Kelly G.
Guide
GuidePontiac Lake Recreation Area
Private camping
Very private sites. I was surprised at how well each site was hidden from the others. Restrooms can be a bit far from some sites. Nice little dog park by the beach too.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Clay, MI
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Algonac State Park Campground provides pets-allowed camping with river and wagon wheel loops offering distinctly different settings. Sites along the St. Clair River provide views of passing freighters while the wooded Wagon Wheel area offers more shade and privacy. All sites accommodate both tents and RVs with modern amenities including showers, toilets, and picnic tables. Pets must remain leashed throughout the campground. Most visitors report the bathhouses are clean and well-maintained, though sites can be close together, particularly in the wagon wheel section. Thousand Trails St. Clair and Port Huron KOA also welcome pets, with both offering cabin accommodations for campers traveling with dogs.
Hiking trails throughout Algonac State Park allow for exercise with leashed dogs, with many campers noting the bike trail that runs through the park toward Algonac. The park features multiple recreation options including an archery range and shooting range. Mosquitoes can be problematic in summer months, particularly in wooded areas, so pet owners should bring appropriate insect repellent. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with the park open year-round but offering limited services during winter camping. Most nearby campgrounds operate seasonally, typically from late April through October. The riverfront location provides ample opportunities to watch massive freighters passing by at all hours of the day, creating a unique camping experience while still allowing pets to accompany their owners.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Clay (28)
1. Algonac State Park Campground
"I've stayed all over michigan, and this is one of the best. Your right close to the water, so you can watch the ships. I was very comfortable here, and I had my dog."
"Great campground with access to the beautiful St. Clair River as it runs between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair."
2. Thousand Trails St. Clair
3. Port Huron KOA
"They do have a little amusement park right next door so that can help entertain the young ones for a while and we did appreciate the dog park."
"This is probably the best campground in Michigan. Lots of activities to do. Swimming pools, bicycles for rent, playgrounds, pizza, children's train, etc."
4. Addison Oaks County Park
"The beach is nice, a little small, but clean and fun (would be nice if your pets were allowed to swim also). The only real negative I have is that for each group site there is a single fire pit."
"The park has a beautiful 2.5 mile trail around the lake that makes this campground great. We brought our own kayaks but they do rent boats. We saw deer and rabbit."
5. Lakeport State Park Campground
"Right off Lake Michigan. Great trails for easy bike riding. Helpful, friendly staff"
"Lakeport is one of the hidden gems in Michigan. We all have heard that you can find Petoskey Stones in Northern Michigan, well.... look no further!!!!!"
from $30 - $34 / night
Check Availability6. Ridgewood Campground
"The site was a larger site (#12) tucked nicely away in a corner. Picnic Table and Nice Fire Ring onsite. Port-a-potty, dumpster near site."
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability7. KOA Campground Emmett
"The drive is short and there are plenty of amenities to keep the kiddos busy all day."
"We will definitely come back when it is warm enough to swim in the lake!"
8. McGinnis Lake Campground — Holly Recreation Area
"Lots and lots of hiking available , pets allowed which is awesome, disc golfing , lakes for great kayaking and there is a wonderful beach! Something for everyone!"
"Group area is away from the main area. Kayak lakes are nice. Excellent hike/bike trails. Park is located just down the road from the Holly Oaks Off road park."
from $27 - $30 / night
Check Availability9. Port Huron Township RV Park
10. Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
"Nice little dog park by the beach too."
"Only drawback is the distance from the lake. The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive."
from $22 / night
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Drive Time
- 1 hr 1 min from Detroit, MI
- 1 hr 29 min from Flint, MI
- 1 hr 31 min from Monroe, MI
- 1 hr 31 min from Ann Arbor, MI
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Clay, MI
27 Photos of 28 Clay Campgrounds
The Dyrt
Thousand Trails St. Clair
Alex H.
Port Huron KOA
Charlynn G.
Dancing Fire Glamping and RV Resort
Richard T.
Oakland County Addison Oaks
Joe S.
Addison Oaks County Park
Jennifer M.
Lakeport State Park Campground
Kelly G.
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
Holly G.
Proud Lake Recreation Area
Magy C.
McGinnis Lake Campground — Holly Recreation Area
Beth G.
Groveland Oaks County Park
Beth G.
The Holly Campground
Sarah
Lexington Park Campground
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Clay, MI
257 Reviews of 28 Clay Campgrounds
- Doug M.
ScoutClear Water Campgrounds
Love, love, love this campground.
This is a quiet, friendly and family campground. The staff is very willing to help any way they can. The sites are level and spacious.
A great place for the kids! With a beach, playground and paved roads is nice but the frosting in this cake is the petting zoo. Animals from bunnies, peacocks & cats to horses, goats and of course Milton the burro, get it? Milton Burro, LOL
The store has stuff for the kids at very reasonable prices and the ice cream shop across the street is a nice walk after dinner. There's a light there for safe crossing, too.
Try this place, you'll add this to your good memories.
No credit or debit cards. Cash and checks only.
- LLisa D.
RangerClearwater Campground
Nice!
A fun little campground with a nice bunch of petting zoo type animals! The beach is clean and the lake is warm! Very nice layout with walking trail around the lake. The only complaint was not nearly enough trash cans around (like, none easy to find) and the bathrooms were nasty for our 2 day visit. Price per night for full hook up was $40 :-)
- KKeith K.
TravelerPort Huron KOA
Commercialized
If you like this type of camping then this theme park camping is for you. It's right in town with sparse trees and very small sites. Make sure to mark the max allowed occupancy to be camping because, if you don't, you will be charged extra cash for your child to spend the day with you while spending money on their amenities. They do have a little amusement park right next door so that can help entertain the young ones for a while and we did appreciate the dog park. It's not a horrible place as we did enjoy ourselves the first visit there. The campsite we had was in the back, between 2 cabins, and that one was actually a decent size. The 2nd trip was a bummer as we were reprimanded for having my girlfriends daughter show up and have breakfast with us. Which, by the way, we bought from the and she shopped in their souvenir store and purchased items. We had to pay another $5 so we could spend that extra money at their campground. Other than that, enjoy.
Noel L.GuideClearwater Campground
Nice private campground.
Level sites with full hookup. Catch and release fishing pond. Nice little swimming area. Nice playground. Cute little petting zoo. Stayed for a week at $320.
- Maggie M.Guide
McGinnis Lake Campground — Holly Recreation Area
Everything to do
Holly Rec is huge and there is so much you can do. Camping is pretty secluded. Lots and lots of hiking available , pets allowed which is awesome, disc golfing , lakes for great kayaking and there is a wonderful beach! Something for everyone! you can get away here , and take a much needed break from real life.
Pepper C.GuideProud Lake Recreation Area
Clean and plenty of trees
First time out with the camper and we wanted to stay close to home so we found a campground right outside the city. You couldn't tell how close we were because there were so many trees in the area. Looked like up north
While there are plenty of trees around the grounds and lake there are not too many trees between the camp sites so you do totally see your neighbor. Bathrooms were clean at all times. Showers available. I saw basketball and ladder ball. There is a big lake with a boat launch and swimming area. Pets are allowed (leashed) Fire pit and picnic table at camp site. It was a grass site and not paved, some definitely looked more even than others. I did see more activities but we did not check them out. We also didn't go hiking due to the air quality/Canadian fires.
We would go again for a quick get away!
- AAndrea K.Scout
Groveland Oaks County Park
SOOO much to do and what a beautiful place
We came here two years ago. My husband suggested the place because his family used to come here when he was a kid. There were many activities for everyone to do, especially for the kids. I don’t believe the cabins are pet friendly though. It’s probably the only reason we haven’t been back. We’ll definitely go back when we have a camper.
Kristina J.ScoutPontiac Lake Recreation Area
Nice sites but tons of bugs
We go here every year with friends and the staff is so nice. The spots are big and well maintained. The biggest drawback is the enormous amounts of mosquitos and ticks in the sites. Every night we had to triple check each other and our pets for ticks. We found at least 1a night on us. Last trip I came home with over 30 mosquito bites.
Guide to Clay
Algonac State Park Campground provides two distinct camping areas for pet owners. The riverfront loop offers sites with views of passing freighters along the St. Clair River, while the Wagon Wheel section offers more wooded, secluded sites where pets can enjoy natural surroundings. Leashed pets are welcome throughout the park, including all camping areas, trails, and day-use facilities. Mosquitos can be problematic for dogs, especially in the wooded sections during summer months. Port Huron KOA and Thousand Trails St. Clair also accommodate pets, with the latter offering cabin options where dogs are permitted. Most campgrounds maintain standard pet policies requiring dogs to be on leashes no longer than 6 feet, proper waste disposal, and pets never left unattended at campsites.
The park features several hiking trails suitable for dog walking, with the paved bike trail providing an excellent option for exercising pets on leashes. Freighter-watching with dogs is particularly popular along the riverfront sites, where many campers report spending hours with their pets observing the large ships pass by. The shooting range at Algonac State Park operates during daytime hours, which some reviewers note may cause anxiety in noise-sensitive dogs. Seasonal considerations impact the pet experience significantly—summer brings more mosquitoes that can bother pets, while spring and fall offer more comfortable temperatures for dog activities. Most campgrounds in the area provide water hookups where pet owners can refill water bowls, and the clean facilities at parks like Lakeport State Park and Addison Oaks County Park make for comfortable extended stays with pets.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Clay, MI is Algonac State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 25 reviews.
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What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Clay, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 dog-friendly camping locations near Clay, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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