Washoe Lake State Park Campground allows pets throughout its lakeside sites, equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and water hookups. Campers with dogs benefit from the park's clearly maintained pathways and open spaces. Davis Creek Regional Park features pet-friendly sites for both tent and RV campers, with water and electric hookups available. Sites are incredibly level and nicely bordered at Mount Rose Campground, with cement pads containing picnic tables, BBQs and fire pits. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be leashed at all times, limited to two pets per site, and never left unattended.
Hiking trails near Lake Tahoe offer numerous pet exercise opportunities with Martis Creek Lake providing additional dog swimming access behind Alpine Meadow Campground. North Canyon Campground remains accessible year-round with bear lockers and toilet facilities but no running water for pets. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours starting at 10pm to minimize barking disturbances. Tahoe State Recreation Area Campground features a biking trail cutting through the grounds that follows the Truckee River, ideal for dog walks. The mountain backdrop creates cooler temperatures even during summer months, requiring pet owners to pack accordingly as nighttime temperatures can drop into the 30s in spring. Portable water bowls and waste bags are essential as amenities vary significantly between established campgrounds.
$30 / night
"The spaces are a good size but kinda close to one another. Rangers are friendly and often stop by just to see how things are going. Currently there's a fire ban but they do have fire pits."
"This is one of my fav hiking locations in Nevada! I love the variety. There are different levels of hikes from easy to more difficult."
$22 - $44 / night
"Coming from a state that has water around it, then moving to nevada really made me sad but not even 2 hrs away you will find this refreshing water of truckee river!"
"It is RV/Camper, tent & dog friendly. Though there are very few "tent only" sites. They have non-flushing restrooms with TP!"
$42 - $118 / night
"Yes, we were on the back end, so as far from the lake as you could be, and yes there are cabins that butt up to some of the sites."
"The sites were large considering the prime Tahoe location - we had plenty of space for our 9x8ft tent. "
$29 - $407 / night
"We've always like zephyr cove as it's a bit away from the south shore hectic crowds. Zephyr cove rv park has a ton of rvs, but rent camping as well."
"No one was there in January so we were able to take the dogs for a decent hike into the back sites. If you are planning to walk in to a site with a tent the actual site location matters."
$35 - $475 / night
"day, so we needed to be able to shower. this campground was perfect. far enough below Tahoe City to be quiet, yet close enough to be able to go into town for any necessary supplies (about 15 minutes) dogs"
"I had the opportunity to stay in this campground when it was nearly empty."
$96 - $479 / night
"Great dog park"
"The dog park is AMAZING HUGE AND FENCED."
$35 - $165 / night
"Upper Pines Campground#74 Pros:
-Ice sold at campsite for $4 per pack- proceeds go to state park
-Clean bathrooms close-by
-Partial shade
-Close~ 1mi. walk to Lester beach, calawee cove"
"The campground location is perfect, with access to beautiful beaches and hiking trails. From the campground you can walk to the start of the Rubicon trail."
$47 - $128 / night
"The campground itself is beautiful, walking distance to Fallen Leaf Lake and short drive to South Lake Tahoe. My husband, my pup and I liked the campsite a lot."
"From the East you’ll pass thru all of that, past the Camp Richardson and finally turn away from Lake Tahoe into Fallen Leaf Campground."
$55 - $57 / night
"The beach is about a 5 minute walk from any spot. Only complaints are the beach is not dog friendly so if you have your dog you can’t go onto the beach but, you can drive close to a dog beach."
"Just a small walk away from Lake Tahoe shore. Big beautiful trees cover the entire campground. A couple bathrooms that surprisingly do not smell bad and have a running faucet."
$20 / night
"Lake is calm, but it was too windy to set up the tent. Overnight temps in the 30's for Memorial weekend. Few trees, little shade. Lots of off road vehicles and RVs, but not a lot of noise from them."
"the lake is a great swimming temp in june, the views are gorgeous, and there’s plenty of trees and shade. i was lucky to have the spot i was in because there was plenty of foliage to keep my site fairly"
RangerThis campground is in town but still is a great place to stop. Has nice dog park, great hookups. Close to the Sparks marina if you want to walk, but we were here for the Nugget rib cook-off. Just not sure on the all the rules as it seems some are followed some you can ignore.
TravelerThe area is nice, it is not near the lake but the lake is only a small drive away. The place is crowded and they pack you in here, but our site (113) was a nice place in the corner. There are much better sites with more room near the dog park if you are looking for more space.
TravelerGorgeous spot. Park undergoing renovations and roads a little tight but all in all a beautiful park. Great dog park
TravelerThis was where we went for our first outing with the travel trailer. The staff was very helpful. The dog park is AMAZING HUGE AND FENCED.
GuideWe came into south lake to visit family. This campground is right in town but there’s enough space and trees to give it a natural setting. Bathrooms are great and it’s pretty quiet considering it’s popular. Looks great for families and there’s a dog park, pool and trails.
ScoutWe broke a jack and the maintenance workers were incredibly helpful in getting a tool we needed to fix it. The park is clean and has multiple very clean dog parks. We will stop again.
ScoutI really liked this place. I stayed a month and wouldn't have minded staying longer.
The General Store had lots of supplies, and they gave RV customers a discount on "souvenirs".
I didn't use the showers or restrooms (although I did pay the $10, refundable, deposit for a key).
The staff was extremely nice.
There are plenty of trash cans around the park. They are emptied almost daily.
Pets are welcome. Dogs must be on leashes and picked up after. (There were lots of people there with dogs and/or cats.)
The spaces are roomy and each space has a picnic table. However, there was no grass, except near the hotel and near the horseshoe pits. (So, no grass at the sites.) Also, there wasn't much shade. ☹️ Sites are quite level, and are graveled. Hookups were very accessible.
The view of the lake was beautiful. However, I had to drive about 5 miles (to the County Park) in order to actually get to the water. ☹️. This would have been very inconvenient, if I hadn't had a toad.
All in all, I really enjoyed my stay at this park.
ScoutIt’s a nice park with a store and lots of things to do (pool, tennis court, etc) but we preferred a campground down the road for cheaper for the views of the lake. It’s dirt here so be prepared for everything to get dirty or muddy! We paid for the 5.2gb wifi since ours is having trouble connecting. I’d stay here again but wasn’t my favorite, I liked the general store a lot, cute gifts and things! They do have a really big dog park which we loved too, the dogs also seemed to love it!
GuideGreat location if you want to be near Costco and the capital city. Great views of the Sierras and the Carson valley. Sites are narrow, about twice the width of your RV, and separated by chain link fencing. But all sites are perfectly flat, paved pull-throughs; easy in, easy out parking. Also electric, water, sewer hookup, cable and strong wifi and cell service. Sites are gravel, but the campground has nice grassy dog parks, clean bathrooms and laundry, and well-stocked store with propane refill. Pool and fishing pond were closed but looked great. We were there in early April 2021; with our binoculars we could see skiers at the top of Heavenly Mountain ski area!
Crystal Bay sits on Lake Tahoe's northeastern shore at approximately 6,229 feet elevation, straddling the Nevada-California border. The area experiences dramatic seasonal temperature changes with summer highs in the 80s and winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. Camping near Crystal Bay offers access to both pine forest settings and lake recreation opportunities within relatively short driving distances.
Hiking Rubicon Trail: Access the stunning trail system from D.L. Bliss State Park Campground, where you can enjoy lake views during your trek. "The beauty of camping here is that you are so close to the lake! Rubicon trail is absolutely stunning, and can be rather long since it goes into emerald bay. Nonetheless worth the hike," mentions Azizah T.
Winter camping options: Unlike many Tahoe-area campgrounds, Washoe Lake State Park Campground remains open year-round with modified services. "Winter camping is available on Loop A with full power hookups on a first come, first serve basis. Bathrooms are open all winter. Hiking is nice right from the campground and wild horses graze not far away," notes Andrew R.
Paddling on Fallen Leaf Lake: Visit Fallen Leaf Campground for a less crowded paddling experience than Lake Tahoe itself. "The lake, oh my, maybe the most beautiful lake in the entire Tahoe region. It isn't as big, but it is flat like glass, deep, and crystal clear. Bring a paddleboard, and bring yourself ready to relax," shares Ryan W.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campsites in the region provide chances to see native wildlife. "We stayed in Loop A with full power hookups on a first come, first serve basis. Hiking is nice right from the campground and wild horses graze not far away," says a visitor to Washoe Lake State Park Campground.
Beach access at multiple locations: Meeks Bay offers sandy shorelines within walking distance of campsites. "The campground itself is very cramped and road noise and the fire station next door were quite noisy. Really fantastic beach and boat ramp," notes Jeff K.
Off-season tranquility: Spring and fall camping provides a quieter experience with fewer crowds. "It's March and we are one of maybe 5 campers," mentions Rocco at Washoe Lake State Park, while another camper noted, "Lots of space and privacy between campsites. Close to Lake Tahoe. About 1 mile walk to the beach."
Bear activity levels: Bears are extremely active throughout the Tahoe region, requiring strict food storage. At Fallen Leaf Campground, "You really need to pay attention to your food. Bears are not just possible here, they are likely," warns Ryan W.
Reservation timing: Most campgrounds fill months in advance for summer stays. "It is hard to get a site. Be ready. Set alerts," advises a Fallen Leaf Campground visitor.
Highway noise impacts: Several campgrounds sit close to major roads, affecting site selection. At Granite Flat Campground, "This is a nice little campground to stay in while passing through. For longer stays I prefer sites that are off the beaten path and not right on the highway," says Susan S.
Water temperature awareness: Lake Tahoe and surrounding lakes remain extremely cold even in summer. "The lake has the CLEAREST water, and if you go out 5 boueys to the left from the bouey furthest right, you can see 'TAHOE' spelled out on the floor of the lake with big rocks. Pretty cool," mentions Caitlin C. about Meeks Bay.
Dog-friendly beach alternatives: When camping with pets, some beaches prohibit dogs. At Meeks Bay, "The beach is not dog friendly so if you have your dog you can't go onto the beach, but you can drive close to a dog beach," explains Toni K.
Weather preparation essentials: Pack for significant temperature swings, even in summer. "We slept without the rain fly and saw all the stars. I camped here in July 2019, and had the perfect weather which ranged around mid 70s in the day and lower 50s during the night," notes a D.L. Bliss camper.
Campsite selection for level parking: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven sites requiring stabilization. At Village Camp Truckee, "There are some sites that are nice and wide giving you room from your neighbors and there are some sites like the one we had that left 1 foot of separation. We had respectful neighbors so it was not an issue," explains Dennis W.
Internet connectivity considerations: Working campers should research signal strength. "Internet. Verizon via iPhone 12: 22.2 mbps down and 3.38 mbps up with 38 ms ping," reported a camper at Washoe Lake State Park.
Winter RV options: For cold-weather camping near Crystal Bay, a visitor to Washoe Lake explained, "We stopped here on our way through to Reno. What a great campground. We paid $25 instead of the full $30 required for an out-of-state vehicle at a hookup site. I think $5 was taken off since the water at the sites was still shut off."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Crystal Bay, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Crystal Bay, NV is Davis Creek Regional Park with a 3.9-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Crystal Bay, NV?
TheDyrt.com has all 251 dog-friendly camping locations near Crystal Bay, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
