Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Havelock, NC

Croatan National Forest's Great Lake Dispersed Site accepts pets for primitive camping with no facilities, offering a wilderness experience in a large undeveloped area. Flanners Beach Campground (also called Neuse River Campground) provides pet-friendly campsites with electric hookups, clean restrooms, hot showers, and level sites with bushes between them for privacy. Dogs are allowed on the beach when it's open, though hurricane damage has periodically closed beach access. The campground features fire pits with grated covers, picnic tables, and trash collection. New Bern KOA Holiday and Cedar Point Campground also welcome pets with various hookup options. Campground hosts at these locations maintain clean facilities but rarely enforce the no-alcohol policies posted at some sites.

Hiking trails throughout Croatan National Forest provide dog exercise opportunities, particularly at Flanners Beach where paved hiking/biking paths connect to the campground. These trails wind through deciduous forest with some wildlife viewing opportunities, though campers should watch for snakes and alligators in certain areas. Water-loving dogs appreciate the Neuse River access when available. Most sites require dogs to remain on leash at all times, and several reviews note the lack of designated dog parks or off-leash areas. The military base nearby creates some noise at Flanners Beach Campground. Dogwood Family Campground enforces strict leash laws without providing a dog park, though owners mention one is planned for future development. Weather conditions range from hot summers requiring shade for pets to mild spring and fall temperatures ideal for camping with animals.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Havelock, North Carolina (60)

    1. Oyster Point Campground

    24 Reviews
    Morehead City, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 638-5628

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Fun place to camp, water close by, picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are pretty big. Host is very nice and cheap."

    "We found a few paths to the river but the river access was very small. There is a Mountain-to-Sea path nearby as well."

    2. Cedar Point Campground

    29 Reviews
    Swansboro, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 638-5628

    $27 - $54 / night

    "The area was kept really clean (bathrooms could use a little TLC) loved the views on the hiking trail which was close to the camping sites. Dog friendly! Our kids loved it."

    "Plenty of hiking trails, boat access and woods all right here in this park. The boat access and pier are just a brief walk away from the campground."

    3. Croatan National Forest Oyster Point Campground

    8 Reviews
    Morehead City, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 638-5628

    "The 24 hour campground park ranger stays on the first site of the right side entrance. There is a oyster fishery nearby."

    "Great location off the beaten path on a dirt road. Campsite 9 backs up to the marsh andhas a great area for watching the sunset. You can also kayak or canoe here."

    4. Dogwood Family Campground

    4 Reviews
    Newport, NC
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 777-4343

    $66 - $80 / night

    "This spot is close to everything without being on top of it all! Kid friendly, pet friendly, and very clean! All of the lots are level making for an easy setup!"

    5. Great Lake Dispersed Site - Croatan National Forest

    6 Reviews
    Havelock, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 257-4200

    "This is about as close to nature as it gets! All primitive camping, no amenities at all. Beautiful natural surroundings. Watch out for snakes and alligators!"

    "The path is blocked at about halfway down by concrete barriers and downed trees. So I pulled my Ford Ranger in the pines beside the path and slept there."

    6. New Bern KOA Holiday

    13 Reviews
    Bridgeton, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 638-2556

    "They had 2 fenced in dog parks and a dog washing station. We chose this campground for it’s location near historical downtown New Bern and we would definitely recommend it to others."

    "Bathrooms: 5/5 Sites: 4/5 upgrades are nice but really expensive for just a concrete pad next to someone else

    Pools: 3/5 they have one but it's pretty meh. Like a 70s motel 8 pool."

    7. Goose Creek Campground

    7 Reviews
    Emerald Isle, NC
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Great location, can’t wait to come back!"

    "My wife and I spent a few days here while searching the area for potential retirement location. It's also a seasonal campground."

    9. Dixon Landing RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Bridgeton, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 617-1010

    $60 - $90 / night

    "This is a very secluded campground right on the wide Goose Creek/Neuse River, with access to the ocean varying from 25-50 miles. "

    "Just far enough away from the noise but close enough to be convenient to everything. Groceries and restaurants, gas and history all within a short drive."

    10. Waters Edge RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Newport, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 247-0494

    "Clean bathrooms, friendly staff, small and quiet location that’s close to many activities and restaurants. The water front is very nice as well. I’ll definitely be back."

    "We loved walking to the dock on the property where you could see the sunrise and sunset. We enjoyed visiting Fort Macon, Patsys pond national Forest, Shackleford Banks and the beach."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Havelock, NC

286 Reviews of 60 Havelock Campgrounds


  • Mambo M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2021

    Flanners Beach Campground

    Great camp!

    This is a really nice spot with easy access to/from Havelock and New Bern. Host is awesome and facilities are super clean. Picnic tables have been updated with fresh planks, fire pits/grates in good repair. Really nice bathhouse with great showers. Beach remains closed due to hurricane damage, just fyi. Many sites have electric hookup available. Great hiking/walking trails!

    UPDATE 2024: This campground continues to reign supreme. The host is absolutely phenomenal and the facilities are still awesome. The only issue is the toilets in the tent area of the loop are closed, meaning you have to go all the way up to the main bath house. Otherwise, just a terrific as ever!

  • Kasey M.
    Aug. 19, 2020

    Whispering Pines Campground

    Nice Campground

    Nice campground well-kept pool, and laundry facility. The playground closed due to COVID but has a dog park and fishing ponds with bass. The biggest downfall to this facility is that the nice campsites are only reserved for seasonal or year-round campers. Anyone there for days - weeks stay get a full-sun site which some can be pretty small ours was a decent size. It's also overrun by feral cats so if you're allergic, bring meds. They offer cable, and you can pay for WiFi.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    New Bern KOA Holiday

    Our first trip in the camper

    Our first trip in our new to us camper and found the campground very nice. The bathhouses were the cleanest and best equipped. Some shade. Nice dog park. Plenty of amenities.

  • J
    Aug. 20, 2020

    New Bern KOA Holiday

    Beautiful campground

    This was a very nice, well maintained campground. The staff were extremely polite and helpful. We stayed from Aug 11-14, 2020. The pool was nice on a hot humid day. They have gem mining. You buy the bags of dirt in the camp store. The bathhouses are all very new due to a recent hurricane and they were kept clean. The dock/pier was picture perfect as the sunset over the Neuse river. The playground and jump pad looked like they would be a lot of fun but were closed due to Covid 19 restrictions. They had horseshoes and Gaga-ball that were open. They had 2 fenced in dog parks and a dog washing station. We chose this campground for it’s location near historical downtown New Bern and we would definitely recommend it to others. They have RV sites, tent sites and cabins.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Turkey Quarter Campground

    Turkey Quarter

    Large gravel sites with full hookups in the North Carolina woods. 15 miles NW of New Bern NC. Fire wood included.

  • S
    Jul. 30, 2020

    Goose Creek State Park Campground

    Great and New Campground

    Goose Creek State Park campground is one of the newer state parks in North Carolina. The RV part of the park has a great layout with large sites. The park is very flat with full hookups and a large patio/picnic area. They also have cabins.

    We stayed at one of the full hook up RV sites with our Riverside Retro 199FKS and it actually looked small in the site. We had more than enough room.

    You are far enough away from Washington, NC that you don't get great cell coverage so, it is almost like going off the grid. I think I had service if I sat outside with my left leg propped up (just kidding). 

    Since this park is so new, there are not many trees or vegetation to provide privacy between sites. I think this park will be great once the plants grow in - don't skip for this reason - still go, just know that you won't have a lot of privacy.

  • Amy J.
    Jun. 27, 2020

    Goose Creek State Park Campground

    Serene

    This campground is nestled in the tall North Carolina pines. There isn’t much shade though because the branches are mainly at the top. The camp sites are long and have plenty of room between camp sites. The campground has been recently redone and includes some cute cabins. We went on a boardwalk hike there. It said that red wolves and bear live on the area. We only saw deer.

  • P
    Jun. 9, 2024

    Dogwood Family Campground

    Gravel parking lot

    Full timers and long term on business campers beware! This campground has nothing to offer. The owners of this 1 year old campground are very strict with their rules and regulations. They are very nice in person and when checking in but soon you will find yourself receiving passive aggressive emails from them about rule violation they’ve spotted on the 6 or more cameras throughout the park. They have a very strict leash law here but offer no dog run/park area for your K-9 to play. They claim a dog park is on the list of things to come, but the second half of a drain field will come first. There are no amenities here, other than a very small fishing pond and some poorly maintained walking trails at the rear of the campground that have piles of post construction material scattered about. The campground is on well water and very brown in color so I would not drink or cook with it. Over half of the sites have your living side of the RV facing west and there is not a tree in sight, so in the summer be prepared to bake in the sun. The entire campground is gravel parking lot with 10 foot slivers of grass between each site and god forbid don’t let Sean the owner see you put anything(rug, vehicle, etc…) on his beloved grass. I gave this campground 2 stars… 1 for being dark and quiet at night and the other star for the free and decent wifi. So if you don’t want spied on via cameras, harassed, a dusty rig and a place for Fido to play, I would suggest going 8 miles down the road to an awesome campground called Whispering pines you and your dog will be much happier!

  • Kayko S.
    Oct. 1, 2016

    Goose Creek State Park Campground

    Hidden Gem with trails and sound access

    This place is a gem of a state park!!!!

    Since it's not right next to the coast it's relatively quiet and not crowded. I went here on the tail end of a mid September weekend and found the entire campground to myself! That is unheard of on the West Coast! There is a beautiful sound access.

    This is boutique car camping! There are only 14 camping spots all nicely spaced from each other and in a wooded location. Sites 11-14 are around a little peninsula on the sound so all have some water view. There are a handful of water spouts around the campground, and each site has a parking spot, campsite, table and a lamp hanger. The lamp hanger took me a while to figure out since we don't have these on the west coast it is a suspended hook that looks a bit medieval on first glance.

    Bring your paddle boards or canoe to float around the sound. There is a great outline of a 3 mile canoe trail mapped out by the put in. (see my photos)

    Ohhhh and it goes without saying near the North Carolina sound BRING BUG SPRAY. This is serious deet country.


Guide to Havelock

Dispersed camping is available throughout Croatan National Forest with the Great Lake Dispersed Site located 13 miles southwest of Havelock. The forest contains distinctive terrain with pocosins (wetlands with deep peat soil) and diverse wildlife. Camping conditions vary by season with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and high humidity from June through September, while winter temperatures typically range from 35-55°F.

What to do

Waterfront exploration: At Oyster Point Campground, campers can access the water directly from certain sites. "There's like a 20 ft path directly from my campsite to the river, which is nice," notes Jenna L. Sites #9 and #11 have small private beaches accessible by pathway.

Kayaking and canoeing: Several campgrounds offer water access for paddling. "We were able to launch kayaks almost directly from campsite #11," explains Laura F. The White Oak River is accessible from Cedar Point campground via a boat launch about a quarter-mile from the camping area.

Hiking: Croatan National Forest features multiple trail systems. The Cedar Point Tideland Trail loops for approximately 2 miles through marsh ecosystems. "The hiking path was not well maintained so we chose not to use it," notes Jody B. about trails at Oyster Point, suggesting hikers should check trail conditions before venturing out.

Fishing: Goose Creek Campground provides fishing access along the waterfront. "There is a lake in the middle" mentions Caralee B., while Dixon Landing features both riverfront fishing and "a fishing pond for kids (C&R)."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with natural buffers. At Oyster Point Camp, "foliage provided privacy between sites" and "campsites are large and spread out," according to Jody B. and Tracy R. respectively.

Clean facilities: Cedar Point Campground maintains well-kept amenities. "Bathhouse was clean with large, individual showers," reports Rick S. New Bern KOA Holiday takes cleanliness seriously with "very clean" bathrooms and "all very new due to a recent hurricane" according to Jen B.

Budget-friendly options: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Havelock offer economical rates. "At only $10 per night, the price is unbeatable for the area," states Alexandria F. about Oyster Point Camp. With an Access Pass, some campers pay even less: "Thanks to my Access pass camping here is just $5/night," reports Mambo M.

Wildlife viewing: Dixon Landing RV Resort offers excellent wildlife opportunities. Visitors enjoy "waking up to sunrise glinting off the wide river in every window, fishing from the banks, land and sea wildlife, gorgeous sunsets over the river, and hearing whip-or-wills serenade after sunset," according to Sara M.

What you should know

Seasonal challenges: Summer camping requires preparation for insects. "The flys are insane but you'll quickly learn to ignore them - aside from a few bites here and there. We smoked them out and it was fine for the most part," shares Hannah F. about Oyster Point. Another camper warns "bugs are bad in June and bug spray didn't really help."

Water quality varies: Well water at some locations may be discolored. At Dogwood Family Campground, "the campground is on well water and very brown in color so I would not drink or cook with it," cautions Phillip Y. Bringing drinking water is recommended at several locations.

Accessibility issues: Some forest roads remain damaged from past hurricanes. In Croatan National Forest, "lots of roads closed from hurricane damage, so don't trust Google maps. The dirt roads were not maintained and ridiculously bumpy and unmanageable for smaller cars," reports Carina F.

Shower temperatures: Comfort varies at different facilities. At Cedar Point Campground, "the water was warm, but not hot... you'll take a very short and quick shower under these conditions," notes Robert D., explaining that shower buildings are unheated in winter.

Tips for camping with families

Water activities: New Bern KOA Holiday offers numerous options for children. "The pool is amazing! The slide is so fun! It has 3ft all the way to 6ft roped off sections in the pool!" exclaims Caralee B. They also provide "gem mining. You buy the bags of dirt in the camp store."

Pet accommodations: Dog-friendly campgrounds near Havelock maintain varying rules. Dogwood enforces "a very strict leash law here but offer no dog run/park area for your K-9 to play. They claim a dog park is on the list of things to come," according to Phillip Y.

Primitive experiences: For families wanting to introduce children to more rustic camping, Oyster Point provides a middle ground. "Fantastic experience. I am a seasoned back woods camper, and brought along two first timers. This was the perfect middle ground. Beautiful views with an isolated area. Rustic feel, but still had the comfort of bathrooms, running water, fire pits," explains Youssef S.

Local attractions: Families can explore historical sites nearby. "When you are this close to New Bern, there are better things to photograph. There's Tryon Palace, Union Point Park, the historic Confederate cemetery, the fireman's museum, the Pepsi Cola museum (New Bern is where Pepsi was born)," suggests Myron C.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: At Cedar Point, "sites on the southeast side seemed to have more shade than those on the northwest side," advises Steve V. At Waters Edge RV Park, "most of the sites are occupied by full-timers" so advance planning is essential.

Leveling requirements: Most campgrounds have reasonably level sites. Dixon Landing sites are "long, very wide and mostly level side-to-side. Front-to-back was easily compensated with blocks," according to Sara M. Cedar Point features "all sites are paved; minimal leveling required," shares Rick S.

Power considerations: Electrical reliability varies between campgrounds. "There are serious issues with the electric connections, which you have no choice but to pay for. We were only able to occasionally have reliable electricity, resulting in even small 5V items not charging," reports Mambo M. about Cedar Point Campground.

Solar options: For boondocking or supplemental power, site selection affects solar performance. "It was shady for the later part of the day (which wasn't great for our solar panels). Most sites had shade for either the early or late part of the day," notes Jody B. about Oyster Point.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Havelock, NC is Oyster Point Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 24 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 60 dog-friendly camping locations near Havelock, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.