Smith Lake Army RV Park provides pet-friendly accommodations at Fort Bragg with spacious concrete pads and full hookups for military families and DOD members. The park allows pets throughout its campground and RV sites, with leash restrictions enforced in public areas. Nearby, Spacious Skies Sandy Run (formerly Lazy Acres) offers shaded pet-friendly sites with concrete patios, fire rings, and level RV sites. Both campgrounds feature walking trails suitable for dog exercise. Smith Lake has recreational facilities including lake access where many campers enjoy taking their pets for supervised water activities. The grounds are well-maintained with clean facilities, though Smith Lake visitors should be prepared for helicopter noise from the adjacent military airfield.
Fayetteville RV Resort & Cottages accommodates pets in their RV sites, cabins, and glamping options with designated pet exercise areas. Dogs must remain leashed throughout all campgrounds in the Spring Lake area, with most implementing standard waste cleanup policies. The walking trail at Spacious Skies Sandy Run provides approximately half a mile of peaceful terrain for dog walking, while Smith Lake offers more extensive hiking options around the recreational area. Campers report varying enforcement of pet policies between campgrounds—some strictly monitor pet behavior while others maintain a more relaxed approach. When camping with pets during summer months, the availability of shaded sites becomes particularly important, as temperatures in the region regularly exceed 90 degrees. Several campgrounds are located within 15-20 minutes of veterinary services in Fayetteville for emergency pet care.
$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)."
"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."
$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."
"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."
$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."
"We stayed here while my husband played in a golf tournament nearby. Friendly staff and comfortable sites. No fancy amenities but clean and quiet."
GuideBeautiful campground, meticulously maintained. Store , restaurant, pool, dog park, kayak on lake,putt putt, cornhole, shuffleboard, horseshoes just to name a few
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
ScoutGreat campground, very clean nice bath house. Staff is very friendly. Only wish there were a few more amenities. The website has a lot of “coming soon” ameneties (upgraded playground, dog park, etc). During our visit the play set was only a set of swings and a tether ball and the pool wasn’t open yet despite it being after Memorial Day and 90 degrees.
Sites are well kept, large and shaded. Plenty of space!
Over all I highly recommend! Especially if you’re not traveling with kids!
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.
RangerVery clean and well maintained. Best bathrooms we’ve ever seen in a resort/campground. Staff is great, even though they are still no contact check in as of July 2021. We pulled up at 1 and our paper was waiting. Very easy in and out, large long spots, with great yard for each spot. Three dogs parks, two pools, and much more. Lots of long term sees but very very clean and welcoming. Would highly recommend. We stayed here visiting Raleigh, about a 30 Mind drive away. This campground is far enough away from interstate there is no road noise, yet close to outlets and city for dinning. A+!
Smith Lake Army RV Park near Fort Bragg accommodates pets at all campsites with concrete pads providing level spots for pet owners traveling in RVs, tents, and cabins. Spacious Skies Sandy Run, formerly Lazy Acres, offers similar pet-friendly options with packed white sand parking pads surrounded by longleaf pines. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities where dogs are welcome but must be leashed when outside vehicles. Fayetteville RV Resort & Cottages and Moccasin Branch Campground at Raven Rock State Park round out the pet-friendly options in the Spring Lake area. Campground hosts at Smith Lake are known to be especially welcoming to pets, with some reviewers noting their cats enjoy watching the helicopters from nearby Simmons Army Air Field.
Dog owners camping in the region benefit from several walking trails, including a path that circles a small pond at Spacious Skies Sandy Run where visitors have spotted squirrels, birds, turtles, deer, and beavers. For more substantial hiking with dogs, the Cape Fear River Trail offers a 10.6-mile round-trip multi-use path, while Clark Park & Nature Center provides excellent trailheads for leashed pets. Many campgrounds enforce strict leash policies outside designated areas, and campers should bring waste bags as pet stations may be limited. During summer months, Smith Lake offers water access where pets can cool off, though the beach area is typically only open on weekends until Labor Day. Temperatures in this region can reach uncomfortable levels for pets during peak summer, so campers should ensure adequate shade and water availability at their sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Spring Lake, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Spring Lake, NC is Spacious Skies Sandy Run with a 3.6-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Spring Lake, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 dog-friendly camping locations near Spring Lake, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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