Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Smithfield, VA

Beautiful recently renovated family owned/run campground since 1954. Super friendly staff! All sites provide 50/30/20 amp electric, water, cable and WiFi. Premium to standard include sewer. Big rig friendly, log cabins and cottages. Only campground to provide shuttle service to area attractions, events and restaurants. Pet friendly. Features: beach park, dog park, nature trails, play grounds, corn hole, tiki toss, arcade..... Beautiful new bath house. Discount tickets to attractions available. Reservations recommended, deposit required.

This is our home base camping resort. It’s a deeded membership that allows for 14 day stays with a single deed. We’ve stayed a few times prior to owning with friends who sponsored us. There are both paved and unpaved sites with full hookups, and tent sites that feature water and electricity. Bath houses throughout property, and a laundry, community center, two pools, a large pavilion and ball court. We love having play areas for the kids and a dog park for our fluffy kid.

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. There’s a leash-off dog park, 2 stores, 4 pools, countless playgrounds, a bike trail to the beach (a little under 3 miles one way, but flat and an easy ride). There was so much to do! The campground is HUGE, so it may seem crowded, but it’s quiet! The naval base is practically right next door and they do scramble the jets every day, but we didn’t mind the noise. The kids loved watching them fly over. Besides, they don’t scramble at night, so you’ll be able to sleep with little issues. The bath houses are clean and there’s trash service several times a day (just leave your trash bag by the site post and they’ll pick it up!). We loved it and hope to stay longer next time.

This is a really nice campground. They have on-site bathrooms/showers as well as laundry. It's mostly RV spots but they also allow tent camping and have a couple cabins available for rent. 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. The staff is very friendly and super helpful. You can purchase firewood and propane on-site. Each spot has a concrete padded area with a picnic table and fire pit. It is a little ways out of town in any direction bit it's very nice and quiet out here as you're surrounded by woods. They also have a fishing pond and trails on-site. This really is one of the best campgrounds I've ever been to! Definitely recommend.

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.

Campsites are within walking distance to the ocean. VA Beach boardwalk is a short drive away. Beach is dog friendly, obviously pick up after your dogs. Park Rangers patrol and help you feel secure without being overbearing. Visitors Center offers lots of info about things to do. Camp store offers firewood and ice as well as odds and ends you might have forgotten. They also have some really nice bathhouses although not all of them have been renovated.

Bring flip flops for the shower and sandals/walking shoes. Bring bug spray.

We come every year because it's on our top list of yearly visits. The beach and staff there are nice. Crabbing and fishing there's very popular. 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. Some sunny some shady. Park usually fills up when I'm there

This is a 4 acre parking lot with a good number and quality of very small amenities (pool, dog park) with 60 “sites” sandwiched between roads and very active train tracks. It is NOT a campground.

Owners for several generations have built out the space well but never should have started. Then they’ve been totally dishonest in their marketing of a litany of amenities listed and pictured but skipping the road running the length of the narrow property on one side, with active train tracks and highway along other side. Meanwhile, you are packed in here such that you don’t put out your awning or any exterior items and weave your way through the next RV’s bump out, utility pedestal and septic hook up to get in your door.

With AC on, windows and shades closed, we can hear neighbor AC, TV, loud/long trains, cars on road and highway day and night. Train is so close that it shakes our RV.

Good level ground with gravel and some trees, but ridiculous to call this a campground and pay $60 for lower end “sites” on a weekday. Goes up from there. They have a liberal cancellation policy after first night when you see how bad it is. But if you have area plans, finding & reserving someplace else, moving etc. is a HUGE interruption. Or they could just be honest in their advertising & cut way down on sites smooshed together.

We expressed dissatisfaction and ultimately got 10% additional off beyond our 10% Good Sam Membership. It should have been much more. But don’t accept less, or better yet, don’t come in the first place. Unbelievable that this lot, not campground, is virtually full.

First landing State Park is a 2,888 acre park located on 1.8 miles of the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay. We camped here in early May in our 34 ft Class A Rv. If you are familiar with us, you will know we love campgrounds where we park our RV and we can spend the next 10-14 days hiking 🥾, biking 🚴‍♀️ and paddling 🛶.

🛶You can easily launch your kayak from the campground area but realize you will be trudging through sand for about 200 yards. When the bay was rough, it was a challenging paddle... and worth the views.

🎣I paid for an out of state fishing license for 5 days and it was pretty expensive. I already keep GA and FL yearly fishing licenses...so I may have to rethink my fishing addiction as we travel more outside those states. There is a boat 🚤ramp near the Narrows beach which is either free or costs $4 for people staying at the Park. (We didn’t use it and the wording was contradictory in my research) so check with park on that item if you tow a motorized boat.

🥾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. Here is a link to the hikes

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-firstlanding.pdf

🚴It was also fun to road bike the 10 miles from the state park to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk but we advise you take cautions on the first 2 miles outside the park. We were NOT there “in season” but during certain times of year there is a trolley 🚃 that goes to the boardwalk, gift shop and lots of park activities during the season.

🚍⛺️This campground delivered! The 184 Campsites with variations of 20/30/50amp electric and water (some sites may be seasonal March-December) sites are mostly hard sand/grass based and not all are level. Due to foilage/branches —>many of the larger sites near the waterfront are narrowed (Our camping neighbor had branch clippers he let us borrow) Also, note is that there is a $5 per pet per night additional fee at the campsite

🏡they have lots of cabins. pets are allowed for a $10 fee per pet & per night in the 20 cabins but not in the 4 available yurts. (I know that seems high but many parks in other states do not allow pets at all in their cabins) Here is a link to a pdf about the park

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/facility-guide-firstlandingnorth.pdf

We are excited to come to this park this upcoming April.

Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith

The first thing we noticed was this place was clean and I suggest you make a reservation as we did as it books up fast. Pet friendly, great fishing and beautiful views all around. You will find plenty to do and see. We enjoyed this park and will go back again,

Park and campground was clean, pet friendly and I suggest you make a reservation or you might not get a spot. We loved the views and the people around the area where very friendly . Fishing was real good and we found tons of stuff to do and see. We will be back.

Wonderful spot away from crowds but close to beach. Tent, RV or “ tiny cabin” options. Clean, quiet and pretty. Canal runs around campground that gives you access to Back Bay. Pool and playground. Small store. Super friendly staff. Love it there. 5 minute drive to Sandbridge. 15 to Va Beach strip. Level ground but water collects with heavy rains- to be expected at he beach.

I think pets are OK. Good showers.

This is a small family oriented campground close to Sandbridge beach. They are located on a small waterway that leads to Back Bay. Good fishing and wonderful area to kayak or paddle board. You can even bring a boat. The bathhouse is clean, climate controlled , and never too busy. There’s a game room for relaxing or playing air hockey, pool, and fussball. The owners have corn hole available as well. There’s a small swimming pool in case you want to take a dip although due to excessive rain the week before our trip it was closed for cleanup. There’s a basketball court and small playground. This is a low lying area and standing water at some sites after heavy rains can be an issue. There are a few cabins to rent, pop ups and a bunkhouse camper as well as full and water/elec. hookup RV sites, waterfront sites and tent sites. We’ve stayed here several times and the owners and employees are always very welcoming and accommodating. Pets are allowed on leash and our dogs love it!