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Mesa-Apache Junction KOA features a dedicated dog park where pets can exercise off-leash during their stay. The campground accommodates tent campers, RV travelers, and guests seeking cabin rentals, with all sites permitting pets. Pets must remain leashed throughout the property except within the designated dog area. Campground USA and Carefree Manor also welcome pets with similar policies. Most sites include full hookups, picnic tables, and gravel pads with sufficient space between neighboring campsites. The KOA maintains clean facilities with bathrooms, showers, a heated pool, and hot tub that are accessible while pets remain at campsites. Staff members are consistently described as helpful and friendly toward both guests and their animals. Local campgrounds are searchable through The Dyrt's listings.
Trails near the Superstition Mountains provide numerous dog-friendly hiking opportunities while camping in the Apache Junction area. Dogs must remain leashed on all public trails to protect wildlife and other hikers. Several campgrounds provide easy access to nearby grocery stores for pet supplies, important during extended stays. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, requiring extra precautions for pets including adequate water, shade, and avoiding hot surfaces that can burn paw pads. Winter months offer more comfortable conditions for pet camping with mild daytime temperatures. Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping areas permit pets but lack amenities like water or waste facilities, requiring campers to pack in supplies and pack out waste. The KOA's pool area remains off-limits to pets but the spacious sites provide room for pets to relax with their owners.
"Campground is about 15 minutes from Apache Junction but still secluded. Great weekend getaway."
"Beautiful views, water, electic, dump station near sites, very clean campground. Close to Phoenix, Apache Junction and surrounding areas."
"This KOA sits on the outskirts of Apache Junction, which itself isn't Phoenix proper but an eastern suburb. The RV park has all of the basics: power, water, sewer plus a pool and a level, clean site."
"It has a small dog park but it gets the job done. The people in the park are very nice and the staff are extremely kind and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here."
"This is a nice, clean spot close to town and lots of outdoor activities! We saw some of the most beautiful sunsets and cacti here. The road is a little sketchy but was passable in our 19’ trailer."
"I use the north entrance off Bush highway. I've camped here 5 or 6 times. No water or bathrooms. Leave no trace. You need a permit and gate code. Most ATVers but not loud during the week."
from $10 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Enjoyed our December visit to Lake Marina campsite 201. Will say campsites are close together. Awesome families close to us made it fun."
"So if you had sleepless because of noise and did not call for assistants shame.on you not canyon lake. The gentleman i checked in with would corrected the situation."
"The road is close by, but you don’t hear much of anything after dark. "
"For all the commotion nearby, the campground hears none of it."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"It's on BLM land, so you are out of the reach of the Arizona Land Permits. The road is a bit tricky."
"It’s got great views of the mountains, TONS of awesome trails to walk/ride love the access to the little ghost town nearby."
"Nice place to hang out and rest great history near by to explore"
"Great Campground, close to everything."
"* It's Arizona...but there's GREEN stuff everywhere.
- Great view of the mountains here.
- Saguaro cacti everywhere.
- I fed some carrots to a horse this morning.
- The main road is pretty"
"Drive through the town of Gold Canyon AZ, and you quickly leave behind the sprawl of suburban Phoenix, but embrace the sprawling landscape of the Sonoran Desert which is brimming with life in the spring"
"It was fun to walk right up to the town and walk around. Cowboy Dan who owns and runs the steakhouse is hilarious and his wait staff was helpful and accommodating."
"Great trails out from camp. Water at corrals. Nice showers and restroom a short walk away. Plan to go back!!"
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availability"So close to Phoenix with conveniences nearby. The views in all sites are amazing with sunsets that are breathtaking. There is a camp host (me : ) and we're going to tackle the roads soon. "
"Very close to popular hiking trails. We enjoyed the rustic campsite. The camp host was very friendly and helpful (Darell)."
from $10 / night
Check Availability
RangerThere are three spots that fill up quick on the Apache Trail. The entrance is on the left (heading in from Apache Junction) just past Canyon Lake Vista Overlook. Two spots overlooking lake, the third is up the access road to top of hill under power lines.
ScoutThe scenery is desert with a mountain backdrop. Individual spaces are very spacious. Campground is about 15 minutes from Apache Junction but still secluded. Great weekend getaway. Very quiet except... there is a shooting range about a mile away so there are times you hear a distant report of a rifle. Campground has a public bath and shower. Also a hiking trail.
GuideWent out to fine tune our camping setup with the family and a new tent. After several years away from camping, we are quickly learning the ropes. Lost Dutchman is close enough to town if we need supplies(which this trip proved to be needing) that we can go get what we need from Apache Junction. Can’t wait for the fire ban to be over at the end of the season. Lots of fun as usual.
RangerThis KOA sits on the outskirts of Apache Junction, which itself isn't Phoenix proper but an eastern suburb. The RV park has all of the basics: power, water, sewer plus a pool and a level, clean site.
TravelerBeautiful views, water, electic, dump station near sites, very clean campground. Close to Phoenix, Apache Junction and surrounding areas. Hiking available, we didn't use the restrooms so can't update on them. Would highly recommend staying here. 👍👍
ScoutI live in the area and the BLM finally closed this area along with other areas nearby due to junk, abandoned vehicles, vicious dogs etc. It will become the Apache Junction and Goldfield Recreation area. Closed completely for 2 yr for vegetation restoration and when it reopens it will provide residents with OHV and Horse trails along with Staging areas.
ScoutLa Hacienda RV Resort is one of the nicest RV resorts that I have seen! Lot of big trees, Beautiful pool and spa, very clean air conditioned laundry and the price was very reasonable, they have a shower room for men and one for women the showers were very clean and modern. This RV resort had full hookup with Fiber Optic cable and internet. There were several craft rooms, a lapidary room, a spa, 2 Picle Ball courts, there was shuffleboard, a computer room, a sewing room, a card room..... I could go on and on about the amenities and how much I liked this RV resort, but what I liked the most was the staff!!! Joyce and Ann in the office were a true pleasure to work with! I searched East Mesa and Apache Junction for a place to park my RV for about 6 weeks(I was undergoing a surgery procedure at MD Anderson) In all my searching I found this resort and while it wasn't the cheapest, it was by far the most reasonable and it also was the best place that I could find! I forgot to mention that they are a pet friendly park if you stay on the pet approved area! I also have to add that the people who were our neighbors were super friendly and even all passed a get well soon card around and wrote kind words of hope for a speedy healing. You couldn't walk down the street without seeing a friendly face or someone who was happy to visit. I grew up in Phoenix and never considered vacationing in Phoenix for that reason....but...LA Hacienda RV Resort has me rethinking this!
GuideTurn off Hwy 74 between Apache Junction and Florence, Turn East on Cottonwood Canyon Rd. and there is dispersed camping with ZERO amenities starting in about 2 thru 5 miles on both sides of the road.
This is a very popular off road spot for Motocross motorcycles, Jeeps, ATV's, and Side by Sides so be prepared for some dust and some noise from vehicles. There are lots of trails to ride.
This is Arizona State Trust Land so a permit is required but can be purchased and downloaded from their website at a cost of $21.00 and it is valid for 1 year for the family pass.
The location was clean and well cared for buy the people that camp there, and there are rock rings for fires but you will need to bring your own wood to burn as there is little in the desert and nowhere close to purchase any.
We stayed with a group in November and the weather and the sunrise and the sunsets were absolutely amazing to behold. We will definitely be back both for the wide open spaces and the great places to ride.
TravelerWe got the last spot in the park to stop over for 3 nights. Lots are spacious. We have a view of the tribal land. Other sites have valley views and are more preferable. The amenities are very nice. Large laundry $3/load. Central courtyard with gas grills, a pool and hot tub. DVDs to borrow are available in the office as well as jigsaw puzzles, and books. Walking paths and trails are throughout the park. A dog park is available. Town is about 10 minutes away on a winding back road. The road behind the park is not used much so no traffic noise to speak of. Coffee and donuts in the clubhouse in AM. The only negative would be the goat head stickers! They track in and are painful for the pets as well. We saw wild horses, woodpeckers, and heard the distant coyotes carrying on.
Camping in the Apache Junction area offers access to the eastern edge of the Phoenix metropolitan region where the Sonoran Desert meets the Superstition Mountains. The region sits at approximately 1,700 feet elevation with winter daytime temperatures averaging 65-75°F and summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F. Dispersed camping options here require permits that must be obtained in advance, with most sites lacking basic amenities.
Explore historic sites: The Goldfield Ghost Town area provides camping with easy access to attractions. "We happened upon this cool campground on our way to the state park. The Goldmine sites are clean and level. All have fire pits and most have a picnic table. It was fun to walk right up to the town and walk around," notes Alisa P. about Goldfield Ghost Town Dry Camping.
Hike scenic trails: Lost Dutchman State Park offers excellent hiking opportunities at the base of the Superstition Mountains. "Nestled right at the base of the Superstition Mountains - this is a great location that is close to excellent hiking and riding. Also close to a unique drive out to Canyon Lake! For the very fit cyclist you can ride from this location out this lake," shares Brad B. about his experience at Lost Dutchman State Park Campground.
Kayak and paddleboard: Canyon Lake provides water recreation opportunities just a short drive from most camping areas. "For sure take paddle boards and kayaks, there is an amazing little canyon to explore," recommends Tj R. who stayed at Canyon Lake Marina & Campground.
Accessible wilderness: Many campers appreciate the convenient location that feels remote while being close to amenities. "This is our go to when we want to get away but don't have a lot of time to drive far," explains Michael F. about Lost Dutchman State Park Campground.
Desert wildlife viewing: The area offers opportunities to observe native desert animals in their natural habitat. "Heard some coyotes in the night, which was exciting. Enjoyed hiking the trails and exploring the landscape," shares Rebecca G. who camped at Lost Dutchman.
Spacious campsites: Usery Mountain Regional Park receives consistent praise for site quality. "Our site #48 Buckhorn was really spacious and private. Great views all around. Table and fire pit. The park has tons of trails for hiking and MTN biking," reports Julie F.
Permit requirements: Bulldog Canyon and other dispersed camping areas require specific permits. "Easy to get a permit from the ranger station. Just email your name, address, phone number and driver's license number to sm.fs.mesa_ohs@usda.gov and you'll get your permit within 2 days for free," advises Whitney W. about Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping.
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas have challenging access roads. "It's a fun dirt road. You might be able to get back there without 4x4 but certainly it is strongly recommended. Very rough road and about a 2 mile drive," warns Aaron C. about Bulldog Canyon.
Reservation needs: Established campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "This is a nice spot close to home and easy to get to. Suggest you make reservations well ahead for busy winter months!" recommends Debbie W. about Lost Dutchman State Park.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Apache Junction: Mesa-Apache Junction KOA offers amenities for families with pets. "I had a very pleasant week while van camping at this location. Bathrooms and campsite are clean, pool and spa are nice," notes Blair A. The KOA features wider sites than typical urban RV parks and standard amenities including a playground and dog park.
Budget options: State parks provide more affordable alternatives to private campgrounds. "The campground was great! Clean and nice bathrooms with showers, nice places to park. Gorgeous views of the mountains. The price was great too!" shares Aimee A. about Lost Dutchman State Park.
Water activities: During hot months, swimming access is valuable for families. "We stay here every year for a week. The campground is large and the spots have plenty of space. Campground staff is great," says Sarina about Mesa-Apache Junction KOA, which maintains a year-round heated pool.
Site selection: At Usery Mountain Regional Park, site choice matters for RVs. "My site was a pull through...more a side of the road spot. No shade here at all but otherwise pretty decent. My spot had water and electric. Nice dump station on the way out too," advises Chris P.
Power considerations: Most pet-friendly camping options near Apache Junction offer electric hookups, but availability varies. "This campground has water and sewer, but no electrical...so bring those solar panels and leave the generators at home," notes a review about Tortilla Campground.
Width clearance: Carefully review site dimensions before booking. "Highly recommend this park with spacious sites and great views of the Superstition Mountains and night lights of Phoenix. Carefully review the site you select to be sure it will accommodate your rig. Roads are narrow and there are unforgiving drop offs on the sides," warns Terri D. about Lost Dutchman State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Apache Junction, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Apache Junction, AZ is Usery Mountain Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 37 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 199 dog-friendly camping locations near Apache Junction, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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