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Dog-Friendly Camping near Essex, MA

64 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Cape Ann Camp Site welcomes dogs at its wooded campsites in Gloucester, just north of Essex. The campground maintains several pet-friendly amenities across its tent sites, RV spaces, and cabins, with no additional pet fees charged. Sites feature fire rings, picnic tables, and enough space between campsites to allow dogs some room to explore while leashed. Winter Island Park in Salem also accommodates pets at both its tent and RV sites, though pets must remain on leash throughout the property. Each campsite has enough space for multiple tents and camping gear while still having room for dogs to rest comfortably. Bathroom facilities at both campgrounds remain clean and well-maintained, important for campers staying multiple nights with pets.

    Trails near these campgrounds provide opportunities for dog walking, with Winter Island Park offering seaside paths where dogs can enjoy ocean views alongside their owners. The short 2-mile distance from Winter Island Park to downtown Salem makes it convenient for accessing veterinary services if needed during your stay. Wildlife such as raccoons and skunks frequent both campgrounds, particularly at night, requiring careful food storage and pet supervision. Essex campers should note that many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with Cape Ann Camp Site open May 15 to October 15 and Winter Island Park available May 1 to October 31. Beach access near Cape Ann provides dogs with tide pool exploration and swimming opportunities, though some beaches may have seasonal restrictions for pets. Campground roads can become muddy after rain, something to consider when walking dogs around the property.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Essex (64)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Cape Ann Camp Site

      4.1(16)4mi from EssexRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Beautiful campsite, nice sized sites surrounded by trees so it felt pretty private. Bathrooms and showers well maintained, 25 cents for 5 minute shower."

      "Perfect location with access to Rockport - a beautiful place to visit, shop, eat & a great little trail with great views Beach down the street was big, beautiful and low tide was unexpected as you"

      from $36 - $44 / night

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      2. Salisbury Beach State Reservation

      4.2(27)13mi from Essex451 sitesRVs, Tents

      "We love that it is right on the water, and we can walk to the beach. We also appreciate that it is pet friendly, and our dogs love it too."

      "However, you can’t beat the location and it’s a great place to go with a group."

      from $28 - $38 / night

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      3. Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

      4.5(33)16mi from Essex86 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Every site seems to have its own water spigot, though it's not necessarily conveniently located if you want to hook up a trailer/RV. There are 11 sites with water/electric."

      "You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size. All sites have water which is a plus."

      from $17 - $45 / night

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      4. Winter Island Park

      4.4(15)9mi from Essex44 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Each site has a grill and shade.you can bring your pets and campfires need to be off the ground. There was 2 weddings while we where their."

      "Many of the RV sites are located in the main parking lot; others are in a field just to the right of the entrance."

      from $60 / night

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      5. Beach Rose RV Park

      4.2(14)15mi from EssexRVs

      "Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts is a small, friendly, family-owned campground near the beach."

      "Kids had enough driving for the day so we had to stop. We called last min and were thankful they had a spot. Arrived at dark and they were friendly and accommodating."

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      6. Tuxbury Pond RV Campground

      3.0(15)19mi from EssexRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "entrance (seems to happen frequently, I guess)."

      "We went just for one night with a tent because our 5 years old loooves camping, so we reserved this at the last minute, and when we get there, well, the tent sites are way too close to each other, thank"

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      7. Wompatuck State Park Campground

      4.3(42)30mi from Essex253 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Water from nearby facet. Because it was local and had history behind it. Rhe campground is within a state park and is built on a old military base."

      "We had a dog with us as well and the grounds were very pet friendly. Our campsite was huge and had plenty of room for both of our tents, was very flat, and felt private."

      from $17 - $23 / night

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      8. Wakeda Campground, LLC

      4.6(16)23mi from EssexRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "They also had a game room, miniature golf, coffee shop and dog park.
      The first campsite they assigned to us was very secluded but unfortunately, we were coming in during a major rainstorm."

      "I came here last year with my dog.  We only stayed two nights. "

      from $48 - $97 / night

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      9. The Pines Camping Area

      4.0(4)14mi from EssexRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "There’s not much around here to do, but for us we enjoyed the calmness."

      from $35 - $46 / night

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      10. Hampton Beach State Park Campground

      4.3(7)18mi from Essex29 sitesRVs

      "One side of the campground is bordered by an inlet that fishing boats use to head out from the harbor. Another side is sand dunes, that are the south end of Hampton beach."

      "Hampton Beach SP is a small beachside campground for self-contained RVs only; if you’re in a tent, you may want to look south to Salisbury SP just a few miles across the border into MA."

      from $70 / night

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    Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Essex, MA

    55 Photos of 64 Essex Campgrounds

    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Essex, MA

    567 Reviews of 64 Essex Campgrounds

    • Pawsfuradventure T.
      Jul. 22, 2018

      Wakeda Campground, LLC

      Beautiful forest

      We stayed At Wakeda Campground overnight during a trip from Maine back to Long Island, NY. It was located very close off of 95 and allows pets. We were overwhelmed by the beautiful massive forest. The campground was splendid with old tall, pine trees everywhere. They offered electric, water, and sewer hook up, trading post that had camping goods and snacks, WiFi hotspot, pool table, and lounging area. They also had a game room, miniature golf, coffee shop and dog park.

      The first campsite they assigned to us was very secluded but unfortunately, we were coming in during a major rainstorm. That site was a little flooded so we chose another. It still had beautiful trees surrounding it but not as secluded from neighbors. There are also many seasonal campers there but all of their sites were beautifully decorated with flowers and such. Everyone was friendly that we encountered during our stay.

      We had bathrooms located near our site. They were four separate bathrooms that had a sink and toilet and were clean. They did offer showers in another area but I did not use them.

      Walking around we saw wild turkeys, bunnies, and a hummingbird. It would have been great if they offered a nature trail in the campground since the forest was so beautiful. There were paths that went into the woods but they were marked for employees only.

      The next day we wanted to go for a hike before we hit the road. Unfortunately, the state parks near the campsite do not allow dogs during late Spring to early Fall. Using our Bring Fido App, we found Rails to Trails nearby that we could bring our dog and hiking cat. We did the Salisbury Point Ghost Trail that was nice and shady, though flat, but a nice leisurely walk for all of us.

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 9, 2026

      Pinewood Lodge Campground

      Nice woodsy campsite with lots of amenities

      We visited in early June and really appreciated the shade at our site as the temps rose into the mid-80’s. There are lots of tall pine trees but are trimmed back and not a problem getting or big-rig through the park or in our site. We loved site 47 which was long and level with nice grass around it. The next site (46) was pretty close, but luckily nobody was in it while we visited. Our patio area was fairly large with no other sites next to it, just a road. We chose a 50A/water pull thru site and the electric was good at 124 volts on each leg. Honey wagon service is quite expensive at $35/pump out, or you can use the dump station for free. We used the campground cable tv and got about 60 stations, included the major stations (local news was out of Boston). This was a good thing since the trees blocked our Dish receiver from getting any channels. The wifi was 2.4G and just o.k. You could surf the internet but definitely not strong enough to stream.  I went to the lodge and got great wifi speed to download movies quickly. 

      The campground is gated and charges$15/day for visitors. There are lots of amenities. There is a good access to a small lake (with a canoe/kayak launch and rentals), fishing pier (for catch and release, no license required), ice cream stand, food truck, playground, a large dog park (with two runs), laundry, playground, horseshoes, etc. The campground is conveniently to the downtown Plymouth attractions (10 minutes) and a grocery store (2 miles).  

      The biggest downside was the dust since most of the roads are gravel. It was very dry during our visit and the dust was crazy. Another negative was the $5/day pet fee. There are restrictions as to where you can walk your pets in the campground and they are not allowed on the beach.  There is a good size dog park with two runs.  If you dog is afraid of gunshots, do not come here as there is a gun range nearby that is pretty loud.

    • Paulina B.
      Jun. 21, 2024

      Thousand Trails Moody Beach

      Consider Thousand Trails Membership for Better Value

      Consider the Thousand Trails membership when booking this site. Our annual membership fees basically covered what it would cost to camp here for two weeks.

      The campground has good proximity to Orchard Beach and Portland. However, the spots are pretty tight, and the WiFi is awful away from the registration office. We were in the wooded area, but those camping on the outskirts seemed able to utilize their Starlink.

      The dog park and pool were small but nice. The bathroom facilities were pretty good, though they weren't cleaned as often as they should be.

    • Jeff & Steff’s Excellent Adventure
      Jul. 7, 2022

      Beach Rose RV Park

      Nice small campground near the beach!

      Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts is a small, friendly, family-owned campground near the beach. The staff was very accommodating and went out of their way to find us a spot on a busy holiday weekend due to a campground mishap. The park is very clean and they have a nice swimming pool and amenities. The dog park area was large and shady, but a lot of mosquitos. You are pretty close to your neighbors, but the sites do accommodate bigger rigs because of the length. The sites are 30/50 amp FHU and wifi was decent. The best thing about Beach Rose RV Park is the proximity to the beach and town. Who doesn’t love a day at the beach? 💗😬👍🏻

      For videos on this campground and others, check out our YouTube channel: Jeff & Steff’s Excellent Adventure.

    • L
      Jul. 6, 2020

      Wakeda Campground, LLC

      Friendly, with a great location

      I came here last year with my dog.  We only stayed two nights.  It was his first time camping, so I made a note in my reservation request that I'd like a fairly remote site - just in case he got loud.  They put me in the perfect site, near the dog park (they have a dog park!).  When the forecast changed to thunderstorms, they let me switch my dates without any hassle.  The location is convenient for Newburyport, Portsmouth, and the Seacoast.   We ended up having a lovely stay.

      Just a note, I took my dog for a walk around the campground and noticed that many of the other sites were rather close together - including the cabins.  Some people don't mind, and even enjoy, close neighbors.  If you're like me, however, you'll want to ask for a more remote site.

      One more thing to note; I booked through Rover Pass and ended up paying them a fee.  Next time I'll contact the park directly.

      I'm looking forward to another trip soon!

    • Jean R.
      Aug. 30, 2022

      Pinewood Lodge Campground

      Beautiful

      Nice and quiet, here for a 3 night stay. 4 star because there are signs posted No dogs allowed on the road to the beach or other areas in the campground, limits walking. There is a dog park, though.

    • p
      Jul. 18, 2021

      Wakeda Campground, LLC

      Great for kids and dogs!

      Nice clean camp ground. Beautiful dog park with agility course. Restrooms were clean and centrally located.

    • Shawn C.
      Sep. 16, 2020

      Wompatuck State Park Campground

      Great spot with Plenty of History

      We chose this spot for a family weekend. Sites are spacious. Water from nearby facet. Because it was local and had history behind it. Rhe campground is within a state park and is built on a old military base. You can still see some bunkers with their vents all around the campground. Blue Mountain spring water can be found right near campground for some refreshing water. We brought our chow chows and their was a great harbor side dog park a short drive away along with some swimming. I would visit again.

    • G
      Aug. 21, 2020

      Wakeda Campground, LLC

      Seasonal camper oriented, but comfortable for a short stay

      We stayed for two nights at Wakeda with our travel trailer. The paved roads were a plus, as was a very level campsite. The majority of campers seemed to be there for the season and were their own little community. 

      Our full hookup site was very close to other sites, so unfortunately we had to deal with some noise issues. We could hear our neighbors loudly talking at 2 AM, and also were treated to the sound of the same neighbor's dog barking for hours during the when they left him alone. That being said, this was not the fault of the campground itself.

      Wakeda's proximity to Hampton Beach was awesome -- a less than 15-minute drive for us. We also enjoyed the dog park. It was spacious and well maintained.

    Guide to Essex

    Discover the joy of camping with your furry friends near Essex, Massachusetts, where several campgrounds welcome pets and offer a range of amenities and activities for a memorable outdoor experience.

    Tips for camping with dogs near Essex

    Pet owners like the variety of activities available

    Dog owners appreciate the amenities designed for comfort

    • Cape Ann Camp Site offers well-maintained facilities, ensuring a clean and comfortable stay for both you and your pet.
    • Black Bear Campground features a nice pool and playground, making it a family-friendly option for those traveling with pets.
    • The Pines Camping Area is praised for its friendly staff and clean restrooms, providing a welcoming atmosphere for pet owners.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Essex, MA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Essex, MA is Cape Ann Camp Site with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Essex, MA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near Essex, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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