1 campground with availability this weekend
MGM Campground features spacious campsites surrounded by trees and grass, ideal for dog owners traveling near Hartford, Illinois. Pets are allowed in all RV sites, with plenty of natural space for walking dogs through the property. The campground charges $550 monthly including utilities, providing good value for long-term visitors with pets. St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA allows pets in RV areas but restricts them from tent camping sites. Both campgrounds provide pet waste stations and require pets to be leashed when outside the RV. Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground offers primitive tent camping with pets allowed at only $8 per night. Many reviewers note the large, grassy areas make exercising pets easy without disturbing other campers.
Several hiking trails near these pet-friendly campgrounds provide good walking opportunities for dogs. The small lake at MGM Campground is catch-and-release, offering pleasant views during dog walks around the property. When staying at Horseshoe Lake, visitors should note the campground has no electric hookups or running water, though water spigots are available throughout the park. St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA provides designated pet run areas, though some reviews mention these can become muddy after rain. Wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent at Horseshoe Lake during bird migration seasons, but pets should remain leashed to avoid disturbing local wildlife. Campers report that despite being in an industrial area, the KOA maintains good separation from nearby facilities, allowing for relatively peaceful dog walks around the perimeter.
"Doesn't allow pets for tent sites"
"Pet runs clean and in good shape. Good air signal for tv."
"70 per night, plus $20 pet fee and $5 reservation fee. Stayed two nights passing through to visit Gateway Arch National Park. Casino is pretty old looking on the outside."
"I haves stayed at Casino Queen RV Park several times..It’s always very clean and I always feel very safe..it’s easy clean in and clean out…you have to have a code to get into the gate..pets are allowed"
from $65 / night
"Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
"Horseshoe Lake is one of my most visited parks and most favorite park in the STL and surrounding areas. First off absolutely beautiful land and peace is easily achieved."
"Pet-friendly, full hookups, space for our larger rig and parking around for extra vehicle. Laundry and propane on site. Spaces were a little close together, but minutes from downtown St."
"It's a centrally located campground in the Metro St. Louis area. It's close to interstates and it's a short drive across the river to Missouri attractions."
"Nice little lake(catch and release I believe). Surrounded by nature, lots of grass and trees, great for dog owners. Spacious spots."
"This park is very well kept, the natural lake is completely surrounded by a paved trail to bike, run, or walk on! They have a fenced in dog park and level sites!"
"Large grassy camp sites, dog park and clean restrooms/shower house. Lake is very pretty and great staff."
from $35 - $60 / night
"We were able to park next to our 5th wheel with enough room to not feel crowded while using the picnic bench. Also the site was level. We stayed for a week to enjoy St. Louis, St."
"To hot and tired to walk around but there is aa park and access to a walking trail that looks nice. It is on path of airport it seems but plane noise does not bother us. It was not to bad."
from $56 - $61 / night
"Great little campground just outside of Grafton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. The campground is located in an open grove of old trees. There were owls when we were there."
"Campgrounds close to Pere Marquette Lodge. Is located just north of Grafton that has many food and drink and antique shops. Campground is on the Illinois River with the Mississippi River nearby."
from $10 - $20 / night
"It’s a beautiful place with good people but could definitely use some updating on the playground, signage, and drive."
from $15 - $16 / night
TravelerCamp Host is very friendly and brought firewood to our site. Bath/shower house was clean. We were in the equestrian campground due to our 73 foot overall length. It was a great stay for visiting family. There are a lot of outdoor activities at the lake area, but no pool.
ScoutMy favorite spot in all of St. Louis! The lady who is the owner and the front desk attendant are wonderful and I have never had a problem here with anything! Free WiFi, laundry, and a public shower and bathroom if needed! There’s also cool walking/biking trails and a park with a children’s playground as well! The gas station is also walking distance for any small necessities
ScoutMy favorite RV spot in St. Charles. It’s pretty quiet minus the cool boats and train but other than that it’s peaceful…also love the price!
TravelerThe campsite is nice plenty of spaces spaced out nicely, but there’s absolutely no signage. took us forever to decide where we could park and what to do. tiny little sign on the Rangers house. Led us to a website and then charged us $50. Not what we were expecting. Plan ahead on this one.
ScoutNice and easy. Good spacing between sites
ScoutThis is one of the worst state parks I’ve ever visited. The sites are small no water or electricity. Takes 15 minutes from civilization to get there.
TravelerTrails in the area re nice but facilities for this many sites are limited. Sites are close to each other.
TravelerJody, the hostess, is friendly and responsive. We stayed one night in the fall so the many permanent RVs were not occupied. The park is large and surrounded by woods and fields. We had a peaceful night near the cornfields where the short-term RV sites are located. Can hear the train horn in the distance. Note that they are tandem, so pull thru for the first person but back in for the second. We would stay here again.
TravelerCame to Riverside landing on a Tuesday-Thursday for car camping and there was only a few other RVs and one other tent camper. Reserved a spot right on the river, very scenic and quiet. Right by some train tracks so trains do run by, but that was the only loud noise! No restrooms here so bring your own amenities if you aren’t in an RV
Campers looking for pet-friendly camping near Hartford, Illinois can find several options within 20 miles of the city. The area sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers with an elevation of around 420 feet. Seasonal flooding sometimes affects campground availability between March and June, particularly at sites closest to the rivers. Most campgrounds in this region maintain flat, gravel pads for RVs with varying levels of shade coverage.
Birdwatching during migration seasons: At Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground, visitors can observe significant bird activity in spring and fall. "This is a great place when the geese are migrating thru, I really hope to be back here some day!" notes camper Kent B.
Bike along the Katy Trail: Access the popular trail system directly from Sundermeier RV Park in St. Charles. "You can literally be parked right at the Katy Trail. Through the gate at the rear of the campground, and you can bike for miles. Easy ride in to St. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River," explains reviewer Cheryl K.
Gateway Arch views: While camping at Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park, enjoy views of the St. Louis skyline. "Even though this RV park is in a city, we felt safe. And its view of the Gateway Arch can't be beat," writes Dennis P. The park offers a unique urban camping experience with downtown St. Louis access.
Budget-friendly primitive camping: Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground offers exceptionally affordable sites. "Peaceful tent camping on Walkers Island at $8 per day," reports ML W. Another camper confirms the value: "Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
Well-maintained park facilities: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park receives praise for its management and upkeep. "This campground, a City of St Peters park and campground, is as excellent as a campground comes. The campsites are 'state-park-size', especially the back-in sites which all have plenty of lawns behind them," notes reviewer Mats, who also mentioned the "SUPER NICE AND CARING" staff.
Historic town access: Several campgrounds provide easy access to St. Charles' historic district. As one camper at Sundermeier RV Park explains, "Easy ride in to St. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River. Great shops, great restaurants."
Train noise affects multiple campgrounds: Several sites near Hartford experience train disruptions. At Cahokia RV Parque, one reviewer noted, "We did get a 30amp spot, because we have a van with solar panels and didn't need to hook up. From doing this we were placed under street lights so they were always on and bright directly on our van."
Seasonal closures and flooding: Some campgrounds close during winter months or experience weather-related issues. A visitor to Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground encountered unexpected closure: "There is a homemade sign that says no camping. I wish we would have known that before we got here. As far as I could tell the website said it's open."
Limited shopping near some sites: Several campgrounds lack nearby grocery options. As one camper at Cahokia RV Parque warns, "I was planning on grabbing a gallon of milk when we got there...there really is nothing around the rv park! Maybe a couple gas stations at best, but if you need groceries or anything, stop and get them before you get close. Stop in the town before."
Playground and recreation options: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers numerous family activities. "This park is beautiful. Located about 25 minutes from St Louis. They have paddle boats and bikes and group bikes for rental. Located right next to a lake with a lot of RV and tent camping spots. Kids had a blast riding bikes. Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night," shares Joseph F.
Urban wildlife spotting: Despite being near industrial areas, some campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities. As Annie C. describes Horseshoe Lake, "Nice little campground close to down town St Louis (when the leaves are down I bet you can see the Arch). Campsites are nice and flat with the standard picnic tables and fire rings."
Security considerations: Many campgrounds have implemented security measures that families appreciate. The Horseshoe Lake campground provides "decent toilets. The nice thing is the campground is staffed by rangers in the day, and at night they sometimes take a security swing through the campground."
Utility setups vary widely: At Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park, one RVer notes: "Utilities are set up weird on all sites - Water and electric are at the very rear of the site by the sewer, so you will need a decent sized hose to reach if your water intake is in the front of your camper."
Site selection matters: At Town and Country Lakes, the condition of sites varies considerably. "It's a beautiful place with good people but could definitely use some updating on the playground, signage, and drive," reports drew W. Consider requesting a recently maintained site when making reservations.
High water pressure: RVers at several parks mention water pressure issues. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, one camper observed, "The water pressure was so strong that I could barely open the water pump!" Consider using a water pressure regulator at these locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hartford, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hartford, IL is St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA with a 3.5-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hartford, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 dog-friendly camping locations near Hartford, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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