Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Salt River, AZ

Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping offers a permit-required pet-friendly experience north of Mesa. Pets must remain under owner control at all times with no specific restrictions on number or breed. The undeveloped camping area has no designated pet facilities, but the natural desert terrain provides ample space for dog exploration. Eagle View RV Resort at Fort McDowell welcomes pets with access to dedicated pet exercise areas and walking paths across its maintained grounds. All pet-friendly sites have water and electric hookups, with clean shower facilities available for owners. The park's natural desert setting allows for wildlife viewing opportunities, but requires keeping dogs leashed due to potential encounters with desert wildlife. Several campers mention enjoying walking with their dogs on trails directly accessible from the RV park.

McDowell Mountain Regional Park provides extensive pet-friendly trail networks spanning over 40 miles that connect directly to campsites. Dogs must remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet throughout the park, including all hiking paths and campground areas. The park's desert terrain requires careful consideration for pet paw protection, especially during summer months when ground temperatures can exceed 150°F. Mesa-Apache Junction KOA features designated pet areas with waste stations and a fenced exercise zone where dogs can socialize off-leash. Nearby veterinary services can be found within 10-15 minutes of most Salt River area campgrounds, with 24-hour emergency services available in the Mesa and Scottsdale areas. Wild horses occasionally appear near Eagle View RV Resort, requiring campers to maintain control of dogs during these encounters. The park is always clean and well-maintained with staff who enforce pet policies to ensure a positive experience for all guests.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Salt River, Arizona (186)

    1. Usery Mountain Regional Park

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

    "Outstanding layout, great hosts, spectacular location. "

    "Stumbled upon this great little spot while looking for some stealth camping near the salt river. Great sites, nice park, water & electricity at each site."

    2. Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - North Entrance

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

    $10 - $80 / night

    "FYI the entrance that this references is actually further west than shown on the map. Less than a mile west of the bridge over Salt River at Pebble Beach."

    "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."

    3. McDowell Mountain Regional Park

    19 Reviews
    Rio Verde, AZ
    17 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
    13 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. Mesa-Apache Junction KOA

    18 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    20 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."

    6. Mesa Gardens RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Salt River, AZ
    3 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."

    7. Holiday Village

    2 Reviews
    Tempe, AZ
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 962-1694

    $37 / night

    8. Towerpoint Resort (55+)

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

    9. WestWorld RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Scottsdale, AZ
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (480) 312-6802

    $57 / night

    "Great location! Nice views of the compound which normally hosts car and horse shows. Electric and water available as hookup. Common dump site available upon entry as well as during your stay."

    "This is a great place to camp if you are attending a WestWorld event since you will be right next to all of the facilities."

    10. Hackamore Road Dispersed

    13 Reviews
    Apache Junction, AZ
    21 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."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Salt River, AZ

877 Reviews of 186 Salt River 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.

  • Bob L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 3, 2021

    Usery Mountain Regional Park

    Usery Mountain is an Awesome campground

    Outstanding layout, great hosts, spectacular location.  Good hiking and sites nearby whether you are looking for lakes, wild mustangs in the Salt River, a scenic drive to Tortilla Flats or just enjoying the Arizona weather.  

    Hiking in the park to accommodate all levels.

    Campsites are well maintained.  Quiet in the evenings.  Could not ask for more.

  • Elise O.
    May. 28, 2019

    Usery Mountain Regional Park

    Close but so far away

    Stumbled upon this great little spot while looking for some stealth camping near the salt river. Great sites, nice park, water & electricity at each site. Close to town, the salt river & canyon lake. Friendly staff, well maintained.

  • 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!

  • Nolan S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2019

    Box Bar Shoreline Area and River Access Point

    Box Bar on the Verde

    Box Bar shoreline is located right on the verde fiver. The parking/camping is about two minutes walking distance from the river.

    We didn’t camp, just came down for the day. This is a fun spot to swim and picnic. This is free and not on Tonto National Forest, so you don’t need a Tonto Pass.

    Fire restrictions are in place. There are no facilities other than three port-a-potty’s. Only 45 minutes from Mesa. We usually go to the salt river but I noticed that this area and water is much cleaner!

  • 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!


Guide to Salt River

Discovering pet-friendly camping spots near Salt River, Arizona, offers a fantastic opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy nature alongside their furry companions. With a variety of campgrounds that welcome pets, you can create unforgettable memories with your four-legged friends.

Pet owners like spacious sites and clean facilities

Dog owners appreciate nearby trails and activities

Tips for camping with dogs near Salt River

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

TheDyrt.com has all 186 dog-friendly camping locations near Salt River, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.