Dash Point State Park Campground accommodates pets throughout its year-round facility on the shores of Puget Sound. Lewis North Travel Camp at Joint Base Lewis McChord allows up to two dogs per reservation with full hookups and cabin options for military ID holders. Penrose Point and Joemma Beach State Parks maintain pet-friendly policies while providing picnic tables and fire rings. Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor features dedicated pet amenities including a dog wash station and designated dog exercise area. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed when outside vehicles or tents, with leash restrictions typically limited to six feet. Campground restrooms, shower facilities, and common areas generally prohibit pets except for service animals. Fire rings are available at most locations, though not all sites at Lewis North have them, requiring verification when making reservations. Campground data and reviews near University Place, Washington is regularly updated on The Dyrt.
Waterfront access provides excellent opportunities for dogs to swim and cool off during summer months, particularly at American Lake near Camp Murray Beach and Lewis North Travel Camp. Wooded sites offer natural shade and protection during hot weather, important for preventing pet overheating. The showers at Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor remain consistently clean with reasonably priced laundry facilities for washing pet bedding and towels. Military families report Lewis North Travel Camp as exceptionally pet-friendly with spacious sites separated from neighbors despite the overall compact layout. Visitors should prepare for occasional aircraft noise from nearby Joint Base Lewis McChord operations, though nights typically remain quiet for pets sensitive to sound. Nearby veterinary services are available in Gig Harbor, Federal Way, and Tacoma for emergency situations, with most locations within a 15-20 minute drive from campgrounds.
$20 / night
"Firstly, I just have to say what a positive and amazing experience I had at this campground. The volunteers were friendly, kind and absolutely awesome to interact with."
"The campground itself is tucked into a beautiful, forested area with plenty of trees and privacy between sites. Ours had a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table."
$32 / night
"Penrose Point State Park is a great place close to Seattle to go camping in a small or large group. It's tent or camper friendly with plenty of spots for busier seasons."
"Pros: group camp is very close to beach front area, GREAT CLAMMING AND OYSTERING!"
$57 - $104 / night
"Pet friendly, but not many attractions for children (no playground, no pool)."
"New laundry room almost complete, small dog run, exterior dog bath, clean restrooms, very accommodating staff, 1st Friday movie night. Landscaping needs more improvement. Coming back next year."
$12 - $35 / night
"Unfortunately the restrooms right next to our site were closed so it was a slight walk to the nearest restroom. Restrooms were heated and well taken care of."
"Very friendly next to the lake plenty of things to do walking, biking, hiking, fishing, Military museums, not to far off of I-5. Full hookups laundry shower facilities. Cabins too."
$12 / night
"We arrived little later around 6 p.m. And being such a nice day there were only few sites left."
"Views from campground are great and enjoyed walking the few trails w/ my dogs. T-mobile service spotty - could not use hotspot. Had to drive about 15 mins down road to park to access 5G."
$8 - $32 / night
"This was a beautiful pet friendly camp site showers water to play in animal friendly all around beautiful and amazing"
"Need to reserve your site online with the JBLM MWR or go to the adventure center building nearby on base. Nice access to American Lake and fishing nearby as well."
$50 / night
"Great location if you want to relax and take long walks at nearby state parks and beaches. Robyn is a spectacular host who was great to communicate with. We will be coming back."
"The location is great, so close to the water, Penrose and other peninsula activities."
"This site does is a back in, but the slab is at a 90 degree angle from the drive. So you will have to back your trailer around a corner if you plan to park it on the slab. "
"Friendly staff, nice river walks and nice picnic spots. Children and dog play grounds."
$60 / night
"Pay showers ($1 for 3 minutes) and clean restroom with air dryer, pet friendly, lots of trails to hike and a beautiful beach area with a playground, seasonal/weekend snack shop, outdoor shower by the beach"
"My family stayed here for a night when we went out to Washington a few months ago. It was a nice little place."
$12 - $50 / night
"Often our first or last trip of the year, due to its proximity to the greater Seattle area. Most of the folks we meet are from western Washington. "
"Overall pretty quiet, close to town, close to ATV trails & dog friendly. The kids loved the park!"
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!
GuideViews of Adams, Helens, Hood, Jefferson. Highest camp in Washington. Nice solar toilets. The hike up is quite difficult.
GuideThe Mayfield Lake is the main attraction. Be sure to visit the day use area across the road for lake access with swimming, picnic, and a dog park on the water.
Very good privacy for the standard campsite loop. Standard campsites are either pull through or back in.
There's a trail around the edge of the lake in campsite loop. Find the point, you wont be disappointed.
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.
TravelerComfortable peaceful if it had wifi it would be perfect. The dog park is a wonderful addition.
TravelerGreat campground right before Olympic national park. Facilities are amazing and great dog park! Host was very friendly and took great care of us.
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.
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.
GuideSpent 7 days (max) here. Camp hosts went out of their way to make it comfortable, clean and quiet. Completely dispersed tent or rv camping with a Washington Discovery Pass ($35 year) otherwise FREE for up too 7 days. Just register campsite upon arrival at front billboard or call ahead with questions or availability. First come first serve. Entire campground has decent roads but go extra extra slow in areas. Their are also couple nice campground public toilets but NO water or power. Bring sewer if able. Pet friendly but rules strictly enforced. I gave it 5 stars due to MY stay was amazing and my dog had a good time too. Thanks Margaret McKenny Camp hosts Ginny and Steve.
University Place camping areas sit along the shores of Puget Sound with elevations ranging from sea level to about 500 feet. The region experiences mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers with temperatures rarely exceeding 85°F. Many campgrounds in the area feature second-growth forest settings with Douglas fir, western red cedar, and maple trees providing natural shade for campers.
Beach exploration at low tide: Dash Point State Park Campground offers excellent tidepooling opportunities when the water recedes. "The beach is a short walk from camp, just long enough to make you feel like you earned your sunset view, but not so long that you regret your life choices. It's more of a rocky, muddy beach than a sandy one, but it's still great for exploring, skipping rocks," notes Saraj B.
Hiking nearby forest trails: Many trails throughout the area range from easy to moderate difficulty, perfect for day hikes. "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. about Dash Point's trail system.
Fishing from public piers: Joemma Beach State Park Campground features a long fishing dock. "Long dock in the area where you can go fishing. You can walk along the beach as well," reports Diamond A. The pier provides access to saltwater fishing without needing a boat.
Secluded campsites with natural barriers: Penrose Point State Park Campground offers wooded sites that feel private despite being in a popular area. "This campground is remarkable in the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes, and the walking trails," says Brittany D.
Clean facilities year-round: Bathrooms and showers at most campgrounds receive regular maintenance. "Bathrooms are clean! Caution: the showers are not near the entrance. There is firewood for sale, lots and lots of shade," advises Adrienne Q. about Penrose Point.
Proximity to urban conveniences: Sites like Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor offer camping with quick access to supplies. "I spent a weekend tent camping at Dash Point State Park, and honestly, it was a great time even though I completely failed to plan any meals. Thankfully, civilization is only about 15 minutes away. There's a grocery store, takeout options, and even coffee," explains Saraj B.
Military ID requirements: Lewis North Travel Camp at Joint Base Lewis McChord serves military personnel. "This is definitely a DoD facility, so will be helpful for Active, Reserve, Retired military only. We made reservations online in Sept. While located in Joint Base Lewis McChord the camp is close enough to I-5 so we had great cell reception," explains Michael C.
Reservation timing varies: Many dog friendly campgrounds near University Place book quickly, especially in summer. "Make reservations online, but if you get there and there is an available spot it is $12 a night that you pay at site. The host is on site and checks the areas very regularly," notes Diamond A. about Joemma Beach State Park.
Airport noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience airplane noise due to proximity to JBLM and SeaTac Airport. "W/s/e at each site. Great stay for the price. You can hear the highway and occasional aircraft (mostly ch-47s) during the day but nights are quite convenient to I5 and PX. Would definitely stay here again," advises William B. about Lewis North Travel Camp.
Tide-dependent beach activities: Plan beach activities around tidal schedules for the best experience. "The beach is a medium-length walk and very warm and swimmable for NW standards," notes Adrienne Q. about Penrose Point State Park, which offers warmer shallow waters during summer low tides.
Kid-friendly hiking trails: Riverbend Campground provides gentle paths along waterways. "This was a really nice park. We needed something close to the city, but didn't want to feel like we were in the city, this fit the bill. A short walk within the park and you're at a lovely river," shares Tami.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to spot local animals in their natural habitat. "We did spot a bald eagle early in the morning," reports Asuka S. at Joemma Beach State Park, where early risers may glimpse diving birds and marine mammals.
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't universal at dog friendly campgrounds near University Place. "This site had water and electrical, but no sewer connections. They do have a nice dump station," notes Doug about Riverbend Campground's facilities.
Site selection for larger rigs: Choose carefully when booking with larger trailers. "We got site 106 which was the furthest one out, it was right along the river. The site has a concrete slab and fit our Jayco 174BH perfectly. This site is a back in, but the slab is at a 90 degree angle from the drive. So you will have to back your trailer around a corner if you plan to park it on the slab," advises Doug.
Extended-stay amenities: When planning longer visits, consider facilities that support longer-term needs. "The campground did have a very small selection of items to buy, but mainly snacks. They do fill propane tanks, but only during weekdays," adds Doug about Riverbend's services for those staying multiple nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near University Place, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near University Place, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 72 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 167 dog-friendly camping locations near University Place, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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