Tolt MacDonald Park's tent sites and RV spaces welcome campers with pets throughout the year, offering access to both the Tolt and Snoqualmie Rivers. The park maintains several pet-friendly camping options including standard tent sites, yurts, and RV spots with water and electric hookups. Most sites feature picnic tables and fire pits where pets can relax alongside their owners. The tent sites have limited shade, which can make hot days uncomfortable for dogs. Tall Chief Campground in nearby Fall City also allows pets with dedicated RV spaces and cabin accommodations. Pets must be leashed in common areas, and campers should bring waste bags as stations may be limited. The campground is well maintained with clean facilities, though some visitors note that larger RVs over 10 years old may face restrictions at certain sites.
Hiking trails along the rivers provide excellent opportunities for exercising pets, with the suspension bridge at Tolt MacDonald connecting to additional trails and more remote campsites. Dogs should be kept on leash while crossing the bridge as the openings could be hazardous for smaller pets. The park offers pet owners close proximity to Carnation's amenities, making it convenient to access pet supplies if needed. Temperatures can vary significantly by season, with winter camping being limited at some locations. Wildlife encounters are possible in the area, including bears, so properly securing food and keeping pets under control is essential. Several campgrounds in the region flood during rainy seasons, making late spring through early fall the optimal time for camping with dogs in the Carnation area.
"This place is great if you plan to spend most of your time on the river, or trails, but not so much on at your site. "
"The campground is next to a classy laundromat, and I say classy because it’s probably one of the nicest laundromats in the area that even has a dumpsite for RVs."
"This is a big park that is part of Thousand Trails. No sales pitch to join, which was nice. Rangers were super nice. Bathrooms very new and clean. Lots of trees between sites. "
"Lots of trees in our section separating us but in other sections your really close to each other. It is first come first serve and lucky us we got 50 amp."
$32 - $36 / night
"There are a lot of campsites to use and they are somewhat close together but I was not disturbed by any of my neighbors near or far during my two night stay."
"Although the Camp Ground and facilities are great at Tinkham, my advice would be to get into your lifted Off-Roader and hit the mountain roads for this camping trip of a lifetime!"
$32 - $96 / night
"The camp host was super friendly and knowledgeable, dog access is a plus, and a ton of trails nearby. Plus, the road itself on the way up is very well maintained. Hope to stop by again soon!"
"The river is only a five minute walk away, and we spent most of one day there. I was very surprised by how quiet it was for only being an hour outside of Seattle."
$20 / night
"There is good system of trails, tons of picnic tables along the river, and good river access to the Green rivers. Campground is well maintained, clean bathrooms and showers available."
"It's close proximity to our house allows us to hook up the trailer after work and include a Friday night in our camping weekend!"
"A Quiet oasis tucked into the forest. The new and clean bathrooms and showers were a real treat after a 2100 mile journey from Texas."
"It’s a very nice location, exceptionally clean and safe. In site 11 you can hear the highway when outside of rv but couldn’t inside. Neighbors were very friendly."
$65 - $125 / night
"We roasted hotdogs and s‘mores over the camp fire and our dog loved swimming in the lake. It’s a beautiful site and the park is kept incredibly clean."
"This is in the shore of Lake Samammish, giving access to swim, paddle, picnic. The facilities and grounds are kept clean and well maintained."
$62 - $750 / night
"This is the nicest park with the best rates close to the Seattle area. It’s north of Lake Washington so you can skip bridge traffic and tolls. It has easy access to UW Bothell."
"Each site has a few trees to give privacy and a fantastic walking trail for dogs. It’s very clean and welcoming."
"It’s in the heart of Issaquah and close to every kind of service, shopping and even nature you could want."
"Lots of nice campers stored and people who have made this their temporary home away from home. It’s old and right next to the highway. No fire pits and just a little grass but we couldn’t be happier!"
"This is a good campground just off Hyway 2 and on the river, some site are directly next to the river, however, we choose a site on the other side of the road due to the full hookup there."
LegendReally cute camp spot and play area!! Pet friendly and dog park! Went here on our trip to Tacoma north of the city. Very nice beach and area!! There's also a light house to check out while you are here!
GuideThis is my new favorite spot to camp in Washington. The spaces are well distributed, the location right next to the river is beautiful and the site staff were extremely gracious. I’d strongly recommend picking a number between 2 and 10 as those are the closest sights to the river if you’re looking to enjoy the sounds of the water. There is also a full bathroom at around the mid 20s if you’d prefer a functional toilet system.
GuideThere aren’t many rv parks that are close (35ish mins) to Seattle but this is the best option. Office staff is friendly, bathrooms are clean, laundry is cheap ($1 wash), maintenance staff is constantly tending to the grounds, full hook ups, and cute (short) hiking paths surrounding the park. The lake is more of a murky pond and the geese are happy residents here so expect a lot of goose poop at any spot near the water. There’s also no dog park.
LegendWonderful RV park for long term Escapee-ers or members just passing through. We stopped here for a night, arriving on the weekend with no prior reservations or contact with them. They make it easy for you to self register when they're closed on weekends, just go up to the office and take one of their welcome packets.
We stayed in a dry camp site for only $7.50, and paid $5 for the dump (dump is only for members as well). FHU sites are around $33 depending on in-season/off-season, but I don't know how we would have figured out which sites were available. There are so many activities and amenities here for the long termers (I believe it's a 55+ park), I couldn't even list them all.
Showers and laundry were clean and efficient. There's a dog park and a dog walking path (there are signs everywhere about not letting your dog pee or poo on their nice plants). Cell service was good and they have good wifi as well. This would definitely be a spot we'd stop at again when we're in the area next.
GuideThis camp ground is not ideal if you have dogs. There is not much grass, in fact you have to go outside the park and across the street to hear compliant pet owner. We also found the electric box to be a little wonky. They office staff did have an adapter which help. It was very quiet and clean just not the most attractive campground.
ScoutExcellent location for those with military access to the base - active duty, retired or family. 30/50 amp hookups. Beautiful views of American Lake. Pet friendly.
GuideThe prices for everything is amazing! The campsites are spacious and run along the creek! There are tent pads that make the ground not so hard under your tent. A table, grill and campfire ring at every site. The cabins are very nice! And are spacious as well. Have a porch swing, campfire ring, table and grill outside. Most cabins have an electric heater and a heat stove inside. The heat stove heats up the entire cabin very well!! They provide trash cans and bags and a broom to help keep the dirt cleaned up!
The bathrooms are very nice and clean. And they have firewood for sale on site. There is an attendant that will be there after work hours for people who are arriving late to get you checked in and answer questions you have. There are a couple of hiking trails, twin lakes, boats, canoes, and bikes to rent on site. There is also an enclosed dog park on site. There are tent sites, cabins, rv sites and even little apartments to rent for your stay. Great place and only 25 miles from town!
TravelerWe did a daily rental and it was great! Close to the lighthouse park. It is pet friendly and has great picnic spots.
GuideSeal Rock campground is on the Hood canal side of the Olympic peninsula in Washington state. It's actually the second time we camped there, this time on July 3rd and 4th. We expected it to be overcrowded and it was not the case, though a bit more on the 4th. Very nice campground with direct access to a small beach and a gorgeous view. Shellfish can be harvested on the beach. Pets are not allowed on the beach but there are plenty of trails where they can be taken. There is a charming little boardwalk interpretive trail along the water. All campsites are in wooded areas, including those on the lower loop along the water. There are flush toilets and water and a camp host. Fee is 18 dollars for a tent site.
Carnation camping areas provide access to the Cascade Mountain foothills with elevations ranging from 57 to 500 feet throughout the region. The area receives approximately 45 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forest environments along river corridors. Campsites near Carnation typically range from partially shaded to densely wooded settings with moderate privacy between sites.
Fishing opportunities: Middle Fork Campground offers access to some of the best fishing spots along the Snoqualmie River. "Great secluded campsite. Easy access via a nice new paved road put in! Highly recommend," notes Brianna H. The river access points are ideal for steelhead and salmon fishing during season.
Hiking trail network: Tinkham Campground connects to several forest service trails suitable for day hikers. "We had a beautiful experience at this campground. At the sound of the river rushing behind us the entire time. Woke up to a beautiful sunrise," shares Brandy D. The campground serves as a convenient base for accessing nearby Alpine Lakes Wilderness trails.
Swimming access: Vasa Park Resort provides lakefront recreation on Lake Sammamish with designated swimming areas. "We have enjoyed our 3 week stay at this little water front event and RV campground. This is in the shore of Lake Samammish, giving access to swim, paddle, picnic," explains Libby. The swimming areas include shallow sections for younger children.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spaciousness at Tall Chief Campground. "Great camp site for all sizes. Mostly no sewer. But if you enjoy a little distance between sites without sacrificing camp size line up here," recommends Richard D. The campground maintains natural vegetation barriers between many sites.
Clean bathroom facilities: Kanaskat-Palmer State Park maintains exceptionally clean facilities with private shower rooms. "Bathrooms in that loop were pretty nice... heated and very clean," reports Jay F. Each bathroom unit includes a private shower with adequate hot water.
First-come campsites: When reservations fill up, Middle Fork Campground offers non-reservable sites. "We loved it here! None of the sites are reservable, so it's great for last minute trips when everything else has been booked out. Just over an hr from the city," shares Gemma A. These sites typically fill by Friday noon during summer months.
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds in the Carnation area have limited winter access. Middle Fork Campground operates from "May 24 to September 16" according to their season information, with gate closures during winter months.
RV size restrictions: Many sites have length limitations or challenging access routes. "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through its fairly quiet," notes Russ H. at Tolt MacDonald Park.
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience traffic sound due to proximity to major routes. One camper at Issaquah Village RV Park states, "I'll start with the thing to be aware of: you'll be camping 200' from I-90. But we found our ear plugs did a good job of quieting that noise enough for us to get a good sleep."
Playground access: Dash Point State Park offers play areas near camping loops. "Facilities were good and trails around are fun and easy enough for me and 2 kids. The beach and its tides are why we came," shares Ingrid M. The beach area includes tide pools suitable for exploration during low tide.
Kid-friendly trails: Many local trails accommodate younger hikers with minimal elevation gain. "Took a walk down to the day use area by the river, which was easy for us, but some portions of the trails closer to the river were slightly overgrown w/ a few obstacles, which could be problematic for some," notes Jay F. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Berry picking opportunities: Seasonal berry patches add natural entertainment for children. "We enjoyed our stay at the middle fork camp ground. We stayed there to be close to the mailbox trail head. There were so many berries around the camp and we could literally sit in camp and pick blue berries," says Dan P.
Power limitations: Some campgrounds have limited electrical capacity during peak season. At Tall Chief Campground, one camper reported: "Knocking another star as the majority of the sites are only 30 amp with antiquated posts. There are a few 50 amp sites but from what I saw they were all taken by RVers that are there on a more permanent basis."
Pet-friendly camping options: Lake Pleasant RV Park provides designated pet areas for camping with animals. "The grounds are quiet... truly silent... save for the many geese that call the lake in the center of the property their home," kristin S. explains. The park maintains walking trails around the perimeter that work well for daily pet exercise.
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds offer on-site dump facilities. "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through its fairly quiet. Nice setting lots of outdoor and indoor activities with in a short drive. We didn't use the restrooms since we have a self-contained trailer. There's a charge dump station at the ministorage at the turn off," notes Russ H. about Tolt MacDonald Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Carnation, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Carnation, WA is Tolt MacDonald Park, WA with a 4.3-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Carnation, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 169 dog-friendly camping locations near Carnation, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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