Most RV parks in Michigan allow dogs. The pet-friendly RV parks near Jackson and Ann Arbor worth seeking out go further: a place to let your dog off the leash, somewhere it can swim, trails to walk, clear rules so everyone gets along, and no breed bans. The Oaks Campground in Munith checks all five. It has an off-leash dog run, 120 acres of trails, a fishing lake where dogs can swim, no breed restrictions, and it sits beside Waterloo Recreation Area, the largest state park in the Lower Peninsula, where leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
Here’s what to look for in a pet-friendly RV park, The Oaks’ actual pet rules, where your dog can run and swim, dog-friendly trails next door, and how The Oaks compares with our sister park, Walnut Hills.
What makes an RV park truly pet-friendly?
“Pets allowed” is the floor, not the feature. Before you book, check for:
- An off-leash area. A fenced dog park or a designated dog run, away from the campsites, where your dog can actually run.
- Water your dog is allowed in. Nearly every park bans dogs from the swimming beach for sanitary reasons; the good ones give dogs their own place to swim.
- Trails or walking loops. Campground roads at 5 mph are fine; wooded trails are better.
- Clear rules. Where leashes are required, pickup, and dogs kept with their people. Clear rules mean every dog, and every kid, has a good weekend.
- No breed restrictions. Behavior-based policies are fairer than breed lists.
- Dog-friendly things to do nearby. State parks and sanctuaries you can walk together.
What are the pet rules at The Oaks Campground?
| Rule | The Oaks |
|---|---|
| Leash | Leashed everywhere in the campground proper (sites, roads, beach area, store) |
| Off-leash | In the dog run at the front of the park and on the back trails |
| Swimming | Yes, in the fishing lake. Not on the beach or in the swim lake |
| Buildings | No dogs in the store or other buildings |
| Pickup | Required everywhere, dog run included; bag stations are provided |
| Unattended | Please keep your dog with you rather than tied out alone at the site |
| Breed restrictions | None. We ask that every dog be friendly with people and other dogs |
| Quiet hours | 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., so everyone, dogs included, gets a full night’s sleep |
A campground employee explained the thinking behind the no-breed-list policy: the breeds people worry about are usually the calmest dogs in the park, and any dog can have a hard day, so the policy is about behavior, not breed. The posted rules are on The Oaks map and rules page, and our guide to campground pet policies in Michigan compares rules across park types. Fees are covered in are pet-friendly campgrounds more expensive?
Where can my dog run and swim at The Oaks?
- The dog run. An open off-leash area toward the front of the campground, set away from the campsites, big enough to throw a ball. It has a dog selfie-portrait frame, which has been a hit. Fencing and more toys are planned.
- The trails. About 120 of The Oaks’ 155 acres are trail loops through forest and grassland, shared with hikers, mountain bikers, horses and electric golf carts. Dogs may be off leash out there, and most stay close to their people anyway. Expect to see deer, turkeys and sandhill cranes; there’s no hunting on the property, so wildlife is used to people.
- The fishing lake. Dogs can swim here. It sits downstream of the swim lake, so there’s no sanitary conflict with the beach. The spring-fed swim lake and its sand beach are people-only.
- Your site. Sites run from 35×65 up to 55×120 feet, so there’s room for a tie-out and a bed in the shade while you’re sitting out. Sites 46 to 61 have no rear neighbors, which dog owners like.
Dog-friendly trails and parks near The Oaks
This is where the location pays off for dog owners:
- Waterloo Recreation Area is next door: more than 20,000 acres and 11 inland lakes, with hiking and 20 miles of equestrian trails. Michigan state park rules allow pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet, under your control at all times. Dogs are not allowed on designated swim beaches or in buildings. The Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center in Chelsea is a good trailhead for a morning walk. A Recreation Passport is required to enter.
- Haehnle Sanctuary borders The Oaks (golf carts can’t get there from the campground; hike to its back side from our trails, or drive a few minutes out the front gate to the viewing area). Dogs are permitted on a 6-foot leash, admission is free, and it’s open dawn to dusk. Peak sandhill crane season is late October to mid-November, when thousands roost there in the hour before sunset.
- Portage Lake, 9 minutes away, has a public boat launch if your dog rides along in the kayak.
- The campground entry road. Birders park along it in summer and fall to watch the field across from the sanctuary side; it’s a pleasant leashed walk at dusk.
Our Waterloo camping guide and campgrounds near Ann Arbor page have more on the area.
Dog-friendly state parks near me: the Michigan rules
If you’re mixing a private campground base with state park day trips, Michigan’s rules are the same at every state park and recreation area: leash of 6 feet or less, never unattended (including in a vehicle or at a campsite), no dogs in park buildings, restrooms or on designated swim beaches, and keep quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Service animals are exempt from the building rule. Several parks have designated dog beaches; check the park’s page before you go.
The Oaks vs Walnut Hills for dog owners
Both GatherGrounds parks in Michigan are pet-friendly with the same leash, pickup and no-aggression rules. The difference is the kind of dog trip you want.
| The Oaks (Munith) | Walnut Hills (Durand) | |
|---|---|---|
| Off-leash area | Open dog run at the front of the park; fencing planned | Fenced dog park, just over a quarter acre, with shade, tunnels, picnic tables, bag stations, a real fire hydrant and a selfie frame |
| Trails | 120 acres of loops; dogs may be off leash with you | A nature trail along the Shiawassee River and a public trail off Reed Road; leash required |
| Swimming | Fishing lake | Shiawassee River at the boat launch |
| Sites | Water/electric (50 amp on short-term sites), the largest lots of either park | 80 full-hookup 50-amp sites, big-rig friendly |
| Cabins | None | 2 camping cabins, no pets inside |
| Dog events | Dog costume contest on Halloween weekend | Dog costume contests on three Halloween weekends; a dog event in the campground Olympics |
Pick The Oaks for trail miles, space and quiet; pick Walnut Hills for the fenced dog park and 50-amp full hookups. Our campgrounds with dog parks in Michigan guide goes deeper on the Walnut Hills park, which gets used about hourly all summer.
Tips for RV camping with a dog in Michigan
- Book a wooded site in July and August. At The Oaks, the older section (sites 22 to 109) has old-growth shade; the newer north section near the beach is more open.
- Bring a long tie-out and a water bowl for the trails. The trail loops run for miles, and the camp store stocks forgotten essentials but not dog gear.
- Plan around the beach. Dogs can’t come to the beach or the Aquaglide, so take turns, or leave your dog in the air-conditioned RV for an hour rather than tied at the site.
- Walk at dawn. That’s when deer are moving along the trail edges and the cranes fly over.
- Check ticks after wooded walks. Southern Michigan has them from spring through fall.
Frequently asked questions
Are there breed restrictions at The Oaks?
No. The policy is about behavior, not breed: we ask that every dog be friendly with people and other dogs.
Can my dog swim at The Oaks?
Yes, in the fishing lake. Dogs are not allowed on the sand beach or in the swimming lake.
Can I take my dog into Waterloo Recreation Area?
Yes, on a leash of 6 feet or less, on trails and in the campgrounds. Not on designated swim beaches or in buildings.
Can I leave my dog in the RV while I’m at the beach?
Please don’t leave your dog tied out alone at the site. Inside a cool RV for a short time is the usual approach; in July heat, keep it brief.
