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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Swannanoa, NC

1,939 Reviews

Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground accommodates pets across tent sites, RV spots, and cabin rentals with designated pet exercise areas. The campground maintains clean grounds and facilities while enforcing strict pet policies. Lake Powhatan, just 25 minutes from Swannanoa, also welcomes pets with spacious campsites surrounded by hiking trails. Asheville East KOA provides riverside camping with pets allowed throughout the property, though sites in Section A are extremely tight for larger RVs with pets. Several campgrounds feature dog-friendly walking paths and pet waste stations, allowing dogs to accompany their owners while exploring the camping areas. Most properties require pets to be leashed when outside the RV or tent, with typical leash length restrictions of 6 feet.

The Swannanoa River at Asheville East KOA offers pet-friendly water access where dogs can cool off during summer months. Multiple hiking trails accessible from both Mama Gertie's and Lake Powhatan accommodate leashed dogs, providing exercise opportunities directly from campsites. Campers report the bathhouses at Mama Gertie's remain exceptionally clean despite being pet-friendly facilities. Mountain temperatures in the Swannanoa area fluctuate significantly, requiring pet owners to prepare for both warm days and cool nights when camping. The proximity to veterinary services in nearby Black Mountain provides peace of mind for travelers with pets. Campfire Lodgings and Rutledge Lake RV Resort round out the pet-friendly options within 15-20 minutes of Swannanoa, both featuring designated pet areas and full hookup sites that accommodate traveling pet owners.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Swannanoa, North Carolina (324)

    1. Asheville East KOA

    52 Reviews
    Swannanoa, NC
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (828) 686-3121

    $50 / night

    "It’s accessibility to Asheville is great, but the site itself is clean, with tidy grounds and a spotless bathroom (didn’t use showers). Plenty of places to walk and pet friendly."

    "We parked our camper right next to the Swannanoa River in the KOA Asheville East and had a stellar Memorial day weekend."

    2. Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina

    63 Reviews
    Enka, NC
    16 miles
    +1 (828) 552-8040

    $37 - $135 / night

    "The sites are spacious and well spaced, offering more privacy than many locations. The showers and bathrooms were very clean. There are numerous hikes that are on the grounds or just outside."

    "PROS  Discounted camp fee with senior pass 

    Reserved 169 days prior to arriving 

    Friendly and helpful gate attendant 

    Nearly 100% shade at each site 

    Excellent dark sky viewing 

    Private sites with"

    3. Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground

    28 Reviews
    Swannanoa, NC
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (828) 686-4258

    $75 - $200 / night

    "Tucked away into the mountains not far from the interstate, super quiet and nicely taken care of."

    "At the top of the first hill is a dog park. Keep going up and there is another neighborhood at the top and here is where you get the views."

    4. Black Mountain Campground - CLOSED INDEFINITELY

    29 Reviews
    Montreat, NC
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 675-5616

    $28 - $56 / night

    "Dogs welcome 🐾 Clean bathrooms Clean hot showers Some electric sites River sites are first come first serve Has group camping {must reserve online} Large tent pads Rv sites Fishing Can purchase"

    "They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around."

    5. Curtis Creek Campground

    24 Reviews
    Old Fort, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 652-2144

    $10 / night

    "I would not recommend this for someone unfamiliar with driving a rig but once we got there it was amazing."

    "We live near here and decided to give the dispersed camping area a try. We wanted to take our dogs camping to see how they would do and the dispersed camping area was perfect!"

    6. Montreat Family Campground

    15 Reviews
    Montreat, NC
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 572-2257

    $25 / night

    "You’ll feel like you have the forest to yourself, with tons of pretty plants all around you. It’s down a short path (a bit tricky to navigate) and tucked away between the creek and small stream."

    "We abandoned plans to stay at place in Old Fort (see listing for Catawba Falls) and ended up here as a last chance before having to hit a hotel to turn back around to CLT.  "

    7. Mount Mitchell State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Pisgah National Forest, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 675-4611

    $27 / night

    "The campground is open from May 1 to Oct 31...but if you walk-in to the sites, as in via the trails, you can rent a site amost all year. Tent sites are small, but nice."

    "There are plenty of tent camping sites along the Mountain to Sea trail and throughout the park. I camped by Commissary Ridge next to a small Creek and an excellent view of sunrise."

    8. Rutledge Lake RV Resort

    19 Reviews
    Fletcher, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 654-7873

    "Easy off the highway but far enough to be quiet. Lots of dining options close by"

    "campground was decent Fishing pond has a lot of ducks and seaweed

    Laundry room was nice and large - easy and quick to get 3 loads done

    Waterfront site was fairly level and loved being able to walk"

    9. Creekside Mountain Camping

    16 Reviews
    Gerton, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 625-4257

    "Nice creek running nearby and a few short walking paths. The drive to spruce pine is scenic and long but head back toward bat cave and there ade neat little adventures to have with the kiddos."

    "This was a great little spot away from the hustle and bustle of the highway. Very close to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. Pool was clean. Arcade on site."

    10. Campfire Lodgings

    15 Reviews
    Weaverville, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 658-8012

    "Great park, pet friendly and great views! 30 minutes from the Biltmore."

    "They’re only a few seconds walk to the community overlook area, which is equipped with seating. The yurts are down a hill and in the woods, so excellent for privacy."

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Swannanoa, NC

286 Photos of 324 Swannanoa Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Swannanoa, NC

1939 Reviews of 324 Swannanoa Campgrounds

  • Erin D.
    Aug. 8, 2019

    Indian Creek Campground

    Creekside Camping

    Indian Creek offers the most relaxing creekside camping in North Carolina.

    Every campsite is lush with greenery, private and well maintained after each occupancy. The bathhouse is the cleanest I have found and the campsite store carries all of your forgotten necessities, and more!

    My husband and I love coming back to this campground, because how of well we and our kids sleep! The sound of the creek at night melts all of your worries away and takes you off to peaceful slumber.

    This campground is always in rotation for a visit.

  • C
    Mar. 29, 2023

    Four Paws Kingdom Campground & Dog Retreat

    Adult and Dog campground wonder

    From the moment we arrived at the campground the manager "Larry"  ( a workamper) signed us in, show us our site on Wagging Tail Dr.  We arrived on their opening weekend the Owners provided BBQ meal and live music "Jose Wales" band.   It was a wonderful time.  As for the "Dog Retreat part - 18 acres of wonder open areas fenced in to keep you furry friends from running away, there is agility park, puppy park, the main dog park, a private park (single or you can invite), a Lure run, a Ball Park, and a Pond for those watery dogs.

    Price for Fire wood - a little expensive and 10 lbs of Ice was reasonable.  There are fully fenced sites, a couple of sites with a fenced area.  The larges rig I saw in there was a Solitude at  38 ft.

    Over all, if you want the peace and quiet in the North Carolina foot hills with your furry friend and have a good time.  This is the place to be.

    One other note:  It is the only park in NC that is a dedicated dog campground.

  • Jason F.
    Sep. 30, 2020

    Asheville West KOA

    Far enough away to feel like camping and still close to the city

    The Asheville KOA is very pet and RV friendly. There are a number of walking trails of easy to moderate difficulty that run throughout the property. The dog park is a great place to let the pups off of the leashes for a bit. Staff pickup trash daily between 10-11AM at your site, but dumpsters are easily accessible.

    We camped here in our 22' travel trailer. The back in sites are mostly level with a mix of dirt and gravel. If you're looking for a sunny spot, request one of the even-numbered back-ins. If you would prefer to be mostly in the shade, go for an odd-numbered spot. 20/30/50 amp electric, cable, water and sewer were easily accessible at each site. Camp sites are not very large, so be mindful of volume and lights with respect to your neighbors.

  • Kelly R.
    Feb. 23, 2021

    Four Paws Kingdom Campground & Dog Retreat

    Awesome for dogs and people!

    We camped here back in August and had a blast! We brought our two dogs and they also had a great time. This site is very dog friendly (obviously), with many sites having their own fenced in yards. We opted for a site without a fence, which we regretted once we got there. The gravel at our site was painful for our dog’s feet and they had a hard time walking on it. The dog parks made up for this! There are multiple large dog parks located at the campground. The restrooms were awesome, but are single person use only. We felt like we were the only ones using them (that’s how well maintained they were). Campsites are close together but we didn’t mind. The staff was great, they helped us find our site and even helped us back our camper in. There was power and water hookup at each site. There is tons of stuff to do around the area too. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are right around the corner and SO FUN.

  • l
    Sep. 8, 2023

    Bent River Equestrian

    Great camping near mountain biking and hiking

    Great place to spend a couple of nights. Went over Labor Day weekend with 5 or 6 other groups and still felt like we had full privacy. Fire pits, an outdoor shower, and a porta-potty. Cute horses and barn cats to pet and watch

  • Anne H.
    May. 31, 2018

    Asheville West KOA

    Nice stay.

    Other than rain almost every day, we enjoyed this spot while checking out Asheville and Biltmore Estate. The campground is very wooded, allowing for shady space. The showers were decently clean. Garbage is picked up at your site, or you can recycle next to the shower house which is not located far for the back section, which we were in, with full hookups. We enjoyed the trail through the woods that circles the whole campground. Our dog enjoyed the dog park. There is a pool and camp store.

  • Kirsten J.
    Jun. 4, 2019

    Mountain River Family Campground

    Pristine, friendly, communal, peaceful campground on the river!

    This campground was pristine - from the moment we turned the corner, until the moment we left!  

    We met Kimberly within seconds of pulling on the property.  She was incredibly kind and made us feel at home immediately.  As tent campers, she told us our best choices were a 30 amp site on the river ($50) or a 30-amp site off the river ($44).  These prices are steep for tent camping, but include 2 adults, kids and pets.  Additional adults come with a fee, but we were happy the kids were included.  Not only were the pets included, but they have a dog park area that they can run free and stretch their legs!  

    We came into the cute little office where Kimberly gave us a campground map (which was painted by a resident camper glass blower) and told us about her property. Several items were on sale inside the store, including many shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. They also sell kids fishing poles, stickers and even a fresh coffee cup machine.  They have recently renovated the bathhouse (wait until you see it!) they have a library with books and games, an outdoor sink to wash dishes etc. and even a laundry room that operates on the honor system.  How great is that!  I thought it was wonderful that we could wash a wet sleeping bag or a quick load of stinky hiking clothes if necessary!  Kimberly explained that they have a pretty good mix of short and long term campers (primarily RV's) and even a cute little cabin that can be rented.  

    Kimberly said that they choose not to allow on-line bookings to maintain the atmosphere that they desire.  You can call, or submit a request, but they want to have a conversation with you before booking.  The campground was calm, friendly and so so clean.  Campers were friendly, the campground host was as kind as could be, and so proud about her new bathrooms.  (See below).  This is the kind of campground we would feel good about our kids biking around in the evening as they chase fire flies and meet new friends!  

    The campground was located on the river, but the slope was challenging from several sites.  With kiddos, I may prefer a site closer to the road because it was nearly a flat walk out to the river.  We will surely be back!

  • Pat B.
    Aug. 5, 2021

    Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground

    Not quite great for a senior

    Great and clean unless you have a very active dog and you're sorta out of shape. Their dog park extremely small and hilly and has holes you need to watch. The yellow jackets were terrible and I got stung while just sitting at our site. Also a hike to take garbage to their dumpster. Some sort of pickup or maybe bear proof cans half way point, also more flat area for dog walks. If they would take in some of the area around the horse shoe area that would help too .

  • P
    Dec. 23, 2020

    Asheville West KOA

    Great home base for a week

    We stayed here for a week to visit the Asheville area. The location is amazing very short drive into town, hiking spots, and I highly recommend you take a walk around Lake Junaluska . We booked this spot for the location and it delivered. Yes, that came with a lot of highway noise... but again we wanted an easy jumping off point. So we got exactly what we booked. What was the biggest difference maker was the staff. So lovely, so kind! Trash pick up from our site and each night they delivered firewood to us. Even would refill your propane tank and deliver it back to you. Spots were a little squeezed but not too bad. Dog park was awesome for our two pups.

Guide to Swannanoa

Discover the joy of camping with your furry friends near Swannanoa, North Carolina, where several campgrounds welcome pets and offer a variety of amenities and activities for both you and your dog.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Swannanoa

Dog owners appreciate the amenities

  • Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground provides clean facilities and a beautiful view from the top section, making it a relaxing spot for you and your pet.
  • At Mount Pisgah Campground, you’ll find spacious sites and nearby hiking trails, perfect for adventurous dogs and their owners.
  • Curtis Creek Campground is known for its secluded spots and the soothing sounds of the creek, creating a peaceful environment for you and your pet.

Tips for camping with dogs near Swannanoa

  • Always keep your dog leashed at Asheville West KOA to ensure their safety and the comfort of other campers, especially since the campground can be busy.
  • Bring plenty of water and snacks for your dog when visiting Rutledge Lake RV Resort, as the area can get warm during the day.
  • Make sure to clean up after your pet at Wilson's Riverfront RV Park to maintain the campground's cleanliness and ensure a pleasant experience for all guests.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Swannanoa, NC is Asheville East KOA with a 4-star rating from 52 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 324 dog-friendly camping locations near Swannanoa, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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