Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Lovingston, VA

Devils Backbone Camp accommodates pets at all 73 sites across its tent and RV camping areas. Campers with dogs have access to multiple hiking trails within the property and convenient walking paths to the on-site brewery and restaurant. Most sites feature picnic tables and fire rings where pets can relax alongside their owners during meals and evening campfires. Several campgrounds near Lovingston allow pets, including Crabtree Falls Campground, which offers cabins and glamping options in addition to traditional tent and RV sites. Misty Mountain Camp Resort maintains 100 year-round pet-friendly sites with full hookup options. The bathhouse at Devils Backbone is exceptionally clean and well-maintained, making it convenient for campers with dogs to rinse off after outdoor adventures.

The Appalachian Trail access points near these campgrounds provide excellent dog-friendly hiking opportunities. Leashed dogs can join their owners on many sections of the trail, with multiple trailheads accessible within a 20-30 minute drive from Lovingston area campgrounds. Crabtree Falls hiking trail offers spectacular views and is suitable for dogs who can handle moderate terrain and elevation changes. During summer months, pets require extra attention due to high temperatures in the open camping areas at Devils Backbone, where shade is limited at RV sites. Wildlife encounters are possible in this region, with trail cameras at nearby Staver Farm capturing increased activity from black bears, deer, coyotes and bobcats. Camp hosts generally enforce leash policies to ensure pet safety, particularly important given the proximity to wildlife habitats and other campers.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Lovingston, Virginia (79)

    1. Devils Backbone Camp

    39 Reviews
    Nellysford, VA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 817-9708

    $25 - $140 / night

    "Pets welcome and camping can be made through site. Good for probably new campers or those looking to camp but have a more relaxed trip."

    "You are a quick walk to the brewery and café, where you can grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is nice and dark at the campground, so great for star watching. "

    2. Canoe Landing Group Campsite — James River State Park

    27 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    10 miles
    Website

    $15 - $80 / night

    "We spent one night with our dogs at the walk-in campground at James Lake. It is a wonderful piece of nature. The campsites are far away from each other. Everything was very clean and taken care of."

    "Campsite was right next to lake, beautiful views and easy water access. While we were there in April we only saw a couple other groups, and no other campers were anywhere near us."

    3. Sherando Lake Campground

    33 Reviews
    Tyro, VA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2188

    $25 - $47 / night

    "Sherando Lake is a well-maintained, popular campground located in the George Washington National Forest near Lyndhurst, VA."

    "The lakeside is wonderful for sitting, reading and swimming.  The "upper lake" is great for fishing. "

    4. Red Oak Campground — James River State Park

    17 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    10 miles
    Website

    $35 / night

    "Lots of beautiful hiking/biking/equestrian trails to explore. Bathrooms were very clean and nice. Bundles of firewood sold $7 each. Nice fire ring at each site. Pet friendly."

    "Nice campground in line with expectations for most Virginia state parks."

    5. Crabtree Falls Campground

    20 Reviews
    Montebello, VA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 377-2066

    $28 - $55 / night

    "My husband and I recently stayed overnight with our two dogs. The campsites run along a river, which provides great back drop for getting away from the city."

    "The tent sites we stayed in were 10 ft away from the Tye river, we literally fell asleep to the sound of the water every night."

    6. Misty Mountain Camp Resort

    39 Reviews
    Crozet, VA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 647-8900

    $35 - $75 / night

    "Misty Mountain Camp Resort is located in Crozet, Virginia, off of 250 below Afton Mountain. I'm familiar with this resort."

    "The winding layout allowed for more distance between other sites. The woods were beautiful with easy walking trails right from the site."

    7. Walnut Grove — James River State Park

    11 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 933-8061

    $15 - $18 / night

    "Most of the sites were huge and level, and we were able to choose a mostly-shaded site with water and electric near the bathhouse."

    "Lake James is a true gem, clean and beautiful, with amazing views of Linville Gorge, Shortoff Mountain, and Table Rock. The State Park has several camping areas."

    8. Branch Pond — James River State Park

    9 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    10 miles
    Website

    $15 - $18 / night

    "Located in the middle of nowhere off of narrow Virginia secondary roads, we were surprised to get good Verizon reception. We stayed on site 15 which is a long pull-thru."

    "Private, flat, and well maintained sites with great facilities, hiking/biking trails, and floating opportunities make this campground a good one to visit with family and friends!"

    9. Montebello Resort

    11 Reviews
    Montebello, VA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 377-2650

    $38 - $55 / night

    "We stayed in the mountain view cabin lower level with our two dogs."

    "This is one of Virginia’s best kept secrets for Cabins, RV or Tent camping.

    The location is awesome; close to some great hiking spots, very accessible & well laid out."

    10. Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley

    12 Reviews
    Stuarts Draft, VA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 337-2267

    $29 - $45 / night

    "And of course their lake that has two jumping decks, water slide, snack bar , restaurant and off to the side a little store for floats with putt putt golf and Jenna,etc."

    "We were staying here with our two children and no dogs. As far as that’s concerned was a great place !! Lots for them to do, great swimming lake, employees were a pleasure."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Lovingston, VA

699 Reviews of 79 Lovingston Campgrounds


  • Francelia A.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Misty Mountain Camp Resort

    Mom and son new adventure

    Misty Mountain Camp Resort is located in Crozet, Virginia, off of 250 below Afton Mountain. I'm familiar with this resort. Many, many years ago, when it was Yogi Bear's park, a lot of updates since then. Great accommodations. I've not enjoyed camping as much as I have these last 2 weeks with my son Matthew, who is 30 years old down syndrome, autism and a leukemia survivor. I am 66 years old. I'm on the best adventure of my life. Just bought a new motorhome after my partner of 15 years passed away. I'm on a new journey. And taking care of my life with good health. I recommend this park to anyone. Friendly staff, accommodating, pet friendly dog parks, bathhouse, laundry, sun, and shade, with 30 and 50 amp hookups with sewage. I couldn't ask for a better place. Have a fun-loving life, I am!

  • Carey R.
    Aug. 4, 2022

    Natural Bridge KOA

    Perfect for Visiting Natural Bridge with Kids

    We stayed in a Pull Through, Full Hookup site on the hillside. It was surprisingly very level. We just used this as a base for visiting Natural Bridge State Park, so it was only an overnighter. The bathrooms & private showers were amazing & clean. The laundry room looked just as nice, but we didn’t use it.
    We didn’t use the pool, but the kids enjoyed the Gameroom! Of everything we used there, the only thing to mention that was dirty was the game room. But I’ll take that, we were very impressed with the playground, dog park & they even had chickens & a petting farm upon entry.
    This KOA seriously restored my faith in KOA’s. I will renew our membership, (which is about to expire), based on this visit. There are great ones out there!

  • Bridget H.
    Nov. 17, 2020

    Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA

    Right off highway with great amenities

    This campground is open year round and is right off the highway.  There is a gas station right next to it as well as a safari park.  The campground itself has a pool, open seasonally, a game room, and a playground.  It's an old school playground but the gkids love it.  They also have a couple of walking trails and a small dog park.  It is roadside so expect just that for this campground.  It has plenty of trees and sites for all different sized vehicles and tents.  The cabins and bathrooms are nice and clean.  The employees are always nice and helpful.  We have stayed here several times and have always had a good time.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA

    Convenient and easy

    Lots of pull thru sites, full hook up, even have dog park and laundry.

  • A
    Nov. 28, 2021

    Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park

    Will definitely return!

    Pros outweighed the cons.

    Good: Staff was amazing! Trash pickup daily. Level sites. Nice little general store. 9-hole disc golf course. Dog park and playground centrally located. Quiet. Close to shopping, restaurants, etc.

    Bad (if they can be called “bad”): We were excited about cable and wi-fi as a new perk. Could not get cable to work and wi-fi was spotty at our site. Had great signal in other parts of the campground though, and cell reception was strong. Roads were narrow to navigate and some sites quite short in length.

  • Elena B.
    Apr. 16, 2022

    Cloverdale Farms

    Camping at Cloverdale

    We’ve got a little 20 acre hobby farm. This historic property has gently rolling hills, with a little creek amidst a couple acres of cleared, open, secluded woodland perfect for pitching a tent and listening to nature. Fields in the back lend a great view for star gazing and looking up at the Milky Way. If the peace and quiet isn’t enough for you, there are pet goats, cats, a dog, and chickens that all love attention. Guests are more than welcome to help in the garden, pick flowers, and enjoy fresh produce and eggs while they’re here. Located 5 minutes from the James River, guests can hop over to the boat landing for fishing, swimming and boating or check out Blanton and Pleasants, a community staple. If you’re a hiker, there’s a state forest and state park just a short 15 minute drive west.

  • G
    Oct. 14, 2021

    Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park

    Scenic clean campground

    Enjoyed our stay at this campground! Office is open until 8pm which is rare. Sites are clean and flat. Pull thru and back in slots available. There is a lovely creek running through portions of the campground. Showers and bathrooms were relatively clean. Didn't use the pool. Dog park and playground were nice features. Overall, good value for the sites and amenities.

  • Mimi B.
    Sep. 25, 2020

    Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park

    Very nice clean rv park

    Located within minutes of I81. We stopped for 2 nights to see the Shenandoah National Park on our way to NC. Called last minute and got a site. Very nice customer service. Grounds were very well kept. Our site 112 had water, 50amp and cable. Dump station on premises. Nice dog park for our fur babies and doggie duty stations with bags in several locations throughout the park. Also had a cute playground for kiddos. Didn't use the pool so can't comment. A little highway noise but when windows and door were closed couldn't hear a thing. We'd stay here again. They honor Good Sam discount. Paid $38 with discount.

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2022

    Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA

    Quiet retreat

    This was our first visit to this campground and it was farther than we usually travel for a long weekend but we’ll worth it. It’s small with about 40 RV sites in addition to tent sites (4) and cabins (8). The camp hosts were very nice. Fire wood is delivered when you purchase it. Trash is picked up from your site. The layout is weird but most sites are pull through. We were in B24 with friends and family staying in B25 and B26. These were back in sites and very spacious. While not necessarily secluded, they felt more private. The bath house was central to the sites and were unisex individual bathrooms. Not modern but clean. The ere is a pool and an area near the office with lots of childrens activities; playground, shuffleboard, basketball, gem mine, horseshoes, jump pad, and a fishing lake with large fish. The pool is near the offices as well. The office has a small store area with some souvenirs and necessities. There is a large dog park. Get dessert at Woodruffs just down the road, check out Natty Bs for lunch and some general store items and fresh baked goods on the way to Natural Bridge which is dog friendly! Dogs allowed in visitor center and the Natural Bridge itself. There’s a new brewery just across the street. Lynchburg is about 25 min drive and has a Community Market that is part farm market and part local crafts market. Free parking in that area on weekends. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway north for some awesome overlooks as you climb the mountain and approach rt 60. Skip JJs Meat Shack in Buena Vista if you go through there.


Guide to Lovingston

If you're looking for a great getaway with your furry friend, there are several pet-friendly camping options near Lovingston, Virginia. These campgrounds offer a variety of amenities and activities that cater to both you and your pets.

Dog owners appreciate spacious sites and amenities

  • At Misty Mountain Camp Resort, you’ll find 100 sites with features like electric hookups and drinking water, making it easy to set up a comfortable stay for you and your pet.
  • Sherando Lake Campground offers large, shaded sites perfect for relaxing with your dog after a day of exploring the nearby trails.
  • Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park provides a friendly environment with clean facilities, ensuring a pleasant experience for both you and your pet.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Lovingston

  • At Devil’s Backbone Camp, you can enjoy hiking trails that are perfect for walks with your dog, plus a brewery nearby for a refreshing drink after your adventures.
  • Canoe Landing Group Campsite features access to the James River, where you can enjoy kayaking and fishing while your pet enjoys the great outdoors.
  • Crabtree Falls Campground is located near beautiful hiking trails, allowing you to explore the stunning scenery with your dog by your side.

Pet owners like the welcoming atmosphere and community

  • Oronoco Campground is known for its friendly vibe, making it a great spot for pet owners to connect with other campers while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
  • Montebello Resort offers a peaceful environment with plenty of space for your pet to roam, along with fishing opportunities for a fun-filled day.
  • Stoney Creek Resort features a large lake for swimming and fishing, providing a perfect backdrop for a day of fun with your furry companion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lovingston, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lovingston, VA is Devils Backbone Camp with a 4.3-star rating from 39 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lovingston, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Lovingston, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.