4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Lawrence KOA's dog park provides a dedicated space for pets to run and exercise at this pet-friendly campground located just outside Lawrence. Campers traveling with dogs can choose from tent sites, RV spaces with full hookups, or cabins that welcome pets. Clinton State Park offers pet-friendly camping across multiple loops including Prairie Clover and Coneflower Campgrounds, where leashed pets are permitted at all campsites. Pets must be kept on leashes no longer than 10 feet throughout the park except in designated exercise areas. The bathrooms at Clinton State Park are clean but sometimes closed for maintenance. Campers with larger dogs appreciate the spacious sites at Clinton's Campground #3, which offers plenty of room between neighbors and direct access to hiking trails.
Woodridge Park allows pets at its primitive tent sites where campers can enjoy peaceful surroundings and wildlife viewing with their four-legged companions. Most dog-friendly campgrounds in the Lawrence area enforce standard pet policies including proper waste disposal and noise control for barking dogs. Train noise affects pets at the Lawrence KOA, with frequent train horns throughout the night that may disturb sensitive animals. Pet owners should pack extra water and supplies as summer temperatures can become uncomfortable for dogs, especially on the exposed sites at some of the Clinton Lake campgrounds. Nearby veterinary services are available in Lawrence, approximately 5-10 miles from most campgrounds, with emergency services available for after-hours pet care needs. The extensive trail system around Clinton Lake provides miles of pet-friendly hiking options where dogs can explore wooded areas and lake views while remaining leashed.
"The great part is that the sites are so large, at least on the lake side, which is actually a bit away from the lake, but accessible by stairs from the camp sites."
"The park is also at a lake so there’s a beach access area where you can go and swim or just sit by the very large lake."
from $15 - $100 / night
"I live in Lawrence so this campground isn't a vacation spot for me but rather a "get some alone time" spot. Clean, safe and well maintained."
"We take our dogs and our kayakes and we are set for the weekend. The campsites are clean and a nice private distance from each other for the most part."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $100 / night
"We travel with two adorable rescues and appreciated the awesome dog park where they could run a bit. The restrooms are adequate and clean. Views are beautiful as you will see for yourself."
"We missed a KOA in Kansas City because of construction. Went to Lawrence KOA instead. Glad for the misfortune. The park has all you need for short or long term camping and RV trips."
"We brought our two dogs here with us and camped. There are so many spots you can set up at on the trail that nobody went to. Keep in mind though that the trail gets very muddy if it has just rained!"
"We also love hiking the trail through the woods and by the lake even when we aren’t camping—best trail I’ve been on in Lawrence."
"The spots are pretty close together but no one was ever loud and there’s lots of grassy space behind. (I was on a water front spot). Pet friendly, and the staff are so nice."
"We were traveling across Kansas and found this lovely campground. It is one of the prettiest we have come across through our extensive travels. The bathrooms are clean and showers adequate."
from $20 / night
"I'm starting to think that Kansas has a 7-day limit instead of a 14 because this is the second time that a Kansas park official came to the door and said we need to leave."
"I assume they went fishing at the lake. Bathroom was a little rough but manageable."
"Grew up camping here every year for the 4th of July and one of my favorite places to visit when we visit Kansas, this place is amazing, little coves for swimming and kayaking, pontoons and party cove on"
"I would have also had to walk through heavy brush to drop in, probably better locations around the lake. Overall a safe and clean place to overnight."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $100 / night
"Great little lake. Good fishing, great locations for kayaking and paddle boarding. the camp can get crowded quick and it's a toss up who will be around and how well behaved. "
"Small campground overlooking lone star lake. Sites are on a slight slope. All sites overlook the lake and water access is extremely close, including the swim beach"
"There were a few campers near to us that we could see but no one that was right next to us and we couldn't hear them at all. Pros:
- Access to "modern" toilets that flushed."
from $15 - $30 / night
TravelerThe price is good. We paid just under 13usd for a basic primitive site. The bathrooms are limited and pretty rough as one might expect. Otherwise, we found it quiet, peaceful and pretty. Good location to Laurence and get a good coffee and donut.
GuideLots of big sites in Cornflower loop some shaded. Bathroom needs an update; I wouldn’t use the shower as too disgusting so can’t rate the water temperature.
ScoutFree laundry, (only 1 washer & dryer per bath area) showers, and right on the lake. Has tent camping up to 14 days, and its pretty laid back and clean. Huge facilities, no electric for tent spots but they have it in bathrooms. Fire pits and picnic table. Buy 3- get 4 nights for seniors 62+.
ScoutHost was very nice, just outside city so access to what you need if you go north, access to hiking and country if you go south. I got concrete slab and full hookups. Showers and restrooms clean.
ScoutWe set up our little camper trailer in one of the primitive loops, backed into the trees. Access to the white and blue trail loops from the campground either via some rickety stairs or from a trail next to the cabins. Relatively close to the bathroom and shower house for water. Campsite was great, but the campground in general could use a little bit of trash pickup and general spiffing up
RangerPretty developed, easy to find and right on the lake. Restrooms were nearby so that was a plus. There was plenty of space between sites but no real coverage for privacy. I don’t fish so I really just needed a free place to stay in nature and this was perfect for that. Bugs were… present. I called it a night quickly after the sun went down and could hear the bugs and other creatures from the inside of the car. Not my thing. The lake was super pretty and it was not difficult to drive to.
TravelerOur camp site was great! We stayed in Loop C and there’s bathrooms scattered all around the loop, pets welcome, no visitors past 10pm and no fires past midnight. Nice and peaceful and everyone around was courteous and friendly. 10/10 recommend staying here. Lots of acorns, if you stay under any trees so be aware! Also, there was sites that are one camper can fit in and other sites that have two right next to each other for family camping together!
TravelerWe loved this campsite! The sites were very spacious and each had its own little stretch of shoreline, which made it perfect for fishing right from camp. Even with several families enjoying the lake, it still felt peaceful and private. We saw people fishing, kayaking, boating, and spending time on the water, and even watched deer across the lake.
We stayed near the boat launch, which also put us close to the bathroom. The fire pit was excellent quality, and at night the stargazing was incredible. Free, family-friendly, scenic, and surprisingly private. We would absolutely camp here again.
ScoutRight in the city park (St Mary's Riverside Park) are 3 "spots" to pull in and hook up. Only $10/night for electric (30 or 50 amp) and water! One site (#2) has a picnic table and grill. There were campers that just pulled into the park for the night (free) but no hook-ups.
Pros: restrooms with flush toilets (no showers), hook-ups, nice playground, grass/trees, quiet, disc golf course, good service at City Hall, just 2 blocks off Main St
Cons: have to plan ahead to make reservations (snail mail and check) if you want hook-ups OR go to City Hall during business hours to get key for electric box, mosquitoes.
Would certainly stay again!
Clinton State Park offers three campground loops with nearly 400 sites on the north shore of Clinton Lake. The reservoir spans 7,000 acres with 70 miles of shoreline near Lawrence. Summer temperatures average 85-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall bring milder weather with occasional severe thunderstorms.
Hiking trails for all abilities: Prairie Clover Campground at Clinton State Park features "an abundance of hiking all around the camps" according to Charles F., who stayed for two weeks. Trails range from easy lakeside paths to more challenging woodland routes.
Lake activities beyond swimming: Bloomington East at Clinton Lake provides "great access to boat ramps, fishing dock, and a large sandy beach," notes NANCY L. The lake supports fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding with rental options available seasonally.
Archery and disc golf: Clinton State Park includes specialized recreation areas. Amber A. mentions, "Rolling hills and lots of green with many trails and recreational facilities including more unusual things like archery. Lake is surprisingly big, good wildlife and birding."
Private woodland sites: Woodridge Park offers secluded camping spots. "One of my favorite not the typical slice of pie camping great for hammocks," shares Mark R. Alexandra J. adds, "I was here over Labor Day weekend and didn't see a single other person on the 1/2-ish mile hike to Primitive Site 4, where I spent the night."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campers report excellent wildlife sightings. Kent F. at Prairie Clover Campground saw "eagles, turkey vultures, and possible osprey." At Woodridge Park, Harmony H. reports, "wooded, private, spacious, feels very secluded," making it ideal for animal watching.
Waterfront camping options: Sites with direct lake access are available at select campgrounds. Daniel T. describes camping at site 13: "Half of our group took the trail and hiked to the campsite, the other half got there by kayak/paddleboard. The site was very secluded and had a very interesting layout."
Weekend vs. weekday availability: The most popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. Kent F. recommends, "Electrical sites sold out weekends so mid week may be your best bet."
Limited shade at some sites: Lone Star Lake Park and parts of Clinton State Park have exposed campsites. Mitch M. notes, "Though it had rained a few days before our campsite was bone dry, which is fine except that the ground was so hard that 80% of our set up time was trying to stake in."
Bathroom facility variations: Maintenance and availability of restrooms varies between campgrounds and seasons. Jessica C. found "The bathrooms were clean and had single room toilets with showers," while Matt M. reports at Coneflower Campground: "The bathrooms nearest to us were a modern toilet and they were closed."
Playground access: Lake Shawnee County Campground offers family-friendly amenities. Lila D. notes, "My kids enjoyed walking around and seeing the lights. The lake is beautiful. There are grassy areas for kids to play."
Child-friendly layout: Some campgrounds are designed with families in mind. Tori G. appreciates how "the layout made it easy for children to move freely and safely among campsites and to restroom facilities and the playground."
Seasonal activities for kids: Special events occur throughout camping seasons. Darius C. mentions, "I only go to KOA if I am camping with the kids. It is worth the price if only because of the clean bathrooms and kid friendly activities."
Level site selection: RV campers should research site terrain before booking. Dan M. found Prairie Clover Campground to be "awesome, spacious sites and level. The park is well taken care of and very easy to get to from I70."
Hookup availability: Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA offers full hookup sites but books quickly during peak seasons. Robert O. reports, "Level site. Pull through FHU everything worked as expected."
Dog friendly campgrounds near Lawrence: Most parks welcome pets with standard rules. Douglas S. at Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA appreciated "the awesome dog park where they could run a bit," while Clinton State Park's multiple campgrounds all allow leashed dogs with designated exercise areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lawrence, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lawrence, KS is Prairie Clover Campground — Clinton State Park with a 3.5-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lawrence, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 81 dog-friendly camping locations near Lawrence, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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