Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Fort Mcdowell, AZ

Eagle View RV Resort at Fort Mcdowell accommodates pets in all sites with spacious grounds and walking paths throughout the property. This full-service RV resort maintains clean facilities with regular security patrols. Campers can access electric hookups, water, sewer connections, and trash disposal. McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers another pet-friendly option with large, private sites spaced well apart for privacy. The park features clean bathrooms and allows pets on many of its hiking and mountain biking trails. The campground provides water and electric hookups at each site but no sewer connections.

Mountain biking enthusiasts with dogs appreciate McDowell Mountain Regional Park's extensive trail system where pets can join their owners on outdoor adventures. The park's natural desert setting creates a peaceful environment with views of the Superstition Mountains and opportunities to hear coyotes singing at night. Box Bar Road Dispersed camping allows pets in a more primitive setting with basic toilets but no hookups or drinking water. Wild horses occasionally appear near Eagle View RV Resort, adding to the natural experience. Both developed campgrounds enforce leash requirements for pets, and campers should prepare for goat head stickers that can be painful for pet paws. The nearby town of Fountain Hills offers pet supplies and veterinary services about 15 minutes from McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Fort Mcdowell, Arizona (192)

    1. Usery Mountain Regional Park

    35 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 984-0032

    "Outstanding layout, great hosts, spectacular location. "

    "Campsite 6 is the first one on the right, across from the Camp Host site, and as close to the entrance has you’re gonna get."

    2. Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - North Entrance

    27 Reviews
    Fort Mcdowell, AZ
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 610-3300

    $10 - $80 / night

    "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."

    3. McDowell Mountain Regional Park

    19 Reviews
    Rio Verde, AZ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (602) 506-2930

    $32 / night

    "Lots of hiking and bike riding trails with a bike course! Playground. Pet friendly. Very clean and friendly hosts. Close to fountain hills if you need anything in town."

    "Gorgeous views, very spaced out sites, and access to great mountain biking and hiking trails. Even the overflow area where we had to spend a couple of nights has a very nice bathroom and shower."

    4. Eagle View RV Resort at Fort Mcdowell

    10 Reviews
    Fort Mcdowell, AZ
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 789-5310

    $41 - $84 / night

    "Walking paths and trails are throughout the park. A dog park is available. Town is about 10 minutes away on a winding back road."

    "We have met great people here and enjoy that you can walk or bikeride directly from the RV Park. The park is always clean and well cared for, and we like that its not in the city center."

    5. Box Bar

    7 Reviews
    Rio Verde, AZ
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 595-3301

    $8 - $80 / night

    "It's very nice up on Box bar rd as well 5 minute walk to the river. I've seen a skunk a couple of wild horses and several shooting stars. It's definitely a must see area. Enjoy Arizona"

    "At Box Bar there is a small dam that holds the water in just enough for a calm small lake to appear. There is also quicker waters that can be kayaked or floated on."

    6. Canyon Lake Marina & Campground

    18 Reviews
    Tortilla Flat, AZ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 610-3300

    "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."

    7. Box Bar Road Dispersed

    5 Reviews
    Rio Verde, AZ
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (602) 225-5200

    "My blue eyed cat went missing here at 9pm on 4/7. Please email me if you see him. Caroline.cingari@gmail.com"

    "You can camp next to your car , wich there might be campers running generators, or you can hike towards the river and set up camp to get away from that."

    8. Tortilla Campground

    16 Reviews
    Tortilla Flat, AZ
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 610-3300

    $20 / night

    "Rode the scenic Apache Trail Arizona route 88 looking for some BLM land. Couldn’t find a flat place to pull over. Grateful to find a campground near the end of 88."

    "The road is close by, but you don’t hear much of anything after dark.  "

    9. Mesa-Apache Junction KOA

    18 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 982-4015

    "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."

    "Standard KOA amenities of pool, hot tub, playground, and dog park. We’d stay again."

    10. McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood

    4 Reviews
    Rio Verde, AZ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (602) 506-2930

    "We stayed in site 27 which was close to the kids playground.  We only stayed for 1 night .  Lots of bikers at this location.  "

    "Lots of hiking to do around if you're looking for something flat (but close access to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve if you're looking for something more strenuous)."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Fort Mcdowell, AZ

947 Reviews of 192 Fort Mcdowell Campgrounds


  • Carol E.
    Jan. 25, 2022

    Eagle View RV Resort at Fort Mcdowell

    Nice quiet park out of town

    We 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.

  • Jeni G.
    Oct. 18, 2019

    Tonto National Forest Riverside Campground

    Cool spot, too much trash

    The river was beautiful! The camp spots were close to the river with nice big fire rings. Just like a lot of low desert camping in Arizona it’s dusty and dry with lots of prickly plans. But the trail and the trees near the river were lush. My biggest complaint about the spot was all the garbage everywhere. Come on people, burn your trash or take it home! There’s no need to trip over piles of water bottles & beer cans, cigarette butts, McDonald’s wrappers and plastic bags.

  • Stacy R.
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Tonto Creek Trail RV Park

    Quiet Desert Gem with Beautiful Mountain Views

    We loved our stay at Tonto Creek Trail RV& MHC! From the start, the staff was warm and welcoming, making us feel right at home. The park is peaceful, clean, and well-maintained—exactly what we were looking for in a relaxing getaway. The location couldn’t be better. Nestled in Tonto Basin, the park is just minutes from Roosevelt Lake, which was perfect for fishing, boating, and soaking in the views. We also enjoyed exploring the nearby Tonto National Forest trails—ideal for hiking and ATV adventures. As pet owners, we were thrilled that pets stay free! The community is very pet-friendly, which made traveling with our furry family stress-free. The grounds are safe and quiet, with beautiful mountain views all around, giving us plenty of space to relax after a day of exploring. Between the friendly community vibe, the great amenities, and the unbeatable location, this is a hidden gem in Arizona. We’re already planning our next trip back to Tonto Creek Trail RV—highly recommend it!

  • Kimberly O.
    Jan. 2, 2022

    Lost Dutchman State Park Campground

    Beautiful boondocking

    I didn't like paying $25 a night for a space with no hookups, but we did choose a site near the shower house, so that was good. Superstitions are awesome! Coyotes yip at night. Quail ran thru my site. The dog park is great!

  • M
    Jan. 13, 2023

    Mesa-Apache Junction KOA

    Quiet little park

    This is a nice little KOA. It’s a small resort with all the amenities. 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.

  • Kim G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2025

    Mesa-Apache Junction KOA

    Solid KOA with wide sites

    We arrived just after dark yesterday and will leave this morning. Convenient campground for a stay after visiting family in Phoenix before heading to Tucson. Wider sites than normal at a city RV park. Clean bathrooms, though a tad dated. Quiet. Standard KOA amenities of pool, hot tub, playground, and dog park. We’d stay again.

  • Clint  G.
    Jul. 19, 2021

    Encore Mesa Spirit

    Great value as a TT member

    We stayed at this property from 12/28/2020 - 01/11/2020.  This was our first experience with a TT/Encore property.  The RV site we were assigned has a rock pad, was moderately spacious, level, in full sun, and a fire ring or picnic table was not provided.  There was a pool, hot tub, lodge, pickleball, mini golf, shuffleboard, dog park, laundry and a fitness center on the grounds.  The nearest grocery store was within 5 miles as well.

  • Becca C.
    Sep. 29, 2024

    Lost Dutchman State Park Campground

    SUPERStition Views

    This State Park campground located in the Superstition Mountains is a frequent quick camp spot for me if I don feel like trying to beat the crowds to some favorite local dispersed sites.

    They offer sites with electric and water, and sites for dry camping, along with some cabins and group sites you can reserve. The sites offer as much privacy as one can expect in the desert and are not super close together, except for the site numbers 70+ which are only available in winter typically. There are plenty of hiking trails and activities in the park and nearby. The bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained, and they even have a small dog “park” for your best pal to run off some energy.

    Favorite things about the park: The views and the wild life. We have seen so many beautiful birds, from quail and owls to roadrunners and vultures, along with several different types of squirrels, lizards, hare, and coyotes.


Guide to Fort Mcdowell

Fort McDowell sits at the eastern edge of Maricopa County with elevations ranging from 1,600 to 3,000 feet across its surrounding terrain. Seasonal temperature swings can be extreme, with summer highs regularly exceeding 100°F and winter nights dropping into the 40s. The region's camping options range from primitive dispersed sites to full-service RV resorts, with varying levels of pet accommodations.

What to do

Mountain biking at competitive levels: McDowell Regional Park offers trail systems for serious cyclists. "We've ridden lots of places and this is definitely one of my favorite. Trails are not technically difficult but a great workout and so pretty," notes Mike M. from McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

Fishing access: Box Bar Road provides direct river access points for anglers. "Fishing ok. Supposedly smallmouth bass in river. Camping about 100 feet from river allowed," reports Don L. about the Box Bar area.

Water recreation: Canyon Lake offers multiple water activities within 30 minutes of Fort McDowell. "Can fish 30 ft from your campsite. Awesome to sit and watch the kids play on the beach," explains Spencer A. from his stay at Canyon Lake Marina & Campground.

What campers like

Desert wildlife viewing: Wild horses sometimes appear in the early morning or evening hours. "We saw a skunk, a couple of wild horses, and several shooting stars. It's definitely a must-see area," shares Michael M. about his Box Bar Road experience.

Night sky observations: Despite some light pollution from Phoenix, many sites offer good star viewing. "You won't get a 'dark sky' night here, but the light noise from Phoenix makes for beautifully silhouetted saguaro cacti," explains Janet H. from Usery Mountain Regional Park.

Natural sounds: Coyote calls create authentic desert ambiance. "At night the coyotes sing you to sleep and also wake you up in the morning," says Larry G. about McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

What you should know

Permit requirements: Some dispersed camping areas require advance authorization. "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.

Temperature management: Desert temperature fluctuations require preparation. "It's worth throwing out that this is the desert and that it's hot during the day, cool at night, and full of things that will sting/bite you," warns Krista Z.

Cell coverage variability: Signal strength varies widely between locations. "It's tucked in there by the mountains so it gets colder than desert overnight and has wildlife around plus little to no service for AT&T," reports Conner F. about Box Bar Road Dispersed camping.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Some parks offer dedicated play areas for children. "We stayed in site 27 which was close to the kids playground. We did do a short 3 mile hike and it was very nice on the Granite and then Wagner trail," mentions Mark L. about McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood.

Educational opportunities: Nature programs provide learning experiences. "They offer tons of programs for everyone like night hikes and scorpion hunts," shares Jose G. about Usery Mountain Regional Park.

Safety considerations: Wildlife encounters require awareness. "Personally, I wouldn't bring my toddler out here for the plant life," cautions Krista Z. about dispersed camping areas with abundant cactus.

Tips from RVers

Space considerations: RV site dimensions vary between campgrounds. "We have a 30 foot camper...I don't camp down by the shoreline. The only reason is I'm a little longer than 30'. It's very nice up on Box bar rd as well, 5 minute walk to the river," advises Michael M.

Hookup availability: Water and electric options differ significantly. "Our site had water and electric. Nice dump station on the way out too," notes Chris P. about Usery Mountain Regional Park.

Security features: Some parks offer added safety measures for overnight stays. "I felt safely patrolled. The office staff were friendly and helpful," explains Lynne J. about Eagle View RV Resort at Fort Mcdowell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Mcdowell, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Mcdowell, AZ is Usery Mountain Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 35 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fort Mcdowell, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 192 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Mcdowell, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.