Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Gilbert, AZ

Mesa-Apache Junction KOA welcomes pets at all accommodation types including cabins, RV sites, tent sites, and glamping options. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Gilbert maintain standard leash requirements, typically six feet or less when outside vehicles or tents. Valle Del Oro RV Resort earns consistent five-star ratings from visitors traveling with pets, with reviewers noting the property is pricey but offers numerous amenities to justify the cost. Several dispersed camping areas like Bulldog Canyon and Hackamore Road permit pets without additional fees, though these primitive sites lack facilities such as drinking water or toilets. RV resorts catering to the 55+ community, including Towerpoint Resort and Monte Vista RV Resort, maintain pet-friendly policies while offering premium amenities like concrete pads, maintained gravel sites, and full hookups.

Hiking with dogs remains popular at nearby Usery Mountain Regional Park where pets must remain leashed on all trails. Mesa Gardens RV Park provides a coded gate allowing direct access to an adjacent public park with ample grass areas for dog exercise. Summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F require extra precautions when camping with pets, including early morning or evening walks, abundant shade, and constant water access. Many RV parks in the area offer pet waste stations and designated pet relief areas, though pet amenities vary significantly between properties. Cracker Barrel in Chandler allows overnight RV parking with pets, providing a convenient stopover option with four designated RV spaces that accommodate vehicles up to 25 feet. Visitors should note that several parks enforce quiet hours that include regulations about excessive barking.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Gilbert, Arizona (185)

    1. Usery Mountain Regional Park

    35 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    15 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. Mesa-Apache Junction KOA

    18 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    15 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."

    3. Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - North Entrance

    27 Reviews
    Fort Mcdowell, AZ
    21 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."

    4. Monte Vista RV Resort

    3 Reviews
    Mesa, AZ
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Gravel surrounds each campsite and we have noticed maintenance crews raking the gravel every other day. Close to all the fun stuff on the Superstition Mountains."

    5. Valle Del Oro RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 984-1146

    6. Towerpoint Resort (55+)

    2 Reviews
    Mesa, AZ
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 832-4996

    7. Mesa Gardens RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Salt River, AZ
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 964-1102

    $48 - $55 / night

    "Great campground centerally located to Phoenix and Scottsdale. Was only planning to stay 2 nights but ended up extending my stay. Full hookups and laundry/showers in house."

    8. Encore Countryside

    6 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Great Campground, close to everything."

    9. Hackamore Road Dispersed

    11 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (623) 580-5500

    "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."

    10. Eagle View RV Resort at Fort Mcdowell

    10 Reviews
    Fort Mcdowell, AZ
    20 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."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Gilbert, AZ

897 Reviews of 185 Gilbert 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.

  • J
    Mar. 20, 2023

    Leaf Verde RV Resort

    Awkward and crammed Face to face sites

    If you’re a social butterfly and don’t have dogs, this place could work. The sites are really crammed in and on top of that, your door is face to face with your neighbor which makes it so awkward to do anything outside when you don’t want to talk to an overly chatty neighbor. Or if you or your neighbors have unfriendly dogs they can’t be out at the same time. Facilities are decent, same with pool. Adequate dog parks but nowhere for dogs to pee near sites other than gravel.

  • 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.

  • Jen H.
    Apr. 9, 2019

    Leaf Verde RV Resort

    Nice campground close to Phoenix

    Leaf Verde is in Buckeye, AZ which is only 30 minutes from Phoenix. The pool is refreshing and if you aren’t into swimming there is a pool table, dog park and shuffle board to keep you busy. The sites are gravel and close together but nice.

  • 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.


Guide to Gilbert

The Sonoran Desert surrounding Gilbert, Arizona rises from 1,200 feet to over 3,000 feet at nearby mountains, creating diverse camping environments from mesa flats to rugged foothills. Temperatures fluctuate dramatically with winter nights dropping to the 40s and summer days regularly reaching 110°F. Campers have access to both primitive BLM land and full-service resorts in close proximity to Phoenix metropolitan amenities.

What to do

Hiking through varying terrains: Usery Mountain Regional Park offers multiple trail options for different skill levels, from easy family walks to challenging mountain routes. A camper noted, "The park has tons of trails for hiking and MTN biking" and "Wonderful hiking trails around the park."

Morning wildlife viewing: Eagle View RV Resort positions visitors near excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. According to one camper, "We saw wild horses, woodpeckers, and heard the distant coyotes carrying on." Plan early morning outings for best wildlife spotting before temperatures rise.

Desert night photography: Despite proximity to Phoenix, some camping areas provide night sky photography opportunities. One camper at Usery Mountain Regional Park mentioned, "The light pollution at night being so close to Phoenix" creates "beautifully silhouetted saguaro cacti" against the sky – a unique photographic opportunity.

What campers like

Concrete camping pads: Many RV parks near Gilbert feature well-maintained concrete pads, particularly appreciated during monsoon season. A visitor to Monte Vista RV Resort observed, "All the sites are back-in but all have concrete parking pads and patio. Gravel surrounds each campsite and we have noticed maintenance crews raking the gravel every other day."

Secluded camping spots: Some camping areas offer isolated sites despite proximity to urban areas. One visitor to Usery Mountain Regional Park shared, "Our site #48 Buckhorn was really spacious and private. Great views all around."

Direct park access: Multiple RV parks provide special access to adjacent recreational facilities. At Mesa Gardens RV Park, a camper noted, "RV park backs up to a park with a coded gate so easy access to playground/big grass area for dogs."

What you should know

Permit requirements: Several dispersed camping areas require permits with specific rules. One camper reported about Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping, "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."

Road conditions for dispersed camping: Access roads to free camping areas often present challenges. A camper at Hackamore Road noted, "The road is a bit tricky. I got here pretty smooth on my RWD Xterra, so while 4WD isn't necessary, I wouldn't come out here without high clearance and decent suspension."

Age restrictions: Several RV resorts operate as age-restricted communities. One visitor to Valle Del Oro stated, "This community has so many organized activities for residents. They have almost everything you would need on site. Everything for activities, concerts, games and shows."

Tips for camping with families

Morning activities: Schedule family hikes and outdoor activities before 10am during warmer months. A visitor to Eagle View RV Resort mentioned, "Walking paths and trails are throughout the park" making it convenient for early morning family walks before temperatures rise.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Gilbert, 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 Gilbert, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 185 dog-friendly camping locations near Gilbert, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.