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Dog-Friendly Camping near Portland, TN

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    Dad's Bluegrass Campground accommodates pets with pull-through sites for RVs and full hookups. Located near Portland, sites are level with clean restrooms and shower facilities. The campground permits dogs of all sizes with designated pet waste stations and walking areas. Tight spaces at Nashville North KOA provide limited room between RV sites, but maintain a dedicated dog play area called Kamp K9. The highway noise can be disruptive for pets sensitive to sounds. Extremely nice staff help accommodate campers with animals, and the well-maintained grounds include full-service hookups at most pet-friendly sites. The campground is family-oriented and quiet at night despite the proximity to the highway.

    Cedar Creek and Cages Bend campgrounds offer riverside spots where dogs can access water areas on leash. Dogs must remain leashed at all sites, with most campgrounds enforcing a standard 6-foot leash rule and 2-3 pets maximum per site. Both locations provide drinking water and trash facilities essential for pet owners. Highway noise at Nashville North may disturb some animals, particularly during busy traffic hours. Small dog exercise areas feature benches for owners and waste disposal stations. Campers report the peaceful riverfront at Cages Bend makes an excellent spot for morning walks with dogs, though the campground maintains strict leash enforcement. Most campgrounds require proof of current rabies vaccination at check-in, and nearby veterinary services can be found within 15-20 minutes of most sites.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Portland (83)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Dad's Bluegrass Campground

      4.4(7)9mi from PortlandRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "While visiting family in Scottsville we were in need of a close by RV park for our 40’ rig. This was the perfect spot for us."

      "A lot of people pull in for the night since it's right off the highway and behind a Pilot/Flying J, but it was still quiet."

      from $30 - $45 / night

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      2. Cedar Creek (TN)

      4.4(22)21mi from Portland60 sitesRVs, Tents

      "We came from Idaho to Tennessee in May for two weeks and this was our first campsite. We fell in love with peaceful walks along the river, watching the ducks and birds along with a few turtles 🐢."

      "Bathrooms near to the entrance were a little dated, but the ones near the dump station were nicer. The playground/beach area was nice."

      from $30 - $50 / night

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      3. Nashville KOA Resort

      4.5(40)26mi from PortlandRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Nice and quiet, adequate shade during the day, and right next to the dog park! 5 bars of 5Ge on AT&T and the campground WiFi was good enough to get some work done."

      "Family and pet friendly with plenty of walking space, playground and multiple fenced in areas for the dogs to play off leash. 20/30/50 amp power, water and sewer hookups at most sites."

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      4. Grand Ole RV Resort & Market

      4.4(17)20mi from PortlandRVs, Tents

      "There’s a train that passes by on the nearby track a couple of times a day, but it was never super early or late and didn’t bother us at all."

      "The Grand Ole RV Resort is a nice park to stay in near all the fun and sightseeing of Nashville, Tennessee. The campground is very tidy and well-kept."

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      5. Nashville North

      3.6(13)18mi from PortlandRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It has conveinient access to I65 and Highway 31W. They have 30/50amp full service hookups and Cabins.

      One of the coolest deals is the local winery deals while staying there."

      "For restaurants and grocery runs, take I-65 South to exit 97. Of course, you have the Nashville scene, but check out Mansker’s Station for some rich history of true pioneer spirit."

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      6. Bowling Green KOA

      4.1(19)24mi from PortlandRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Pet friendly with dog park for off-leash use. If ever that way again, will definitely us. 30 minites from Mammoth Cave."

      "The Bowling Green KOA, Ky is located on the outskirts of Bowling Green near the I65 and Natcher interchange. You can actually see the back end of the campground from the ramp that connects the two."

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      7. Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground

      4.5(47)32mi from PortlandCabins, Glamping

      "The site location was great for us because we had our 5 dogs with us and there was room at this site to let them out with ease and we were right next to a hiking trail for their walks."

      "The campground at Cedars of Lebanon State Park deserves 5 stars for their proximity to Nashville, the large paved pads for campers, the peaceful woods, and their overall cleanliness."

      from $25 - $30 / night

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      8. Cages Bend

      4.9(8)19mi from Portland43 sitesRVs, Tents

      "The site we had was a little tight for our slide out and steps because of a large tree and the wall around it, but we made it work. The dogs had a good time walking around the grounds."

      "Corp of Engineers campground with a view of Old Hickory Lake. Some waterfront sites. Adjacent boat ramp. Fishing platform. Well kept. Convenient to amenities in Hendersonville and Gallatin."

      from $30 - $35 / night

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      9. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

      4.5(140)48mi from Portland111 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Bathrooms were close by and air conditioned too! The showers are in the general store building where the post office is so a short walk or drive there."

      "There is a restroom in the campground and a shower house, laundry room, post office and store adjacent. The dump station is next to that facility right outside the front “gate”."

      from $25 - $50 / night

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      10. Baileys Point

      4.8(34)32mi from Portland215 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "The sites are sit up so there is a view of the lake from most of the sites and the site are fairly large."

      "It's one of the few in the state where you can camp near the water and keep your kayaks or boat within a quick stroll."

      from $22 - $50 / night

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    Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Portland, TN

    106 Photos of 83 Portland Campgrounds

    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Portland, TN

    914 Reviews of 83 Portland Campgrounds

    • britni M.
      Mar. 10, 2024

      Bowling Green KOA

      Everything we needed

      Great pull through spots. Every ammenity needed. Pet friendly with dog park for off-leash use. If ever that way again, will definitely us. 30 minites from Mammoth Cave.

    • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 30, 2018

      Bowling Green KOA

      Why would I pay that much?!

      My brother visits KOA’s all the time for camping. Me, not so much. I have a hard time paying $40 for a tent site when I can camp for free or under $20. The Bowling Green KOA, Ky is located on the outskirts of Bowling Green near the I65 and Natcher interchange. You can actually see the back end of the campground from the ramp that connects the two. My first thought when considering a stay.
      I spoke with two of the very friendly and helpful ladies in the office and got a plethora of information. So much so that I’m sure I’ll forget some of it, but here goes;) So first with your fee you recieve (you and all your group) a free game of Minature Golf a day. Next there is wifi and cable available. There is a swimming pool on site and two pay lakes with paddle boats. A dog park and short trail. Depending on the month you visit there are also special incentives to stay an extra night. In May some of your fee is donated to Camp. With a KOA card there are special incentives too and you earn points with every stay. So, all that being said I did purchase a KOA card. Though this is not my favorite type of camping it will come in handy on an upcoming trip and when I camp with my brother ;) I was pleasantly surprised that the interstate noise was mostly not noticiple. There are plenty of trees that help block the noise and offer a lot of shade. We were in a busier site at the end of Abby Dr but it was an easy walk to the two small “lakes“( more like ponds ) and the dog park and showerhouse (with dogwash station) were a short walk away. Not much else to do but a fun enough spot for younger kids. ( no “bears“ to take photos with) and not as many special activities as some other theme campgrounds. This is a nice older campground, worth a night or two visit to get away from the grind for a bit.

    • Thomas R.
      Jul. 7, 2020

      Cave Country RV Campground

      Good stop along the way

      Off the freeway and very convenient. Very clean. Great dog park. Do not camp close to the railroad tracks. Loud horns in the middle of the night. Not much shade. Close to Mammoth Caves.

    • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Nov. 4, 2024

      Bowling Green KOA

      Nice KOA

      This KOA was easy to find by following our GPS. We checked in about 45 minutes prior to their 1:00 PM check in time and they didn’t even mention us being early. We decided we didn’t need an escort to our site as it was near the office. We proceeded to deluxe-patio pull-through site H-4 with FHUs. The utilities were nicely placed in the middle of the pad. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. This site has plenty of shade as does most sites in the campground (CG) due to mature trees, so we did not put out Starlink. We got 4 bars LTE on Verizon and used our MiFi versus Starlink. Site H-4 has a utility box on the yard side, so we had extra space between the adjacent site. They have a decent sized dog park with an agility set up. This KOA has a lot of amenities and lives up to a Holiday KOA rating. The dog park is a nice size. They have a decent laundry room behind the office with 4 washers and 8 dryers. It’s$2.50 to wash and$1.50 to dry. They have 2 fishing ponds. The large one you can keep 2 fish for$20 and the small one is catch and release. There’s some traffic noise from I-65 and surrounding roads. Our main reason to visit the area was to visit the National Corvette Museum. We enjoyed our two night stay.

    • d
      Aug. 19, 2019

      Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort

      Fun, clean, quiet

      This campground was very convenient for those visiting the Nashville area, its just off the highway and they offer shuttles for a fee to downtown and opryland. The check in process was quick and simple, the staff were genuinely friendly and helpful. Our campsite was easy to find and very clean. The shower house was one of the best I've seen mostly because it is air conditioned. The showers are all very private and clean with plenty of room. The waterpark is just steps away, I would suggest not eating food within the park it is over priced and not very tasty, go to the marina restaurant or eat at your campsite. They have a dog park to exercise your dogs and you can't beat the views. I would recommend this campground.

    • D
      Jul. 31, 2018

      RJourney Clarksville RV Resort

      Clean and nice

      Lady running the place was friendly and helpful. Park was very very clean. Bathrooms were very clean and showers had locking stall doors. Play area, pool and dog park. Site pretty level. Quiet

    • hThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 21, 2025

      Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave

      Well maintained, easy access sites

      Kid friendly park, no mature trees in new section but concrete pad with grill and fire pit. Pool with splash pad, pools, pillow pads, multiple playgrounds, dog parks and kennels are available. Also, lots of golf carts to rent.

    • S
      Jun. 12, 2021

      Cave Country RV Campground

      Cave Country

      This RV Park is clean and well maintained. The dog park is beautiful with well trimmed grass and large. They have a nice swimming pool, picnic tables, and fire rings. Nice large gravel pull through site and level. The Mammoth Cave National Park is 10 miles with many other attractions nearby. We stayed for a week and loved it.

    • Alejandra E.
      Sep. 2, 2021

      Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

      Great camping spot

      We booked a group site and had 3 tents. It’s very woodsy and tranquil. Bathrooms were close by and air conditioned too! The showers are in the general store building where the post office is so a short walk or drive there. It’s coin operated with a change machine for bills. $1.50 to turn the shower on and insert more coins before it turns off for additional time if needed. The park is amazing and there’s lots of trails that lead to caves and cave openings. All the cave tours within the park were fully booked when we went so we booked some private tours outside the park in the surrounding area. Lots of opportunities to see caves! We stayed for two nights and did some star gazing! Overall great campground and facilities. They also have a kennel for a small fee at the park lodge if you bring your pet and you’re going in a cave tour whether in the park or outside of it. Pets are generally not allowed in caves. Just confirm pet is vaccinated.

    Guide to Portland

    Portland, Tennessee sits about 35 miles northeast of Nashville at an elevation of 729 feet. The area features rolling hills of the Highland Rim with limestone outcroppings. Camping options near Portland provide access to Old Hickory Lake, a 22,500-acre reservoir on the Cumberland River with 440 miles of shoreline where many campgrounds offer water activities.

    What to do

    Water activities at Old Hickory Lake: Cedar Creek Campground provides direct access to swimming beaches and boat ramps. "This is one of my favorite campsites. On Old Hickory Lake. Accommodates both tents and RV's. Most sites have a lovely view of the lake if not directly along the shore. Swimming beach, playground, and marina both within walking distance," writes Kathy G. about Cedar Creek (TN).

    Hiking trails: Many campgrounds offer easy access to hiking paths through woodland areas. At Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground, unique cedar glade ecosystems showcase endemic plant species. "Cedars of Lebanon is a great State Park in middle TN for camping and for day hikes. It has a great pool, and the natural area where it's located features tons of endemic species to the area!" notes Phoebe A.

    Live music: Several campgrounds host regular performances. Grand Ole RV Resort offers daily entertainment during summer months. "Live music every night was nice. Backing my trailer is not my strong suite but the guided me through it like it was nothing. Great stay," reports Ed S.

    What campers like

    Waterfront camping sites: Many campers appreciate sites with direct water views. At Cages Bend, the riverside locations are particularly valued. "I almost feel bad writing about Cages Bend because I don't want people to crowd us out. It's a core of engineering park one of the best. Small album on the river and so peaceful you'll think your in a move," writes Robert S.

    Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained restrooms and grounds. "Very nice Campground. Easy pull through seats, and shower and toilet facilities are very modern and clean. We didn't find the highway noise to be too big of a deal," notes Mike S. about Dad's Bluegrass Campground.

    Pet-friendly amenities: Nashville KOA Resort provides specialized areas for dogs. "They have site that have their own dog runs!! It is clean and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings," shares Alisa P., highlighting the pet-friendly camping near Portland, Tennessee.

    What you should know

    Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. "Reserve early because it seems the campground is always full. Like most parks/forests, you cannot bring your own fire wood," advises Gillian C. about Cedars of Lebanon State Park Campground.

    Traffic noise: Some campgrounds near highways experience road noise. "Not a quiet stay. Sites are very close together. Not much room between my rv and neighbor. The website shows a creek but it's more of a storm water runoff. Noisy due to the highway that is very close," reports Mickey C. about Nashville North.

    Train sounds: Grand Ole RV Resort & Market is located near active railroad tracks. "Only downfall are the trains that operate 24/7 directly adjacent to the grounds. Trains rolling by at 3 am is not how I like to spend my night. It's not the campground's fault by any means, but I will consider another option next time I'm in Nashville," shares Jeff P.

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play equipment for children. "The campground has a small store with supplies, a restaurant with a menu available (though we cooked our own food), and live music each night while we were there during the summer — a nice touch!" shares Randi P. about Grand Ole RV Resort.

    Swimming options: For families seeking water activities, several campgrounds provide swimming areas. At Baileys Point, "Plenty of room at our site for 2 tents, but it was a little difficult to find level spots. Lots of shade. Enjoyed hanging out in the water and finding fossils on the rocky beach. Kayaking was easy and fun," notes C.O.

    Wildlife viewing: Many camping areas near Portland offer opportunities to see local animals. "Very clean & quiet! The wildlife are very friendly!" writes Gloria J. about Mammoth Cave Campground, describing the deer and turkey that walk through campsites.

    Tips from RVers

    Site leveling challenges: RVers mention varying experiences with site evenness. "Our site was slightly uphill where I had to park to reach the water hookup. The water hookup is very close to the ground and leaked for me. Made it very hard to connect the hose and pressure regulator," shares Jon P. about Dad's Bluegrass Campground.

    Pull-through availability: Many campgrounds offer easy access sites for larger rigs. "All lots are pull through. They have a huge pavilion for events, nice pool, showers, and very clean restrooms," reports Mike F. about pet-friendly camping near Portland, Tennessee at Dad's Bluegrass Campground.

    Dump station access: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger vehicles. "The dump station was clean but short and tight. I have a 25' camper and fit ok, but speaking to another camper with a large 5th wheel, he couldn't use it," warns Mike N. about Cages Bend.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Portland, TN?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Portland, TN is Dad's Bluegrass Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Portland, TN?

    TheDyrt.com has all 83 dog-friendly camping locations near Portland, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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