Not always, and at our two Michigan campgrounds the answer is no. The Oaks Campground in Munith and Walnut Hills Family Campground in Durand don’t charge a pet fee for dogs on RV or tent sites. You pay the same nightly rate as a camper without a dog, and the dog run, trails and dog park are included. Across the industry, though, pet fees are common at commercial RV parks and most common in cabins, so it pays to know what to look for before you book.
Here’s how campground pet fees usually work, what the real extra fees at Michigan campgrounds are (pets and otherwise), and what camping with a dog costs at The Oaks and Walnut Hills.
Do campgrounds charge pet fees?
It depends on the kind of campground and the kind of site:
- Public campgrounds. Michigan state park campgrounds welcome pets on a 6-foot leash with no extra charge; pets are simply part of the site rate.
- Private RV and tent sites. Many private parks charge nothing extra for a dog on a campsite. Others, especially larger commercial chains, add a per-pet, per-night or per-stay fee, or charge only for a second or third pet. KOA’s system-wide policy, for example, says “some campgrounds may charge for additional pets,” with each park setting its own rule.
- Cabins and rentals. This is where fees are most common. Rental units need deep cleaning after a pet, so campgrounds either charge a pet fee (Thousand Trails lists a $50 non-refundable fee per pet per stay in select rentals) or don’t allow pets in cabins at all.
So when people ask whether pet-friendly campgrounds are more expensive, the honest answer is that the campground isn’t pricier because it allows dogs. A specific site type might carry a fee, and a cabin almost always will if pets are allowed in it at all. Always check the rates page or ask when you book.
Why do some campgrounds charge for pets and others don’t?
A pet fee covers two things: cleanup and wear in rental units, and the cost of pet amenities like fenced dog parks and waste stations. Our team’s view is that dog owners shouldn’t pay twice. Pet owners already do their part to keep the park clean (leashed where it’s asked, picked up after everywhere), and amenities like the dog park at Walnut Hills are funded the same way the playgrounds are: through the site rate everyone pays. Cabins are the exception at Walnut Hills, where pets aren’t allowed inside the two camping cabins for sanitary reasons, so there’s no cabin pet fee either.
What extra fees do Michigan campgrounds charge?
Pet fees get the attention, but they’re rarely the biggest add-on. The extra fees most likely to show up on a Michigan campground bill are:
| Fee | What it usually covers | At The Oaks and Walnut Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Pet fee | Cleaning and pet amenities | None on RV and tent sites. No pets in the Walnut Hills cabins. |
| Extra people | Guests beyond the base occupancy | Rates cover 2 adults and 2 children. $13 per extra adult and $9 per child (ages 3 to 17) per night. |
| Extra tent | A second tent on the site | $25 per night, only when the group is over 2 adults and 2 children. |
| Golf cart pass | Bringing your own electric cart | $25 per night, with proof of insurance. Rentals are priced separately. |
| Water park wristbands | Floating water park access | Paid wristbands at both parks; the Wibit at Walnut Hills is free for campers Tuesday through Thursday. See the rates pages. |
| Visitor passes | Day guests, beach access, overnight guests | Visitors register at the store and pay the posted visitor rate. |
| Pavilion rental | Group gatherings | $100 per day. One free day for groups that book 25 or more sites. |
| Cabin cleaning deposit | Refundable hold on a cabin | $75 at Walnut Hills, refunded at departure. |
Firewood, ice and bait are store purchases rather than fees, but budget for them. Outside firewood isn’t allowed at our Michigan parks; the camp store sells it. For a fuller list of things to ask about before you book anywhere, see our guide to campground fees beyond the site rate.
What does camping with dogs in Michigan cost at The Oaks?
The same as camping without one. RV sites at The Oaks start around the high $40s a night and move with the date and site under dynamic pricing; tent sites start in the mid-$40s. Check The Oaks rates page for your dates. There’s no pet line on the bill. What your dog gets for free:
- The dog run. An open off-leash area near the front of the campground, away from the campsites, where dogs can run and chase a ball. It has a dog selfie station, and fencing and more toys are planned.
- About 120 acres of trails. Dog walking is one of the main uses of the trails, which loop through forest and grassland on the back of the 155-acre property. Dogs may be off leash on the back trails and in the dog run; everywhere else in the campground, they stay on a leash. Expect to share the trails with golf carts and bikes.
- A place to swim. Dogs can swim in the fishing lake, which sits downstream of the swim lake. They can’t go on the beach or in the swimming area.
- Dog costume contest. The Halloween weekend at The Oaks includes a dog costume contest alongside the kids’ and family contests.
For the full rules and what else there is to do with a dog at either park, see our guide to dog-friendly campgrounds in Michigan and our campground pet policy guide.
Pet rules that apply at both parks
- Dogs stay on a leash in the campground or inside your RV, and aren’t left unattended. The off-leash exceptions are the fenced dog park at Walnut Hills and the dog run and back trails at The Oaks.
- Pick up after your dog everywhere, including in the dog park and dog run.
- No dogs in the store, the cabins, on the beach or in the swimming areas.
- No breed restrictions. As a campground employee put it, a breed with a reputation for aggression often turns out to be calm, and a typically gentle breed can be aggressive depending on its background. So the rule is about behavior, not breed, and we simply ask that every dog be a good neighbor to the people and pets around it.
Camping with a dog at Walnut Hills
Walnut Hills has no pet fee on RV and tent sites either, and its dog park is the bigger of the two. It’s fenced, just over a quarter acre, and the one spot at Walnut Hills where dogs run off leash, with open grass and shaded trees, picnic tables for owners, waste-bag stations, tunnels, a real fire hydrant and a dog selfie frame. It’s big enough to throw a frisbee, and our team says it’s in use almost hourly on summer weekends. Dogs can swim in the Shiawassee River (not the swim lake or beach); most owners walk them down to the boat launch area. The two camping cabins don’t allow pets. See the Walnut Hills rates page for current pricing, and our guide to Michigan campgrounds with dog parks for a closer look.
How to avoid surprise pet fees anywhere
- Read the rates page, not just the “pets welcome” badge. Fees are usually listed with the extra-person charges.
- Ask about cabins separately. Pet-friendly campsites don’t mean pet-friendly cabins.
- Count your pets. Some parks charge only from the second pet, or cap the number per site.
- Bring your own waste bags, a tie-out and a long leash. Those are the “pet costs” that actually add up.
Pet fee FAQ
Is there a pet fee at The Oaks Campground?
No. Dogs stay free on RV and tent sites. There are no cabins at The Oaks.
Is there a pet fee at Walnut Hills?
No pet fee on RV and tent sites. Pets aren’t allowed in the camping cabins.
Do Michigan state parks charge for dogs?
No. Pets are welcome at state park campgrounds on a 6-foot leash at no extra charge. The Oaks is next door to Waterloo Recreation Area, so you can camp with us and walk the state land too.
How many dogs can I bring?
The posted rules don’t list a limit; what matters is that every dog is leashed, picked up after and well behaved. If you’re bringing more than one, mention it when you book.
