The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Dog-Friendly Camping near Alden, MI

167 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites offers pet-friendly primitive camping with free sites in a forested setting near Alden. Pets are allowed in all areas of this dispersed camping location with basic vault toilets but no utilities or amenities. Pets must remain leashed throughout the camping area. For campers seeking more amenities with pets, Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort accommodates dogs at their tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts. Chain-O-Lakes Campground receives consistently high ratings from pet owners, with sites described as spacious and clean. Barnes County Park Campground, Whitewater Township Park Campground, and Traverse City State Park also welcome pets with varying amenities including electric hookups, water access, and picnic tables.

    Several hiking trails near Alden campgrounds accommodate leashed dogs, with access to lakes for swimming. Chain-O-Lakes Campground is noted for its location close to Torch Lake and small towns, providing convenient access to pet-friendly recreation areas. Whitewater Township Park features hiking paths along Elk Lake suitable for dog walking. The campground is positioned on a hillside surrounded by pine trees, creating a comfortable environment for pets and owners. Showers and restrooms at most facilities are regularly cleaned. During peak summer season, securing pet-friendly sites requires advance booking, especially at popular campgrounds like Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort with its 366 sites and Traverse City State Park with year-round accessibility.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Alden (167)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Traverse City State Park Campground

      4.0(51)16mi from AldenRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Pets are allowed in the campground. The sites are a little tight, but if you are looking to hang out in Traverse City, this is a convenient location. Bathhouse was always well maintained."

      "300+ sites, pet friendly, sites for all shapes and sizes. Open year round, with heated cabins. It's a great location, just across from Traverse Bay with just across the road."

      Check Availability

      2. Whitewater Township Park Campground

      4.3(12)7mi from AldenRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "This park is situated up on a hill on beautiful Elk Lake. Elk Lake can easily access Torch River and into Torch Lake. It has a fantastic boat launch which we have used."

      "The park itself is positioned on a hillside next to a lake. We had a site at the top of the hill which I recommend."

      from $45 - $60 / night

      Check Availability

      3. Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort

      4.5(22)16mi from AldenRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This is also a pet friendly campground, so there are many dogs. Probably one of my favorite parts was dodgeball... and the multiple bike trails that connect to the VASA trail system."

      "We stayed here in our little offroad teardrop camper which looked like David & Goliath when contrasted against the massive 5th wheels surrounding us."

      from $60 - $260 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites

      4.6(10)12mi from AldenTents

      "Absolutely serene and secluded in the gorgeous northern Michigan wilderness. This is a park and walk camping spot. Also permits are apparently required as this is a state park."

      "great spots near lakeside hiking nearby

      quiet, hardly saw anyone"

      Check Availability

      5. Barnes County Park Campground

      4.7(16)16mi from AldenRVs, Tents

      "Some of them are so close to Lake Michigan, you can just walk on a path through some trees right up to the water! There are restrooms here, and a general store nearby."

      "Beautiful park on the shore of Lake Michigan. Great for kids, as a sand bar goes out quite a **distance. **"

      Check Availability

      6. Chain-O-Lakes Campground

      5.0(4)5mi from AldenRVs, Tents

      "Chain O'Lakes Park has it all: trails to hike, horses to ride, boats to row, and fish to catch! After an adventure- packed day, you can return to your nearby campsite for some rest and relaxation."

      "Rooms: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Location: 5/5 Nearby activities Super close to torch lake and lots of great small towns."

      from $29 - $44 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Honcho Rest Campground

      4.7(3)6mi from AldenRVs, Tents

      "It is situated on a small lake that is great for fishing, boating, or kayaking. There are also little cabins you can rent that are very cute."

      "Slow, Grandparents at Play” are what the signs around the campground boast, which tells you a bit about their target audience at this lovely little RV only lakeside campground in the heart of Elk Rapids"

      Check Availability

      8. Leelanau State Park Campground

      4.7(37)26mi from AldenRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Our campsite was feet away from Lake Michigan- practically on the shoreline! Going to bed and waking up to the lapping of the waves is something you can’t miss here."

      "beautiful park next to the lighthouse. no showerhouse or flushing bathrooms...portajohns only.water pumps to get water from...and beautiful views of Lake Michigan"

      from $20 / night

      Check Availability

      9. Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground

      5.0(4)12mi from AldenRVs, Tents

      "One is reservable and drive-in with access to the lake. We decided to backpack about 3 miles in and camp in the rustic hike in sites."

      "Beautiful and quiet stay at the intersection of the NCT and Shore to shore trail. Miles of hiking trails, easy access to the lake for fishing and kayaking. Be aware the tick population has exploded."

      Check Availability

      10. Kalkaska RV Park & Campground

      4.6(5)13mi from AldenRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "1/2 hr outside Traverse City. Nice away from the busy areas.
      The campground needs some attention which will be addressed by the new owners. Very dusty, loose sand uneven entrance."

      "Nice beautiful campground situated in a nice woods setting. Sprayed for bugs so the bugs were not much of a nuisance. The camp sites are a nice firm gravel and pretty level."

      Check Availability
    View all 167 campgrounds

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Alden Contest

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time

    Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Alden, MI

    121 Photos of 167 Alden Campgrounds

    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Alden, MI

    1051 Reviews of 167 Alden Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 8, 2017

      Traverse City State Park Campground

      Great Proximity to Downtown, Beach, and Breweries.

      The location of this campground is great and it's best feature in my opinion! This park is just two miles to downtown Traverse City (one of Michigan’s most popular resort towns), a quarter mile from a pretty beach and the beautiful blue waters of Lake Michigan, and it sits along the TART Trail which is a 10.5-mile bicycle trail running through the city.

      While the park is small at just 47 acres, it holds pretty many campsites – approximately 350 (and two cabins). Campsites are set among tall pine trees so there is a bit of shade but that also means that they are sandy with little grass. Roads are paved and narrow if you are trying to maneuver with a large (40+ RV) and you may have difficulty backing into your site with the numerous trees lining the road. All sites are back-in with electric. Sites and patios are sandy with varying degrees of levelness. There is a dump station and water spigots are scattered throughout the campground. Picnic tables and fire pits are at each site. Sites are $31/night ($49/night for the cabins) and reserveable online.

      This park is right on US-31/M-72 which means there is easy access in and out but it can be noisy if your campsite is close to the road. Expect the campground to be very busy on weekends and in the summer and tightly packed.

      Amenities include: picnic area, beach, fishing, hiking/bicycling trail, three bathhouses, playground area, camp store, pet walk (no off-leash dog park).

      Outside of the park there is a lot to do in Traverse City. Early July is the ever-popular Cherry Festival which lasts for a week. But you better book your campsite early if you want to enjoy all the festivities (which happen to be close to the park). The summer farmers market is great and held every Wednesday and Saturday. Early in the season, asparagus is plentiful and locally-grown asparagus is the best you will ever have being super sweet, tender, and inexpensive. For beer drinkers, consider paddling the beer trail that takes you from Boardman Lake to Lake Michigan and past numerous breweries where you pull over for a pint. If it's ice cream you want, you have come to the right place. There are multiple creameries with Moomer's being our favorite and for some reason eating it right at the farm stand was the best.

    • S
      Sep. 5, 2021

      Gaylord KOA

      Horrible

      The owners were constantly driving around and correcting people. Rules are okay but they were over the top. They would even stop and just stare at our site while we sat outside.. it was very odd. Also not kept up at all. The playground was old and my 30 lb dog slipped out from under the “dog park” fence because it was so high off the ground where they were allowed to be unleashed, luckily we got her and she’s ok.

    • C
      Sep. 27, 2022

      Burt Lake State Park Campground

      Beautiful Lake and Park

      Large, level electric sites. Very large campground in general. Since we were there in September and mid week, it was quiet. Bath house clean, but a bit outdated. Nice beach and swimming area. Dog park and beach area for dogs. Large, grassy recreation area and nice playground. Park hosts on site with daily activities for campers. Town is nearby with restaurants, shopping, etc. Burt Lake is stunning. Bring your kayaks, boats, and fishing gear.

    • A
      Aug. 29, 2017

      Petoskey State Park Campground

      Great camping with awesome beach

      We spent a 4th of July weekend up in Petosky with our family. It was a perfect mixture of rustic modern camping. The facilities are nice and clean and the campground is well kept. Even on a busy holiday weekend it was so enjoyable. The beach was convenient to walk to and we enjoyed the 3 amazing fire work shows you can see on the 4th of July from the beach. The only downside is that no dogs are allowed on the beach which is kind of a bummer. There is a great dog park however in Petosky nearby.

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 1, 2017

      Wooden Shoe Campground

      Great place to relax and enjoy the water.

      Wooden Shoe Campground in Ellsworth, Michigan is a small campground set on a hill above Ellsworth Lake. This park is great if you want to sometime explore Michigan’s waterways. When we visited the park, it was about 25% full which made it very quiet and relaxing. There are some great sites that overlook the lake that are inviting for an evening fire and enjoying a pleasant view.

      The park has 45 RV sites with water, 30 amp electric, cable TV, and internet. There are seven designated tent sites in a heavily wooded area with some glimpses of the lake. Some sites have a nice amount of shade while those towards the front of the park are more open and have a better water view. Picnic tables and fire pits are at each site. The main road throughout the park is paved, in good condition, and easily navigable with even large RV. There is a dump station at the entrance of the park that is easy to get in and out of. A camp host is on site. The price per night to stay here is $25 and they offer a super inexpensive price of $125/week. Reservations can be made by emailing a reservation request or calling the city. 

      The town of Ellsworth is quite small with a couple of shops and restaurant or two. The quaint coastal town of Charlevoix is 10 minutes away where you will find plenty of shopping, restaurants, a pretty harbor, weekly live music (in the summer), a farmers market and really great library with a large room that has a great selection of books for sale for a few bucks. The towns of Boyne City and Boyne Falls are about 20 miles away and also worth visiting if you have the time. For dog owners, Boyne city has an off-leash dog park and Boyne Falls has a large ski resort that is perfect for walking dogs in the summer.  The larger town of Petoskey is about a 45 minute drive but well worth a visit. 

      If you want to “get away” and enjoy water activities this is a good place to come. There is a canoe/kayak boat launch just down the hill from the park that puts you in a narrow stretch of water that connects Lakes Ellsworth and Saint Clair. A short (approximately 1 mile) paddle into Lake Saint Claire lands you in a beautiful nature preserve administered by the Little Traverse Conservancy.  Be sure to visit Friske’s Orchard which has a fruit stand, bakery with pizza and sandwiches, general store and petting zoo and is only six miles away on Rt. 31.

      The good things about this park are the price, access to pretty water for kayaking/canoeing/fishing and the view from some of the sites. You are not too far from some of northern Michigan’s most popular towns yet only paying $25 night. The small size of this park gives it a quieter feel than some of the nearby state parks that have hundreds of sites. When we were there about half the campers appeared to be seasonal who come to enjoy the boating and fishing. Many of these people were not there during the week which made the park super quiet. 

      A couple dings for this park are that many of the sites are not level and even pitching a tent can be difficult. The bathroom/shower facilities are old and run down. The main bathhouse is located in the front of the park with port-a-potty’s scattered about. Some of the sites are close together and give a crowded feeling. 

      Overall, I would say this is an average park which is why it gets three stars.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vBh0Dej5Ro

    • Jill B.
      Apr. 21, 2019

      Traverse Bay RV Resort

      Very high-end class A Resort

      We have spent six weeks at this park for the last 6 years. We attend a horse show circuit near by. It is the creme de la creme of RV parks. The sites are individually owned (and leased out) and many of the owners have made their lots very nice. The park is limited to Class A, Fifth Wheels and Class C only. This park is dominated by big, very nice class A's.

      We have a 5th wheel and have appreciated the amenities very much. Great wifi, curbside garbage pickup, trails, dog park, and many others. You are limited to 2 dogs, and they are very strict about leashes and picking up poop. But, that keeps the place looking nice.

      We enjoy it very much and it is so close to the horse show, it cannot be beat. Because they are such a popular place to stay during the show (July - mid August), they sites book up a year in advance.

    • N
      Jun. 23, 2022

      D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

      D.H. Day Campground

      Overall the campground has a very pleasant and rustic charm. The foliage helps create privacy but the campsites are close in proximity overall. The one warning that should be more clearly indicated is that there is poison ivy surrounding every single site so please be aware if you have pets and small children. The fact that there was so much poison ivy is the only reason I gave it four stars. Lake Michigan is a short walk away and you are able to walk to sleeping bear dunes along the beach. For those who would like convenience Glen Arbor is only five minutes down the main road and has a ton of restaurants, parks and a nice grocery store.

    • Macy M.
      Jul. 5, 2020

      Rvino - Camp Cadillac, LLC

      Great private campground

      Great little campground just on the outskirts of Cadillac. Great rates especially for full hookups. This was our first time at this park, we originally had a site next to the pool, but quickly realized our TT would not fit due to the trees. The front desk quickly changed our site and we were good to go. All sites were well maintained, they had a petting zoo (goats) and a store with a little game room in it. I would definitely come back.

    • Kristina M.
      Jul. 14, 2021

      Log Lake Campground

      Would never visit again

      First off we couldn’t park our trailer until a boat trailer was moved from our site. Then there was glass, rusty nails, and trash all over the site so we had to do a quick clean up of site before unpacking. It only got worse as night time came as the campers next to us drank and partied all night with half the campground, every night for our entire four day stay. They even smashed into our vehicle as they wrestled and sprayed silly string on each other at 1 a.m. When we ran to town for a few items we came back to their kids playing near our camper. They seemed to personally know the care takers as they were partying with them, so nothing was done about any of it. The following day we again went to town and these people allowed their guest to park in front of our camper, next to the hitch. The beach area was un-swimmable and full of trash, cigarette butts, duck poop as well as dog poop because it was used as a dog park. There were also old clothes and shoes left all over the beach area. The bathrooms were dirty and left with no soap. The woman’s bathroom looked recently painted but the men’s bathroom was completely disgusting. The showers had old food in them and you had to pay for tokens to use them. The trails were ok, the frisbee golf area also looked good. But that’s about the only good thing about this park. We would never pay money to stay here again.

    Guide to Alden

    Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites offers free, dispersed camping near Alden, Michigan in a dense pine forest setting with small lakes throughout. The campground sits at approximately 1,100 feet elevation in northern Michigan's hilly terrain. Winter temperatures can drop below 0°F with summer highs around 80°F, creating distinct seasonal camping experiences.

    What to do

    Kayaking on Elk Lake: Access clear waters from Whitewater Township Park Campground, which features a boat launch and pavilion. "The park is situated up on a hill on beautiful Elk Lake. Elk Lake can easily access Torch River and into Torch Lake. It has a fantastic boat launch which we have used," notes Ann D.

    Fishing: Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities in an undeveloped setting. "The lake is completely uninhibited and great for kayaking and fishing. The NCT 4600mi hiking trail runs through and the cross state horse trail skirts it and bikes are allowed on all trails," says Tom B.

    Local breweries: Visit Short's Brewing Company near Honcho Rest Campground. "We made the best of our time by going downtown Bellaire and visiting Shorts Brewing. The little town has some cute shops and is only 8 minutes from the campground," says Erica L. from Chain-O-Lakes Campground.

    What campers like

    Privacy in natural settings: Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites delivers true seclusion. "Great spots near lakeside, hiking nearby, quiet, hardly saw anyone," reports Roger V. The backcountry experience includes trails connecting multiple small lakes.

    Nearby town access: Campers appreciate proximity to small towns for supplies and entertainment. "The campground is close to Elk Rapids which is what I really cared about. The sites are nice and large," writes Sarah P. about Whitewater Township Park.

    Spacious, shaded sites: Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort offers well-spaced campsites. "The trees keep your site blanketed in shade all day long," notes Michelle S., while another camper adds "In the woods finally a campground that's not a parking lot."

    What you should know

    Rustic facilities: Most backcountry sites have vault toilets only. "Pit toilets only as I recall," Julie V. mentions about Leelanau State Park Campground, while others note many smaller campgrounds have no shower facilities.

    Wildlife awareness: Local wildlife can be persistent. "Raccoons are insane! They are not afraid of anything. We were very good about putting everything away so we only had them visit our site a few times but the dumpster is full of them," warns a camper at Leelanau State Park.

    Reservation timing: Barnes County Park Campground fills quickly during summer months. "Reservations are first come first serve and aren't taken until early April. So book early," advises Jennifer B. This 55-site campground on Lake Michigan remains popular throughout the camping season.

    Tips for camping with families

    Kid-friendly activities: Chain-O-Lakes Campground provides numerous child-oriented amenities. "Chain O'Lakes Park has it all: trails to hike, horses to ride, boats to row, and fish to catch! After an adventure-packed day, you can return to your nearby campsite for some rest and relaxation," says Brett F.

    Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. "The new playground was a hit for the kids, one of the best playgrounds we have experienced at a state park," notes a camper about Leelanau State Park Campground.

    Dog-friendly trails: Whitewater Township Park includes hiking paths suitable for dogs. "There are hiking trails nearby and the campground is about 15 minutes away from the quaint town of Elk Rapids," explains Ann D., making this one of the more accessible dog friendly campgrounds near Alden.

    Tips from RVers

    Site leveling needs: Kalkaska RV Park & Campground requires some preparation. "Site is gravel and dirt. It is a pull through site that required us to do quite a bit of leveling. The hookups are rather far away so we needed extensions," explains Hope C.

    Full hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer limited full-service sites. "We had site 134 with electric at site and centrally located bathhouse with hot water and well kept. Dish washing station available," notes Colleen S. about Traverse City State Park.

    Extension cords needed: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Alden have hookups positioned at varying distances from sites. "The hookups are rather far away so we needed extensions. Our site required us to pull through in such a way that the hookups were on the opposite side of our coach," reports a camper at Kalkaska RV Park.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Alden, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Alden, MI is Traverse City State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 51 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Alden, MI?

    TheDyrt.com has all 167 dog-friendly camping locations near Alden, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

    Keep Exploring