Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Bristol, ME

Shore Hills Campground's waterfront sites offer pet-friendly accommodations with spacious sites suitable for dogs. Multiple campgrounds near Bristol accommodate pets, including Pemaquid Point Campground, Duck Puddle Campground, and Sherwood Forest Campsite. Each location provides a mix of tent sites, RV spots, and in some cases cabins where dogs are welcome. The Shore Hills property features individual garbage cans at each site and water access where dogs can run and swim. Most visitors at Shore Hills had dogs with them during their stay. Campground bathrooms are generally clean, with some locations charging a small fee for hot showers. Sites vary from wooded and private to waterfront with views, giving pet owners options based on their dog's temperament and needs.

Pemaquid Point's location provides excellent access for dog walks to nearby attractions, including the lighthouse approximately a mile away—an easy trip by bike or on foot with a leashed pet. The tidal nature of the waterfront at Shore Hills means limited swimming access except during high tide, something to consider when planning activities with water-loving dogs. Local hiking options include Ovens Mouth Preserve which offers well-marked, maintained dog-friendly trails with water views. Sherwood Forest Campsite provides a quiet atmosphere for dogs sensitive to noise, with several visitors noting it was among the quietest campgrounds they've experienced. Dog owners should be aware of local wildlife and keep pets secured, especially during early morning and evening hours when wildlife activity increases.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Bristol, Maine (70)

    1. Duck Puddle Campground

    11 Reviews
    Waldoboro, ME
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 563-5608

    "The waterfront sites (61-66) offer direct access to the lake and have trees between the site for a more private feel. Some have a private dock for fishing or sitting, others have a small beach area."

    "It’s also close to other fun coastal towns. Definitely worth a visit."

    2. Shore Hills Campground & RV Park

    9 Reviews
    Trevett, ME
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 633-4782

    "The campground is pet friendly- I think almost everyone we saw had a dog."

    "Boothbay Harbor is a cute coastal Maine town and Shore Hills Campground is a great location for visiting the downtown and other Maine towns like Wiscasset and Easy Boothbay."

    3. Boothbay Craft Brewery & RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Isle of Springs, ME
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 633-3411

    $106 - $126 / night

    "Riley was super helpful over the phone and was outside greeting all the campers at the entrance. The brewery and restaurant are phenomenal!"

    "Sites are not secluded, but you can't beat walking distance to a brewery. The food at the taproom was also good! Online booking was easy and the campsites were well priced."

    4. Chewonki Campground

    9 Reviews
    Wiscasset, ME
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 882-7426

    "Spent a late September weekend with kids and pets at Chewonki, and had a great time. Such a friendly atmosphere, the golf green was a blast!"

    "Small family owned campground with a variety of people enjoying piney Maine scenery. Owners are super nice and helpful. Salt water pool, walking or biking trails, boats to use."

    5. Sagadahoc Bay Campground

    18 Reviews
    Phippsburg, ME
    18 miles
    Website

    $56 - $170 / night

    "The most unique feature of this campground happens at low tide when you can walk over a mile out towards the lighthouse on Sequin Island ([https://www.seguinisland.org/).]"

    "Biggest dog beach ever when the tide runs out on the sand flats!"

    6. Pemaquid Point Campground

    5 Reviews
    South Bristol, ME
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 677-2267

    "It is located close to the coast and Pemaquid Point Light house is right down the road. We rode our bikes to the beach and grocery store everyday."

    "The campground is about a mile from the lighthouse, an easy drive or bike.  "

    7. Lake Pemaquid Campground

    5 Reviews
    Bremen, ME
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 563-5202

    "tent sites are on top of each other, but easy walk to camp store and bath houses. beach access for swimming in the lake."

    "The sites are right on the lake with gorgeous views. Some sites even have their own pier to sit out on and fish or swim from or simply watch nature. They rent kayaks and canoes to explore the lake."

    8. Sherwood Forest Campsite

    4 Reviews
    Chamberlain, ME
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 677-3642

    $42 - $75 / night

    "No traffic noise from outside. The path to Pemaquid beach is right at the end of the driveway and not much further to the historic fort. The Pemaquid Point lighthouse is 15 minutes away."

    "This campground is also very close to a public beach and a very short drive to Darmascota, so overall, I am very happy with the location and experience!"

    9. Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground

    42 Reviews
    South Freeport, ME
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 865-9307

    "There are bathrooms close by to all, the main lodge is nice and the food at the snack shack is sooo good!! burgers, pizza, salad- all local and from their gardens."

    "I don’t associate Maine with sandy beaches, so it didn’t occur to me beforehand there would be so much of it (yeah, even at an oceanfront campground.)"

    10. Meadowbrook Camping

    10 Reviews
    Phippsburg, ME
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 443-4967

    "We were right next to a tenting site. Kind of close, but we managed to put the back of the RV toward their site. It is dog friendly!!! Lots of things to do on grounds and around this area."

    "This is a nice campground really close (though still driving distance) to Popham Beach - which is one of the best beaches in Maine, in my opinion."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Bristol, ME

438 Reviews of 70 Bristol Campgrounds


  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2017

    Moorings Campground

    Love the Ocean Access and Views

    Overall, this is a great little private RV park with awesome views (from some sites) and great access to the ocean. The park is conveniently located just a few miles from downtown Belfast (a sweet little Maine town) which offers plenty to do and see. Plus, you are just five miles from the cute town of Searsport which houses the wonderful Penobscot Marine Museum and two miles from Moose Point State Park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and more gorgeous views.

    The park offers a variety of sites (44 total) depending on if you want oceanfront, ocean view, or a pull-thru. All sites have electric (50 or 30 amp), water, cable and wifi. The five pull-thru sites also include sewer. A mobile sewer pump-out service is available for guests staying one week or longer and there is a dump station. Roads and sites are gravel with grass patios and level. All sites have a fire ring and picnic table. Our Verizon 4G phone and Hotspot worked great but we mostly used the free wifi which worked very well.

    Park amenities include private ocean access, horseshoes, playground, laundry, showers/bathrooms, free coffee in the morning, free weekend papers delivered to your site, free donuts on Sunday mornings, and a restaurant on-site. The park organizes a lot of group activities including pot lucks, lobster shore dinners, and free wine and beer during Friday Happy Hours. The laundry has two wash machines/dryers and was clean and tidy.

    The Moorings is in a great location. It is just a few miles from downtown Belfast where you will find restaurants, a brewery, boutiques, a movie theater, art galleries, historic museums/sites, and plenty of water-related activities. Grocery stores and fuel stations are within a few miles of the RV Park. Just a mere 20 miles away is the popular coastal town of Camden.   

    What we liked about this park is the town of Belfast and how close the RV park is to downtown. Also, the parks small size and friendly people make this an enjoyable place to stay. We like the fact that they had social activities (like free happy hour and donuts) that bring people together. The ocean access in this park is great! A short set of stairs takes you down to the water which is great for exploring, launching kayaks, and letting the dog run/swim when the tide is out. 

    The biggest downside for us was the price and lack of sewer and 50 amp at some sites. Our site was $66/night for a FHU (50 amp) pull-thru on the hill in the front of the park without much in the way of a water view. Premier oceanfront sites (with no sewer and 30 amps) are $72/night during high season. That being said, there are not too many options for campgrounds in the Belfast area and we really did like staying here. 

    From a dog owners perspective this park gets mixed reviews. The rules ask that dogs be on a 4’ or less lease, you may only have two pets (unless you get prior approval), they must do their business in one small area and are not allowed on most grassy areas throughout the park. We make a consorted effort not too let our dog pee or poop in others yards but we don’t always have control over where that happens. We did like the fact that you could take them down to the ocean to play in the water and on the beach when the tide was out. Within two miles of the RV park is Moose Point State Park with a few miles of hiking trails, picnic area and water access (a daily use fee is charged). Downtown Belfast does have a fenced off-leash 1.4 – acre dog park with water for dogs and benches for owners.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2021

    Freeport / Durham KOA

    Good Location, Clean, Lots of Camping Options

    I have a love– hate relationship with KOA campgrounds. They tend to be overpriced and not consistent. You will find one that has nice sites at a decent price. Then, there are the others which are complete opposite. This KOA is on my good side.  There are lots of site choices, cabins, yurts, and tent sites to choose from.  The location is good as it is about 10-15 minutes far from the town of Freeport(home to L.L. Bean and tons of outlet stores), the pretty coastal town of South Freeport, four craft breweries and a cidery, and Bradbury Mountain State Park. The owners and work campers are very friendly and the super welcoming. Normally I am not concerned how nice people are but they go out of their way to make sure you get all the discounts you can and put you in a site that you prefer. 

    We have stayed here a few times and are always impressed how well-cared for the grounds are and how and clean the common areas, bathrooms, and pool are. The grass is always cut, weeds trimmed, fire pits cleaned and there is no trash lying on the ground. There are lots of seasonal sites but they are in the back portion of the park with the transients being in the front. The park has nice super long 50 amp FHU pull-thrus in the front of the park which will fit any length RV and tow vehicle. Some of these sites are “buddy” sites with a shared patio, but are so wide that even if you don’t know your neighbors, it would not be a bother because you are far enough apart. The only downside to these pull thrus is there is no shade. We tend to be there in cooler months so shade is not a problem. However, the rest of the campground has a very park-like feel with over 50 acres there is plenty of room to roam and even a short nature trail through a wooded area. Many sites backup against the woods or are in wooded areas so keep that in mind when making your reservation. We give this park two thumbs up for their dog park which is ten times the size of the average KOA dog park. My lab had plenty of room to run and chase a ball and there were never any other dogs there which was nice. Plus, it was clean and free of dog poop! Normally, there are plenty of activities like s’mores by the fire, crafts, pony rides (yes, they have their own ponies on site), ice cream social, hay rides but this year they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t use those amenities anyway so that wasn’t a problem but can see that would be fun activities for kids. We were in a buddy sites with our friends and liked the shared patio. Since we were in the open area, we were able to get both satellite with our roof-mounted dome and some over-the-air channels from Portland which is about 45 minutes away. All of our hook-ups were in an accessible place but we were also in a long pull thru and could position the RV in the site accordingly. 

    Some of the cons for this park are the lack of cable, so-so wifi, and the dusty gravel roads and pot holes. There are a few restrooms buildings scattered around the park which may not be close depending on what site you are in.

  • Christina V.
    Sep. 18, 2022

    Winslow Park And Campground

    Incredible View - with an RV Park Feel

    Winslow Park and Campground is a busy 100 campsite and park run by the town of Freeport, ME.

    We stayed in site #1 and were pleasantly surprised to not have any neighbors that night, which meant our site seemed larger than it ordinarily would have. The sites are small- similar to what you would find in an RV park. They are large enough to fit long class A and large tow vehicles into, but not much room is left between you and your neighbors, and there are few if any trees separating the sites.

    There are warm showers, but we did not find them to be very clean. Regardless, we did enjoy our stay at Winslow. There was a concert going on when we arrived, but the park was less busy when everyone left for the night. The sunrise over the bay view we had was absolutely incredible- we loved our waterfront view and it was definitely the best park about this site.

    At $50, this was also one of the more expensive sites we’ve stayed at. The view was definitely worth the price, but I don’t know if I would stay again simply because the RV park feel isn’t really our favorite aesthetic.

    Either way, we appreciated the proximity to Freeport and the amenities and view at the time!

    Of note: we visited the House of Hounds on Sniffspot the next morning so our dog could run and play- that ended up being one of our favorite things we have done on this trip. Omar has a beautiful open field that he lets people bring their dogs to play in and it was absolutely divine- especially since our guy doesn’t love other dogs so we can’t rely on dog parks for exercise. He enjoyed having the whole field to himself!

  • Tiffany N.
    Aug. 5, 2018

    Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground

    Wonderful!

    A beautiful place with a farm, campground and state park all together! There are tenting spots, camper spots and field spots. I recommend any with tree coverage. There are bathrooms close by to all, the main lodge is nice and the food at the snack shack is sooo good!! burgers, pizza, salad- all local and from their gardens. The working farm is open to visit and walk around. Pet the baby cows and see the pigs and goats. they have a ton of activities going on through the summer. Our huge tent site was $60 for a busy August weekend. totally reasonable! we had a lovely time despite the rain and will try to go again next year! The grounds are a short drive to downtown Freeport for shopping at the outlets and LLBean.

  • Jacquelin P.
    Aug. 6, 2018

    Old Quarry Ocean Adventures (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

    Perfect pet friendly campground near Acadia but far enough away

    Perfect pet friendly campground near Acadia but far enough away from it all. Friendly staff, peaceful nature setting on the water, and starry nights. Clean bathrooms and large campsites. Couldn’t have asked for more. Great also if you love kayaking or paddling!!

  • M
    Aug. 28, 2018

    Shore Hills Campground & RV Park

    Great Campground only minutes from Boothbay

    We just spent the weekend here and were very impressed with the water views and the size of the sites. The campground is pet friendly- I think almost everyone we saw had a dog. The facilities were clean although I did not use the showers as we have a travel trailer.There are many sites along the river that flows with the tide. Overall a great place to stay!

  • D
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Martin Stream Campground

    Hidden gem!

    This is a beautiful, family and pet friendly campground. Very well kept. The bathrooms and showers were always clean. Plenty of activities. There is a beautiful nature trail along the stream!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2021

    Searsport Shores Ocean Campground

    Small RV park

    Well maintained. Pet friendly BUT must be in leak at all times. Cannot be left alone in RV or vehicle. No sewer. Friendly atmosphere

  • R
    May. 17, 2021

    Freeport / Durham KOA

    Great spot, great hosts

    Kid and pet friendly. Lots of activities for kids including a flashlight candy hunt, water slide, and s’more roast. We’ve been coming back for years and the addition of a glamping tent, cabins, and domes have made it even nicer!


Guide to Bristol

Pet-friendly camping options around Bristol, Maine focus on woodland experiences and waterfront access. Bristol's coastal location in Lincoln County puts campers within easy reach of both tidal rivers and freshwater lakes. Several campgrounds in this area remain operational from May through October, closing during the colder months when temperatures regularly drop below freezing.

What to do

Kayaking at tidal inlets: Duck Puddle Campground provides water access with opportunities for paddling. "The lake is great for swimming and paddling," notes K R., who appreciates the "direct access to the lake" from waterfront sites.

Hiking on well-maintained trails: Local preserves offer walking paths with minimal elevation changes. "Nearby is the Ovens Mouth Preserve which has great hiking and nice water views and is just one of many nature preserves in the area which all are very nice, well-marked, well-maintained, and dog-friendly," according to a review from Nancy W.

Farm experiences: Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground combines camping with agricultural activities. "My kids enjoyed visiting with the farm animals and walking along the rocky shore each day. Plenty to do between biking, kayaking, farm experience and visiting downtown Freeport close by," shares Michele S.

Fresh seafood outings: Campers can purchase locally caught seafood near campgrounds. "Don't forget to add corn and potatoes. Fire pits are stone and awesome," advises Erin O. about the lobster delivery service at Meadowbrook Camping.

What campers like

Tidal beach exploration: The changing tides create unique shoreline experiences. "The tides are crazy in Maine so be careful if you use the boat launch that you don't get stuck on a mud flat when the 9-11' tide disappears," warns a visitor to Shore Hills Campground & RV Park.

Quiet atmosphere: Many campers note the peaceful settings available. "The campground is pet friendly- I think almost everyone we saw had a dog. The facilities were clean although I did not use the showers as we have a travel trailer. There are many sites along the river that flows with the tide," reports Marje F.

Winter holiday celebrations: Some campgrounds host special events even in summer. "The weekend we stayed they happened to be celebrating 'Christmas in July' and so a lot of the campers had put up lights and decorated. They had a band play on Sat night and large bonfire. Everyone was invited to attend if they wanted to," explains rachel S.

Varied site options: Campgrounds offer different layouts based on preferences. "Boothbay Harbor is a cute coastal Maine town and Shore Hills Campground is a great location for visiting the downtown and other Maine towns like Wiscasset and Easy Boothbay. Shore Hills has a wide variety of sites that can accommodate everything from the biggest size RV to tents," notes a visitor.

What you should know

Shower facilities vary widely: Some campgrounds charge for hot water. "Bathrooms were dated but clean," reports rachel S. about Duck Puddle, while other campgrounds offer "clean bathroom, although chilly in the 3rd week in May," according to a visitor to Chewonki Campground.

Reservation systems differ: Traditional booking methods remain common. "Old school in that you have to call to make reservations and they do not accept credit cards," notes rachel S. about Shore Hills Campground.

Weather preparedness essential: Maine's coastal weather changes quickly. "It is coastal Maine and there are mean mosquitoes. My all natural bug spray which is usually strong enough for NY bugs is not effective there," warns a camper.

Site selection impacts privacy: Some campsites offer more seclusion than others. "The sites were fairly close to each other but we had a site at the end that had wonderful views of the river and we could angle our camper so we had privacy," describes rachel S.

Tips for camping with families

Activity planning around tides: Schedule water activities according to tidal patterns. "The river is tidal and so unless you want to wade threw mud there is not access beyond a couple hours around high tide," explains a camper at Shore Hills.

Farm-based education: Boothbay Craft Brewery & RV Resort offers family-friendly activities beyond just camping. "The brewery is really cool, and the wood fired pizza is some of my favorite. The folks who run this place are really friendly and accommodating," shares Joe R.

Playground accessibility: Some campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. "Bathrooms are dated but clean. The site we had was on the water and had great views. It was surrounded by trees and had decent spacing between neighbors," notes rachel S., who appreciated the family-friendly atmosphere at Duck Puddle Campground.

Beach proximity: Certain campgrounds offer walking access to public beaches. "A short walk to the white sands beach and short drive to sightseeing," reports Anita B. about Sherwood Forest Campsite.

Tips from RVers

Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional preparation. "The sites are not level and most are not shaded or very wide," cautions Joy P. about certain campgrounds in the area.

Electrical capacity varies: Amperage options differ between sites. "We had a pull through site which worked really well for newbies like my wife and I," shares Joe R. about Boothbay Craft Brewery & RV Resort.

Waterfront accessibility: RV sites with water views often lack privacy. "The RV spots are in a very open field, but they are directly on the water. When the tide goes out you have the entire inlet to walk around in and explore," explains Michael H. about waterfront camping at Sagadahoc Bay Campground.

Waste management considerations: Trash services are sometimes included. "Each site has its own garbage can which I super convenient. Hook-ups at our site worked fine and were well-placed and easy to connect to," reports a visitor to Shore Hills Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bristol, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bristol, ME is Duck Puddle Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 11 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bristol, ME?

TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Bristol, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.