S
Sterling G.
Guide
GuideDelta State Recreation Site
Few acres near the riverwalk and a brush dumping station
Clean and quiet
Dog-Friendly Camping near Fort Greely, AK
18 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site accommodates tents, RVs, and pets at its 12 tree-filled sites, each featuring fire rings and most with picnic tables. Located along the Richardson Highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks, this campground provides clean, well-maintained bathrooms with adequate separation between sites for privacy. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis for $15 per night. The entrance road contains numerous potholes requiring careful navigation. Dogs must be leashed throughout the recreation area, and owners should bring waste bags as designated pet stations are limited. On clear days, campers and their pets enjoy stunning views of the Alaska Range from the creek access points behind most sites.
Delta State Recreation Site and Clearwater State Recreation Site also welcome pets, offering similarly rustic accommodations with toilets and trash facilities. Big Delta State Historical Park provides an alternative with pet-friendly overnight RV parking for $10. Most campgrounds in the Fort Greely area operate seasonally from June through September, with limited facilities available during the winter months. The crystal-clear Clearwater Creek offers excellent grayling fishing opportunities where leashed dogs can join their owners along the shoreline. Wildlife is prevalent throughout the region, requiring pet owners to maintain control of their animals at all times. For campers seeking more developed pet-friendly options, Snowed Inn RV Park in Delta Junction provides electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump facilities while still allowing pets during their May to September operating season.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Fort Greely (18)
1. Donnelly Creek State Rec Area
"We ended up here Memorial Day weekend because the other sites around Delta were full, but boy am I glad we made it."
"Convenient location near Delta Junction. Excellent camping spots with jaw dropping views on clear days. The Alaska Range is breathtaking. Bathrooms well maintained."
2. Delta State Recreation Site
"24 sites some big enough for RV some tucked away for cozy tent. Has faucet’s for running water."
from $45 / night
Check Availability3. Snowed Inn RV Park
"Well if it wasn’t for the beautiful scenery at this locations I would’ve been able to make it through basic training."
4. Delta Junction Floodplain
"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."
5. Clearwater State Rec Area
"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"
"Nice campground overall, unfortunately not much to do around campground."
6. Clearwater State Recreation Site
7. Quartz Lake State Rec Area
"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."
8. Big Delta State Historical Park
9. Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site Public Use Cabin
from $45 / night
Check Availability10. Delta State Recreation Site Public Use Cabin
from $45 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 41 min from Fairbanks, AK
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Fort Greely, AK
5 Photos of 18 Fort Greely Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Fort Greely, AK
44 Reviews of 18 Fort Greely Campgrounds
Connie B.
RangerBirch Lake State Recreation Site
Beautiful lake
The lake is lovely. You can kayak or put in a jet ski. No rentals available. These are drive in sites, like a parking lot. But the scenery is nicer. There is a fire pit and printable for each site. Tent sites also or didn’t rain so mud was not a problem but we needed shade the heat! There is a vault toilet.
- Megan J.
TravelerClearwater State Rec Area
Aptly named river
A nice campground with larger than average sites, and decent amount of privacy. River is great for kayaking and fishing. Toilets were clean. Bring bug dope.
- Megan J.Traveler
Delta State Recreation Site
Huge, private campsites
Right on the aptly named Cleatwater River. Great kayaking and fishing. Clean toilets.
MickandKarla W.
LegendDelta State Recreation Site
Site Size Limits Worth Knowing
We originally planned to stay at Delta State Recreation Area on a first-come, first-served basis after reading several online reviews suggesting that a 40’ RV could fit into some of the sites. After scouting the campground in person, we decided not to chance it and instead stayed at Big Delta State Historical Park nearby. That said, we wanted to share our impressions to help fellow campers make an informed decision. 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. There may be a couple of sites that could fit a rig up to 35’, but even those had branch clearance concerns. Some of the longer-looking sites are actually“buddy” sites labeled A and B, which are meant to be shared and aren’t ideal for big rigs. This campground is best suited for smaller setups—Class B and C motorhomes, small travel trailers, and tent campers. Tent sites looked inviting, and the area has a quiet, wooded charm. There are vault toilets and a camp host cabin onsite, though it appeared unoccupied during our late June visit.
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Big Delta State Historical Park
Historic Setting with Simple, Overnight RV Convenience
Junction 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.
- Steve L.Traveler
Isabell Pass, Gulkana Glacier Area
We have an all wheel RV you can make it in if you do too
Amazing area in front of the glacier. We went over some glacier run off streams in the road. Very cool. No one is here and the views and weather are amazing. Week some haze from the fires. So sad.
- RRonda D.Traveler
Delta Junction Floodplain
Boondocking with an amazing view of the Alaska range
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. 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.
- Birgit V.Guide
Quartz Lake State Rec Area
Small paradise at the lake
Breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding area. The campsite might be basic but it's well worth it. It also has picnic tables, a tiny beach, a beach volleyball court, and a sandpit for the little ones.
Guide to Fort Greely
Camping options near Fort Greely center around the Richardson Highway corridor, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically reach 65-75°F during June through August, while winters drop well below freezing from October through April. Most campsites operate seasonally, closing after the first significant snowfall in September.
What to do
Fishing at Clearwater Creek: Anglers can catch grayling in the crystal-clear waters at Clearwater State Recreation Site. "16 sites with two pull throughs, toilets, tables, water pump, and boat launch, all along the Clearwater Creek perfect for fishing grayling," notes camper Shadara W.
Hiking at Quartz Lake: The 1.7-mile scenic overlook trail offers modest elevation gain suitable for most hikers. "Camp host, 16 great sites situated next to Quartz Lake, with a walking trail down to Little Lost lake which has its own campground," reports Shadara W. The trail connects both lake campgrounds, providing access to fishing spots at both locations.
Northern Lights viewing: From late August through April, Fort Greely's dark skies provide excellent aurora viewing opportunities. "Great place stay a night or two and if you're lucky to enjoy the Northern Lights," writes Lisa S. about Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site.
What campers like
Campsite privacy: The tree coverage and spacing between sites creates a secluded feel at many area campgrounds. "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," explains Anna C.
Clean facilities: Despite the remote location, most campgrounds maintain their facilities well. "The bathrooms were also very clean and well maintained," mentions Anna C. about Quartz Lake State Recreation Area. Similarly, campers note well-maintained restrooms at most state recreation sites in the area.
Bug-free environment: Unlike many Alaskan camping destinations, some sites report minimal insect issues. "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)," reports Anna C.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds near Fort Greely operate from June through September only. "12 sites, 11 miles off the main highway and next to a beautiful, crystal clear creek. Hand water pump, no hookups available. Only two other people in the campground on a Friday night," notes camper M.P. about Clearwater State Recreation Site.
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds may have maintenance issues. "The road through is full of pot holes but don't let it deter you, it just requires a little navigation," reports Shadara W. Similarly, SJ D. warns, "entrance has a lot of pot holes" at Donnelly Creek.
Self-registration: Most campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis with self-pay stations. Big Delta State Historical Park uses "a self-pay system with a kiosk located in the outer parking area," according to MickandKarla W.
Tips for camping with families
Beach activities: Some locations offer water recreation beyond fishing. At Quartz Lake, "it also has picnic tables, a tiny beach, a beach volleyball court, and a sandpit for the little ones," reports Birgit V.
Educational opportunities: Big Delta State Historical Park combines camping with Alaska history lessons. "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.
Pet-friendly camping near Fort Greely: All state recreation sites in the area welcome leashed pets, with open spaces for walking. "Lost lake campground had only one camper. If you can get spot 10 followed by spot 11 then this campground is worth it," suggests Tanya B., noting these spaces provide room for pets to stretch their legs.
Tips from RVers
Site size limitations: Many campgrounds have restrictions on larger RVs. "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," warns MickandKarla W. about Delta State Recreation Site.
Hookup options: For RVers seeking services, Snowed Inn RV Park offers more amenities than state recreation sites. The park provides "electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump facilities while still allowing pets during their May to September operating season."
Pull-through availability: Limited pull-through sites exist at certain campgrounds. "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," explains MickandKarla W. about Big Delta State Historical Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Fort Greely, AK?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Greely, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Greely, AK is Donnelly Creek State Rec Area with a 4.3-star rating from 7 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Fort Greely, AK?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fort Greely, AK?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Greely, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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