Top Dog Friendly Camping near Catawba, SC

Searching for a place to camp with your dog near Catawba? Finding a place to camp in South Carolina with your dog is easier than ever. You're sure to find the perfect pet-friendly campsite for your South Carolina camping excursion.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Catawba, SC (51)

Showing results 1-10 of 51 campgrounds

Recent Dog-Friendly Reviews In Catawba

298 Reviews of 51 Catawba Campgrounds


  • Camper-submitted photo from Primitive Camping By the Creek
    May 28, 2024

    Primitive Camping By the Creek

    Close and secluded

    My daughter and I decided to camp at the last minute. This place was close to the interstate but still very secluded. Plenty of firewood and next to a creek. I highly recommend.

  • Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Nature Preserve
    May 24, 2024

    McDowell Nature Preserve

    Safe Gated Campground

    Campground is guarded by two gates and I saw the police patrol around a few times after hours. The spots are very close to each other but that didn’t bother me. I chose spot D16 which is the only camping spot with a bit of an uphill ramp from the car to the camp spot. The rest lie flat. Didn’t help that I have a tent that attaches to my car so it made that difficult.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Spacious Skies Peach Haven
    May 13, 2024

    Spacious Skies Peach Haven

    Beautiful and Quiet

    I love this place, with nice wide sites and many with views of three ponds nestled in the woods. The place was squeaky clean and the bathhouse very well designed. There are fun and funky places to visit nearby. The spring wildflowers are starting to bloom and I remember the scent of honeysuckle everywhere. A great blue heron hangs out at the fishing ponds.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Wateree State Park Campground
    May 12, 2024

    Lake Wateree State Park Campground

    Our Favorite Getaway

    This is one of our favorite spots! We can boat, fish, ride our golf cart, hang out by the fire and just enjoy the moment. It also has wonderful handicap accommodations. Hands down one of our favorites!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Iron City Campground, Inc.
    May 9, 2024

    Iron City Campground, Inc.

    They have added to already beautiful campground

    This is our favorite getaway from Charlotte, NC. Level lots, nice pool, enclosed dog lot, clean bathhouse, clean laundry room & activities. As of April 2024 they have added a nice playground. Lisa is the best host.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Wateree Lake RV Park & Marina
    May 4, 2024

    Wateree Lake RV Park & Marina

    Just Right

    This location has 2 RV lots. Riverside is heavily wooded which provides a ton of shade on the hot summer days. Taylor Creek is newer with less trees providing lots of open space and great for Solar regeneration. Both sites are very clean and well maintained. Just a short walk to the lake.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Alston Trailhead
    April 24, 2024

    Alston Trailhead

    Nice free spot

    We enjoyed this free trailhead parking. No bathroom, and the train only woke us up once in the night. Only one other van there with us, so very quiet and peaceful. Lovely walk on the Palmetto trail in the morning. There are also “walk-in” campsites right behind the trailhead signs in the trees.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Iron City Campground, Inc.
    April 8, 2024

    Iron City Campground, Inc.

    Getting better & better

    Our favorite for weekend getaway. Clean and well kept. Owners are fantastic. They have upgraded playground. Dog park is so nice to have on site.

  • Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Nature Preserve
    March 24, 2024

    McDowell Nature Preserve

    Crowded but cool

    Took my gf here to one of the walk-in sites for her first time camping. I love that it's so close to the city but still so beautiful! It did feel like everyone was very close together, but otherwise the facilities were great.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Iron City Campground, Inc.
    February 12, 2024

    Iron City Campground, Inc.

    Great small campground

    We stayed for a month in January. Lisa was wonderful and very accommodating to us. Our site was very level and tucked back in the corner of the campground. If we are ever in the area again we would definitely stay here again.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Kings Mountain — Kings Mountain State Park
    February 9, 2024

    Kings Mountain — Kings Mountain State Park

    Amazing place to stay

    My husband and I come out to camp at kings mountain state park often and we love it if we decide to go camping or to go out to walk some trails with our dog this is the place we always come to the park rangers are all nice respectful and the keep the place clean and help to make your stay amazing. They also answer any questions you may have about the park like things to do while you are there and to enjoy your stay.

  • Camper-submitted photo from McDowell Nature Preserve
    November 24, 2023

    McDowell Nature Preserve

    Great visit and campground!

    This was a very nice/quiet campground. The sites were spacious and private. The campground itself is very wooded with lots of trees for shade. Our site was also pretty level.

    The campground is gated, and you are provided a code at check in. The park also has security and on site most of the time. The only negative is that the place to enter the gate code is on the opposite side from where you pull in, so you do have to get out of your vehicle to enter it each time.

    The bathrooms and laundry were very clean during our visit. The playground was a nice addition for our toddler too!

    We would definitely stay here again.

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  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Wateree State Park Campground
    November 1, 2023

    Lake Wateree State Park Campground

    Nice campground

    Nice campground right on the lake. The nicest shower house I have ever seen. This is the standard we base all other campgrounds. Staff and everyone around were super nice

  • Camper-submitted photo from Kings Mountain — Kings Mountain State Park
    October 21, 2023

    Kings Mountain — Kings Mountain State Park

    needs some TLC

    1st thing was i received an email telling me to check in at trading post and had the wrong address. we arrived as well as 2 other campers at the wrong address and then had to drive a mile or so to turn around. The trading post check in is in the campground!! The park is very pretty with all the trees, but the campsites themselves are very unlevel and laid out very awkwardly. The electric and water are in odd spots on each site. Luckily we were on one of the rare fairly level sites. The road into the campground is narrow, hilly and windy. We were able to do it in our 32 foot class A, but luckily no one was coming the other direction. This would be a very nice park if they spent some money on the individual campsites.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Alston Trailhead
    October 8, 2023

    Alston Trailhead

    Amazing site, minus the train

    This site is awesome. The scenery is beautiful and it is super easy to access. You can hear coyotes howling at night.

    The only problem is the train. It woke us up at least 4 times last night. You can see the train from your campsite.

    Everything else was perfect for us though!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Alston Trailhead
    September 29, 2023

    Alston Trailhead

    Stay at TrailHead

    Beautiful place! Unfortunately no space for us to drive our bus to a camp spot but plenty of room in parking lot. Just a nice little spot to stop before hitting the road again.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Charlotte-Fort Mill KOA
    September 5, 2023

    Charlotte-Fort Mill KOA

    Nice short stay

    We are full timers and stayed here 2 nights. Although people complain about KOA prices, we use them because we know what to expect. As expected everything was well maintained. Restrooms were spotless. Every employee we encountered was friendly and helpful. I reserved a back in space and when we arrived were told they had upgraded us to a pull through site at no extra charge. Site was large enough for 36' fifth wheel, truck, and our car fit behind rig. We could have fit a couple more vehicles if we had them. In addition there is a fuel station out front. Had to unhook, but their diesel prices were even cheaper than I could get with my Open Roads discount card. Only problem was that it is a bit of a noisy area-ambulances obviously dispatch from right down the road. Some plane noise, but we've had worse. Thank you for providing above what we expect from KOA.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Iron City Campground, Inc.
    August 4, 2023

    Iron City Campground, Inc.

    Wonderful Campground. Even Better People!

    Very neat and well-kept.  Fun for kids:  Pool with splash mushroom; playground.  Tho the rain made our site a bit muddy, our gravel, pull-thru was very level.  While we were only here for one night during our return home, even a short visit shows that without a doubt the biggest value at ICC is the expert knowledge, generous helpfulness, and unsurpassing kindness of the owners.  Lisa is a gem!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Alston Trailhead
    July 13, 2023

    Alston Trailhead

    Amazing camp site

    There are several camp areas, fire pits and picnic tables at the beginning of the trail with a big gravel parking lot

  • Camper-submitted photo from Chester State Park Campground
    July 5, 2023

    Chester State Park Campground

    Favorite State Park in SC

    While this is a smaller park, it has a ton to offer. Rv and primitive sites, bathrooms with hot showers, playground for the kiddos, a lake with rental kayaks and paddleboats, and the camp host was super friendly. Easily my favorite state park in SC so far.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Iron City Campground, Inc.
    June 21, 2023

    Iron City Campground, Inc.

    4.3 stars

    The owner is fantastic- very helpful and friendly. We had a great site, but others along the road were less private. My boys and I loved the pool- Ideal for young children and adults alike. We had it to ourselves! There is also a nice new playground that is good for ages 10 and under. The broad river greenway is 15 minutes away and was beautiful. The campground was extremely quiet throughout our stay. There is one short trail behind the pond that is being built. A day or two here is just right.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Primitive Camping By the Creek
    May 27, 2023

    Primitive Camping By the Creek

    Great Campsite!

    Nice Place! The campsite has a pretty creek and forest. On the campsite there is a lot of firewood to use, in a shed to keep it dry. There are log seats around a nice campfire with a picnic table. Lots of room for multiple tents. The shed also has lots of tools such as an axe and rake. Also two trees near the entrance perfect size for a hammock. Nice bathroom too. Overall, beautiful campsite for a weekend getaway or family vacation.



Guide to Catawba

Camping near Catawba, South Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled weekend, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Fishing: Many campers enjoy fishing at Dreher Island State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "We spent 90% of our time on the lake swimming, paddle-boarding, kayaking, and enjoying one of the best lakes we’ve ever experienced."
  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Kings Mountain State Park. A visitor shared, "Lovely shaded campground. Boat rentals at Lake York. National Military Battlefield nearby."
  • Kayaking: Rent a kayak at Croft State Park Campground. A camper noted, "There is a beautiful lake at the campground, which allows several opportunities for fishing. There is a fishing dock and several types of watercraft rentals."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the bathhouses. One reviewer at Morrow Mountain State Park Campground said, "Bathrooms are clean. Water spigot close by, the pressure is high so slowly lift the handle haha."
  • Friendly Staff: Many visitors mention the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Lake Norman State Park Campground remarked, "The campground host were courteous and friendly and they assisted me in backing in my trailer."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy the spaciousness of the sites. One visitor at Cane Creek Park stated, "Larger camp ground than expected. Enjoyed our stay."

What you should know:

  • Site Conditions: Some sites may not be level. A camper at Andrew Jackson State Park Campground mentioned, "The sites are not all level, so pay attention to the description on the park website."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive amenities. A visitor at Kings Mountain State Park noted, "The electric and water are in odd spots on each site."
  • Wildlife: Be prepared for wildlife encounters. One camper at Morrow Mountain State Park Campground shared, "Once we were tent camping here, and woke up to a herd of deer on our site!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds for kids. A reviewer at Iron City Campground said, "They have added a nice playground."
  • Safety: Choose campgrounds with security. A visitor at McDowell Nature Preserve mentioned, "The campground is guarded by two gates and I saw the police patrol around a few times after hours."
  • Activities: Find campgrounds with various activities. A camper at Sesquicentennial State Park Campground noted, "There’s a small lake that rents paddle boats and kayaks."

Tips from RVers:

  • Level Sites: Look for campgrounds with level sites. A reviewer at Croft State Park Campground mentioned, "Site #37 felt significantly sloped to me for our setup."
  • Electric Hookups: Ensure your campground has electric hookups. A visitor at Lake Norman State Park Campground said, "RV sites are paved, with a picnic table and fire ring on a compacted gravel base next to each site."
  • Dump Stations: Check for dump stations before you go. A camper at Dreher Island State Park Campground noted, "I do not remember any problems with the dumping station, and was appreciative that they had two parallel stations available."

Camping near Catawba, South Carolina, has something for everyone, from families to seasoned RVers. Enjoy the great outdoors and make some lasting memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Catawba, SC?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Catawba, SC is Cane Creek Park with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Catawba, SC?

    TheDyrt.com has all 51 dog-friendly camping locations near Catawba, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.