8 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Sandy Bottom Nature Park's primitive tent sites welcome pets throughout the year, providing dog owners with affordable pet-friendly camping options in Hampton, Virginia. This pet-friendly park features 11 individual sites and 2 group sites situated along a 456-acre wildlife facility with numerous hiking trails where leashed dogs can explore. The tent sites include sand bottom platforms, picnic tables, and fire rings with nearby trash receptacles. Four tent cabins positioned at the lake's edge also accommodate pets. First Landing State Park and Newport News Park similarly allow pets at their campgrounds, offering additional amenities like electric hookups, showers, and water access. The staff at Sandy Bottom is consistently described as helpful and kind, ensuring campers and their pets have everything needed for a comfortable stay.
Dogs particularly enjoy the walking paths around Sandy Bottom Lake, with multiple trails perfect for daily exercise. Visitors can bring their pets along for boating activities, with affordable boat rentals available or the option to bring personal watercraft. The park includes a fenced dog park area where pets can play off-leash, particularly valuable after a day of hiking the park's extensive trail system. Military Park Langley AFB Bethel Recreation Area provides another nearby pet-friendly campground option, offering tent sites at just $10 per night with full bathrooms and laundry facilities. While highway noise can be heard throughout Sandy Bottom Park, the central location provides convenient access for campers and their pets, with the campground situated only a quarter-mile walk from the parking area.
"We live on the other side of Virginia, but have enjoyed returning to First Landing whenever we get the chance. We love the fact that we can visit the beach AND camp."
"20 miles of Trails!! Lots of trails to hike and mountain/hybrid bike. We were surprised at the quality and the number of trails available. We were never bored."
Available next weekend
from $32 - $147 / night
"757-888-3333 or 800-203-8322 Fees: $33.00-$50.00
24 hour security
Store, heated showers, toilets, picnic table, grills, dump station, electric and water hookups, laundry, playground, group sites Pets"
"The sites are quiet, very spacious, nicely spaced, some surprisingly so, but many are deceptively unlevel, particularly on the outside of the loops, and are heavily wooded."
"There are miles of trails around the lake and through the woods you can follow. It is extremely dog friendly with a fenced in dog park as well."
"Lots of hiking trails to walk & turtles in the lake!! Plus you can rent boats for a cheap price which we will probably go back to do. It was so pretty & so fun."
from $11 - $42 / night
"Lovely small campground located inside a National Park land. Full hookup sites are named after the original 13 colonies. Nicely situated between Williamsburg, Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach."
"You are surrounded by water. The rate was 30 a night for a tent site. No water or electric. Which is very reasonable compared to other places I looked at. The store prices were reasonable."
from $25 - $59 / night
"We were able to bring our dog and our canoe. Everything was very clean."
"There is a small playground in the campground area, but right next to the campground is a large play area that has a rock wall that our kids really loved playing at. "
from $15 - $30 / night
"Originally, we planned to stay closer to Virginia Beach, but after finding Davis Lakes, we decided to give it a try."
"The lakes are fun and we always have a great time. Some sites are amazing. Only 4 stars because of proximity to highway."
from $72 - $105 / night
"They do have a heated indoor pool, laundry, numerous restrooms, and a great dog park. There is yard/tiki art and paintings around the park."
"We stayed for the weekend with our 4 kids and dog. There were lots of other pups there and tons of activities for the kids."
from $25 - $92 / night
"They have a dog park area, playground and pool. The store has items for purchase and a gathering room. They do potlucks and get togethers often for the campers."
"You walk into the woods which is kept neat and pick a spot to set up your tent - I looove that! Fishing on the lake was a blast!"
from $25 - $40 / night
"Very pet friendly and they also made a beach side for pets to swim at. Wild animals usually pass by often later in the evening, horses, deer, rabbits etc; sites are nice and big."
"It has 2 beautiful beaches ‘ one that allows pets and the other does not . There are wooden boardwalk trails in the park and a few of them leads to different areas on the beach ."
Available next weekend
from $32 - $413 / night
"The Virginia Beach KOA is a nice place to stay. Plenty of things to do every day. This is a newly renovated KOA, and they added a lot of new sites. Also a new pool with a lazy River."
"Definitely plenty to do and a short Uber distance to the World Famous Virginia Beach."
TravelerA beautiful campground. Nice wooded sites with decent space between sites. Bathroom and laundry were clean. Showers were just ok. Nice trails and the walk along the James
river was nice. Will definitely stay again.
GuideThere are not a lot of spaces available but still a decent amount. They spread out amongst several roads leading down to the water. The trees surrounding are gorgeous. There is a shooting range nearby but we didn’t mind the sound.
TravelerDO NOT WAIST YOUR MONEY! THIS IS A SCAM!! Our 3 campsites flooded with 6 inches of water within an hour of arriving before high tide. Very difficult to get ahold of staff due to limited hours of business. I have requested a refund for failure to render services due to unusable campsites. I have left several voicemails and sent emails with attached pictures. Management has been avoiding my phone calls, will not call back. Very unprofessional. I received one call from"management" at 7:20 pm to tell me that he received a message to call me, but he hasn't looked into why he needs to call me and he will call back the next day. I never heard back from him and that was a week ago. I have followed up daily with phone calls without a return phone call. My family makes several camping trips through the year, will never return here.
TravelerGenerous sized sites but only semi-private. Excellent facilities
ScoutThis campground was very enjoyable. I spent a lot of time at the fishing pier, learning to ID birds I had never identified before. Brown pelicans were everywhere near the sunken ships. I also talked to the Hawkwatch people for a bit.
My campsite was far enough from the bathroom I couldn't hear the door slam, but since I was the only one in the F loop, that wouldn't have mattered. Since the loop was so empty, it was an absolute pleasure.
Had the campground been full, I would have felt too close to the people in tents in the sites next to me.
One great thing was that there weren't tent pads so we didn't have to worry about how to fit two tents on to one tent pad.
GuideEnjoying this campground. Close to all the attractions. Incredible staff, super friendly. Pool and game room are wonderful.
TravelerNote to Self: No Primitive Site reservations...EVER. I love this park. It's situated far enough from the busy traffic noise...beautiful Virginia city of Hayes. When I arrived, it was such a scorching day and there wasn't nearly enough tree cover to shield my tent from the "son of Hades". Suffered heat exhaustion almost to the point of death...Literally. Night was my only respite. If it hadn't been for the wonderful camp attendants who came to my rescue, it would've been an utterly failed experience. Bless their hearts. Other than that, this was a great training experience for an old Novice camper. Now that I'm a bit more practiced, I'm going back 😁, armed with knowledge and more confidence.
TravelerThe good: super clean and new restrooms / showers. The entire parking immaculate. Stayed at site 12. Offers water views and shade. Site 13 is similar and is probably the most ideal site.
Cons: zero privacy. The sites are basically scattered around an open grassy area and fairly close together.
Be aware: sites are not vehicle accessible. Need to carry your kit 50-75 yards.
GuideOur stay is going to be the 21 days that are allowed. In that time, I have been on many nature walks with my dog. Very enjoyable, very well maintained. The only thing I did not like is the bathrooms. I have seen a cleaning lady come through, but I think it is primarily for the sinks and toilets. The shower curtains are moldy, lots of spiders. The shower pressure and temp are great. All in all, it is affordable and very peaceful.
Sandy Bottom Nature Park offers primitive tent camping and tent cabins with locations close to Carrollton, Virginia. The park sits on 456 acres with several hiking trails and a recreational lake that's popular for fishing and kayaking. Several dog friendly campgrounds near Carrollton provide options for pet owners traveling with their four-legged companions, with most offering specific amenities for pets ranging from dedicated play areas to pet-accessible trails.
Fishing and boating activities: The waters at Newport News Park provide excellent fishing opportunities with a large reservoir. "There is a very nice network of trails, most if not all were leashed dog friendly. The park is a civil war historic site and is close to a lot of other historic places," notes Ray & Terri F., highlighting the park's multiple recreational options.
Historical exploration: Chippokes Plantation State Park offers unique historical experiences at one of America's oldest working farms. "This hidden gem is just a short distance from Williamsburg but yet so remote! The still working farm and homes are a treasure of how life and farms ran back in the day," explains Rose H. The park combines both camping and historical education.
Water activities: Kayaking opportunities abound in the region's waterways. "Definitely recommend following the river inland and kayaking through the marshland," suggests Christina about Chippokes Plantation State Park. Many local campgrounds provide boat rentals or launch areas for personal watercraft.
Beach access: First Landing State Park Campground provides convenient beach access that campers particularly appreciate. "The camp ground is beautiful and the people are friendly. Our game ground was surrounded by the forest but your in walking distance to the beach," shares Timothy B. The beach location offers a secluded feel while providing water recreation.
Spacious sites: Many visitors appreciate the well-designed campsites at Holiday Trav-L-Park which offers various site types. "This is a HUGE complex with various 'levels' of sites. From basic to fancy, crowded to sparse," explains Amanda P., noting the range of options available. Most sites include standard amenities like picnic tables and fire rings.
Wildlife viewing: The forested settings around Carrollton campgrounds provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "Lots of tree canopy in this campground/park along a pretty lake. Nice bike and walking trails, and an archery range," reports Gina about Newport News Park, highlighting the natural setting that supports diverse wildlife.
Weather conditions: Summer heat can be challenging for tent campers in this region. "I wouldn't recommend tent camping in the middle of summer - my husband and i both got sick. The beach was nice and quiet, and the water wasn't too cold," warns Grace M. about First Landing State Park. Spring and fall typically offer more moderate temperatures.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby highways or military facilities. "Not very many secluded sights, in the middle of a very busy area of the city of Newport News," mentions Danielle H. about Newport News Park. Consider requesting sites further from roads if noise sensitivity is a concern.
Reservation requirements: The Colonies RV and Travel Park and other popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "This place was relaxing and peaceful. It's located on a peninsula with beautiful bay and creek views. You can enjoy both the sunrise and sunset," notes Jaime W. Making reservations well in advance is recommended, especially for weekend stays.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "We've stayed here pretty often as it's only a few hours from home and near everything in Williamsburg, Virginia. The staff are always great, the sites are level and not too close together, with plenty of shade," shares Philip S. about Chippokes Plantation State Park, mentioning the various family-friendly amenities.
Swimming options: Isle of Wight Family Campground provides swimming opportunities that children enjoy. "They have a dog park area, playground and pool. The store has items for purchase and a gathering room. They do potlucks and get togethers often for the campers," explains S L. Most campgrounds with pools have seasonal operating hours.
Educational activities: Several parks offer programs specifically designed for children. "Great campground for all to enjoy. Access to the beach is a plus, the park rangers do their job well, and many great amenities are available," explains Tyler H. about First Landing State Park, which regularly offers junior ranger programs and nature activities.
Site levelness: RV campers should be aware that some sites require significant leveling. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, nicely spaced, some surprisingly so, but many are deceptively unlevel, particularly on the outside of the loops," warns Ray & Terri F. about Newport News Park. Bringing additional leveling blocks is recommended.
Hookup availability: For those requiring full hookups, options vary significantly between campgrounds. "Make sure you have leveling chalks as some of the sites are too uneven for auto leveling to work. We had a 32' class c rig and had no problems other than the auto leveling not working," advises Tanya R. about Gosnold's Hope Park, highlighting specific RV considerations.
Space for larger rigs: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger RVs. "The campground is beautiful and the staff is very helpful. Our site was good but be warned if you go to the southern side of the park near the beach that you will be very close to a US military base called Fort Story," notes Nita D., sharing insights about navigating First Landing with larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Carrollton, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Carrollton, VA is First Landing State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 124 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Carrollton, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 71 dog-friendly camping locations near Carrollton, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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