The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Dog-Friendly Camping near Kearny, AZ

144 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Kearny Lake City Park's designated camping area permits pets while providing easy access to the water. Tent and RV campers will find 12 large sites equipped with picnic tables and barbecue grills, each positioned within walking distance of the lake. The park enforces a pet leash policy in all areas, including the camping loops and day-use sections surrounding the water. For RV travelers with dogs, Site 2 offers electric hookups and sewer drainage, though this site commands a higher fee than the standard sites. Additional pet-friendly options include Shores Recreation Area along the Gila River, where dogs can access the water, and Pioneer Pass Campground situated among ponderosa pines at 5,900 feet elevation. The sites remain very well maintained with regular police patrols throughout the night ensuring a secure environment for campers and their pets. Several sites near Kearny, Arizona are featured on The Dyrt.

    Dogs visiting Pioneer Pass should remain leashed due to wildlife presence, including bears, cattle, and even tarantulas observed in the area. Pet owners camping at Shores Recreation Area should supervise their animals closely near the Gila River, as the water conditions can be murky and occasionally emit unpleasant odors. Oak Flat Campground provides another pet-friendly option with fire rings, picnic tables, and toilet facilities, though the terrain may be challenging for some dogs to navigate. During summer months, camping with pets requires additional preparation as temperatures in lower elevation sites like Christmas Recreation Area can become extremely hot, while higher elevation locations such as Upper Pinal Campground experience significant temperature drops after sunset. The dispersed camping along Cottonwood Canyon Road permits pets but requires a permit, offering more isolation for those with dogs that may be reactive to other campers.

    Saguaro National Park Complete Camping Guide - The Complete Guide

    Get the guide now

    View Guide

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Kearny (144)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Kearny Lake City Park

      4.7(3)1mi from KearnyRVs, Tents

      "Small lake to walk around. Not to busy."

      "The sites don’t have a water view, but there are day use areas around the lake. Additional flush toilets in the day use area as well. Calling this a lake is also a stretch, it more of a pond."

      2. Shores Recreation Area

      3.6(5)10mi from KearnyTents

      "Toilets, Bear boxes, and easy access to the river from well spaced and maintained sites. I did not have Verizon or T-Mobile, although it claims on this site to have it."

      "Theirs a little highway noise but with the river sounds and a fire it was just what we needed. Theirs sunshine and shade, a bathroom, and garbage."

      3. Pioneer Pass Campground

      4.3(8)17mi from KearnyRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Site 22 had a concrete picnic table that showed a lot of deterioration around the edges (so much so that some of the rebar support in the center was clearly visible) and a grill that had been bent and"

      "The campground is nestled in a secluded canyon amongst the Ponderosa Pines and next to an intermittent mountain stream."

      Check Availability

      4. Oak Flat Campground

      3.2(13)19mi from KearnyRVs, Tents

      "This campground is found between the town's of Superior and Miami, Arizona, so if you are not am experienced camper, you could always drive to town in a pinch if you needed something or forgot something"

      "Was paved road to campground entrance. Road a little bumpy in park but very doable with any camper. We have 23ft trailer and had no problems. Really enjoyed it night there."

      Check Availability

      5. Dripping Springs Road Camp

      3.5(2)8mi from KearnyTents

      6. Needles Eye Ranch

      5.0(2)11mi from Kearny

      "Bring your favorite food, Cook inside or outside on a coal fired grill or over a wood fired pit. Plenty of nice dry wood for you to use. I cooked inside but ate outside at the picnic table."

      "I was driving a Tacoma(not Lifted) and stopped about a mile in because the road got so bad. I hiked about another half mile back and came accross this amazing view of the valley."

      from $75 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Riverbed RV Park

      5.0(1)9mi from KearnyRVs

      from $35 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Christmas - Gila River Recreation Area

      2.5(2)10mi from KearnyRVs, Tents

      "Pitt toilets, access to gila river. Very small camper vans or tents"

      Check Availability

      9. Upper Pinal Campground

      5.0(3)17mi from KearnyRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "There are literally 3 campsites surrounding a 100 foot wide dirt turnaround in the center."

      "If you're afraid of heights this might not be the drive you want to take as most of the way you are looking off the side of the mountain with no rails."

      Check Availability

      10. Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed

      4.3(12)24mi from Kearny

      "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."

      "No amenities but perfect place to base out of for off-roading adventures. This place is really popular, so it’s a cool place to ride with other people and check out their rigs."

    View all 144 campgrounds

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Kearny Contest

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time

    Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Kearny, AZ

    45 Photos of 144 Kearny Campgrounds

    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Kearny, AZ

    741 Reviews of 144 Kearny Campgrounds

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • Lynn G.The Dyrt PRO User
      Mar. 28, 2023

      Gila County RV Park

      There are 2 Locations

      This review is for the Ash Street Location. This campsite had full hookups - water,sewer, electricity, and Wi-Fi. There was a dog park at the end of the park. I believe there are a few full timers there. It is right off of Hwy 60, and if noise bothers you, this is not the place for you - it is NOISY! I am not usually disturbed by car sounds, but it seemed very noisy with traffic most all hours. It seemed like the layout was backwards in this location and for a very large fifth wheel, it took some jockeying to get in, but once we were in, we were comfortable. It was easier to get out when it was time to leave. I would say this Campground was just average as far as campgrounds go.

    • V
      May. 2, 2025

      Meridian RV Resort

      Meridian RV Apache Junction

      We really wanted to like this park. It had some nice features, but elements of it were rather alarming.   

      First of all, It's not a resort actually, but rather an unsecured clean rv parking area with hookups and mostly level gravel sites with concrete patio pads. There were only a few sparse trees throughout the property and nothing for shade on the sites. There were no park models, and there were only a few permanent residents. It was mostly transient travelers, which was fine during the high-season, but there was no sense of community at all. 

      The park had absolutely no security whatsoever. Strangers wandered into the park at night to use the main dog park from off the noisy main road, Meridian, which the park was located on. We heard of a dog attack related to a stranger coming into the park with their animal. There were no park employees on site in the evening, night, or early morning hours. The amenity areas were all located behind locked key pad entries for a reason. 

      It was supposed to be an age-restricted park, but nobody seemed to follow the rules. There were teenagers staying there who had absolutely nothing constructive to do to occupy their time. 

      There was a nice pool, a small library, a laundry facility, community bathrooms with shower stalls, and an absolutely tiny fitness room. There was a separate building with a pool table and cornhole.

      After dark, the park became something odd. Most people never ventured outdoors. There were occasionally dances that took place in the main amenity area, but other than that, it was practically a ghost town. After management left for the day, all park rules went out the window. Strangers coming into the park. Dogs running around unleashed or tethered outside to trailers. People staying in a hauler, literally like a horse hauling trailer. There was even a police helicopter search where the target of the police search was hiding in a parked vehicle in the park until the police gave up. In general, we felt a bit of unease at night knowing that there was no one even monitoring the property, and there was no security gate. 

      Management was a myth. We never once saw the actual park manager. This person stayed in their office and never came out and had zero interest in their guests. The woman at the front desk was quite efficient, but management was non-existent. 

      We really tried to make do with the situation at this property, but we can not recommend it, particularly for older people who are more vulnerable to random crime, nor shall we ever return.

    • Angela G.
      Jan. 24, 2021

      Cactus Forest Dispersed

      Secluded BLM Camping

      We stayed here in January 2021 during our visit to Saguaro National Park due to previous good reviews. Classic BLM-style camping, meaning no amenities, dispersed, and pack out all waste.

      This campground’s name is quite apt; it is indeed a cactus forest, and a beautiful one at that. However, watch where you step AND where you drive!!!! Some places are hairier than others, but we were very careful for our own safety and for the livelihood of the Saguaros, as young ones are quite tiny and need to be protected. We were traveling with our cat, and we usually let him walk around campsites with us, but decided it was not worth the risk at this campground. I would avise against dogs roaming here as well.

      This is a great campground if you are just looking to get away for the weekend or want a quaint, quiet campground amongst incredible Saguaros. However, I personally prefer the BLM Pipeline campground to this one, as it’s more spread out, has less opportunity for cactus stepping, and has a much better proximity to Saguaro NP (especially the East park/Tucson Mountain Park).

    • Erin H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Mar. 31, 2022

      Budget RV Park

      Now called Sundance West RV Resort

      I think if you're  looking for a place to winter, this is a good Campground.  

      Pros: Very clean, nicely landscaped for AZ, staff friendly, good grocery & dining options nearby. Lots of OTA channels, pool, corn hole, laundry, dog park, activities  etc. 

      Cons: pull through was long, but not quite level, WIFI does not reach the pull through sights in the back at all .... and they know it. Couldn't figure out how to hook to their cable. Permit to wash your rig $10 for the season.

      Guess that should have been our first clue... they have a season. Sort of winter camp for snowbirds. If that is what you are looking for, it is very nice.

      We were in the area to visit friends, dump/pump/resupply after boondocking, and do Taxes. Not having wifi was kind of a big deal for us. Being told we'd have to use the internet in the clubhouse wasn't  going to cut it. Who wants to drag all their personal financial information to a common area?

      Normally  it would not have been a big deal, we do have a Hotspot, but at $431 weekly rate, $80 nightly, in this day & age, routers for wifi to the whole park should be a given.

      Otherwise we did enjoy our stay here, and met some great people.

      8nts, 34` 5th wheel

    Guide to Kearny

    Dispersed camping opportunities near Kearny, Arizona attract campers seeking solitude among oak groves, ponderosa pine forests, and access to the Gila River. The surrounding landscapes range from desert terrain at lower elevations to mountain forests at elevations up to 5,900 feet. The area experiences dramatic seasonal shifts with temperature differences of up to 30 degrees between day and night at higher-elevation sites.

    What to do

    Hike the trails: Pioneer Pass Campground offers excellent access to trails through ponderosa pine forests. According to one camper, "Quiet off the beaten path place. Switchbacks most of the way up to the area. Wouldn't advise a 'big' rig. But once there and settled in loved it!" The area provides peaceful hiking opportunities surrounded by wildlife.

    Visit local towns: The campgrounds around Kearny are within driving distance of small mining towns. A camper at Oak Flat Campground noted, "It was only 5 minutes from Superior, which was nice for gas, food, water, etc." This accessibility makes it easy to restock supplies or grab a meal in town.

    Explore backcountry roads: The area features numerous dirt roads for exploring. At Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Dispersed, one visitor observed, "Great trails! Big rig friendly boondocking. Busy dirt road, as there is an active mine off the road. Loud dump trucks and dusty, but a beautiful desert oasis, nonetheless." These roads provide access to remote camping spots and scenic vistas.

    What campers like

    Accessibility to water: Shores Recreation Area provides direct access to the Gila River. A camper reported, "We came in and stayed at a spot towards the south/downstream where a high clearance would be wise. We also went upstream initially. Great spots on the river." The riverside locations offer fishing and cooling off opportunities during hot weather.

    Quiet evenings: Many visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere of Pioneer Pass Campground, especially at higher elevations. A reviewer described it as "nestled in a secluded canyon amongst the Ponderosa Pines and next to an intermittent mountain stream. The views on the drive up from Globe to the campground at 5,900 feet are gorgeous."

    Wildlife viewing: The area hosts diverse wildlife. At Sulphide Del Rey Campground, a visitor noted, "Beautiful campground on a hill surrounded by pines. Gets completely silent at night assuming other campers behave. Perfectly dark except for stars between the trees and your fire." These conditions create excellent opportunities for stargazing and wildlife observation.

    What you should know

    Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires high-clearance vehicles. A camper at Upper Pinal Campground warned, "The trip to the top of pinal Mountains is a journey, very cool and beautiful scenic views, the road is not the best, especially if you don't have a higher clearance vehicle."

    Permits required: Some dispersed camping areas require permits. At Cottonwood Canyon Rd., one camper advised, "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."

    Limited facilities: Most campgrounds offer minimal amenities. At Oak Flat Campground, a camper reported, "There is a bathroom which was clean and well-stocked with toilet paper, despite the campground being quite full when I stayed here for a few nights in April. There is no water, however, so be prepared with as much as you'll need."

    Tips for camping with families

    Find shaded sites: During summer months, seek campgrounds with shade. At Shores Recreation Area, a visitor noted, "This will be a scorcher in the middle of summer but the sites do have tree cover for shade." Shaded sites can be significantly cooler during hot Arizona days.

    Watch for wildlife hazards: The area hosts diverse wildlife that may pose risks to children. One visitor at Pioneer Pass observed, "There are bears and other wildlife. Even have seen a tarantula (pictured). Like many state land out here they have cattle loose and they do travel the road up the mountain so keep that in mind."

    Consider water quality: When camping near water sources, be aware of water conditions. A camper at Shores Recreation Area cautioned, "Murky water and not a pleasant smell in the air made the water not enticing at all. If I wouldn't have seen people swimming in the water I would have never thought people actually swim in it and we chose not to."

    Tips from RVers

    Hookup availability: Most campgrounds have limited or no hookups. A visitor at Kearny Lake City Park observed, "Site 2 has electric hookup and is more like $30," indicating that hookup sites cost more than standard sites.

    Road access challenges: RV access varies significantly between campgrounds. A camper at Needles Eye Ranch reported, "I drove up this road for about a mile and camped. It was tight and had a ton of rough loose rocks. I was driving a Tacoma(not Lifted) and stopped about a mile in because the road got so bad."

    Dog friendly campgrounds near Kearny: For RVers with pets, Riverbed RV Park offers a pet-friendly environment with full hookups. A visitor described it as a "Very nice and quiet place to stay for an extended time," making it suitable for RVers seeking pet-accommodating sites near Kearny.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Kearny, AZ is Kearny Lake City Park with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 144 dog-friendly camping locations near Kearny, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.

    Keep Exploring