Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Ester, AK

Tanana Valley Campground welcomes pets with 30-amp electric hookups on wooded sites near the Fairbanks Fairgrounds. Pets are permitted at all eight campgrounds in the Ester area, including Pioneer Park's basic parking lot camping and Rivers Edge RV Park along the Chena River. Fairbanks/Chena River KOA offers premium amenities for pets with two fenced dog parks on their riverside property. The well-maintained KOA has staff constantly mowing and cleaning the grounds, making it particularly suitable for dog owners seeking cleaner environments. Most sites at the KOA are pull-through, providing easier access for those traveling with pets in larger RVs. Elliott Highway Pulloff Loop offers free dispersed camping with pets allowed, though it lacks facilities like drinking water or toilets.

Whitefish Campground provides riverside sites where dogs can enjoy water access, with traffic typically low and plenty of space between campsites. The Chena River creates a peaceful soundscape for camping with pets. Olnes Pond Public Use Cabin in Lower Chatanika River State Recreation Area accepts pets in their reservable cabin accommodations with electric hookups. When traveling with dogs in this region, especially during summer months, mosquito protection is essential as several campgrounds report high bug activity. North Pole Veterinary Hospital with Dr. Dawn Brown provides AAHA-accredited veterinary services near the Fairbanks/Chena River KOA for pet emergencies. The campsites in Pioneer Park are particularly convenient for accessing Fairbanks amenities, with McDonald's just a block away for morning coffee runs while walking dogs.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Ester, Alaska (22)

    1. Tanana Valley Campground

    8 Reviews
    Fairbanks, AK
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 456-7956

    "This is a great location, right in Fairbanks by the fairgrounds. Don’t book site 28 or 27 as you will end up camping in a parking lot."

    "Location close to town, but you feel like your in the forest. I got great Service!"

    2. Rivers Edge RV Park & Campground

    6 Reviews
    Fairbanks, AK
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 474-0286

    "Located right along the Chena River this RV Resort has a gift shop for when you need a candy fix or warmer swearer and the availability to book direct for Riverboat Discovery, historic Fairbanks tour,"

    "Cell Service: yes Internet: yes 2020 Cost: $64.95-$34.95 Distance from Anchorage: 365 miles Best sites: Along the River Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5"

    3. Pioneer Park

    6 Reviews
    Fairbanks, AK
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 459-1087

    "It’s 12 bucks a night, which in Alaska in the summer in a city is cheap. The park is like an old time amusement park without rides. It is really cool though."

    "The water spigot is on the south side of lot near the turn in. The trash cans can get full quick. "

    4. Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area

    8 Reviews
    Fort Wainwright, AK
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 269-8400

    $45 / night

    "We had just stayed at Whitefish Campground about 2 miles away and driving into Olnes Pond Campground was beautiful. The electronic option to pay here is the first time I’ve seen that in Alaska."

    "We found a path through the woods that lead to a clean rocky water area the kids spent hours in. The spot next to ours had a fire ring with benches all around and a wonderful grassy area to play in."

    5. Fairbanks / Chena River KOA

    4 Reviews
    Fort Wainwright, AK
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 488-6392

    $50 - $80 / night

    "For once in a long time on our journey through Alaska, the campground (CG) was not right off the highway."

    "The bathrooms are a bit of a walk from the tents, but the wonderful and free showers are nice. The laundry, showers, and bathrooms are well-kept and a nice luxury."

    6. Chena Lake Recreation Area

    10 Reviews
    North Pole, AK
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 459-1070

    $15 - $50 / night

    "This is the 1st campground my family and I stayed at Alaska. The Chena Lake is great! The beach area is great fun for all with grassy and sandy areas."

    "We stayed on the river side of Chena lakes campground. Had a great huge pull through campsite. Lots of room for our three dogs."

    7. Whitefish Campground

    1 Review
    Fort Wainwright, AK
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 451-2695

    $20 / night

    "We slept amazing next to the river!"

    8. Ski Loop Trail

    3 Reviews
    Ester, AK
    23 miles
    +1 (907) 474-2200

    9. Elliott Highway Pulloff Loop- Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Ester, AK
    24 miles
    +1 (907) 459-3730

    "We were the only ones here and tucked away behind all of the trees and fireweed. Road noise was mild and it got fairly dark under the cover of the trees."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Ester, AK

94 Reviews of 22 Ester Campgrounds


  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2025

    Fairbanks / Chena River KOA

    One of the Best KOAs We've Stayed

    For once in a long time on our journey through Alaska, the campground (CG) was not right off the highway. We followed our RV GPS to the Badger Road exit and found the CG tucked back from the main road. Check-in was busy but quick. We were assigned pull-through site 133D with full hookups and 50 AMP. This site has special routing instructions—staff had us drive a few hundred yards down Old Badger Road, which runs adjacent to the CG, to enter through the back KOA gate. From there, it was an easy approach into our site. Site 133D is a KOA Patio site with a deluxe Trex deck, outdoor furniture, propane fire pit, and a Weber propane grill with tools. The gravel pad was long enough for our 40’ toy hauler and F450, with room to put down our rear patio. On arrival, the CG WiFi was unusable, but we got an email update that they were working on it. A later speed test showed 4.97 Mbps download—good enough for email and light browsing. Starlink worked but was slower than usual in this area despite a clear sky view. We got one bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile. This is a well-run KOA, with staff constantly mowing, cleaning, and maintaining the grounds. During our stay, several RV caravans came through—they had their own designated area and even buses for tours. The CG has spaces for all types of campers, from tents to big rigs. There’s a laundry facility, two fenced dog parks, swing benches by the river, and plenty of space to walk your dog. All in all, this is one of the best private CGs we’ve stayed at. If you need a great vet while in the area, we highly recommend Dr. Dawn Brown at North Pole Veterinary Hospital. They are an AAHA accredited clinic and we’ sure all the vets are great, but we definitely had a wonderful experience with Dr. Brown during our appointment with our two Braque's. The CG made an excellent base for exploring the Fairbanks area.

  • M
    Jul. 26, 2021

    Pioneer Park

    Awesome park

    The camping is just a parking lot. It’s 12 bucks a night, which in Alaska in the summer in a city is cheap. The park is like an old time amusement park without rides. It is really cool though. There is a Salmon Bake restaurant that seems very popular. We stopped in for an adult refreshment and they are very dog friendly.

  • Kela W.
    Apr. 19, 2021

    Chena Lake Recreation Area

    Beautiful campground

    This is the 1st campground my family and I stayed at Alaska. The Chena Lake is great! The beach area is great fun for all with grassy and sandy areas. There is a bunch of trails to hike around, paved biking trails, a basketball court, volleyball courts and of course a playground. There are some really cool camping spots along the river as well. Highly recommend to families!

  • M
    Sep. 18, 2018

    Upper Chatanika River State Rec Area

    State-managed campground on the Chatanika River

    This is a fairly standard state-run campground on the upper Chatanika River. It's somewhat popular with Fairbanks locals but because of its proximity to town is not a place you're likely to stay if you're heading up the Steese.

    The camping spots are small and there's relatively little privacy, and the facilities are, in general, not as well-maintained and clean as we've gotten used to with BLM campgrounds in Alaska. Several camping spots are right on the river. Fishing on the Chatanika is inconsistent but can be very good at mid-summer. If you continue west of the campground there is primitive camping on gravel bars on the river, but you'll probably want 4WD to get there. Also, note that there can be very good berry picking on hillsides near the campground in August and early September.

  • Samantha M.
    May. 30, 2020

    Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area

    Well maintained, great ATV trails

    My first thought when we drove into the campground was wow, this is nicely maintained. We had just stayed at Whitefish Campground about 2 miles away and driving into Olnes Pond Campground was beautiful. The electronic option to pay here is the first time I’ve seen that in Alaska. The pond is stocked with rainbow trout but we were a little too early in the season on this visit May 29, 2020. There a nicely sized pond in the middle of the campground and the camping sites are situated around the entire pond. There were day visitors who brought paddle boards and kayaks to enjoy the weather on the pond. People say you can swim in this pond put be weary of duck/swimmers itch. There are picnic tables, bathrooms, trash cans, and lots of grassy area to just enjoy a day visit. This seemed more as a party spot sort of camping oppose to enjoy the view and relax so be ready to hear ATVs and friendly conversations late at night. I would definitely come back with a kayak and fishing pole once the pond is stocked for the children to enjoy a relaxing day on the pond.

  • E
    May. 29, 2024

    Tanana Valley Campground

    Camp in Fairbanks

    This is a great location, right in Fairbanks by the fairgrounds. Don’t book site 28 or 27 as you will end up camping in a parking lot. Also, the bathrooms are closed for the season so to take a shower, we had to walk through a dog show in the fairgrounds to get ourselves clean. Laundry is good!

  • K
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Pioneer Park

    convenient and low cost stay in Fairbanks

    We stayed here in a 40' 5th wheel. We parked in the west row along the trees. This was a good spot, but the sun goes behing the trees about 5 in summer, if you are looking for solar charging. We noted that the parking rules are pretty loose as to where you stay. If the RV spots are full, we saw several just pick a spot in the regular lot.  If you keep a clean area you may be able to stay more than 5 days, we did.  The water spigot is on the south side of lot near the turn in. The trash cans can get full quick.  The pay stand is on the north side of lot near the first entrance to Pioneer Park, by the small shack. No out of state checks. You can also pay in the office inside the park during business hours. 

      It can be noisy at times because of the close intersection. Some generators are LOUD and one guy ran his about 12 hours a day. I would think an extra battery would be cheaper than all that fuel. 

      It is a very busy place with the park and Alaska Bake activity. Lots of cars and the lot gets pretty full with that sometimes.

      Free dump and water fill at the Sourdough gas station located at Van Horn and Lathrop streets just a few miles south, with easy rig access. 

      We would stay again if we ever go back to Fairbanks.

  • J
    Jul. 9, 2019

    River Park Campground

    Short proximity to Fairbanks

    Wonderful campground if you are looking to get away from town but still in close proximity. Well maintained camping area, with options to camp on an island in the middle of the lake.

    They offer boats and paddle boards for day use at a reasonable price! Fun to take the family for a day or a weekend.

  • Wes F.
    Aug. 18, 2024

    Chena Lake Recreation Area

    Close to town but still in the sticks

    We stayed on the river side of Chena lakes campground. Had a great huge pull through campsite. Lots of room for our three dogs. Ranger patrolled on the regular making us feel safe and keeping things in order.


Guide to Ester

Fairbanks and the surrounding Ester region experience a subarctic climate with temperatures ranging from -40°F in winter to 80°F in summer. The area sits at approximately 446 feet elevation with the Chena River watershed providing valuable water access for many local campgrounds. Most campgrounds open between mid-May and mid-September, with mosquito activity peaking in June and July.

What to do

River activities: Access to water at Whitefish Campground offers campers opportunities to enjoy the Chena River. As Riley N. noted, "This was another one of our favorite spots for camping. We were right on the river and traffic was low... We slept amazing next to the river!"

Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk opportunities around the pond at Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area. One camper reported, "We got a spot right on the pond it was so pretty! We saw a beaver and a hawk catch a fish right in front of us which was cool."

ATV trails: Extensive networks for off-road enthusiasts. Katie E. commented about Olnes Pond Campground, "ATV TRAILS!! Olnes pond campground has 1 cabin that you can reserve and pay fee online only. The campsites are FCFS and not reservable."

Water sports: Paddling options for day visitors at stocked ponds. Samantha M. observed, "There were day visitors who brought paddle boards and kayaks to enjoy the weather on the pond. People say you can swim in this pond put be weary of duck/swimmers itch."

What campers like

Spacing between sites: Many campers appreciate the privacy at Elliott Highway Pulloff Loop, where Riley N. experienced, "We were the only ones here and tucked away behind all of the trees and fireweed. Road noise was mild and it got fairly dark under the cover of the trees."

Convenient urban access: The central location of Pioneer Park provides easy access to town amenities. Elizabeth G. noted, "Pioneer park is really just a parking lot. No bathrooms, electricity, or reservations... There's a McDonald's literally a block away you can use for restrooms and morning coffee/breakfast:)"

Cabin options for cooler weather: For those wanting more shelter, reservation cabins are available. Riley N. mentioned about Olnes Pond, "Grounds are clean and fairly spaced out," while Katie E. added specific details: "Olnes pond campground has 1 cabin that you can reserve and pay fee online only."

Seasonal activities: Different seasons offer unique experiences. Samantha M. explained, "The pond is stocked with rainbow trout but we were a little too early in the season on this visit May 29, 2020."

What you should know

Bug activity levels vary by location: Mosquitoes can be intense, especially in wooded areas. Riley N. noted about Elliott Highway Pulloff Loop: "We didn't even get out of our van because the mosquitoes were so bad though."

Seasonal bathroom access: Some facilities close after summer. Tanya B. warned, "Just an FYI the bathrooms are locked after Labor Day. When we arrived in the middle of September we were the only ones there."

Water availability fluctuates: Not all campgrounds maintain consistent water access. Samantha M. observed at Lower Chatanika, "There was water here but a broken off handle so no access to the water was available."

Boat launch traffic: Popular fishing areas see increased activity at launch points. Samantha M. noted, "The boat launch was a popular drop off spot for fishing boats. We didn't catch anything but my son had fun trying."

Special event noise: At Tanana Valley Campground, events at the fairgrounds can create noise. Tanya B. warned, "There is often stuff going on here so be prepared for music. When we were here in July the Rodeo was going on so there was loud music the whole day."

Tips for camping with families

Playground proximity: When choosing dog friendly campgrounds near Ester, consider those with play areas. Chris D. recommended Chena Lake: "Very well maintained campground with lots to offer... Sites are a short drive to the swim beach."

Space for children to explore: Look for campgrounds with open areas. Samantha M. shared, "We found a path through the woods that lead to a clean rocky water area the kids spent hours in. The spot next to ours had a fire ring with benches all around and a wonderful grassy area to play in."

Kid-friendly activities: Chena Lake Recreation Area offers numerous recreation options. Kela W. explained, "The beach area is great fun for all with grassy and sandy areas. There is a bunch of trails to hike around, paved biking trails, a basketball court, volleyball courts and of course a playground."

Biking opportunities: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Fairbanks have safe biking routes. Samantha M. reported, "The kids were able to happily bike through the campground while I followed pushing a stroller."

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup costs: Electricity adds to campground fees in this region. Bradee A. mentioned about Tanana Valley Campground, "Electric at site, water and dump stations. Bathrooms & laundry and for 1/2 the price of everywhere around."

Site selection guidance: At Rivers Edge RV Park & Campground, waterfront sites offer special appeal. Tanya B. advised, "The river spots are a little extra a night but well worth it. With full hook ups, and RV wash, shower facilities, and a gift shop this is a great place to RV."

Laundry facilities: Several campgrounds offer laundry services. Amber W. noted about Tanana Valley, "Laundry works quickly and effectively. Clean, warm showers and bath."

Dump stations: Free options exist beyond campgrounds. Kerry B. shared about camping at Pioneer Park, "Free dump and water fill at the Sourdough gas station located at Van Horn and Lathrop streets just a few miles south, with easy rig access."

Site spacing considerations: Some RV parks have tighter spacing than others. Kerry B. observed, "We noted that the parking rules are pretty loose as to where you stay. If the RV spots are full, we saw several just pick a spot in the regular lot."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ester, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ester, AK is Tanana Valley Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ester, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 dog-friendly camping locations near Ester, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.