to explore, outstanding rivers to kayak and plenty of succulent fish to be caught. When looking for a place to ‘drop anchor’ for the night, we had stopped by a few RV parking campgrounds, but because they were sold-out, we kept on looking around the area, which is when we stumbled across San Mateo Estates. So let’s begin there – I always find it amusing when RV parks or campgrounds use suggestive language like ‘Estates,’ which conjure up a thought that you’ll have a regal experience, right? Well, here at San Mateo, you couldn’t be further from reality. 

  Maybe it was the half-deserted (former parking) lot that had outbursts of grass and weeds poking out of what must have been at some time a nice level gravel parking lot for U-Haul trucks of all shapes and sizes. Seemingly, the business for U-Hual in these parts isn’t so good, so hey, they wised up and turned those empty spaces into RV slots. Not a bad business idea, but for us nature enthusiasts, this spot definitely leaves a lot to be desired. Let me quickly count those disadvantages: (1) open, non-descript overgrown parking lot; (2) chain-linked fence encircling the place emits an aura of a detention center; (3) land completely devoid of any nature; and (4) given the 10 or so U-Haul trailers and trucks parked here, you’ll feel like you are in the middle of some bizarre moving expedition. 

  While there were a few available spaces, half of these were filled by semi-permanent mobile homes, while the other were proper RV'ers that like us were simply looking for a place to layover for the night. There’s about 2 dozen back-in and pull-through RV slots with electric and water hook-ups, but that’s really where all the amenities end. No bathrooms, showers, BBQs or picnic tables. And while there’s not much of an outdoors offering immediately on or near the premises, just 15 minutes down the road you’ll discover Welaka State Forest, which has some pretty amazing trails and lots of natural, endemic wildlife. 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Unless you absolutely have to, I wouldn’t recommend staying here at San Mateo Estates – it’s a very poor spot that is not run very well and is basically a spillover parking lot for U-Haul trucks and a handful of RV'ers who must have needed a spot pretty badly; (2) If you do stay here, arrive late and leave early; (3) I would recommend parking your RV either at Welaka State Forest where at least you can be surrounded by the purity of nature or Welaka Lodge & Resort, while more expensive, will be surely a much better experience; and (4) If you’re looking for some local nightlife or food, check out The Boat Bar at Welaka Lodge& Resort (ask for the rum runners) or Shrimps R Us for some amazing fresh seafood (prepared any which way you’d like) and plenty of liquid libations. 

  Happy Camping!

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• 

  Ashley W.

  Ranger

  Jun. 12, 2022

  Compass RV Park

  Compass RV Park Spring Break 2021

  We stayed here during Spring Break as it was the only thing available in Saint Augustine when we booked. However, we really enjoyed the park. It was close to the beaches and all major attractions. The pool was nice and there was a basket ball court, corn hole and table tennis as well as a small playground. Since we booked late we were in what was considered a buddy site which was a little different since we had a neighbor facing our site who we didn’t know but still we had a great time and my kids made several new friends. The bathrooms were clean and there was a laundry area with a separate laundry for washing pet bedding. The park was almost separated into 2 sections with the sites in the back having mixed paved pads while the ones in the front were gravel. There were several trails through the campground and there was an off leash dog park as well. All in all we really enjoyed our visit and would definitely return in the future.

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• V

  Vern

  Traveler

  Nov. 5, 2021

  Ocala RV Camp Resort

  Nice RV Park

  Easy access to I 75 Has nice pond with wildlife , cabins to rent and all services . Friendly staff and dog park.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Jul. 1, 2024

  Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort

  Oceanfront, White Sand Beaches & Palm Laced RV Oasis

  Ever fantasized about parking your RV so near the ocean that you could feel the salt spray coming off those Atlantic ‘white caps’? Well, look no further than Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort, which depending upon the specific RV slot you are fortunate enough to book here, you too could be kicking back and living life in the 'slow lane’ right in front of idyllic white sand beaches against a backdrop of an endless aquatic blue horizon. Located just 8 miles / 20 minutes south of St. Augustine (a.k.a. Ancient City), Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort resides on the famous A1A, but down in this neck of the woods, you will find that you have escaped the whir of traffic, busyness of everyday life and won’t have to put up with the touristy side of this northernmost Floridian outpost.

  As for this location itself, Bryn Mawr boasts the largest family pool in the county (which I cannot independently verify here), although there are actually 2 swimming pools, along with a spa and private walkways with beach access to some of the finest ocean views along the eastern seaboard. Boasting some 236 RV slots, Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort is a massive RV oceanfront wonderland, hidden in the shades of the palms, wherein you’ll enter the compound through a very well appointed security gate after first being greeted by the good folks at the main office building. Once inside, you’ll swerve a bit around the bend to the right before heading straight, wherein on both sides of this RV ‘main street’ you’ll intersect four different perpendicular lanes (Sea Bird, followed by Sea Coast, then Sea Dog and finally Sea Eagle) before reaching a T intersection (at Sea Eagle) where you’ll have to either turn left or right in order to access the 9 (yes, count ‘em, 9) vertical RV slotted lanes (and unfortunately, yes, all of them also begin with the word ‘Sea’, making it very difficult to remember which ‘Sea’ lane you are in) that from north to south are called: Sea Fan, Sea Gull, Sea Horse, Sea Jetty, Sea Anchor, Sea King, Sea Ladder, Sea Millie and Sea Nettle. 

  Nomenclature aside, it all doesn’t really matter if you are looking for simply the best, which are the oceanfront RV slots (that run parallel to the beach along Sea Otter lane), whose numbered sites are #219– 238. Trust me, whatever the premium is to pay and park in one of these 20 RV slots is ABSOLUTELY worth it, given the proximity to the beach, as well as the additional distance from traffic that you’ll have back here in the furthest reaches of Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort.  Oh, and then there's the priceless oceanfront views you'll have - but to be clear, that really only works out if your particular RV has a rear-facing panoramic view, otherwise, you'll have to get outside your vehicle and post a few picnic chairs to enjoy the view.

  Amenities: dog park / pet walking area, basketball court, lighted tennis / pickle-ball courts, shuffleboard, complimentary WiFi and cable, main office with marketplace store, spartan showers & restroom facilities (there are multiple units spread throughout the RV campus), laundr-O-mat, activity center, horseshoe pitch, propane refill station and children’s playground. Of course, all RV sites come with full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric along with water and sewage) and concrete pads. There’s also scattered picnic tables, BBQ grills and fire rings.

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While I’ve already HIGHLY recommended the oceanfront slots of #219– 238, I would also recommend the following locations (if being near the ocean is important to you): 82, 96, 110, 123, 135, 249, 143, 154, 167, 168, 250, 181, 195, 209 and 218; (2) This place is one of the most pet-friendly RV outposts I’ve come across, so don’t be shy about bringing all your pets – I couldn’t find a single RV’er who didn’t have at least 1 dog, if not an entire entourage of cats, iguanas, fish and even an alpaca en towe!; (3) While next to the ocean is great, you will feel a substantial lack of privacy with the spaces being quite close to one another, so if that bothers you (and let’s be honest, it should), then when booking, ask for what available spots there are to determine which of those offer up the most amount of either space or privacy; (4) When you get tired of trying to figure out what that next meal is going to be when staring down at your mini-fridge or Cordova roto-molded cooler, then check out some local haunts, like Salt Water Cowboy (where anything from the Land, Sea and Swamp section like fried Alligator is pretty amazing), World Famous Oasis Restaurant or Connolly’s Shore Grill for fresh caught seafood; (5) If you are looking for a decent place to do some great hiking, then look no further than due southwest of Bryn Mawr where you can check out Matanzas State Park, that has miles and miles of unspoiled hiking trails with virtually the entire place to yourself (save the deer and gators that you might come across); and (6) Carrying watercraft and looking for a nice spot to hit the water? Then I HIGHLY recommend Princess Place Preserve AND Faver-Dyke SP that offers access to the Matanzas and Tolomato Rivers as well as Pellicer Creek.

  Happy Camping!

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• 

  Jacquelin P.

  Traveler

  Aug. 6, 2018

  Blue Spring State Park Campground

  Lovely pet friendly camping and spring

  This campground was awesome for a weekend away with the family and dogs. It was still very hot and buggy in Florida so be warned If this is an issue for you. Large campsites with a picnic table, electric, and water. Pet friendly and clean bathrooms with a small walking path for the pups. Been to better but a great weekend away!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Oct. 1, 2023

  Half Shell Resort

  Shell Half Empty @ Half Shell

  To begin with, this place has all the great intentions of being a fantastic lakeside haven for would-be RV campground seekers, but Half Shell has recently been taken over by new owners who are in the midst of turning this location into a much more modern and well-kept getaway. Until then though, I say ‘stay away.’ The one thing that you need to know about this part of Florida (if you didn’t know already) is that its basically unkept jungle that will grow in any and all directions if left unkept. And that’s how I would describe Half Shell (at least currently) – it’s completely overgrown, in dire need of major refurbishment and outright infrastructure updates.  

  What I found when my pals and I were looking for a decent place to park our elongated RV for a night or two for some serious fishing on St. Johns River, just a stone’s throw from North Central’s Palatka, is nothing more than a well-trimmed, fairly flat patch of land with some shade and a small pond. But because jumping on the river was our primary goal, as we couldn’t even do that here with the dilapidated condition of Half Shell’s pier, we chose to leave and find refuge at another nearby RV oasis (called Welaka Lodge & Resort– just read my review for particulars on our adventure there!). 

  While you will find ‘bathrooms’ at Half Shell, it appeared as though more than half the bathroom (um, like the toilets) were actually on the outside of the facilities (seriously, just look at the photos!). Sure, there’s electric, water and sewage hook-ups and, depending upon the few open, available slots, you MIGHT get just an OK view. There’s no BBQ grills or picnic tables to speak of, just a small plot of land to park on. All in all, the experience was pretty disappointing. 

  Insider tips? Here’s a few: (1) While the folks that operate Half Shell are certainly well meaning and pose a promise of something better, I would pass on coming here until they demonstrate a much better option for your precious memory-making intentions; (2) I tend to be leary of (or outright steer clear of) places that constantly talk about ‘Old Florida’ – having been twice a resident of this great state, this punchline never ends with a good outcome; (3) If you do find yourself in these parts, San Mateo ‘Oasis’ will provide nice libations (beer and wine only though) to help you attempt to conjure up what you might be looking for in terms of an actual oasis; and (4) Did I mention Welaka Lodge & Resort?! Yeah, go there instead. It’s just 15 minutes away from Half Shell for an amazing on-river experience (just mind your speed as you are driving in or out of town as there are those that are watching you pretty closely - wink, wink!). 

  Happy Camping!

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• 

  MickandKarla W.

  Legend

  Mar. 25, 2021

  Compass RV Park

  Exceeded Expectations

  Compass RV Resort was easy to get to. We followed the campground instructions versus our GPS. Check in was a breeze as they came out to our rig and gave us a good rundown on the CG then escorted us to site 126 in the newer Oasis area. This site had FHUs that were smartly placed midway down along the stone paver pad. Back-in was a breeze. We were glad we paid the fee to reserve a specific site as this site was probably one of the very best and most spacious in the CG. Our site had more front area lawn plus bushes that separated us from the next site. We also had to pay$3 per night for our 2 pups. The pull through sites were quite close to each other where the back in sites provided more room, this was especially true near the front of the CG. This was a large CG that was fairly full throughout our 6 nights stay but surprisingly quiet. You could hear some road noise but it was not too bad. We were in the far back of the CG but if you were more towards the office/entry you would have a lot more road noise. Their cable worked well plus there were multiple OTA channels. Some people had their satellite dishes out too. Most sites in the Oasis area would support satellite, as well as the pull through sites near the middle of the park. The older sites near the entrance had many more trees. We were surprised that we only got 2 bars on Verizon. The CG WiFi worked OK and we had a repeater next to our site. You could upgrade to faster CG internet for a fee, but we did not use this service. The CG has ice, firewood, and propane for sale. There was a small fenced dog park next to the shower, laundry and exercise facility in the Oasis section. Near the entrance there was a larger fenced dog park(about an acre) with a smaller fenced area within the dog park. St. Augustine’s historic, shopping, and restaurant area is stupid busy Friday- Sunday. Parking is limited in general and tougher for a dually. Best time to visit is during the week.

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• 

  Clayton D.

  Traveler

  Feb. 8, 2022

  Grand Lake

  Another great experience!

  We wereet at the entrance by a gentleman in a golf cart. He brought us directly to our site, and helped us get squared away. He recommended the local restaurant for dinner. Not a lot of options, but all the options were good!

  Great dog park, 2 separate zones!!!

  This is a golf/ lake community that is like the old TV shows. People walking dogs, riding golf carts, and meeting at the club house. We will return when we have more time to stay!

• J

  Jacquie A.

  Scout

  Sep. 24, 2018

  Anastasia State Park Campground

  Secluded Camping

  I am a huge fan of Florida State Parks. Anastasia has good size sites that are very private. We could not see our side neighborhoods only the ones across from us. Bathrooms were clean and the showers were large. There was always staff around keeping the grounds picked up and tidy. The camp ground is very pet friendly, but dogs are not allowed on the beach in the park. There are many pet friendly beaches nearby. There is no camping near the ocean, but it is just a short bike ride/drive from the campsites to the beach. Water and electric hook up at the sites, a large trash compactor is located near the the 3 lane dump station.

  Great camp ground, but make sure you reserve far in advance, they book up quick.

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