Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Canyon De Chelly National Monument in Arizona

Looking for the best Canyon De Chelly National Monument pet-friendly camping? Find the best information on pet-friendly campsites and dispersed camping near Canyon De Chelly National Monument, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a happening campground near the attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to go camping with your dog.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Canyon De Chelly National Monument, AZ (6)


Recent Dog-Friendly Reviews in Canyon De Chelly National Monument

30 Reviews of 6 Canyon De Chelly National Monument Campgrounds


  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Oct. 4, 2024

    Cottonwood Campground

    Early October & mostly empty!

    Plenty of spaces and happy to get one with shade on my camper. $20, no pass discounts. Reasonably clean, fairly quiet. No complaints

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Sep. 27, 2024

    Cottonwood Campground

    Quiet shady and clean

    This is a great central location to both the north and south canyon road. Self pay at the entrance, $20 a night no services. The park was quiet, well treed and clean. A number of bathrooms, older but clean and well stocked. Lots of garbage pails. Dump station easy to access with working black tank sprayer. Park was 1/3 full by the evening.

  • Geoff S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Spider Rock Campground
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Spider Rock Campground

    Not reaaly good...

    Juste pour vous partager ma mésaventure(Mieux vautêtre averti pouréviter les mêmes erreurs;)) 2 points importants: 1- L'indien Howard Smith(qui ne ressemble plusà la photo de son site depuis de nombreuses années) n'accepte les paiements que sur place en cash- Donc si vousêtes contacter avant, ce sont des pirates! Il est au courant, cela lui arrive régulièrement, mais il considère que c'est pas de sa faute, surtout qu'on est européens, et que les pirates sont tous desétrangers... 2- Hogan- C'est une aventure en soit unique. Mais si je ne pensais pas avoir payer d'avance, j'aurais fait demi-tour. Un lit de camps, une petite planche sur des parpaings avec un matelas qui dépasse... Rien de bon pour passer une bonne nuit en soit! J'ai regretté de ne pas dormir dans ma tente au final. Sachant qu'onétait 6 et qu'on l'avait dit, On peut dormirà l'aise sur ces matelas tachéà 3, pas plus... Les toilettes sont des toilettes de camping car. Le camping en lui même est idéalement situés et les camping car sont donc surement content du séjour.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spider Rock Campground
    Sep. 9, 2024

    Spider Rock Campground

    Great Cottonwood trees

    Beautiful grove of trees. Maintenance people apparently not allowed to clean up bugs in bathrooms. Floodlights at night a bit bright.

  • Thomas P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Jul. 22, 2024

    Cottonwood Campground

    Great campground for tent

    We came on a Sunday in July and there were only 2 other campers there. Very quiet, the only thing missing was electric outlets that only worked in 1 of the 3 restrooms, but that wasn’t an issue. Great place to camp if you plan to visit canyon de Chelly

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spider Rock Campground
    May. 12, 2024

    Spider Rock Campground

    Nice Rustic Campground

    We trully enjoyed our stay. Close to the sights. The campground is a little rough along the edges but the sites are great. There is a great hiking trail that starts at the campground and goes to the canyon. Howard the owner is very friendly and a wealth of information.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    May. 3, 2024

    Cottonwood Campground

    All you can ask for and only $20

    Paved roads and pads, picnic tables, picnic fire pits, flush bathrooms, water and sewer (1 per loop), all in a beautifully trees setting. Birds singing. Conveniently located near the visitor’s centre and at the halfway point where you choose the north or south scenic drive.

  • Dennis P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Nov. 12, 2023

    Cottonwood Campground

    Beautiful in fall colors

    Near the entrance to Canyon de Chelly Nat'l. Monument, it was ablaze with fall colors. Nice toilet facilities and spacious sites fairly far apart. No hook-ups so I couldn't give it 5 stars, but even then it was within walking distance to a restaurant at a quaint lodge.

  • Catherine S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Oct. 27, 2023

    Cottonwood Campground

    Reliable camping close to Canyon de Chelly

    Well-spaced sites under gorgeous cottonwood trees in bright yellow fall foliage (beware if allergic!). Basic services as listed, except no internet that we could find. Verizon = 3 bars. Ranger told me he's never seen the campground fill up. Great staging location for both North Rim and South Rim exploration. Private homes surround the park, fairly close. Stray dogs come around but were not aggressive. $20 for camper van.

  • Berton M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spider Rock Campground
    Oct. 13, 2023

    Spider Rock Campground

    Basic Campground Close to Spider Rock

    Basic campground run by a local with various sized campsite. There's a pit toilet. Nothing around the area and about 10 miles from town.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    May. 12, 2023

    Cottonwood Campground

    Canyon de Chelly campground

    Slightly run down campground with clean bathrooms, flush toilets, no showers, no hookups. Dump station with water fill. The dispersed water fills not working. Close to visitor center but no views from campsite. Good shade trees. No problem getting site around 4:30p on a Thursday in May.

  • Neil T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Mar. 20, 2023

    Cottonwood Campground

    Functional - and right at the door to Canyon de Chelly

    Saw it in the wintertime so it was sort of barren. Functional. Okay spacing but not much barrier between sites.

    Across the street from the Thunderbird Lodge which has a gift shop and cafeteria.

    The true beauty of this campground is its proximity to Canyon de Chelly….wow, what a place!

  • D
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Sep. 22, 2022

    Cottonwood Campground

    Very quiet and peaceful

    The campsite is quite spacious and quiet but at the same time super close to the Canyon and very easy to find driving from or to Chinle. We arrived late at night (9:30pm) and there was a lot of free spots. Internet works fast, there're tables and BBQs around. The only problem we had was that Dyrt GPS coordinates were wrong, but easy to Google the right place when in the area.

  • Terry
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Jun. 30, 2022

    Cottonwood Campground

    Empty

    We were the only ones here in June. 93 sites bathrooms were clean flush toilets. $20.00 a night. It was quiet good shade with the cottonwood trees

  • Sotnos B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    May. 18, 2022

    Cottonwood Campground

    Exceeded expectations

    Based on reviews we were apprehensive about staying here....boy were we happy we did. Absolutely quiet. Nice shady pull through site. Campground was about 1/4 full. Strong 4g signal. Easy walk to visitor center. Only drawback were goatshead thorns....our poor dog couldn't spend much time outside without getting them in her paws.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    May. 6, 2022

    Cottonwood Campground

    Nice & Right Outside of Canyon de Chelly

    This is a really nice peaceful campground at the entrance of the Canyon de Chelly National Monument.  Canyon de Chelly is beautiful and amazing and worth going out of your way for.  Be sure to pre arrange with an authorized tour guide, if you want to go down into the canyon. We didn't plan ahead and didn't get to go down, though driving all the way to the end of the canyon (we went along the south side) was beautiful on its own.  Just about each pull off has native vendors selling handmade art and goods.

    $14/night (cash only!) for a tent site, and $5 for day use. Camp fee includes use of dump station and water fill, but heads up that the water is turned off for the winter. Dump station open year round.

    There are flush toilets but no showers. 2 of the restrooms were closed for the winter as well. 

    Sites come with a picnic table and grill, no fire rings (fires not allowed here). There is no privacy or any kind of barrier between sites. It was not a big deal when we were here as there were only a few other campers, but I could see it feeling crowded during busy season. Some sites have a lot of shade and some are in full sun, so there’s something for everyone. 

    Heads up - this is Navajo Nation and there is no alcohol or marijuana use allowed, and there are loose dogs hanging out everywhere. 

    ATT had LTE, and Verizon and TMobile were roaming.

  • Mike G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    May. 6, 2022

    Cottonwood Campground

    Decent Campground

    There were lots of spaces available, and only at 20% capacity on a weekday. The price increased to $20 as of May 1st. Decent grounds, nothing beyond basic campground needs, but seemed clean.

  • S
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Sep. 18, 2021

    Cottonwood Campground

    It's a pit!

    Its the only campground anywhere near Canyon de Chelly. Sites are not reservable. We arrived at about 3:30pm on Fri and it was about half-full. Problem was that half of the sites were blocked off (Covid?). We finally found a site in full sun (lots of shady ones were there but blocked off). 90+ degrees today... OK, we have a generator. We back into the site and get out to get settled and the first thing we see is a huge, active ant hill by the back trailer tire (had to go buy spray so they didn't get in the trailer). All of the "greenery" around the site was cockleburr plants. Of course the burrs ended up in our shoes and socks and therefore in the trailer. It's quite a sketchy area around the campground so we didn't leave anything out. They only take cash payment you put in an envelope in a drop-box. On a good note, it is very close access to Canyon de Chelly.

  • Travis B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Pass Campground
    Sep. 10, 2021

    Buffalo Pass Campground

    Trash Everywhere

    Pulled in about 8 pm, you park on the edge of the road around a sharp corner. Walk through a fence and there is the campground. I saw trash everywhere including the parking area. The place looked like it had a huge party recently. Needless to say I kept driving.

  • Elsa L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Sep. 3, 2021

    Cottonwood Campground

    Cottonwood Camphround

    We stayed at this campground at Canyon De Chelly in a 35' Motorhome towing. No hook up but there is a dump station & potable water. Restrooms & showers are available & clean. Barbecue & picnic table at every site. $14 a day. They only accept cash. It was quiet & clean. Great place to stay and explore the Canyon.

  • T
    Camper-submitted photo from Cottonwood Campground
    Aug. 11, 2021

    Cottonwood Campground

    Basic Campground

    This campground has around 50 sites, about half of which are large enough for camper drive-in. Facilities include clean bathrooms with running water. The sites are pretty close together for my liking, but this is a nice, cheap campground for an overnight stop.

  • Bob & Ramona F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spider Rock Campground
    May. 16, 2021

    Spider Rock Campground

    Must have a small trailer.

    We have a 28' 5th wheel and after looking at the potential spots, had to back our way out. There is no way to turn around. If camping here, I would have had to back my way into a spot. Scenic views a short drive or hike away but not an easy place to camp.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spider Rock Campground
    Oct. 17, 2020

    Spider Rock Campground

    Rough but Serviceable Campground in a Spectacular Location

    I visited Spider Rock and met the proprietor Howard Smith 20 years ago. He is still there maintaining this spacious campground on his own. It is rough around the edges but you will be very close to the rim of the canyon and within a short drive of amazing access points via car and foot. The campground has no amenities and is covered with a layer of fine red dust, but we did just fine in our 17-foot Casita RV. Call before you go to find out about limitations as the Navajo Nation has been hard hit by Covid. Don't miss the hike down into the canyon to see the White House (named after the large cliff dwelling ruin cut into white rock). The canyon is breathtaking: red cliffs surround lush-looking pastures cared for by Navajo inhabitants but off limits unless you access via Lighthouse Trail, which offers limited access to the canyon floor, or arrange a guided tour.

  • Q
    Camper-submitted photo from Wheatfields Lake Campground
    Jun. 21, 2019

    Wheatfields Lake Campground

    High traffic low privacy

    Indian Route 12 runs north to south and bisects the wheatfields lake and the main campground areas. Overnight camping and fires are discouraged along the lake but people get away with it. There is sporadic night traffic on the roadway throughout the night and it is sometimes loud. The campsites are hit and miss. Some have old dilapidated picnic tables and along with sandstone fire rings or barriers. The roads to the campsite are not graded and over time roads have been created through campsites with no regard.

    There are 3 compost type toilet facilities at various parts of the lake. No running water. There are some trash receptacles but most leave their trash in piles next to the receptacles because the chutes to the receptacles are about 12x12 and wont accommodate a large trash bag. There are numerous stray dogs in the area that take advantage of the trash piles.

    Fishing: I have only seen small rainbow trout. Stockers from the Navajo Hatchery in Toadlena NM. There is no motorized access to the east side of the lake as it was blocked off years back by metal tube barriers.

    Too many rude fishers and kids running around unchecked. Fiddling with your fishing area and fishing gear.



Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Canyon De Chelly National Monument?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Canyon De Chelly National Monument is Cottonwood Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 21 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Canyon De Chelly National Monument?

    TheDyrt.com has all 6 dog-friendly camping locations near Canyon De Chelly National Monument, with real photos and reviews from campers.