Quartz Lake State Recreation Area and Delta State Recreation Site permit dogs throughout their campgrounds, with most sites featuring picnic tables and fire rings suitable for families camping with pets. The campground at Quartz Lake has 16 well-spaced sites in a wooded circle providing privacy between spots, making it ideal for dogs that need some separation from neighboring campers. Sites at Delta State Recreation are equally accommodating, with 24 spots varying from RV-suitable spaces to more secluded tent sites perfect for campers concerned about their dogs disturbing others. Clearwater State Recreation Site, located 11 miles off the main highway, offers 12 pull-in or back-in campsites adjacent to a crystal-clear creek where dogs can cool off during summer months.
Hiking trails connecting Quartz Lake and Little Lost Lake campgrounds provide excellent dog walking opportunities with spectacular views of the Alaska Range. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash requirements, though enforcement appears relatively relaxed during less busy weekdays. Big Delta State Historical Park offers a convenient overnight option for RVers traveling with pets, featuring a dump station and potable water spigot. The camping area is essentially a large gravel parking lot, providing ample space for dogs to move around. Weather considerations are important when camping with pets in this region—campgrounds typically operate from June through September, with some locations like Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site notably less buggy than other Interior Alaska camping areas, making for more comfortable outdoor time with dogs.
"Wonderful surprise right on the lake. Camp host, 16 great sites situated next to Quartz Lake, with a walking trail down to Little Lost lake which has it's own campground."
"Breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding area. The campsite might be basic but it's well worth it."
$45 / night
"24 sites some big enough for RV some tucked away for cozy tent. Has faucet’s for running water."
"This location is across the street from the Delta State Rec Site. You'll drive through the town brush dump site and then down to the river bed."
"This weekend led us north up to Delta Junction."
"Nice campground overall, unfortunately not much to do around campground."
"Well if it wasn’t for the beautiful scenery at this locations I would’ve been able to make it through basic training."
"We did come here in very late August and the Lost lake campground had only one camper. If you can get spot 10 followed by spot 11 then this campground is worth it."
$45 / night
"Convenient location near Delta Junction. Excellent camping spots with jaw dropping views on clear days. The Alaska Range is breathtaking. Bathrooms well maintained."
"We stumbled upon this campground by accident while exploring the area between Paxon Lake and Delta Junction and it was such a hidden gem!"
RangerConvenient location near Delta Junction. Excellent camping spots with jaw dropping views on clear days. The Alaska Range is breathtaking. Bathrooms well maintained. Great place stay a night or two and if you’re lucky to enjoy the Northern Lights.
RangerWe stumbled upon this campground by accident while exploring the area between Paxon Lake and Delta Junction and it was such a hidden gem! The night we stayed it was super quiet with hardly anyone else staying there, which was surprising for the middle of July. Great camp spots, no host when we stayed but the bathrooms were very well maintained. It was a clear sunny night and the views of the Creek with the Alaska Range in the background were pretty spectacular! Whether stopping for the night while passing through or as a destination, I totally recommend this campground.
LegendRight outside Delta Junction this campground has a great day use area with multiple picnic tables and grills. A small picnic pavillion also adds to the day use appeal. Quiet sites with enough separation of peace and privacy. Firewood for sale $8 a bundle or 2 for $16. Close too all the Delta history and a great little stop off campground.
LegendThis weekend led us north up to Delta Junction. We'd originally booked a campsite at Clearwater Lodge but changed our minds and chose to stay at Clearwater State Recreation site after doing a drive-thru. 16 sites with two pull throughs, toilets, tables, water pump, and boat launch, all along the Clearwater Creek perfect for fishing grayling. Right next door to the Clearwater Lodge which has a wonderful outside deck a bar and awesome food for if you're not in the mood to cook after a day of fishing. $15 a night for camping and $10 for the boat launch, or $5 for day parking.
TravelerHarding Lake State Recreation Area is a shady and scenic site about twenty minutes from North Pole. The lesser-known and elder cousin of the many water-themed state recreation areas that trace the Richardson Highway from Fairbanks to Delta Junction.
This large and accommodating campground boasts a boat launch into Harding Lake, a baseball field, a large group recreation area near the water, a self-guided nature trail, a trailer dump site, and unpotable bulk water--along with various bathrooms with trash receptacles.
Our family of 5 tent camped in May and had a fantastic weekend. The sandlot-reminiscent baseball field was a rare and magical find that suited our family's wiffleball addiction perfectly. It's like wandering through a moss grove and emerging into a boreal. baseball field. A subarctic Field of Dreams. I also hit two first-pitch homeruns off my 9 and 5 year old--which may or not be related to the magic of this field--but I choose to believe.
The spacious and thoughtfully-designed campground certainly feels beyond its prime--old, unserviceable water pumps (perhaps not yet operable for the season); aspen saplings dotting the baseball infield; and many downed spruces over the nature trail. The posted maps are a little outdated. However, the campground boasted some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen, anywhere-with a very friendly on-site host who came by to chat and kept the facilities in pristine condition. The camping spots are well-placed along the loop to allow for varying degrees of privacy between sites.
Mosquitoes are everywhere in springtime Alaska--please let me know when you find a campground in a birch forest without them. That said, bring all the bug repellant and preventative measures you can muster. I was swarmed by a biblical cloud of man-eating Culicidae when we first pulled in--but they soon dispersed and only became annoying for intermittent periods.
Overall this was a magnificent campground, quiet and clean, with plenty for the kids to do. Fantastic and memorable experience.
GuideWe ended up here Memorial Day weekend because the other sites around Delta were full, but boy am I glad we made it. The campsites are large enough for multiple tents, have fire rings, and most have picnic tables. The bathrooms are also well maintained and the spots spaced out enough so you’re not right on top of your neighbors. What really makes the campground, though, are two things: Number one, NO BUGS! We saw maybe 5 mosquitoes over two days (which is unheard of in interior Alaska), and number two, THE VIEWS! Behind most of the sites is access to Donnelly Creek and boy oh boy the views of the Alaska Range are magnificent. We had a beautiful walk along the path and while it was windy, it was a beautiful day. The only negative is the amount of traffic in the highway nearby because of the proximity to the pipeline, but it’s not something that will keep us away.
LegendJunction on the Richardson Highway heading toward Fairbanks. The turnoff is well signed, and the campground operates on a self-pay system with a kiosk located in the outer parking area. Our travel partners arrived about an hour before us and talked to the historical park's caretakers/camp host to get the scoop on how the campground works. They gave us a call with the details and when we arrived we pulled in next to them in the area marked"Pull Through Sites" by a sign. The camping area is essentially a large gravel parking lot with minimal site definition. Other than the Pull Through Site sign there's no map or marked boundaries. The official website says 23 any size rig can fit and you can pull through or back-in where convenient. For review purposes, we're calling our travel companion's site#1 and ours#2. We were the only rigs in the campground area overnight. A Class C parked in the outer lot near a picnic table that was clearly marked"No Overnight RV Parking, " but a park ranger drove through and didn't ask them to move so enforcement seems relaxed. There's a second parking lot down by the river that is technically private property (as reported by the camp hosts) that is owned by a local commune living on an island in the river. There were no"No Parking" signs, and it was actively used by both park visitors and the commune residents, who used it to catch their small boats to and from the island. The historical site is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Around 56 PM, traffic picked up along with dust as the island residents came back from work and passed through the camping area on their way to the river. It quieted down by evening. We didn't get much of a phone signal, but Starlink worked great as there are no trees in the camping area. There's a dump station available down the road leading to the back of the park, along with a potable water spigot. The adjacent historic park and Rika’s Roadhouse exhibits are worth exploring and close by on foot. In addition, a portion of the Alaska pipeline runs behind the campground area. You can get a great photo of the pipeline going across the Tanana River by going down to the boat ramp.This camping area was good for an overnighter.
TravelerThis location is across the street from the Delta State Rec Site. You'll drive through the town brush dump site and then down to the river bed. There is a steep hill to access the location so I wouldn't recommend large RV's. We drove in with a truck camper with no issues. It's a large open area with an amazing view of the Alaska Range.
LegendWonderful surprise right on the lake. Camp host, 16 great sites situated next to Quartz Lake, with a walking trail down to Little Lost lake which has it's own campground. Lots of dual sites great for those who camp with friends. Only downside was the overnight lot was extremely uneven. $15 a night. Scenic overlook hike 1.7 miles one way for those who want to stretch their legs.
Campgrounds near Delta Junction, Alaska sit at elevations between 1,200-1,600 feet in the Tanana Valley, which experiences summer temperatures ranging from 45-80°F. Most camping facilities remain open from June through September, with some locations like Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site operating with fewer mosquitoes than typically found in Interior Alaska, creating more comfortable outdoor conditions.
Fishing access: Clearwater State Recreation Site provides prime fishing opportunities along Clearwater Creek. "This weekend led us north up to Delta Junction... along the Clearwater Creek perfect for fishing grayling," notes Shadara W., who visited in August 2019.
Hiking trails: The trail network between Quartz Lake and Lost Lake offers exercise options with minimal equipment needed. "A trail connects Little Lost Lake and Quarts Lake camping areas so you have access to both lakes," according to Shadara W., who explored both areas.
Water recreation: Lost Lake State Recreation Site offers boating access via a dock system. "The lake was beautiful," reports Tanya B., who visited during late August when the campground was nearly empty.
Historical sites: Big Delta State Historical Park combines camping with cultural exploration. "The adjacent historic park and Rika's Roadhouse exhibits are worth exploring and close by on foot. In addition, a portion of the Alaska pipeline runs behind the campground area," explains MickandKarla W., who visited in July 2025.
Quiet surroundings: Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site offers peaceful camping despite its highway-adjacent location. "The night we stayed it was super quiet with hardly anyone else staying there, which was surprising for the middle of July," writes Angie G., who discovered this location while traveling between Paxon Lake and Delta Junction.
Spacious campsites: Quartz Lake State Recreation Area provides room for camping setups without feeling cramped. "The campsites were huge and there was a lot of privacy between spots," observed Anna C., who noted weekday stays offered significantly more solitude than weekend camping.
Limited RV accessibility: Delta State Recreation Site has size restrictions that impact larger vehicles. "In our opinion, Delta State Recreation Area is not suitable for 40' fifth wheels—primarily for two reasons: 1: Narrow roads with tight turns where overhanging tree branches could easily scrape your rig. 2: Short, narrow sites that don't provide enough swing room for a 62' truck and trailer combo," warns MickandKarla W.
Weather considerations: Pet friendly camping near Delta Junction operates seasonally due to harsh winters. Summer camping months (June-September) offer the best conditions, though evening temperatures can drop significantly even in mid-summer.
Facility limitations: Most campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities only. "Hand water pump, no hookups available... Bathrooms were not maintained well during our visit," reports M P. about Clearwater State Recreation Site during an August 2022 stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Delta Junction, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Delta Junction, AK is Quartz Lake State Rec Area with a 4.9-star rating from 7 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 17 dog-friendly camping locations near Delta Junction, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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