Lafon's RV Park provides concrete pads with full hookups where pets are welcome, located just minutes from Princeton. This established campground accommodates tents, RVs and pet-friendly cabins with gravel roads throughout the property. East Fork Park Campground and Clear Lake Park also welcome pets, offering spacious sites with covered picnic tables and lake views. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard pet policies requiring leashes no longer than 6 feet, proper waste disposal, and pets to remain attended. Some parks like Patriot RV Park feature designated pet areas or dog parks where dogs can exercise off-leash. The campground bathrooms remain spotless according to visitors, though the grassy areas at East Fork often grow tall between maintenance cycles.
Lavon Lake's shoreline provides excellent walking opportunities for dogs and their owners, with multiple access points from nearby campgrounds. Visitors should note that summer temperatures in Princeton regularly exceed 95°F, making morning and evening the safest times for dog walks. Many campsites lack significant shade, so portable shade options for pets are recommended during hot months. The Waters offers a catch-and-release fishing pond where leashed pets can join their owners. Some campgrounds enforce quiet hours starting at 10pm when excessive barking may result in warnings. Veterinary services are available in Princeton and nearby McKinney for emergency situations. The Princeton area offers several options for camping with dogs, though amenities vary significantly between properties from basic sites to full-service RV parks with laundry facilities.
$14 - $150 / night
"I avoided any rough spots in the road and arrived at a LONG and roomie site with a beautiful view of the lake."
"We had a nice view of Lake Lavon. Grills and tables vary by site, some are very old, but many have been replaced."
$14 - $30 / night
"Nothing to knock you socks off, but it’s a great campsite close to home and nice for a quick getaway. Has the feel of being somewhat remote since it’s out by the lake."
"Doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles but does have sewer, lake views, wide open spaces, and clean! Great food places nearby."
"The only sound other than bird song is the occasional moo and some coyote yips in the distance"
"Erwin Park is a great place to visit if you're looking to spend a few days running or biking trails. Campsites are far enough apart that you have privacy yet close enough that you don't feel alone."
$50 / night
"We needed to do some repairs to our truck after a hell storm, we need to be around the Dallas, Garland, McKinney area, and this is a perfect location, quiet, but yet close to everything we needed, there"
$20 / night
"This place is close to anywhere you need to go. The price is the best in the area and they give free high speed internet. They have a nice laundry room and mailboxes on site."
"We were thankful this park was close by. We liked the place alot, we parked on one of the many concrete sites. We were able to use the pull thrus but still unhooked for our dr visits. "
GuideThis park is close to highway and great for overnight stay. The park has pull through full site hookups. The park has a pond that is the center of the entire campground. The park has two dog parks available as well for those traveling with pets.
Two things I loved:
One thing I didn’t love: Really close to others for extended stays.
GuideWe traveled from West Texas, stayed 4 nights, had rain almost every day. The park is well laid out, small clean well maintained yards. The paved road was beginning to break up from all the rain with pot holes and new ones beginning to pop up. The pads are gravel and almost level. A few guests have been here a while, did see several arrivals and departures. Pet friendly, keep an eye on your pooch as one morning a large dog broke his/her leash one morning and attacked a lady's dog and knocked her down. She was not injured and her doggie is ok. We did not make it to the pool, the patio or to the dog park. All looked great from a distance. Verizon, full bars of service! 🙂
RangerStayed for two months for my husband's work. Park manager, Becky, was helpful and nice. They have a saltwater pool, dog park, laundry room, shower/bathrooms, trees/landscaping and access to a boat ramp. Some sites are a bit tight. We were in the top part of the campground and had no issues with it being real wet. Have heard that the lower area does have pooling of water with heavy rain. It does go away quickly, but should be aware of this if you have lots of outside things or a pet. Would stay here again.
TravelerWe stayed here 5 months on a work trip. Nice sites most are fenced in with big yards. A few pull thru sites unfenced. The long term sites are well maintained, the staff do a great job of keeping the place nice. Nice big dog park with a pond, also a grooming and dog wash area. Has a pool with hot tub, and a small playground for the kids. We enjoyed our time here, so unique to have a fenced yard. Only down side is the Texas heat and none of the sites have any shade trees.
ScoutWARNING: NO BATHROOMS, NO SHOWERS. Quiet park with easy access to Dallas. Nice dog walking area and dog park. Full hookups. I get that RVs have bathrooms and most have showers, but never in all my years have I been to a park with no bathrooms or showers. Based on the reviews of others a year or more ago I would have to assume there are no plans for any in the future. As long as you know this in advance and are OK with it, you'll be satisfied here. For me,$36, 2 1/2 hours of an afternoon and a trip to Loves for a 2 showers and all was good but I'd have planned differently had I known.
GuideGreat place to stay! Plenty of shade to help with the 100+ degree days! Dog park is nice, staff is friendly. We’ll definitely be staying here in the future!
ScoutStayed here 5 nights waiting for our property to be ready. Called into the office like we have every morning and was told"sorry you have to leave we reserved your spot." ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!! Who does this??? No notice, didn't say anything all week. But sure took our money! Poop all over the grass. The dog park is nasty! They give you all the rules, very strick. LOUD, the highway is right here. Unprofessional!!!!! Never again!!!!!
GuideNice large concrete spaces with plenty of room for a 44’ 5th wheel, tow vehicle and extra vehicle. Office staff was really friendly and helpful. Nice playground for kids and dog park. The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars is the feeling that we were parked in an RV storage lot rather than a campground. It feels commercialized and may be a fine stop if passing through, but not a place I would go to actually camp.
TravelerWe arrived late but were met by the owners with smiles on their faces. They were very helpful and got us checked in quickly. The roads are wide (gravel) and plenty of space between sites. Ours was pull through. The community center is cute! The bathrooms/showers are very clean. The dog park was perfect for my dog on a hot day! I wish there were more mature trees for shade but that’s the only thing I can think of that I would change! Also note there is no wifi in RV area. You have to go to the community center to use it. There is cable internet hookups but you have to have a router.
Camping sites around Princeton, Texas offer easy access to Lake Lavon, with many locations providing direct water views or boat ramps. Summer temperatures regularly reach 100°F from June through August, making spring and fall popular seasons for outdoor recreation. The terrain is relatively flat with a mix of open meadows and partially wooded areas around the lake's 121 miles of shoreline.
Fishing from shore: East Fork Park Campground provides good shoreline fishing access where leashed pets can join anglers. "The location is nice on the lake with lots of sail boats sailing by," notes Mia D., who enjoyed the water views despite finding the roads "horrible" during her stay.
Boating and kayaking: Lake access points vary in quality between campgrounds. "The platforms are extremely in disrepair - literally falling into the lake," warns Cheryl D. about the COE Lavon Lake Lavonia boat launch areas, where she attempted loading children into kayaks from submerged platforms.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: Erwin Park offers approximately 9 miles of trails maintained by DORBA (Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association). "Best mountain bike single tracks around with lots of built features," writes Brian, though he cautions the trails can become crowded on weekends. The trail network follows a one-way system with bikes traveling opposite to hikers.
Spacious sites: Campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites at many Lake Lavon campgrounds. "Plenty of space between sites. Not many trees in some site for shade," notes Tony D. about East Fork Park, while Jess W. mentions "wide open spaces and beautiful lake views" at COE Lavon Lake Lavonia, adding "the sites are far apart and lots of green space."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness receives positive mentions at several campgrounds. "The bathrooms were clean and campsites were spacious. Pretty view of the lake," writes Jenny S. about East Fork Park, despite her frustration with overgrown grass. At Clear Lake Park, Sammie F. specifically notes "bathrooms are very clean" in her review.
Pond fishing: The Waters offers a "nice catch and release pond" according to Rachel H., providing fishing opportunities without needing lake access. This smaller-scale fishing option works well for families with young children or those wanting quick fishing sessions near their campsite.
Maintenance issues: Several campgrounds struggle with consistent maintenance. "Great campground, electric and water. Only issue is the grass is always one high so bring a weed whip," writes Suzann E. about East Fork Park, while Dennis G. notes "bad roads into and thru the park, grass in bad need of cutting" at the same location.
Limited shade: Tree cover varies considerably between campgrounds. "There weren't a lot of trees and none over the RV pads, so keep that in mind as far as the sun beating down on the camper," advises Christina H. about East Fork Park. Portable shade structures are recommended during summer months when temperatures frequently exceed 95°F.
Mixed RV accommodations: RV sites range from basic to full-service. "We parked on one of the many concrete sites. We were able to use the pull thrus but still unhooked for our dr visits," shares Larry B. about his stay at Texas Star Resort, which offers concrete pads compared to the gravel or asphalt found at other area campgrounds.
Consider tent-specific limitations: Not all campgrounds cater equally to tent campers. "Clearly geared towards RVers. Each of those sites have water, electricity, and a sewer connection, with a covered cement pad with a grill, a table, and other relevant features. The few tent camp sites were shoved seemingly randomly between and around the RV sites," explains Veronica S. about COE Lavon Lake Lavonia.
Look for bathroom accessibility: Family camping often requires reliable bathroom facilities. "Each bathroom (2 per building) was a single occupant bathroom with a locking door. In the bathroom was a sink, a toilet, a hand dryer, and a shower with two nozzles at different heights (tall and short)," details Veronica S., highlighting the family-friendly shower setup at Lavonia despite her overall disappointment with tent accommodations.
Check for recreation options: Activities vary significantly between campgrounds. "This park is a nice local place to visit...the main thing to do here is to boat or fish," explains Cheryl D. about COE Lavon Lake Lavonia, adding "There are zero amenities there - the playground mentioned in ads no longer exists," which is important information for families expecting playground equipment.
Site leveling challenges: Many RV sites require leveling equipment. "The pad has definitely broken up over time and isn't level. The fire pit is also sitting at an angle," reports Melanie and Doug G. about East Fork Park Campground. Having leveling blocks or jacks is essential at most Princeton area campgrounds.
Wi-Fi reliability varies: Internet connectivity differs between campgrounds. "Wi-fi cuts on and off and the owner won't even try to do anything," complains Scott about Alvin Lafon's RV Parks, while Rachel H. notes at The Waters, "Wifi is okay. Cel phone reception can be problematic without booster."
Size limitations: RV length restrictions apply at some parks. Rachel H. advises about The Waters: "While our almost 40' Class A fit on the pad, if we had anything larger than our Jeep Wrangler as a tow would not have fit in our spot. Really meant for 30' if you have a pickup truck to tow."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Princeton, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Princeton, TX is East Fork Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Princeton, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 134 dog-friendly camping locations near Princeton, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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