Luby Bay Campground provides pet-friendly accommodations among tall trees and underbrush, with sites spaced nicely apart for privacy. Campers at Priest Lake's pet-friendly areas can enjoy white sandy beaches with crystal clear water while keeping pets on leash. Most campgrounds in the region feature tent and RV sites where pets are welcome, including Outlet Campground, Osprey Campground, and Dickensheet Campground within Priest Lake State Park. Indian Creek Campground offers additional pet-friendly options with cabin accommodations. Campground hosts maintain clean facilities including flushing toilets and running water at most locations, creating a comfortable environment for both campers and their pets. The upper loop campground at Luby Bay provides very private sites though they may be unleveled in certain areas.
Dog owners appreciate the hiking and water recreation opportunities throughout the area. Most campgrounds provide beach access where pets can cool off during warm summer days, though they should remain leashed near the water. Priest Lake's distinctive white sand beaches are unusual for North Idaho and provide excellent areas for pets and owners to relax together. Boats can be launched at nearby marinas for a small fee, with trailer parking available at some campgrounds. The Priest Lake area experiences few bugs in late August, making it an ideal time for camping with pets. Sites on the south side of islands provide welcome shade during the hottest parts of the day when camping on Kalispell or Bartoo Islands, accessed only by boat. Bear-proof lockers are available at Luby Bay, an essential safety feature when camping with pets in this wilderness area.
$30 - $64 / night
"We were on the upper side of the lower loop, near the entrance, and although we couldn’t see the water it was a short walk to the beach, which had sand and beautiful clear water."
"My family and I go camping every July at Priest Lake. Luby Bay is our favorite because we have boats, RVs, tent and hammock campers."
"The only problem was people walking thru your site to the house next to the campground. Couldn’t figure that out and thinking it was random."
"Outlet Campground is a fine place to spend a weekend, but if you’re familiar with Priest Lake, you’ll notice it’s not quite as spacious or scenic as some of the other campgrounds in the area."
$30 - $32 / night
"We actually left another campground on the lake we had already paid for to come here because it was exactly what we were looking for!"
"Camp amongst the tall trees and the lake!"
$15 / night
"If you got a boat, get to Priest Lake. The waters are a little cold but crystal clear and on a clear night, you’ll see the bulk on the Milky Way."
"First come, first serve sites are your best bet for getting a campsite on Priest Lake during peak season. I was able to snag one of the 10ish first come sites last minute for a weekend."
$35 - $75 / night
"There is also a pet area,and you can take your dogs for a swim. Free shorts and very clean bathrooms. Some highway noise but not too bad."
"Non-water activities include paths, including one around the campground that is approximately 1.4 miles, nice for walking, running, or biking. Partially paved and partially gravel."
"It's like the Caribbean on north Idaho."
$30 - $32 / night
"Our favorite lake in N Idaho. The view of chimney rock is spectacular. Easy access to the sandy beach. Weather in June can be unpredictable, the Spring storms are epic."
"Tent camper here 👋 This specific site wasn't lakefront but was only a short 3 min walk to gorgeous lake views and beach access. Being on the end, it was hushed with minor road noise."
$15 / night
"Storms all around us but the views were beautiful. Nature is beautiful. Set up our hammocks, tents and brought out fishing poles."
"We walked up to reserve our site. The sites are pretty close but have nice facilities throughout the campground. Including a nice store with an Ice cream shop, a family favorite."
"We did get some fishing in for cutthroat and lake trout. Cutthroat are catch and release so we had to be pretty careful, but the lake trout tasted amazing."
$30 - $60 / night
"There are larger beaches on the lake for sure, but the south end of the lake is the calmest and the sand is the best there."
GuideCute little RV park off the highway. Very quite with a small lake. Families can enjoy fishing, swimming, yard games, fire pit, and very dog friendly with a fenced dog park. We are tent campers and had a nice spot on lake. only a few tent sites. Super clean bathrooms with hot shower.
TravelerStayed here with my dog, pet friendly but the animals must be on a leash. Camp hosts are very attentive and make multiple rounds which is nice. Follow all posted rules and you’ll have a blast. Pack in and pack out.
TravelerBeautiful & clean campground with friendly staff. Quiet area and not over crowded. Pet friendly. Lots of trail hiking and a pretty lake for kayaking, swimming, etc. My only complaint was not enough grassy areas and all campgrounds were just dirt. So keeping RV clean was difficult with myself and dogs going in and out despite having mats to wipe off feet/shoes.
TravelerWe stayed here for a week. The sites are large,with plenty of shade. Partial hook ups.(no sewer) Some sites can be dark under the canopies of fir,cedar and pine trees. Great swim area for families. And a boat launch. There is also a pet area,and you can take your dogs for a swim. Free shorts and very clean bathrooms. Some highway noise but not too bad.
LegendI’ll be honest, we had no idea what to expect when we came here after reading prior reviews. While there were plenty of golf carts and interesting characters, our stay was fairly benign in comparison. Extremely well manicured, sites are fairly crammed and it’s easy to see why with the water access, well maintained premises, pet area and stand out amenities. Must love people if you decide to stay here
LegendPositioned in a fieldy expanse, these units are right next to the casino. You pass by a gas station as you exit the highway and there’s plenty of space between sites. There’s also an international car museum directly across the path from the RV park
TravelerThis campground is in an older couple’s front yard. It’s got a pretty running creek called Trestle Creek running through there yard off of the mountain side. Which they have their property on. They also live on said property, so they are always watching... Beware! Lol Sooo.. They kicked us out because the guy’s wife saw our kitty was on top of another guest’s car... Soo bad! oh! and the other reason: my cat was catching mice and killing them, and we would pick them up as soon as we would see them. Umm.. isn’t that what cats do..? Idk... and they would always complain we were awake all nite when we stayed up til one or two am. We (mom and I) were staying here for 3 months. And were perfectly quiet. They just thought it was odd or something for some reason... I don’t get it. We paid to be there, long term, we’re not keeping anyone up.. what’s the big deal? So ya, and the spots are super duper close next to each other. Like within two feet... yeah.. no privacy. I felt weird sitting outside in my spot with a friend in chairs even. And they frown upon having any visitors come see you. So it’s more of a rich, quiet, pretentious, older people’s camping place.
LegendGeneral: 67-site US Army Corps of Engineers campground in two loops along the Pend Oreille River. All sites are water and electric and have gravel driveways.
Site Quality: All sites were nicely wooded, level and spacious. The roads are paved but the sites themselves are gravel. A BBQ grill/fire pit and large picnic table complete each site.
Bath/shower house: There is one ADA-accessible all-in-one bath/shower plus regular restrooms. Clean if a little dated. I don’t take long showers but in the middle of mine, the water turned ice cold for the remainder of my shower, however, hubby did not have the same experience!
Activities/Amenities: Water activities including boating, fishing, and swimming. Non-water activities include paths, including one around the campground that is approximately 1.4 miles, nice for walking, running, or biking. Partially paved and partially gravel. Other activities include two playgrounds (one for younger children, one for older), volleyball, horseshoes, sport court, and a “doggie island” (pet area). Between the restrooms are two dishwashing sinks with hot water, a nice amenity. There is also a dump station.
We were still setting up when the host came by to give us a map, remind us there was a fire ban, and see if we had any questions or concerns. We stay at many CoE campgrounds and this one certainly measures up!
LegendFarragut State Park, Idaho Lake Pend Oreille
I crossed the Montana / Idaho state line this morning and was pleasantly surprised at the AMAZING scenery . I’m from way over in Kentucky so maybe this is a best kept secret or it’s just not well advertised but NORTHERN IDAHO IS BEAUTIFUL!! I mean, someone says Idaho, I think potatoes/ farmland. So well played Idahoans! I stopped for an overnight at Farragut State Park. The staff was AMAZING! Friendly , informative and took the time to see if there were any cancellations or early departures in the crowded campgrounds. The campgrounds are well laid out in that there are many sites but they are situated in a way that still gives each site space for “stuff”.
Several areas to pick from. Group areas and campgrounds, shade and locality. Sites were very well maintained. Full hook up, Pit toilets and a few shower houses.
The general park map is lacking on the hiking trail venue. If you want to hike and in my opinion you do, see about getting a trail map or take a picture at one of the information stands. Even that map was not great, but useable. We took a stroll down through the woods and when we got to Lake Pend Oreille guess what?!! .... IT WAS AMAZING!! If you want a hike along the lake with easy to moderate difficulty 70 along Idlewilde Bay is excellent, it loops around by the parking lots and the shore. Plenty of spots for the dogs to get in and to swim. Once again there are trails coming and going and the trail markings are sometimes confusing but if you have a good sense of direction you’ll be fine.
There is a model airplane field, bird watching area, and areas to park and unload horses and llamas.
Bayview, ID is nearby with a laundromat , grocery , etc. On site there is a small museum with the history of the area , a Tree to Tree Adventure Park and of course water activities galore.
Pet friendly camping near Coolin, Idaho centers around Priest Lake, a crystal-clear glacial lake with depths reaching 370 feet. Located in the northern Idaho Panhandle at 2,438 feet elevation, the area features mature cedar and pine forests surrounding white sand beaches. Campgrounds typically open from May through September, with late August offering warm days and minimal insects.
Boat access camping: Kalispell Island and Bartoo Island offer boat-in tent sites with beach frontage. "It's about a 1.5-mile boat ride to the island and there is no dock there so I just beached it since it was pure sand. I paid for my site upon arriving in cash, then set up my very private site," notes one Bartoo Island Boat-in Campground visitor. Bring a shovel for sanitation needs.
Lake swimming: The clear, cold water at Priest Lake provides refreshing swimming options. A camper at Reeder Bay Campground shares: "The lake is clear and cold, decent for swimming if you don't mind cold water." Most shoreline beaches have gradual entries suitable for wading.
Mountain biking: Riley Creek offers extensive paved trails for casual riding. "Lots of trails for walking biking. Camp sites are large and private. Volleyball basketball court horseshoe pits," reports a visitor, making it suitable for families with various recreation preferences.
Private campsites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with natural screening. At Osprey Campground, a camper noted: "Complete privacy between trees and underbrush, no road noise, walking trails, flushing toilets and beach access where we felt comfortable leaving our SUPs tied for two days."
Clean facilities: Luby Bay Campground maintains high standards for restrooms. "The flushing toilets were impressively clean—better than many I've encountered at other campgrounds," writes one camper. Most established campgrounds provide running water and flush toilets, though island sites have minimal facilities.
Pet exercise areas: While dogs must remain leashed at most beaches, Riley Creek Campground offers a dedicated off-leash area. "Dog Island allowed dogs off leash and swimming," shares one visitor, providing a rare opportunity for pets to play freely.
Boat trailer parking: If bringing a boat, check for designated parking. "In the back corner of the lower loop, there is designated parking for boat trailers and extra vehicles. I launched my boat at the Priest Lake Marina just a mile down the road for a small fee," explains a Luby Bay Campground visitor.
Bear safety: Food storage lockers are provided at many sites. "Each site comes with a bear-proof locker, which is essential for safety," notes a camper, though they mentioned their locker had trash bags left by previous occupants.
Site reservation strategy: For peak season camping, book months ahead or try first-come options. "First come, first serve sites are your best bet for getting a campsite on Priest Lake during peak season. I was able to snag one of the 10ish first come sites last minute for a weekend," reports a Kalispell Island Boat-in Campground visitor.
Beach access considerations: Some campgrounds require walks to reach beaches. At Outlet Campground, a visitor noted: "The beach is more of a small, rocky shoreline down a short hill. There are much better and larger beaches down the road at Hill's or Luby Bay."
Kid-friendly activities: Established campgrounds often include recreation areas. A Riley Creek visitor shared: "Lots of fun activities and trails, easy access bathrooms with nice showers. The water is beautiful and the beach is taken great care of. Very calming and the different campsites are separated by lots of beautiful trees."
Supply access: Most campgrounds are within reasonable distance of basic supplies. A camper at Reeder Bay noted: "This site, in particular, backs up against Elkins Road, leading to the next-door resort which has a restaurant, bar, and convenience store - all in walking/stumbling distance."
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment for comfortable setup. A Luby Bay visitor cautioned: "Sites 27-38 are fairly unleveled so bring extra leveling blocks if you camp with a trailer in these sites."
Narrow access roads: Larger rigs require careful maneuvering. "The road through the campground is paved but narrow, roughly 1.5 vehicles wide, so backing in a trailer requires some finesse," advises a Luby Bay camper.
Hookup availability: Most lakeside campgrounds offer limited services. "No hookups. Dry camping only. Limited spots for this size rig," noted a Reeder Bay camper with a 26-foot travel trailer, though they still rated their experience highly due to the "great beach and access" and "beautiful clear water."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Coolin, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Coolin, ID is Luby Bay Campground with a 5-star rating from 8 reviews.
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