1 campground with availability this weekend
Pet-friendly camping near Kenai ranges from remote wilderness cabins to developed campgrounds with full hookups, giving dog owners plenty of options across different budgets and comfort levels. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Cabins accommodates pets at its reservable facilities throughout the refuge. The pet-friendly cabins provide access to surrounding wilderness areas with boat-in, drive-in, and hike-in options available. While camping with dogs, visitors have access to basic amenities including picnic tables, toilets, and fire rings. Diamond M Ranch Resort also allows pets with more extensive amenities including electric hookups, water, sewer connections, and shower facilities. The campground is well groomed with clean bathrooms, and while there isn't much privacy, it offers a nice homey atmosphere for families camping with their dogs.
Centennial Park & Campground offers direct access to the Kenai River with pet-friendly campsites and a trail system ideal for walking dogs. The campground features large, spread-out camping spots with fire pits and picnic tables, though the grated boardwalks along the river can be uncomfortable for dogs to walk on. Captain Cook State Recreation Area and Morgans Landing State Recreation Area both welcome pets with drinking water available and designated picnic areas. For RV travelers with dogs, Klondike RV Park & Cottages provides full hookup sites with water, electricity and sewer connections in a well-maintained setting with spacious grounds. Some sites include trees for privacy, and the RV park is notably clean and well taken care of by attentive hosts.
"If you’re looking for a campground with access to the Kenai River, and walk distance to downtown Soldotna, this is it. Typical Alaskan camping...no hookups, but nicely wooded and mostly private."
"Right on the Kenai river with a campground and boat launch. Tons of stores etc in Soldotkna minutes away to include a laundry mat five minutes away. Road in is dirt and in good condition."
from $21 - $26 / night
"It is fun filled with animals, bicycle rentals, basketball court, playground, seasonal berry picking, eagles nest close by, caribou viewing, balcony viewing area, fire rings and fishing is nearby in the"
"Additional campsites are available in the pasture during Dip Net season (July 10-31) for Alaska residents. The office/store is a recreation of Gold Rush-era buildings from various towns in Alaska."
Available this weekend
from $149 / night
"I can't say enough about my stay at Kelly Lake Cabin of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Cabin."
"The lake is very private."
Available this weekend
from $45 - $55 / night
"Just when you thought you have seen all the simple road system of Alaska.. turn right on Kenai Spur Road and go to the end.. literally. There you find a hidden treasure, few find!"
"Tucked away off the main Kenai Peninsula roads, Captain Cook SP sees fewer visitors and offers campers a nice quiet way to spend a few days."
"Our campsite had an area for the camper then a space for the fire/table and kids running around. Bathroom locations were close and convenient."
"The bathroom situation could use some work since it is an old place, but they were clean."
"NO HOOKUPS but great location across the street from TALON AIR for Bear and Fishing trips. Close to town. Fred Meyer 3 miles away, river 4 miles away. Kenai 15 miles away."
from $60 / night
from $25 - $349 / night
"You can call and check to see when there running or you can just check with Alaska Fish and Game. When they’re running in the thousands it’s pretty much full so you would need to reserve ahead."
TravelerStayed on aug 16 after leaving Homer. Was great to have a campsite with an ocean view! The campsite has a pit toilet, dumpster, and water spout. The water spout is rusty so the water has a bad taste though.
GuideThis campground is small and quiet with gorgeous views of the water from some sites. Sites are well maintained and tons of beautiful fireweed this time of year. Love the stairs that lead down to the beach!
GuideFrontage on Cook Inlet. Right up to high tide level. Gravel. Vault toilets only. Tractor launch for large boats is gin to watch
GuideGreat place to go explore the beach at low tides. Excellent views
LegendGeneral: RV sites, bunkhouse, tent camping, cabins, and historical suites. Additional campsites are available in the pasture during Dip Net season (July 10-31) for Alaska residents. The office/store is a recreation of Gold Rush-era buildings from various towns in Alaska. Sites are FHU.
Site Quality: Sites are mostly level. Some are gravel, and some are dirt. We were traveling in a caravan, and many of us had buddy sites (I believe this was to accommodate the influx for dip net season). This was not a problem as we used our 110 extension cord to convert to 30-amp for power. The sites are close together; some have trees providing privacy/separation, but not all of them.
Bath/Shower: There are four all-in-one (toilet, sink, shower) units plus laundry in our area of the campground (there is another bathhouse/laundry in another part of the campground). Again, because of the crowds for dip net, there was often a wait for a bathroom, and soap and/or paper towels would run out before the day was over. Not everyone heeded the signs asking campers to make sure shower curtains are closed to prevent flooding!
Activities/Amenities: The main amenity is the petting zoo and Matti’s farm tour on Saturday mornings ($5/per person for registered guests or $10 for community members; 50% of the proceeds go to their non-profit Mattis’s Farm, and the other 50% goes toward feeding the animals and permaculture education). At the end of the tour, you can interact with the animals (emus, chickens, goats, rabbits, a turkey). Ronna also leads guided hikes. One of Ronna and Blair’s daughters makes giant and delicious cinnamon rolls from her grandfather’s recipe on Fridays and Saturdays for a donation. There is a viewing deck open 24 hours/day and, on a clear day, you can see views of four of the peaks of the Ring of Fire. There is basketball, pickleball, a playground, and bike rentals. Free WiFi, although the signal is not strong. Also, a fish cleaning station.
It is obvious that Blair and Ronna and their family members are passionate about Diamond M. Blair and Ronna lead the farm tours, and during our stay, we saw one or both of them around the property.
ScoutAnyone that is into the outdoors from rudimentary camping to RV lifestyle it is perfect
GuideReally enjoyed staying here. First come, first serve. Alaska DNR campground, $20/night. No amenities other than vault toilets, water pump and dumpsters. Several sites, all seem to be back-in. All have picnic table and fire ring. Sites are generally level and easy to access. Several sites right off the beach. We stayed at a site in the back area, right next to the creek. Our motorhome windshield is facing the dunes with a fantastic view of bald eagle hang out. There’s generally 10-20+ eagles at any time and we’ve even seen golden eagles. The beach is a short walk and located next to the Deep Creek Boat Launch, where tractors launch boats in and out. Highly recommend watching. It’s truly gorgeous here.
RangerParking lot style state campground with multiple sites for any size rig. Gets busy at times but never filled up while we were there. Good Eagle viewing. Good for tents as well.
ScoutThe camp host was so kind and helped us get situated. It’s a quaint and beautiful site.
Camping areas near Kenai, Alaska range from rustic state recreation sites to full-service RV parks, offering wildlife viewing opportunities around Cook Inlet's shoreline. The region sits at sea level with temperatures ranging from 45-65°F during summer camping season. Most campsites remain open from May through September, when campers can expect extended daylight hours and occasional rainfall.
Fishing access points: At Centennial Park & Campground, the designated fishing spots include handicap-accessible areas. "Great family weekend campground and is right on the river providing amazing fishing opportunities. This campground is huge! So lots of trails and boardwalks to ride bikes, walk dogs, get out and explore," notes Vanessa R.
Beachcombing: Captain Cook State Recreation Area offers rocky beach exploration during low tide. "Beachcomb for agates, spirit stones, and wishing stones," recommends Wendy S. The beach requires proper footwear as Allen W. advises, "Bring your mud boots though as there are large muddy sections between you and the rocks."
Wildlife viewing: Watch for eagles, moose, and bears throughout the Kenai area. "If you keep your eyes and ears open there is lots of wildlife in the area. The bears and moose usually wander about in the dawn or dusk hours," shares Eric M. about Captain Cook State Recreation Area.
Private cabins: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Cabins provide secluded stays with lake access. "Great cabin. Only a 1 mile hike in and it comes with a row boat. The lake is very private," reports Bart R. about Engineer Lake Cabin. Some cabins include unexpected amenities like boats for water access.
Riverside relaxation: Morgans Landing State Rec Area offers sites near the rushing water. "The rushing river was loud but relaxing. The camp host alone was worth the stay and super helpful/pleasant. Our campsite had an area for the camper then a space for the fire/table and kids running around," writes Samantha M.
Spacious camping areas: Many Kenai area campgrounds feature well-designed sites. "Camping spots are large and offer fire pits and picnic tables," says Vanessa R. about Centennial Park. At Captain Cook, "The campsites are rustic and small, with just a few able to serve larger rigs," notes Shari G.
End-of-road location: Some campgrounds require substantial driving on remote roads. "You feel like you may never get to the end of the road to this campground but eventually you do and it is a very secluded area," explains Delaine N. about Captain Cook State Recreation Area.
Vehicle fees: Watch for additional charges beyond basic camping rates. "Be aware that if you have a towed car or motorcycles with your camper they will charge you even though you are in one site. And this fee is not on the entrance sign nor the City of Soldotna website," warns Justin B. about Centennial Park.
Firewood availability: River Terrace Campground and other sites may not provide firewood. At Centennial Park, campers report generous firewood bundles: "I don't know if it is just because they are clearing out all of the Bettle killed spruce, but they give you a real bundle of firewood for $6... It lasted us 4 nights," shares Michael H.
Insect preparation: Bug spray is essential for comfortable camping. "The mosquito's were the first ones to greet us!!! After we sprayed ourselves we didn't have a problem with them," notes Delaine N. about Captain Cook State Recreation Area.
Animal viewing opportunities: Diamond M Ranch Resort provides unique family entertainment. "It is fun filled with animals, bicycle rentals, basketball court, playground, seasonal berry picking, eagles nest close by, caribou viewing, balcony viewing area, fire rings and fishing is nearby in the Kenai River," explains Samantha M.
Playground access: Some campgrounds include play areas for children. "Cute little playground. Good chance to see bears," mentions JaNelle N. about Centennial Park.
Trail systems: Walking paths connect many campsites. "Lots of trails and boardwalks to ride bikes, walk dogs, get out and explore," Vanessa R. shares about Centennial Park. The interconnected trails allow safe exploration away from main roads.
Pet-friendly considerations: Boardwalks at some campgrounds may not be comfortable for dogs. "Many upgrades and nice trail system around the campground. Great place to camp with your dogs. However the dogs hate the grated boardwalks," warns Tanya B. about Centennial Park.
Power options: Most pet friendly camping near Kenai, Alaska with RV hookups provides electric service. "Every ground is provided with water, electricity and dumping station. The grounds are spacious, some with trees providing privacy," notes Andrea W. about Klondike RV Park & Cottages.
Size restrictions: Larger rigs should check access before arrival. "The road through the campground is winding and hilly so we'd recommend not bringing a long 5th wheel or bus in here," advises Shari G. about Captain Cook State Recreation Area.
Solar considerations: Tree cover affects solar panel efficiency. "The forest canopy made it a bit of a challenge for our solar system, but our portable solar suitcase was able to make up the difference by periodically moving it around to the sunny spot," shares Shari G.
Fishing season crowding: Book well ahead during peak salmon runs. "If you want to salmon fish for a few weeks every summer this is the place... When they're running in the thousands it's pretty much full so you would need to reserve ahead," advises Darrel F. about River Terrace Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Kenai, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Kenai, AK is Centennial Park & Campground with a 4.0-star rating from 13 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 53 dog-friendly camping locations near Kenai, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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