Raven Rock State Park's campgrounds welcome pets at both Moccasin Branch Campground and Canoe Camp, offering varied accommodation options from rustic tent sites to modern cabins with full hookups. The park maintains clean, well-spaced campsites with fire pits and picnic tables, particularly at the newer Moccasin Branch facility where RV sites feature gravel pads, full hookups with excellent water pressure, and nearby tent pads. Dogs are permitted on all hiking trails throughout the park, making it ideal for campers who want to explore with their pets. The campground's bathhouse remains exceptionally clean and modern, with staff and rangers actively monitoring facilities to maintain high standards.
Multiple hiking trails accommodate dogs throughout Raven Rock State Park, with the namesake cliffs along the Cape Fear River being the most popular destination for pet owners. The trails range from easy to moderately difficult with some elevation changes along the fall line, providing varied terrain for dogs and their owners. Canoe Camp offers a unique opportunity for paddlers with dogs, allowing canoe or kayak access to primitive campsites along the river, though the entrance from the river is notably steep when hauling equipment. Sites are well-spaced and private, ensuring campers with pets have minimal interaction with neighbors. The campground's natural setting provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities while offering pet owners a quiet camping experience, with one visitor noting the campground is exceptionally quiet except for the sounds of the Cape Fear River below.
$27 - $75 / night
"We brought our dog on our hike. The trails are easily followed and they include long and short Trails for your enjoyment. great day trip."
"The campground is walking distance to Raven Rock trails and you get a free walk up pass to get in. We had a very good time and will definitely go back."
$17 / night
"The river is a short walk away from all the sites if you want to get a great picture with the sunrise. Overall, I definitely recommend."
"There are a few sites and a pit toilet nearby but you can not see each other. I highly recommend!"
$27 - $37 / night
"Poplar Point Campground could quite possibly be the best campground in all of North Carolina!"
"Poplar Point is located on the banks of the lake in the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area."
"It is located a short distance from Interstate 95, making it a great place to spend the night if you are traveling on to another destination. Or stay for a nice relaxing vacation like us."
"The resort is a 15m drive from Fort Bragg, 20m from Fayetteville, and the Fayetteville Airport, and 1h away from Raleigh and the Raleigh Airport."
$27 - $77 / night
"This area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department. "
"Located just 30 miles west of Raleigh, Jordan Lake provides 7 different access points throughout this amazing natural preserve. "
"Next to Simmons Army Air Field so, expect whirlybirds at all hours buzzing the CG. All the sounds of freedom are to be expected and enjoyed."
"Lots of recreational activities with lake access. Staff was very friendly. Concrete pads are level and sites are spacious with a picnic table and fire pit. Close to Ft."
$30 - $50 / night
"Great spot for boondocking near town. Secluded area. Easy communication with homeowner. Thanks!"
$25 - $55 / night
"Playground, mini golf, horseshoe, 3 dog parks, 2 pools, lots of bathrooms, 2 launderettes, lots of cabins, pull through spots and cabins."
"Two pools, one Jacuzzi, 3 Dog parks. Volley ball, playground, putt putt and moreEvery Friday, Saturday and Sundays they have free waffles for small donation. They also have organized activities."
$45 / night
"Pets are welcome, but as everywhere, dogs must be on a leash (not more than 6' long). If you put the address into your GPS, it will take you to the main fairgrounds."
"Restaurants and downtown Raleigh are within short driving distance. Public bathrooms and showers (cold water) are a 2 minute walk to Horse Complex H6, Barn B Very little tree cover."
$49 - $99 / night
"Shooting up or down I-95 (exit 44) to make it to your ultimate destination and simply need a spot to layover for a night … but tired of all those nondescript roadside concrete RV parking lots and still"
"The website has a lot of “coming soon” ameneties (upgraded playground, dog park, etc)."
TravelerThis is one of my favorite camping spots in the North Carolina triangle area. There is a tremendous amount of hiking and trails to do around here. The Eno River is more than safe to swim or paddle in. Dogs are welcome here! If you can camp close to the river, I recommend, it's great to fall asleep to the sounds of the river. Bring bug spray!
GuideBeautiful campground, meticulously maintained. Store , restaurant, pool, dog park, kayak on lake,putt putt, cornhole, shuffleboard, horseshoes just to name a few
LegendPoplar Point Campground could quite possibly be the best campground in all of North Carolina! Yes, I know, that’s quite a statement to make, considering all of the amazing places in the great state of North Carolina. So let me explain why I reached this conclusion:
• Some of the most outstanding hiking trails
• Heavily wooded forest paradise that delivers privacy and solitude
• Perfectly maintained amenities such as picnic tables, fold-up fire ring and grills
• Bathroom facilities are some of the best I’ve experienced with state-run facilities
• Direct access to a fantastic lakeside experience, complete with boat launches
• Designated swimming area complete with life vests
• On-site park staff were nothing short of amazing, helpful and incredibly friendly
• Close access to purchase anything that might be needed
Insider’s tip? Be sure to get down to the lake from wherever your campsite is just after sunset and bring a couple of folding chairs and a telescope (pre-planning here is needed!) to catch a glimpse of one of the most amazing star-studded night skies you’ve ever seen in your life!
Happy Camping!
GuideWe stopped for an overnight. Resort was undergoing renovation at the time. But there is propane available; laundry , pool, and dump station. Also catch and release fishing and a dog park.
ScoutThis is our first RV spot. We wanted the amenities for our four year old. Playground, mini golf, horseshoe, 3 dog parks, 2 pools, lots of bathrooms, 2 launderettes, lots of cabins, pull through spots and cabins.
LegendI’m not sure if this campground is correctly named Holly Point Campground, which after my experience, I would rename it HOLY Point Campground, as this outdoor nature preserve is truly a slice of heaven carved out in the middle of North Carolina’s finest camping paradise. If you find yourself in the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh and looking to get away from the crowds and pavement in exchange for some nice shaded nature, hiking trails and calm peace & quiet that only nature can offer, then make your way here to Holly Point Campground@ Falls Lake SRA, where you will not be disappointed.
All of the basics are provided in spades – from picnic table, fold-up fire ring / BBQ grill, bear-proof garbage hanger and a nice small pebble-strewn flat patch of well-maintained nature that offers pristine shade from an unrelenting bit of summer North Carolina sunshine from the tall matchstick-like long leave needle pines. While there’s not a terrible amount of brush between the campsites, you will have semi-privacy unlike many other nearby campgrounds.
The on-site facilities (bathrooms& showers) are just slightly north of passable and only a smidge better than you’d expect from a state-run campground, and so this campground gets its only mediocre marks on this front. But that said, there’s plenty of hiking trails to explore and the on-site rangers are incredibly helpful and positive folks that want to ensure you have a great time, but the best amenity on this property is the access to Falls Lake itself, where there is a perfectly sectioned off swimming area, as well as boat launching areas for those that want to fish or simply drop a kayak or canoe in the water and take enjoy a lakeside cruise.
Insider's tips? Here's a handful: (1) While IMHO there is no bad spot here in all of Holly Point Campground, there are obviously some that are better than others. Given this, I would highly rank Loops 4 (#118-119, #121-123) & 5 (#141-147; #149, #150, #152-155) as well as the southern and eastern side of Loop 2 (#36-39; #55-71; #73, #75), given their proximity to and views of Falls Lake itself. Of course, the sites that are located closer to the water are those more preferred; (2) If you're an angler, you'll be looking to catch some large-mouthed bass, yellow perch, blue gill, channel and flathead catfish and I recommend the areas that are heaviest shadowed around the lake edges; (3) When you grow weary of having to fix up that next campsite meal and simply want to error on the side of ease and comfort, then check out nearby Buffalo Bros who serve up some pretty might wings and amazing pies (there's also burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and other basic Americana foodstuffs) or Nantucket Grill for some pretty outstanding Jambalaya and seafood diablo pasta; and (4) If you love extreme outdoors adventures, then check out Xtreme Park Adventures for indoor and outdoor courses for paintball and laser tag.
Happy Camping!
RangerI lived in Fayetteville, NC for over 10 years and just recently stopped by to visit friends as we travelled up north.
We picked this campground because it only 1 mile off I-95 and closest RV park we could find near Fayetteville .
Dirt road to campsite is packed white sand and well maintained (it had rained 2 days prior so it was not dusty)
There were full hookup and lots of big rigs/TT and class A’s in park. The park is well maintained and the owners clearly care about creating a nice atmosphere. The sites themselves are hard packed sand and you have a very nice patio and fire pit.
During the right season Memorial- Labor Day there is a nice size pool. They have a Catch and Release fishing pond and a cute walking trail The campground is close to Walmart and other eating places
⛺️other camping in the area-while I did not visit these locations recently- when I lived here I used to camp at Waldo’s Beach Campground In Fayetteville but it is not near the interstate. There is also a military/gov only campground on Fort Bragg you can check into.
Fun things to do in Fayetteville/Fort Bragg Area:
Fun things to do: 📌Airborne and Special Operations Museum (downtown). You may also enjoy the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum is located on Fort Bragg(call this museum directly for details)
❤️Paraclete XP skydive center (in raeford,N.C. close to Fayetteville) -One of the largest skydive centers in the world! so worth it!!! Just going and watching is pretty awesome
🥾Cape fear river trail 10.6 mile round trip multi use trail
💐 🌳 Cape Fear Botanical Garden
🐶giant dog park (near Botanical Garden)
📌Zip quest waterfall and tree top adventure zip line
🧗♀️ The Climbing Place (rock climbing)- downtown.
📌Defy Fayetteville Trampoline park
⚾️ Minor league baseball team Fayetteville Woodpeckers are hosted here in town and a new stadium was built.
🎥 🍿 Cameo Arthouse Theater- Indy theater- sit upstairs in the LOGE!
Cape fear botanical garden (Big dog park near the gardens)
Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith
LegendThis area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department.
Bathrooms and showers were clean and comfortable, as were the campsites.
Each camping loop felt tucked away into its own little neighborhood, and the large campsites offered space so that you aren’t stacked right next to your neighbor. We camped in the nonelectric loop (we always bring our solar panel) for 3 nights in mid-February and there were very few campers around, but the neighboring loop with electrical hook-up sites were 3/4 full with large rigs.
Hiking, biking, paddling, are all great things to do during your stay. There is also a boat launch within the park in case power boating or fishing is your thing, but kayaks and canoes can easily launch from the lakeside campsites. It was a bit too chilly to get on the water in February, so we opted for hiking and biking.
The closest services for gas or a few extra snacks are within 5 minutes of the park.
LegendShooting up or down I-95 (exit 44) to make it to your ultimate destination and simply need a spot to layover for a night … but tired of all those nondescript roadside concrete RV parking lots and still want to enjoy a bit of nature? Well then, look no further than Spacious Skies Sandy Run Campground (formerly Lazy Acres) surrounded by an endless amount of native longleaf pines located in the heart of Cumberland County. Here, you’ll almost feel like you’ve exited the concrete jungle for a slice of nature just a smidge off of I-95. Of course, the additional upside here is that you don't have to drive clear out in the wilderness in order to enjoy a small slice of heaven with a good helping of nature.
With 2-3 dozen or so elongated long-leaf pine shaded drive-through parking lanes with packed white sand parking pads (some were concrete) for your parking pleasure, all of the pull-thru sites come equipped with the typical 30 / 50 amp electrical hook-ups, waste disposal and water connections. While the campground’s website attempts to fool you with generic stock photography that is not representative of their actual site (why don’t sites simply invest in some really great photography when they actually have a fantastic site to showcase is beyond me), this campground really is quite attractive for being a highway roadside RV campground.
That said, while their imagery suggests cabins and tents, there were none while we visited, so do take note. That said, the restroom / shower / laundry facilities are exceptional (albeit a bit on the small side - this campground should definitely invest in a second or even third bathroom / shower facility) and, of course, there’s the standard picnic table, fire ring / grill, garbage receptacles, dog park, basic kid’s playground, WiFi, cable and even a community BBQ that are interspersed throughout the property. I was surprised to discover a pretty amazing pool (opened in the Summer between Memorial and Labor Day weekends) that the kids enjoyed during the day – nothing too over-the-top, but a cool spot to drop into during the midday NC heat is definitely an advantage! Oh, and the laundry facilities, camp store and other amenities like fresh cut wood for fires and s’more roasting was a huge bonus. Cathy at the front desk was very warm and inviting.
The hosts are incredibly nice and offer pricing by the night, week and month. Overall, I found the community to be quite inviting and as nearly everyone there is in-transit, there’s a really nice sojourner vibe to be had, where everyone is welcoming and also curious as to where you’re coming from and where you’re headed to, but in a non-invasive manner. Near this RV parking lot, you do have access to Fayetteville Motor Speedway, Cape Fear Botanical Gardens, Clark Park Nature Center and a good number of state and county parks bursting with outdoors adventures for the family.
Insider’s tips? Here's a few: (1) There’s a great little pathway on this property that encircles a small pond that is perfect for a short meandering through the area that you’re in called Sandy Run. Here, we discovered squirrels, all sorts of endemic birds, a few stray turtles, a couple deer and a group of industrious beavers who had built quite the dam. The pond itself isn’t too well-stocked and so you will note the ‘catch & release’ warning signs around this watering hole; (2) There's a hint of 'Coming Soon' and 'Under Development' signs on both the website as well as on-property that would suggest that the campground is in the midst of some upcoming enhancements. Apparently, from the owners, there’s plans for a dog park and even a camp store, which will add substantially to the bolstering amenities already being provided; (3) If you'd like to get off property and head somewhere nearby to stretch your legs and get a decent hike in, then I would recommend checking out nearby Clark Park & Nature Center, which has some pretty great trailheads and other wonderful nature trails to explore; (4) If you are into outdoor adventure and looking to zip amongst the treelines, then check out Zipquest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure; (5) When you grow tired of roasting franks & beans fireside and are looking for some local fare, then head outside camp, cross I95 and make your way over to Go Chew Grill, which is one part morning cafe with jumbo cinnamon roll and perfectly poured Americano as well as afternoon continental eatery, where this spot serves up some pretty amazing freshly made gourmet sandwiches, which I would recommend the turkey, bacon, creamy brie and orange chutney wrap.
Happy Camping!
Raven Rock State Park provides numerous camping options for outdoor enthusiasts near Lillington, North Carolina. Located along the fall line where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain, the park sits at elevations ranging from 150-250 feet above sea level and covers 4,694 acres of mixed hardwood forest. Summer temperatures typically range from 85-95°F with high humidity, making water access at the Cape Fear River particularly valuable for campers.
Hiking with flexibility: The park maintains a variety of trail lengths for different skill levels. "We hiked in from the parking lot too one of the canoe in sites on the river. I loved all the trails, mainly the one that goes from the campsite I was on to the river where there is natural waterslide," shares Sarah L. from Moccasin Branch Campground.
Fishing opportunities: The Cape Fear River offers fishing access within walking distance of campsites. "Not crowded, nice selection of trails, plenty of fishing on the Cape Fear, woodland creatures abound," notes dale W. about the primitive camping experience.
Water recreation: Beyond hiking, the river provides swimming options in warmer months. "The trails are nice and short, not too much room for extra exploration. Best advice is there are some big rocks in the river at various locations that you can lay on and take a nap. Super comfy and the water is also pretty shallow. Great place to get wet," recommends Cruz F. from his day trips to Raven Rock.
Riverside campsites: Many visitors appreciate the unique water access. "My husband and I canoe camped at Raven Rock two weeks ago and we loved it. The site was beautiful. Flat and spacious. There's a picnic table and a fire ring and two benches," explains Linda from Canoe Camp.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides excellent animal spotting opportunities. "We discovered squirrels, all sorts of endemic birds, a few stray turtles, a couple deer and a group of industrious beavers who had built quite the dam," describes a visitor at Spacious Skies Sandy Run, a campground option about 30 minutes from Lillington.
Privacy between sites: Campers consistently mention the well-designed spacing. "I've camped here twice now. The hike in and out is very easy. Only about 2 miles each way. The spots are clean and well spread out with a hook to hang things on, a fire pit, and a picnic table at each site," notes Brett W. about his experience at Canoe Camp.
Preparation for primitive sites: Bring everything needed for self-sufficient camping. "This is a very rustic campground. There are only 6 campsites which you have to trek almost 2 miles into the woods to get to. We had a blast, but this is definitely not car camping. So be prepared. No rolling coolers or wheeled carts of any kind. Everything must come on your back," advises Angel G. about Canoe Camp.
Seasonal weather considerations: Plan for temperature fluctuations and potential storms. "We had a substantial deluge while there, and the water drained just fine," reports Stuart O. from nearby Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, demonstrating how terrain drainage affects camping comfort.
Permit requirements: Check for reservations well in advance, especially for weekends. "The hike is 1.7 miles, and other than the sounds of Cape Fear River down below, the only thing you hear at night might be an occasional airplane flying overhead," explains Myron C. about the backcountry camping experience.
Best trails for children: Choose appropriate hiking difficulties for young campers. "This is a very pretty state Park, OK to hike with children. I brought both of mine but we do a lot of primitive camping. So we are used to different terrain, and no bathrooms," shares Sarah L. about Moccasin Branch Campground.
Kid-friendly swimming spots: The river offers natural swimming areas during warm months. "You can also swim in the Fish Traps, which is a unique cluster of rocks on the river. This place is must visit if you are ever in the Sandhills of NC," recommends Cameron D. from his experiences at Moccasin Branch.
Nearby alternative with more amenities: For families wanting more facilities, consider nearby options. "So much to do for the kiddos and adults. Two pools, hot tub, mini golf, basketball court, horseshoes and playground all included in your price," notes Steve K. about Fayetteville RV Resort & Cottages, located about 40 minutes from Lillington.
Full hookup alternatives: For pet-friendly camping near Lillington with full services, look beyond state parks. "The staff and the couple managing the place are very friendly and it shows that they care about the guest. The campground is clean and well maintained. Seen staff making rounds all day," explains Steve K. about Fayetteville RV Resort.
Site positioning: Pay attention to directions and leveling when setting up. "Each site has a nice fire pit/grill and picnic table. Dump stations are not far from any of the circles, and were not too busy (we were even there on 4th of July)," shares Andrew S. at Poplar Point Campground at Jordan Lake, approximately 20 miles from Lillington.
Weather preparedness: RV campers should monitor forecasts closely. "For those that care about working on laptop or streaming TV while camping, our cellphone hotspots worked great. We got anywhere from 30-55mbps with our Verizon cell coverage," adds Andrew S., providing information about connectivity during inclement weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lillington, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lillington, NC is Moccasin Branch Campground — Raven Rock State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lillington, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 63 dog-friendly camping locations near Lillington, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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