If you and your city dog are looking for budget-friendly ways to escape urban life on the weekends, look no further than your local state park campgrounds.

The Pacific Northwest is a camper’s dream: mild temperatures, plenty of coastal and inland options, well-maintained campgrounds, hikes through lush forests…I could go on and on. For dogs, a few days spent outside with their people surrounded by 10,000 new smells and endless exercise options is an absolute fantasy.

A few tips for camping with your dog:

  • Do your homework before you book. Most campgrounds allow friendly, leashed dogs at campsites but not all do. Pay particular attention to national parks and forests. Even if your dog is allowed on the campground, it may not be allowed to join you on planned hikes throughout the wilderness.
  • Take care of any flea and tick protection needs before you leave. ‘Nough said.
  • Bring a stake and tie-out cord. Nearly every campground that allows dogs requires them to be on a leash, but does not necessarily restrict them to a six-foot leash. Bring a longer tie-out cord so Fido has more leeway to explore.
  • Pick-up after your dog. Same rules that apply in the city apply in nature.
  • If your dog is a barker, be prepared to manage it. No one appreciates waking up at 5 a.m. to barking from a nearby campsite. If your dog tends to startle easily and has difficulty calming down, have a way to manage it. We bring Winnie’s crate along with us, and when she barks she goes in her crate in the car to calm down. Works every time.
  • Pack a bag for your pup. So much of camping involves sitting around a fire cooking, drinking and chatting. This is a young dog’s idea of BORING. Be sure to bring toys and treats from home to keep your dog entertained when the group wants to be mellow.

 

So far, we’ve taken Winnie to Beverly Beach State Park in Newport, OR as well as Riffe Lake Campground in Mossyrock, WA. Both are great for dogs, though Beverley Beach was Winnie’s favorite because of the nearby easy water access and large sandy beaches. If your dog loves water, this is the campground for you.

 Where else do folks like to camp with their dogs?