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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Sanibel, FL

285 Reviews

Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA features a dedicated K9 Kamp dog park where pets can exercise off-leash in a fenced area. The campground welcomes pets at its tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin accommodations with clean, well-maintained facilities. Koreshan State Park Campground and Cayo Costa State Park Campground also permit pets throughout their grounds, though leash requirements apply at all times. Gulf Waters RV Resort maintains pet-friendly sites with concrete pads and nearby walking areas for dog exercise. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet when outside designated off-leash areas. San Carlos RV Resort provides pet waste stations throughout the property for convenient cleanup. Mosquitoes and sand fleas can be problematic for both humans and pets, particularly at dusk, so appropriate protection is essential.

The proximity to water presents both opportunities and challenges for camping with pets near Sanibel. Pine Island has no beaches, but several campgrounds offer water access where dogs can cool off under supervision. Dog-friendly walking paths connect many campgrounds to nearby amenities, though reaching actual beaches may require drives of 30-45 minutes from some locations like Pine Island. Summer months bring extreme heat that can affect pets, requiring extra water and shade consideration during outdoor activities. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours that include restrictions on excessive barking. Veterinary services are available in nearby Fort Myers and Cape Coral for emergency situations. Campers report the fishing community atmosphere of Pine Island provides a relaxed setting for pet owners seeking quieter accommodations away from crowded tourist areas.

Map showing campgrounds near Sanibel, FloridaExplore the Map

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Sanibel, Florida (90)

    1. Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA

    11 Reviews
    St. James City, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 283-2415

    "The map may show that it's close to Sanibel and Ft Meyers but it is not really by car. This place grows on you. Pine island has no beaches but does have a lot of fishing spots and great restaurants."

    "Very friendly staff, nice k9 Kamp dog park. Surrounded by water. Paradise"

    2. Koreshan State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Estero, FL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 992-0311

    $26 / night

    "It’s hard to book a weekend at any Florida campground in season so plan ahead if you want a Florida State park. This campground has short trails to hike through beautiful bamboo forests."

    "The campground located inside the historical state park has a total of 54 sites, 39 are RV or tent, 3 only RV, and 12 Tent only."

    3. Cayo Costa State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Boca Grande, FL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 964-0375

    $22 / night

    "Best beach oriented camping in Florida.  The shelling is amazing and you truly feel like you have traveled back in time.  We have camped there in a tent site three times in the last year.  "

    "Shells and palm trees and near restaraunts in Sanibel."

    4. San Carlos RV Resort & Marina

    3 Reviews
    Fort Myers Beach, FL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 466-3133

    "we had a paved site on the river we took the paddle boards over to the restaurant on the opposite side short walk over the bridge to town and the beach. Dogs allowed, shuffle board small pool."

    "It's proximity to the beaches and location on the water makes it a great place to stay. Location has all the amenities you need to make for a fun time"

    5. Encore Gulf Air

    2 Reviews
    Fort Myers Beach, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Love that it's close to the beach, just needs Moore trees."

    6. Gulf Waters RV Resort

    1 Review
    Fort Myers Beach, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 437-5888

    "Kid and pet friendly. Trolly next door to take you to beach. Very convenient to everything. We would definitely come back"

    7. Groves RV Resort, A Sun RV Resort

    1 Review
    Fort Myers Beach, FL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 466-4300

    "Dog friendly and small dog park available to let your fur baby run free."

    8. Fort Myers / Pine Island KOA Holiday

    1 Review
    St. James City, FL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    9. Lakes Park RV

    1 Review
    Fort Myers, FL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 229-5436

    $60 - $80 / night

    "Though there are some year round mobile homes, all the RV spots on the lake are beautiful."

    10. Woodsmoke Camping Resort

    2 Reviews
    Estero, FL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (239) 267-3456

    "First time here I was forced to have my service dog "DNA" tested and had to pay for it as well. ($40.00) - Poo Prints - one time for life. Office staff is friendly and helpful"

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Sanibel, FL

39 Photos of 90 Sanibel Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Sanibel, FL

285 Reviews of 90 Sanibel Campgrounds

  • Beth P.
    Apr. 18, 2019

    Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA

    Fisherman's camp

    This is an out of the way park. The map may show that it's close to Sanibel and Ft Meyers but it is not really by car. This place grows on you. Pine island has no beaches but does have a lot of fishing spots and great restaurants. The noseeums about did me in there. No one sits out once the sun starts to set. The pool closes at dusk. The laundry room is spotless and adjoins a wonderful library. This park has mostly permanent residents but the people are friendly. There is a nice dog park and playground.

  • Rick M.
    Jun. 13, 2024

    Myakka River Motorcoach Resort

    Close to the beach, beautiful resort, wenlove the privacy

    This is a beautiful Class A only resort.  100 sites on the Myakka River with Amazon 

     sunsets.  Sites are typically 70’ x 50’ . Large roads easy access.  

    Extremely active community in season, a peaceful retreat in the off season.  

    Sites are individually owned, some with Casitas, some with outdoor kitchens etc.  Great Wi-Fi, individual cat 5 cable to each site.  Boardwalk along the river, fishing pier, kayak launch.  They have 5 pickleball courts.  Large heated resort pool with attached lap pool. Two large dog parks.  

    Water aerobics in season.  Small gym.  Yoga, on spite massages and facials in season.  Extremely active social calendar,  open to everyone.   Beautifully  remodeled clubhouse, with a large subset deck overlooking the river.   Close to everything, multiple beaches 20 minutes away,  great shopping and restaurants are close by.  Extremely friendly owners, they treat renters like members of their family.  We travel in a Newmar Ventana.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2023

    Naples/Marco Island KOA Holiday

    Still in recovery mode

    This is a nice camping location…or will be when they complete renovations. They are still recovering from hurricane damage, so there was some construction and noise. The spaces are pretty tight, but not as bad as other places. And they are staggered so it feels roomier. we had a nice site with a shaded patio. Also a misquote problem! Lots of misquotes and no see-ums. But the pool, boat ramp, playground, and dog park are all open. 2 dog parks! The laundry, hot tub, and camp store are still closed. It’s close to the Big Cypress Wildlife area, and an easy drive to Everglades National Park.

  • T
    Aug. 5, 2022

    Groves RV Resort, A Sun RV Resort

    Nice quiet park

    Nice place for a short term stay. Extra charges for WiFi took away 1 star for me. Dog friendly and small dog park available to let your fur baby run free.

  • V
    Mar. 8, 2020

    Encore Fort Myers Beach

    Cozy campground!

    Nice clean TT Encore park. Clean laundry facilities, nice clean dog park with a bench, perfect for the smaller dogs. Super tight, awning to awning. That's the only reason I dropped a star. But it's easy to make friends here, that's for sure!

  • J
    Jan. 28, 2022

    Cayo Costa State Park Campground

    Beach camping paradise

    This place is special.  Best beach oriented camping in Florida.  The shelling is amazing and you truly feel like you have traveled back in time.  We have camped there in a tent site three times in the last year.  The campground closed for several months in summer 2021 to eradicated the rodents.  It worked!  We did not see or hear one rodent when we stayed for three nights in November 2021.  If campers / visitors will keep a clean camp site and not leave food and garbage out, the rodents should stay under control.

      No problem with bugs in the dry season, but you still need some bug spray at dawn and dusk.

  • R
    Apr. 13, 2024

    Collier–Seminole State Park Campground

    Nice facility- Horrible mosquitoes

    It is a well laid out Florida State Park campground In a mangrove swamp, making the mosquitoes horrible. There is access to a channel that you can rent a kayak or “Go Cat” to go all the way to the gulf, or use your own boat. The go cats are very cool and the guide you out in groups for around $150.

  • Rick P.
    Mar. 15, 2022

    Golden Palms Luxury Motorcoach Resort

    Simply Awful

    We had an exceptionally unpleasant experience due to the pet policy being misrepresented. We paid in advance, their policy, for the entire month of February. We had to sign a document stating the payment was not refundable. Before signing, we read through the policies that affected renters, like the pet policy and did not see anything out of line with other RV parks. We set up our exercise pens for the dogs, like we've done at every RV park for the last 30 years. We were informed that exercise pens violated their policy. We had not seen that and asked that it be shown to us. They showed a construction policy that stated owners were not allowed to build a fence on their property. We had not built anything on their property, but they maintained that an exercise pen was a fence and had to be taken down. Our dogs are quiet and love to bask in the warm sun. It felt like a cruel expectation for them to have to stay in our RV 24/7 for a full month. They suggested that we could tie our dogs out on the lawn, but they are escape artists and we could not risk them getting away. We again stated that we were not in any way violating their policy. They were very indifferent. We could not put our pets through being confined to and RV, so we immediately left. They refused to refund our money, offer a stay at another date or even offer any kindness at all. This is truly the worst experience and poorest treatment that we've ever had at an RV resort.

Guide to Sanibel

Sanibel-area campgrounds cater to different camping styles, from primitive island tent sites to full-service RV resorts. Located along Florida's southwest coast where water temperatures average 85°F in summer and 65°F in winter, the region's subtropical climate means high humidity from June through September. Sand fleas and mosquitoes remain active year-round, with peak activity during summer evenings.

What to do

Kayaking from park docks: At Koreshan State Park Campground, paddlers can access the Estero River directly. "The park offers hiking trails and close by access for launching kayaks," notes Mary jo R. The river connects to back bays and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.

Biking island trails: At Cayo Costa State Park Campground, rent bicycles to explore interior paths. "There is a series of trails that run through the wooded sections of the island to explore. There are some truly great views to take in as well as an island cemetery which provides some historical contest," writes David I. Rentals cost $20 for a half-day.

Beach shelling: Search for unique shells along Cayo Costa's nine-mile shoreline. "The shelling is awesome. Lots of different shells and sharks teeth from many varieties of sharks," reports Jeanene A. Morning low tides typically offer the best collection opportunities.

What campers like

Historic attractions: Koreshan State Park Campground features preserved buildings from an early 1900s settlement. "This campground has some history to it, which is pretty cool," writes Eric R. Jennifer adds, "There are Historic buildings with interesting background and guided tours."

Star-gazing opportunities: The relative isolation of Cayo Costa creates exceptional night sky viewing. "The nighttime skies are truly cosmic," explains David I. Another camper shares, "Watch the stars at night. We were there during a meteor shower and had a fantastic show on the beach that night."

Pool amenities: Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA offers swimming facilities that campers consistently rate highly. "The pool was awesome. Everything was clean," notes Steven B. Another visitor adds, "Super clean pool and helpful staff. There is even a hot tub!"

What you should know

Island access logistics: Reaching Cayo Costa State Park Campground requires planning. "Access to the island is by ferry (Tropic Star of Pine Island) although it is possible to kayak to it from Pine Island. This would involve some open water crossing and about a 7 mile total one way trip," explains David I. Ferry tickets cost approximately $45 per person.

Driving distances: Many campgrounds are farther from beaches than they appear on maps. "This is an out of the way park. The map may show that it's close to Sanibel and Ft Meyers but it is not really by car," reports Beth P. about Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA.

Site conditions vary: At Koreshan State Park, "Roads are narrow back by the campground site if you're in a big rig. Sites are also a little overgrown with shrubbery," according to Eric R. Another camper cautions, "Sites have stones and sand. Not a lot of grass or tree coverage."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sanibel, FL is Fort Myers-Pine Island KOA with a 4.1-star rating from 11 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 90 dog-friendly camping locations near Sanibel, FL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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