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Osage State Fishing Lake provides numerous waterfront campsites where pets are welcome throughout the dispersed camping areas. Primitive tent and RV sites have fire rings and picnic tables with adequate space between sites for pets to enjoy without crowding neighboring campers. Cedar Park offers eight pet-friendly campsites with equestrian sites that include six corrals for those traveling with horses and dogs. Both locations maintain vault toilets but lack drinking water, requiring campers to bring sufficient water for themselves and their pets. Pomona State Park Campground and Carbolyn Park also accommodate pets with electric hookups and more developed facilities. At these locations, pets must be kept under control, though Pomona State Park rangers are not overly strict about leashes as long as dogs remain within their owner's campsite. The pit toilets at Osage State Fishing Lake can become rough by the end of busy weekends during peak season.
Lake access is available at all pet-friendly campgrounds near Scranton, providing opportunities for dogs to cool off and swim. Cedar Park features a gravel boat ramp and beach access for fishing and kayaking with four-legged companions. Wolf Creek offers 44 electric and 43 primitive sites with shower facilities, ideal for cleaning up after muddy adventures with pets. Campgrounds in the area are routinely patrolled by rangers, ensuring safety while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere for responsible pet owners. The main camping areas at Osage State Fishing Lake become busy during weekends with occasional issues from unleashed dogs, making the more secluded loops preferable for those seeking quieter camping with pets. Cedar Park's sites are exceptionally spacious and not positioned immediately adjacent to each other, providing ample room for pets to explore within the boundaries of each campsite.
"Got pretty busy on the weekend and people had loose dogs that were causing some problems, but otherwise very chill. Lake is beautiful, decent cell service with Verizon."
"Pretty 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."
"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
Check Availability"Site a little off level, nothing a few blocks or boards couldn’t solve. 30 amps of clean 122 vac, water tucked in between two pine trees that blocked the view of the sites to the left snd right of us."
"We camp with our 3 dogs each time and never put them on a leash. Rangers informed us as long as they stay in your site, they're not strict about it."
from $10 - $85 / night
Check Availability"Free and easy, and a nice change from all the flat dry Kansas fields."
"Near the boat launch and had a quiet night. There is a pit toilet close."
"Also we were right on the highway.
The site was easy to level.
Our site was not shaded and without any trees.""Being a dog friendly campground, it had a cute little fenced area, but lots of poop not picked up which takes away the fun. (not the campgrounds fault, but nevertheless, no fun to be around."
"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 $10 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The draw for me is the many hiking trails accessible from the campsite. Great place to spend a nice Kansas weekend!"
"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."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The COE has done an admirable job developing this lakeside area for plentiful campsites and decent shade. The showers and facilities were clean and maintained well."
"It was a peaceful site facing the lake, with a few hay bales and a well maintained trail. September was a good month to stay because it was cooler outside."
from $10 - $85 / night
Check Availability"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 very rarely run into anyone else while camping on the trail. We have myself, husband, son, and dog."
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.
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
ScoutI have stayed 2 times. The first was by the river. The site was beautiful, on the river, and had electricity. The second time I stayed near the front of the park, which offered electricity and water. The dump station is accessible, and the price is only $10 a night for any spot. You cannot book ahead. It is first come, first served.
GuidePretty 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.
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!
RangerSites were nicely spaced and generally close to level. Paved roads. Our site 168 was surfaced with reclaimed asphalt. Lots of shade and clean. Many sites are electric only with 30 amps with water available in several locations in park. Good Starlink at my site.
GuideI stayed at Doud Campground inside the state park. It was a peaceful site facing the lake, with a few hay bales and a well maintained trail.
September was a good month to stay because it was cooler outside. I recommend using the bathhouse facilities at BlackJack campground right next to Doud as they are more updated.
GuideStayed at Cedar Ridge campground. Originally planned a 2 night stay. Ended up extending for total of 7 nights.
Pull thru and back-in sites, all are paved and level.
Clean bathrooms and good laundry room too.
Really nice place. Lots of shade or more sunny sites are available.
Army Corps of Engineers does it again.
Scranton, Kansas sits at approximately 1,110 feet elevation in Osage County, surrounded by rolling prairie and several reservoirs. The region experiences humid continental climate with hot summers reaching 90°F and cold winters that can drop below 20°F. Most campgrounds near Scranton remain open from April through October, with limited winter availability at select locations.
Fishing opportunities: 7,000-acre lake access. Eisenhower State Park Campground provides excellent fishing access with multiple shore points for anglers. "Great birds for birding. Great lakeside campsites," notes camper RA S., who appreciates the diverse wildlife viewing opportunities alongside fishing.
Hiking: Multiple trail systems. Woodridge Park features several hiking trails that range from easy to moderate difficulty levels through wooded areas. "The trail is probably easy to moderate and there are an endless number of areas to explore," shares Ashley F., who recommends exploring beyond the marked paths for more secluded camping experiences.
Water recreation: Boat ramps and beaches available. Cedar Park offers direct lake access for various water activities. "Area is clean and there is beach access for fishing and Kayaking," according to Redneck R., highlighting the well-maintained facilities for water sports enthusiasts.
Spacious, private sites: Room between neighbors. Campers consistently appreciate the generous spacing at Eisenhower State Park Campground, where many sites offer lake views. "Close to Melvern and the railroad tracks so if the sound of trains all night isn't your thing, then pick somewhere else. Excellent clean restrooms and showers. Great views of the lake from many spots," reports Michelle H.
Affordable camping: Low-cost options available. Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable rates at local campgrounds. At Pomona State Park, Jeremy S. found it to be a "Beautiful area to camp, and cheap. Our camp was in burning heart, it was very quiet and very clean. Even being full, it felt secluded."
Wildlife viewing: Diverse species throughout area. Bloomington East - Clinton Lake provides excellent opportunities for wildlife observation. "I love this place. It's been a place that my family took me as a child time and again and somewhere I still take my family as an adult. We take our dogs and our kayakes and we are set for the weekend," says Janelle M.
Seasonal toilet maintenance: Facilities degrade during peak times. While most dog friendly campgrounds near Scranton maintain clean restrooms early in the weekend, facilities can deteriorate during busy periods. At Lake Shawnee County Campground, "Bathrooms were warm and very clean," according to Lila D., but conditions may vary based on usage.
Weather considerations: Strong winds off lakes. Exposed camping areas can experience significant wind, especially at lakefront sites. "It was super duper windy off of the lake for us, so be ready for wind," warns Christina H. about her experience at Eisenhower State Park.
Road conditions: Variable access road quality. Several campgrounds feature unpaved access roads that may become difficult after rain. One camper notes at Topeka KOA, "The road coming into the campground (49th St) is unpaved and very bumpy. Folks with larger rigs should be aware that the road narrows as you pass under the overpass."
Playground access: Multiple options for children. Prairie Clover Campground — Clinton State Park offers several recreational facilities for children. "There was a disc golf course, an archery range, hiking trails, and the lake. The lake is large, and there is a place to launch boats, canoes, kayaks, jet skis, etc," reports Myron C.
Off-peak timing: More peaceful experience. Families seeking quieter camping experiences should consider weekday visits. "Thursday night we were the only ones in the loop, however it was near the boat ramps and there was a lot of vehicle traffic all the time. Friday night the campground filled up," notes Janice O. at Pomona State Park.
Swimming options: Designated beach areas. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Scranton provide swimming areas for both humans and dogs. "Beautiful campgrounds with so many activities available! There are a few swim beaches, and plenty of sand to sit in and relax," shares Cindy K. about Eisenhower State Park.
Site leveling: Bring stabilizing equipment. Carbolyn Park offers electric hookups but some sites require leveling. "Nice and shady spots with electric and water. It's very quiet. For $18, can't beat it," mentions Curt, though RVers should come prepared with leveling blocks.
Hookup locations: Variable placement between sites. At some campgrounds, utility connections may be awkwardly positioned. One camper at Topeka KOA notes, "The water and sewer hookups are in the middle between sites, which can make hooking up somewhat awkward depending on the layout of your rig. A longer water hose and sewer extension are a good idea."
Big rig access: Limited at certain locations. RVers with larger vehicles should research accessibility before arrival. While Osage State Fishing Lake has received positive reviews from some RVers, one specifically noted, "So glad we chose this dispersed camping location as an overnight stay. It's fantastic! Beautiful area, campfire rings in several locations, and our 43' Rv navigated smoothly."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Scranton, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Scranton, KS is Osage State Fishing Lake with a 4.7-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Scranton, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Scranton, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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