Outdoors & Stays
Last verified against National Park Service, Forest Service and KOA rules: October 11, 2026
Plenty of campgrounds say "dogs allowed." What that means depends on who runs the land. A national park campground can take your dog and still keep it off every trail. A national forest next door usually lets it hike. The leash is six feet almost everywhere, and the rest is in the fine print. This guide covers the federal rules, the parks that differ most, and the questions to ask before you pay.
In this guide
| Leash length | 6 feet max in national parks, Forest Service developed sites and KOA |
| National parks: banned | Public buildings, public transportation, designated swimming beaches, plus anywhere a park closes |
| National parks: tied up alone | Not allowed, except in designated areas |
| National forests | 6-foot leash in developed sites; no animals in swimming areas |
| Most dog-open parks | Acadia (100 mi of trails, 45 mi carriage roads), Shenandoah (all but under 20 of 500+ trail miles) |
| Most restrictive | Yellowstone (within 100 ft of roads and campgrounds), Zion (one trail) |
| KOA | 6-foot leash, no tethered dog left alone, possible extra-pet fee, some breed limits by campground |
| Oregon Coast | Some beaches closed to dogs March 15 to September 15 for nesting plovers |
Sources: National Park Service pet regulation (36 CFR 2.15), Forest Service developed-site rules (36 CFR 261.16), KOA's pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.
Sources: National Park Service pet regulation (36 CFR 2.15), Acadia's pet rules, Shenandoah's pet rules, Zion's pet rules, KOA's pet policy, Oregon State Parks' snowy plover map, checked October 11, 2026.
Every national park follows the same federal rule: a leash of six feet or less, or a crate, at all times; no pets in public buildings, on public transportation or at designated swimming beaches; and no pet left tied up and unattended except in designated areas. Each park then decides which trails are open. The difference between parks is huge.
| Park | Dogs on trails | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia (Maine) | 100 miles of trails, 45 miles of carriage roads | Avoid ladder and rung trails; some trails closed to pets |
| Shenandoah (Virginia) | Most of 500+ miles | Closed: Old Rag, Dark Hollow Falls, Stony Man summit trail, Bearfence Mountain, Limberlost and a few others, under 20 miles in total |
| Zion (Utah) | Pa'rus Trail only | Dogs stay out of the water; restrained pets can be left in developed campgrounds when conditions are safe |
| Yellowstone (Wyoming) | None | Pets only within 100 feet of roads, parking areas and campgrounds; banned from trails, boardwalks, backcountry and thermal areas, even when carried |
Before any park trip, open that park's own "Pets" page on nps.gov. The general rule tells you the minimum; the park page tells you where you can walk.
Sources: National Park Service pet regulation (36 CFR 2.15), Acadia's pet rules, Shenandoah's pet rules, Zion's pet rules, Yellowstone's pet rules, checked October 11, 2026.
In Forest Service developed recreation sites, which include campgrounds and picnic areas, a dog has to be crated, caged, on a leash of six feet or less, or otherwise physically controlled, and can't be in a swimming area. The national forest rules don't have the park-style ban on trails, which is why a national forest next to a restrictive park is often the better base with a dog. Local closures still happen, so check with the ranger district.
On the Oregon Coast, dogs are welcome on most beaches, leashed or under voice control depending on the area. From March 15 to September 15, designated western snowy plover nesting sites are closed to dogs, even on a leash. On the North Coast these are Clatsop Spit, Nehalem Spit, Bayocean Spit and South Sandlake; signs are posted at beach access points.
Sources: Forest Service developed-site rules (36 CFR 261.16), Oregon State Parks' snowy plover map, checked October 11, 2026.
| National park | National forest | KOA | Private land (Hipcamp etc.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leash | 6 ft | 6 ft in developed sites | 6 ft | Host's rules |
| Trails | Park by park, often limited | Generally open | Campground grounds | Host's rules |
| Dog left alone | Not tied, except designated areas | Not stated in the developed-site rule | Never tethered and alone | Ask the host |
| Breed limits | None in the rule | None in the rule | Possible, by campground | Ask the host |
Sources: National Park Service pet regulation (36 CFR 2.15), Forest Service developed-site rules (36 CFR 261.16), KOA's pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.
A "pets allowed" filter gets you a shortlist. It doesn't tell you the trail rules, the number of dogs allowed or the pet fee. Read the listing, and call when it's unclear.
Heat is the biggest danger. A tent in the afternoon sun traps heat. On hot days, give the dog the coolest spot, constant water and skip midday activity.
Six feet is the standard. It's the federal rule in national parks and in Forest Service developed recreation sites, and KOA uses the same limit. Retractable leashes extended past six feet break the rule.
Usually into the campground, not always onto the trails. Yellowstone keeps pets within 100 feet of roads, parking areas and campgrounds and bans them from trails and boardwalks. Zion allows dogs on one trail, the Pa'rus. Acadia opens 100 miles of trails and 45 miles of carriage roads to dogs, and Shenandoah closes fewer than 20 of its 500-plus trail miles.
In national parks, you can't leave a pet tied up and unattended except in designated areas, and parks set their own rules: Zion allows a properly restrained pet to stay alone in a developed campground only when conditions are safe. KOA says never leave a tethered dog unattended. Never leave a dog in a hot car.
It depends on the operator. National park and Forest Service campgrounds don't list a pet fee on their pet pages. KOA says some of its campgrounds charge for additional pets, so ask the campground before booking.
For hiking, often yes. The Forest Service requires a leash of no more than six feet in developed recreation sites such as campgrounds, and bans animals from swimming areas, but it has no park-style trail bans. Check the local ranger district for any area closures.
On most of them, yes, either leashed or under voice control depending on the area. From March 15 to September 15 some beaches are closed to dogs, even leashed ones, to protect nesting western snowy plovers, including Clatsop Spit, Nehalem Spit, Bayocean Spit and South Sandlake on the North Coast.
KOA has no system-wide breed ban, but individual campgrounds may refuse breeds their insurers link to aggression, and any aggressive dog has to leave. Some KOA cabins don't allow pets, so ask before you book.
Rules on this page were checked against the National Park Service, Forest Service, KOA and Oregon State Parks on October 11, 2026. Parks and campgrounds change pet rules, so check the specific site again before you go.
If your camping trip starts with a flight, the airline has its own pet rules: cabin limits, fees, and carrier sizes. Compare which airlines take your dog on the route before you book.
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