Cahokia RV Parque permits pets in both RV sites and cabin accommodations with designated pet exercise areas throughout the campground. Located approximately 45 minutes northeast of New Athens, this full-hookup facility features clean, heated bathrooms and pet-friendly campsites with concrete pads and fire rings. World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta also welcomes dogs, offering tent camping and cabin options alongside a lake where pets can enjoy shoreline walks. Most campgrounds in the region require pets to remain on-leash at all times, with Scott AFB FamCamp enforcing strict leash policies for military families camping with animals. Sites generally include picnic tables and fire rings where pet owners can relax with their animals after a day of exploration. Several reviewers note the campgrounds are consistently clean despite heavy pet use.
Randolph County State Recreation Area maintains pet-friendly paths around its lake for morning dog walks, while Washington County State Recreation Area's tent and cabin accommodations provide shaded spots for pets during hot summer months. Both locations offer water access where leashed dogs can cool off. Few campgrounds provide dedicated pet waste stations, so campers should bring bags and proper disposal supplies. Wildlife encounters require special pet management—several parks post warnings about keeping dogs secure when deer or small mammals are present. The Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam recreation area's paved trail offers wheelchair-accessible dog walking opportunities that end at the confluence of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers. Veterinary services are limited in this rural area, with the closest emergency animal hospitals located in Belleville and surrounding St. Louis suburbs, approximately 30-40 minutes from most campgrounds.
"You are on the entire opposite side of the base, away from everything, absolutely everything.."
"GREAT location for camping, especially if you run out of items and need to get something close by. Very natural, and amazing views and the feel is spectacular."
"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."
"Lots of dogs tied up, but with owners nearby. Some still “bolt” at you when you walk by. Could be less littered. Our site had lots of litter when we pulled in."
"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
"Located five miles northeast of Chester, Randolph County SRA lies in the rolling hill country of southern Illinois."
"This campground is located on a small lake in Southern Illinois and managed by the department of natural resources. Good place for Camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and boating."
"This is a nice little park in southern Illinois. It is surrounded by cornfields, however the park is wooded. The park surrounds a very pretty lake and I have attached a picture."
"This is a small lake management by the state of Illinois. The campground is usually not crowded, but some weekends do get busy. There is a shower/bathroom that was clean each time we were there."
"A very old and historic cemetery is next to the campground. There is electric hookups 30 and 50 amp. No water/sewer but does have a dump station. Vault toilets."
"Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site is located on the remains of historic Fort Kaskaskia, constructed by the French in the 1700s to defend the town of Kaskaskia."
from $8 - $18 / night
"Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
"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."
"Water was available close to the restrooms and is accessible to fill campers. Parking area at each site could accommodate two vehicles. The capsites were located next to the Kaskaskia River."
from $10 / night
"Water and dump at the entrance. Shower houses. Very nice pool and camp store. Hosts scattered and occasionally hard to find to pay for your spot. Wildlife galore. Next to largest lake in Illinois."
"This State Park is located outside Carlyle,Illinois. This park offers playground areas and more. Cabins, campsites with power or no power the choice is yours."
from $15 - $30 / night
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
ScoutNice and easy. Good spacing between sites
TravelerI believe this is one of the best campgrounds I've been to. It is safe friendly, theres laundry, lp fill, close to rend lake, 20 mins from walmart, a great place to relax and visit, vacation, whatever you like.
ScoutIts fine. Nothing snazzy. Its in more of an industrial area so its kind of loud with the trains going by and whatnot. Mostly an RV site. 9 tent sites (first come first serve on spot) and a handful of cabins.
GuideI gave this campground a five star again. I am a solo female camper. I like to go to places that are safe with a good atmosphere and this had both and plenty of things to do a roundabout when coming through this area again I will definitely stay here.
GuideI stayed the weekend at Patt’s place and absolutely loved it the atmosphere accommodations the owner she was more than helpful. I’m a solo camper female in my stay there was awesome.
GuideCamping area is closed until further notice. Construction
TravelerBL, the camp could use a Camp Host or Mayor. Stayed 1 night. We used the bathhouse and walked the grounds- so did a lot of other people; especially in the morning up to lunch. Quiet camp -Aircraft noise held off until 08:00 (bonus). Men’s shower side had great water pressure and temp- water fixtures were dated, dirty and temperamental (2 shower heads-1 working) also, cozy up to your multi-legged friends (spider webs and bugs were in competition for our shower space), Laundry is $1.50/wash&dry. I’ve stayed at a good many FamCamps: Lake Martin Rec -AL Uchee Creek-GA Destin Army Inf CTR-FL Robins AFB FamCamp-GA Round Pond -NY Kings Creek-VA Ellsworth AFB-SD Blue Angel Rec-FL Anniston Army Depot-AL Sigsbee-FL That’s my starter list! So, I’d like to see this one level up. It’s in a good area (we come through every couple years) and I think it could get a few more interested in it, if it were managed just a little bit better.
GuideRight off the freeway. We were going to overnight park at Loves but had problems with our generator. 93 degrees at 11 pm so we splurged for a site and paid $71 for full hookups. It’s a small campground, more like a parking lot, so easy in and out. They have a handful of cabins and a wash house.
There are two unisex bathrooms, each with multiple toilets and showers, which is weird because you have to lock the outer door for privacy while using the facilities. Good for a parent with small children, I guess, but I felt like I was hogging the bathroom.
There is a small pond at the back of the grounds and a kid was fishing it. They also have a fenced in dog park. No shade in that area, but nice touch!
Camping options near New Athens, Illinois span across a 45-minute radius with sites situated along the Mississippi and Kaskaskia River watersheds. The region features gently rolling terrain with elevations ranging from 400-600 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures typically reaching 85-95°F with high humidity. Many campgrounds in this rural region offer electric hookups but limited sewer connections, requiring campers to use dump stations.
Shooting sports and lake activities: World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta provides camping access to extensive shooting facilities along with recreational options. "This is the site of the American Trap Shooters Association 'Grand' Event. During that event the first couple weeks in August the campground is full," notes reviewer Chip.
Hiking paved trails: The Kaskaskia Jerry F. Costello Lock and Dam recreation area offers accessibility-focused outdoor recreation. "There is a hiking trail through the woods that ends at the confluence of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers. This trail is paved for walking, bicycles and wheelchairs," shares Susan D.
Stargazing: Washington County State Recreation Area provides exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. "The campground is pretty far from any big metro area, so the sky was real dark, great for picking out constellations. We listened to Whip-por-will calls around the campfire," explains Joel R.
Mississippi River views: Fort Kaskaskia State Park Campground offers historic exploration combined with scenic overlooks. "Near the pavilion, which was recently rebuilt after being destroyed by a fire, you can get sweeping view of the Mississippi river below," according to Joel R.
Level sites: Cahokia RV Parque provides stable parking for various rigs. "Level gravel sites with FHU near downtown St. Louis. Sites are close together, with some shade," reports Robert O.
Urban convenience: Casino Queen RV Park offers unique access to metropolitan amenities. "Casino has a metro stop that takes you into St Louis over the river," mentions Josh F., though he notes there are "trains every 15-30 minutes all day long."
Quiet atmosphere: Randolph County State Recreation Area delivers a peaceful camping experience with natural attractions. "Easy walk to the lake with a gorgeous view, 2 different playgrounds walkable distance from campground," notes Shirlee A., who spent a week there with two toddlers.
Wildlife viewing: Horseshoe Lake State Park offers exceptional bird watching opportunities. "This is a great place when the geese are migrating thru," shares Kent B., highlighting the park's reputation as a migratory bird sanctuary.
Accessibility variations: Campgrounds across the region have vastly different accessibility features. At Fort Kaskaskia, one reviewer noted "Large level sites with electric. Water available mid campground and at dump station," while Horseshoe Lake State Park is more primitive with "no electric or running water."
Weather considerations: Summer heat requires preparation. "Washington County Lake State Conservation Area's tent and cabin accommodations provide shaded spots during hot summer months," while the World Shooting Complex has sites that are "not many trees" making it "dry and hot in the summer."
Navigation challenges: Several campgrounds have poor signage or outdated map information. One visitor to Kaskaskia Lock and Dam noted, "There is no signage for this location, the only slight indication is a boat ramp sign," while another advised "USE THE ADDRESS ON THE WEBSITE, NOT FROM THIS APP."
Seasonal closures: Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground has experienced unexpected closures. "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," reported one frustrated camper.
Look for playground access: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near New Athens offer kid-friendly amenities. At Cahokia RV Parque, one visitor highlighted "an awesome playground for the kids!" making it suitable for family stays.
Consider noise levels: Scott AFB FamCamp offers military families a convenient option with moderate noise considerations. "The campground has occasional airplane noise but it's not bad for a Air Base," notes JEANETTE M.
Check bathing facilities: Bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Washington County, a reviewer mentioned "Bath house was very well kept and clean. Showers ran cold at first but after a few mins it gets warmer!" while Fort Kaskaskia has only "Pit toilets could have been cleaner, but fine."
Book ahead for holidays: Holiday weekends fill quickly at dog-welcoming campgrounds throughout the region. At Randolph County State Recreation Area, "Best sites are first come first serve other half are reservable," while at World Shooting Complex during special events, "the campground is full."
Hookup placements: Site layouts can create challenges at certain campgrounds. At Casino Queen RV Park, "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."
Consider dump station locations: World Shooting and Recreational Complex offers full hookups but limited shower access. "There is a shower house I believe but could not access a couple of the doors I tried," reported one RVer, suggesting facilities may not be fully operational.
Maneuverability challenges: Larger rigs require careful navigation in some campgrounds. At Randolph County, "Getting around is a little right for bigger rigs but still doable as long as you're careful," while Washington County offers "easy to find" sites that are "affordable overnight stay with electric."
Payment options: Most campgrounds require cash payment with limited electronic options. Washington County requires visitors to "run back to the town of Nashville to get some cash from the ATM," as no cards are accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near New Athens, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near New Athens, IL is Scott AFB FamCamp with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near New Athens, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 57 dog-friendly camping locations near New Athens, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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