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Dog-Friendly Camping near Elizabeth City, NC

4 campgrounds with availability this weekend

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    North River Campground welcomes pets throughout its year-round facility in Shawboro/Shiloh, approximately 15 miles from Elizabeth City. The campground features full hookup sites with electricity, water, and sewer connections alongside pet-friendly cabins. Elizabeth City Lodging also accommodates pets with tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin options. Most local campgrounds enforce standard leash requirements and request that owners clean up after their pets. The tiny beach near Elizabeth City Lodging provides a peaceful spot for dogs to enjoy water access during sunrise and sunset. Pet-friendly campsites around Elizabeth City maintain clean facilities with regular maintenance, though North River receives particular praise for its well-kept grounds and friendly staff.

    Currituck Sound offers several pet-friendly camping options with waterfront views. Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA features a dedicated dog park on the property, making it convenient for pets needing exercise. Bell's Island Campground provides waterfront sites where pets can swim in the sound. Campers report that midges (small flying insects) can be problematic during certain seasons, potentially bothering both pets and owners, especially in the evening hours. When planning day trips, most campgrounds are within reasonable driving distance to Outer Banks beaches and attractions. The sound provides calm swimming opportunities for dogs compared to ocean beaches. Local campsites typically require vaccination records for pets, and most limit pets to 2-3 per site depending on size and campground policies.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Elizabeth City (40)

      1. Elizabeth City Lodging

      4.0(2)4mi from Elizabeth CityRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "I love this little place in Elizabeth City. There is a little tiny beach nearby & it provides a beautiful view in during sunrise/sunset."

      2. North River Campground

      5.0(4)12mi from Elizabeth CityRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "We spent 2 night at North River in August to attend Coast Guard Day in Elizabeth City.  I was pleasantly surprised how nice and clean the facility was.  "

      "Well cared for landscaping, nice lake, level parking spot with concrete patio. WiFi is fast and cable tv is available. I would recommend this camp ground."

      3. Northwest River Park & Campground

      4.1(15)20mi from Elizabeth City52 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Because this area is near wetlands some of the campsites were flooded throughout the weekend."

      "Some sites close to main road but not a lot of traffic."

      from $21 - $36 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA

      3.6(13)20mi from Elizabeth CityRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "The view was beautiful and the weather was great at night to just sit outside and enjoy the view. It was a very quiet camp with a great dog park. I look forward to visiting again soon."

      "Dog park, shower house, store, children's play area and they can fill your propane tanks for you. Full hookups with WiFi and cable. Drive through and back in sites with water views all around."

      5. North Landing Beach

      4.7(15)22mi from Elizabeth CityRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This location was PERFECT! It warmed up enough to enjoy the beach which was a 5 minute walk from cabin."

      "There Is a very nice workout room and a bIllIards room adjacent."

      6. First Landing State Park Campground

      4.4(124)44mi from Elizabeth City225 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Campsites are within walking distance to the ocean. VA Beach boardwalk is a short drive away. Beach is dog friendly, obviously pick up after your **dogs. **"

      "There is a boat 🚤ramp near the Narrows beach which is either free or costs $4 for people staying at the Park."

      Available this weekend

      from $32 - $147 / night

      19 Sites Available

      7. Bells Island Campground

      3.8(6)18mi from Elizabeth CityRVs, Tents

      "Coming to North Carolina, coastal camping is something which has to be on your bucket list."

      "Walk to dock overlooking the bay waterfront. Easy drive to the outerbanks and activities. The manager is always available by phone and in person in the late afternoon."

      8. Sandy Point Resort Campground

      4.1(9)22mi from Elizabeth CityRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Liz’s husband(remember, not an employee) started in on us, he was rude, he looked like he was ready to fight and as I’m walking toward the store to get the day pass he was following and harassing me."

      "This location is great for that."

      from $20 - $60 / night

      Check Availability

      9. Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park

      4.5(16)27mi from Elizabeth City20 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Downside were the large gravel throughout the site - tough for small dogs and crawlers. Nice 0.7 walk from the campsite to the visitor center to rent canoes! Just a short drive to some other trails."

      "Although there are no hook ups, there are water points close to every site, and a centrally located bathhouse."

      from $27 / night

      Check Availability

      10. North Landing Beach Campground

      4.5(6)22mi from Elizabeth CityRVs, Cabins

      "Pros* Clean

      -Military discount offered

      -Pet friendly 

      -Seasonal and Non-Seasonal Spots

      -Open all year round. 

      -Best campground around.

      -Quiet location off Knotts Island."

      "Lots to do, right here at your home away from home. The campground hosts several activities. Currituck Ferry is 10 miles away. After a 45 minute ferry ride, you are only a few miles from Kitty Hawk."

      from $50 - $90 / night

      Check Availability

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Elizabeth City, NC

    422 Reviews of 40 Elizabeth City Campgrounds

    • Kerri P.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 26, 2026

      OBX Campground

      OBX Campground was one of our favorite stays! We spent 14 nights in Site 25, a spacious back-in site with a gravel pad, grass, and beautiful views of the pond and sound. Having no neighbor on the driver’s side made it feel wonderfully private.

      The campground is peaceful, quiet, and tucked away from the tourist crowds. We enjoyed watching ducks daily, spotting deer in the mornings, and stargazing at night. I felt completely safe walking our dogs at 5 AM.

      Water pressure was good, sewer access convenient, and Starlink worked beautifully. AT&T had full bars. Our 50-amp electrical service wasn’t working when we arrived, but maintenance fixed it the following day.

      Laundry was affordable at $1.25, and there were two dumpsters, a playground, dock, kayak launch, and even a historic cemetery. No fire rings, so bring an approved raised fire pit.

      Dogs are welcome, although there isn’t a dog park or pet waste stations. Watch for sand burrs in the grass! The office dog, Beau, was a bonus.

      The staff were friendly and accommodating, and the location was convenient for exploring the Outer Banks. We loved it so much we tried to extend our stay, but they were fully booked!

    • Jad M.
      Aug. 26, 2026

      Cashie River Campground and Treehouse Village

      Wonderful place

      I am spending 10 days here they have wonderful amenities it is very clean very beautiful very quiet has a boat ramp right on the river I would recommend it to anybody

    • A
      Aug. 25, 2026

      Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA

      Holy DRAMA

      This is a long one! Here we go. My partner and I travel for work, we went out of our way to move to this location based on reviews saying this is a great place. We have paid in full for the whole stay which is about little over 2 months. We have been here approx 2 weeks give or take. We work night shift. No activity during the day. Simple easy. Not our first campground by any means. At first, we were excited to experience the amenities and such. Now we’re uncomfortable to try anything out. Why you ask? Situation: first day we move in, we end up next to what seems like the literal only other long term or possibly even permanent resident on the grounds. My service animal alerted me to a trigger, which she left the front door of the camper before we walked out. Recalled her to me once we saw that the perm resident (our neighbor) had what presented as an aggressive dog. (Husky maybe?). Within not EVEN 5 minutes of this event, someone was at our door- instead of asking what is going on we were immediately accused of her running around off leash I guess? We had just woken up from sleeping and it was evening time, time to go to work. Instead of arguing or even offering up ANY facts related to the situation I simply said got it thanks and the interaction ended. I’m thinking to myself well damn. Okay. A week or so maybe goes by? Leash in hand VISIBLE -at the door my dog steps out, I step out behind her- same time same situation. She walks ahead of me to where she will relieve herself, I ask for her to come back next to me, she recalls- neighbors dog loses its mind again. I look up at neighbor and say “just go ahead and call man, I get it”. She calls. This time THREE employees are driving on carts to our site, at this point we’re already leaving for work. I knew it was coming, figured they would for sure ask what’s going on this time. They don’t. The older woman accompanied by two men behind her- simply says “you have been told before you need to leash your dog”. We reply yes we understand. Nobody asks for a description of the events, what’s going on, or if this even happened. The female voice is raised and hostile presenting towards both of us. The man behind her approaches our car and peers into the vehicle I’m not sure if to intimidate or what, but that action was also very ineffective in diffusing the situation and instead very intimidating. And now making us both VERY late to work as this is an extra 15 minute drive to the hospital in which we work at. Seemingly, the word of this permanent resident is all they needed to full on accuse the two of us… of what? I am not sure. My animal has resided all over the country in countless locations, all while working and we have had no issues to date. At this point I am still remaining silent as the female worker continues to educate us on our alleged actions. My concern is that there has been ZERO questioning, only full on accusations. We’re highly uncomfortable at this point. They say “we will be speaking with the general manager tomorrow”, Which also felt threatening. I’d like to add that given the whole situation this wouldn’t matter but since this is happening: earlier that morning after work I had stopped by the front desk, to ask about a package I thought that I sent to the wrong place, but didn’t. The same female was there. I remember thinking wow she’s actually so rude. But I brushed it off. Now looking back she must have some kind of prejudice toward myself and my dog. I’ve never been threatened / accused so one-sidedly in my entire career such as what has been happening at this campground. Our resolution was to request moving sites, however nothing was asked of us WHATSOEVER. As stated we were not given any opportunity to speak on the situation. Will attempt to update review whenever we speak with management of this location. Warning is to be wary of implicit bias in staff, potential favoritism, and inconsistent / unfair conflict resolution, aggressive long term campers, and lack of communication from staff.

    • D
      Aug. 15, 2026

      Beechland Campground

      Most spots are permanent campers.

      Good place to tour the area from. Great wifi. Usually empty spots. They have a pool. Zero shade. Full hook up. Average spacing. Clean gravel camping spots.

    • J
      Aug. 6, 2026

      Davis Lakes Resort

      The Little Canping Gem of Suffolk

      We stumbled across Davis Lakes Campground last year when we brought our camper down to visit our son and grandchildren. Originally, we planned to stay closer to Virginia Beach, but after finding Davis Lakes, we decided to give it a try. We were lucky enough to get site F28 right on the lake, and we enjoyed it so much that we came back this year—and even booked the exact same site.

      After reading some of the other reviews, I wanted to share our experience because it was very different. Yes, there are some rules regarding dogs at the beach, but they never interfered with our stay. We enjoyed walking our dogs every morning around the campground and lakes, and it was a wonderful way to start each day.

      The beach itself was clean, had plenty of nice chairs, and the AquaGlide was an absolute blast. We spent 5–6 hours a day swimming, and surprisingly, the beach never felt crowded.

      One thing that really stood out was how fair the prices were. The campground store was stocked with essentials, and unlike many campgrounds, the prices were very reasonable. If you forgot a loaf of bread or wanted to grab a pool float, you didn’t feel like you were being gouged. They also have a cute snack shop, a spacious game room, and an impressive movie selection, making it a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.

      The campground itself was clean and very well maintained. Although many of the sites are seasonal, they were neat, well cared for, and nothing like some seasonal campgrounds where sites become cluttered or run down. It was obvious that both the staff and the campers take pride in the campground.

      The nightly rates were very reasonable, and while there is a visitor fee, we found it to be completely fair considering the amenities. We had an amazing time with our son and his family, and the campground played a big part in making those memories.

      Davis Lakes isn’t a luxury resort, and that’s part of its charm. Its focus is on beautiful lakes, swimming, friendly service, and providing a relaxing camping experience. It reminded me of the kind of campgrounds I grew up enjoying—simple, welcoming, and centered around making great memories.

      We’ll absolutely be back. If we lived closer, I’d seriously consider getting a seasonal site myself. In fact, my son is even talking about buying a camper just so he can keep it nearby and enjoy Davis Lakes more often. Many of the employees and seasonal campers are locals who return year after year, and I think that says everything you need to know about this place.

    • Debra W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 16, 2026

      First Landing State Park Campground

      Great for Beachside Camping

      This campground was a great location for a Virginia Beach vacation. It’s in the Chesapeake Bay so the water is calm and there is a large sandbar making for shallower waters which is great if you have littles in your trip. It was calming to stay there and spend everyday at the beach. There is hiking and biking paths as part of the park as well. I love that the shower rooms are not gendered so you don’t have a long wait to use one. I went for July 4th and was able to watch the fireworks right from the beach. So that was awesome. Overall good stay.

    • A
      Jul. 11, 2026

      Rocky Hock Campground

      It’s just OK.

      It did say that the laundry area was renovated and I was highly disappointed to see that it does not show any signs of remodeling. The shower house is tolerable but also I will NOT be using the area. They are not strict enough about kids and the crap they leave everywhere. There is a house near the property where they keep dogs out in a kennel all day in the summer heat who bark (understandably) all day. That’s not their fault. They’re strict about where you stay long term and won’t let you near the pond which is also underwhelming. The front desk girl is very sweet and welcoming. Would have liked to have the same opportunity to be by the water as everyone else. We travel for work- all stays are long term.

    • lisa K.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jun. 24, 2026

      Virginia Beach KOA

      Will not stay again due to the fighter jets overhead.

      The fighter jets are so close to the campground. Extremely loud. You can not have a conversation on the phone when they fly over. Hurts my ears. Especially in the middle of the night. Twice. Thundering roars then the high whistle woke me disoriented with sudden fear it was a missile coming in. On the other hand, the pool area and lazy river were very nice. Bathouse was kept clean. Constant property care and maintenance were daily kept nice. Trolly for an added fee to the beach from campground. Nice kid and family activities to do at the campground.

    Guide to Elizabeth City

    Camping near Elizabeth City occurs in flat coastal terrain at elevations under 20 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures often exceeding 85°F. The area features a mix of sound and river access points where campers can enjoy water activities. Multiple campgrounds remain open year-round, providing options regardless of season.

    What to do

    Kayaking and canoeing opportunities: Northwest River Park & Campground offers rental equipment for water exploration. "Canoes and paddle boats are available to rent for use in black water," notes Heather L., highlighting the distinctive dark water that characterizes this ecosystem.

    Mini golf and active recreation: Family-friendly activities extend beyond water sports at many campgrounds. "Plenty of things to do for the active camper. Put put golf, kayak, hiking and much more," shares Patricia L. about Northwest River Park's diverse recreation options.

    Nature trails and wildlife viewing: Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park provides unique hiking experiences through swampland. "The trail system was magical. We hiked early in the am and it was such a therapeutic hike through the forest and swamp," writes Kristi D., describing the distinctive ecosystem.

    What campers like

    Quiet, spacious camping areas: North River Campground receives praise for its generous site spacing. "Generous site space, pave and gravel... our site is close to Lake, nice view of it," mentions Nelma S., appreciating the layout and views.

    Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. "Overall amazed at the cleanliness of the campground. The staff is very friendly. The park was very quiet going into the night," notes Joseph H. about Northwest River Park.

    Waterfront views and activities: Bells Island Campground provides direct water access for various activities. "Walk to dock overlooking the bay waterfront. Easy drive to the outerbanks and activities," writes Laurie B., noting the convenient location for both on-site and regional activities.

    What you should know

    Insects can be problematic: Beyond midges mentioned in the existing description, other pests can affect camping comfort. "The only downside were the large gravel throughout the site - tough for small dogs and crawlers," notes Kaylee G. about Merchants Millpond State Park, identifying another consideration for pet owners.

    Seasonal differences affect experience: Sandy Point Resort Campground offers varying experiences throughout the year. "Nice and windy! Kept the bugs away for sure," writes John R., suggesting that breezier conditions can improve comfort by reducing insect activity.

    Limited cell service: Some campgrounds have connectivity challenges. "Cell service is poor, WiFi is subpar," reports Mike M. about North River Campground, an important consideration for those needing to stay connected.

    Tips for camping with families

    Reserve shaded sites in summer: Heat management becomes crucial during warmer months. "Lovely shaded site, and large picnic table. Did not have to use our popup shade," shares Kaylee G. about Merchants Millpond State Park, highlighting the natural shade benefits.

    Check for scheduled activities: Some campgrounds offer organized entertainment. "We have gone a handful of times and it is our families favorite place to camp... They are always throwing special events," notes a reviewer about North Landing Beach.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Elizabeth City, NC?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Elizabeth City, NC is Elizabeth City Lodging with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Elizabeth City, NC?

    TheDyrt.com has all 40 dog-friendly camping locations near Elizabeth City, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.