britni M.
Scout
ScoutBowling Green KOA
Everything we needed
Great pull through spots. Every ammenity needed. Pet friendly with dog park for off-leash use. If ever that way again, will definitely us. 30 minites from Mammoth Cave.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Canmer, KY
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Horse Cave KOA campground offers a dedicated dog park with a mini obstacle course for pets to enjoy. The family-oriented facility maintains clean sites with full hookups for RVs and tent camping areas, though tent sites have limited space according to campers. Pets are welcome throughout the campground with standard leash requirements. The bathrooms are extremely clean with private rooms containing toilets, sinks, and showers. Located near Mammoth Cave National Park, this KOA includes unique accommodations like teepees, covered wagons, and treehouses alongside traditional camping options. The property features a small barn with farm animals that guests and their dogs can observe from a safe distance.
Cave Country RV Campground provides an especially spacious dog park with well-maintained grass and a covered seating area for pet owners. The park offers pull-through sites with full hookups, making it convenient for RVers traveling with pets. Daily trash pickup service is provided directly from campsites. Located approximately 15-20 minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park, the campground serves as an excellent base for exploring the region's hiking trails, many of which are suitable for leashed dogs. Dog-friendly campgrounds near Canmer give pet owners access to numerous caves and outdoor recreation areas where pets can accompany their owners. The campground maintains excellent cleanliness standards, with staff taking good care of the property including the pet areas.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Canmer (69)
1. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
"Bathrooms were close by and air conditioned too! The showers are in the general store building where the post office is so a short walk or drive there."
"green river, which was enjoyed by all, and we appreciated avoiding the main entrance besieged by spring break campers!"
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability2. Horse Cave KOA
"There is a small barn with animals penned up so you can just walk up to the fence and pet them. My wife and daughter loved that! Great little dog park with a mini obstacle course. "
"It had a gorgeous view of the Kentucky hills. Full hook up. The sites all looked very nice. They had teepees, covered wagons & a couple of treehouses. A nice area for tents as well."
3. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave
"Close proximity to Mammoth Cave. Don’t miss the Amish bakery/cafe nearby!"
"The older sites are more established with shade but most are gravel and not as easy to access while walking or biking. Karst beach is so nice with the wibit (extra cost but worth it)."
4. Cave Country RV Campground
"The dog park is beautiful with well trimmed grass and large. They have a nice swimming pool, picnic tables, and fire rings. Nice large gravel pull through site and level."
"This RV resort is located conveniently 15-20 minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park. Also there are a lot of places to eat nearby. The staff/owners are all very friendly."
5. Singing Hills RV Park And Campground
"This campground is located near the entrance of Mammoth Cave National Park. It is a great place for a day or two of relaxation before getting back on the highway."
"Our site was right next to the catch and release pond. We had a little bridge that crossed the creek from our main site to an additional space where our fire ring was."
6. Nolin Lake State Park Campground
"Near Brownsville, Ky and a little off the beaten path. But definitely worth a visit or two."
"This lakeside getaway is one that will keep us coming back!! If you've never been to Kentucky...this will keep you coming back to the Bluegrass to camp for years to come!"
from $27 - $45 / night
Check Availability7. Wax - Nolin River Lake
"Wax Campground is located on Nolin River Lake, which is managed by the Army Corp of Engineers. Translated; well maintained, picturesque and organized."
"The area surrounds Lake Nolan, which is an added bonus. The water was warm and calm. It is off the beaten path and you are about 30 min from a grocery store, so make sure you stock up before you go."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability8. Dog Creek Campground
"Dog Creek Campground is located on Nolin River Lake in the Kentucky countryside."
"Seems all sites have a lake view. Less than half full sun-Tuesday. Stayed at a006. Very close to beach, but that means you hear everything at the beach. Very humid and virtually no shade at our site."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability9. Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV & Golf Resort
"This park is located on the entrance road to Mammoth Caves NP, and it is a spectacular way to stay and enjoy the hiking in the caves!"
"The dumpster is centrally located and easy to find. On arrival, you get a map and good information. Across the street from Diamond Caverns!"
10. Maple Springs Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
"I chose this site because it was pet friendly. Each site was spacious with room for up to three tents without feeling crowded."
"Nice large camping areas, secluded and quiet, easy access to the trails. Well maintained full hookup for RVs and plenty of room for your horse too."
from $50 / night
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Drive Time
- 34 min from Elizabethtown, KY
- 45 min from Bowling Green, KY
- 1 hr 8 min from Louisville, KY
- 1 hr 45 min from Owensboro, KY
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Canmer, KY
87 Photos of 69 Canmer Campgrounds
Heidi J.
Horse Cave KOA
Brandon D.
Mollys Ridge at Mammoth Cave
Brandie B.
Cave Country RV Campground
Sheri K.
Singing Hills RV Park And Campground
Lena L.
Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
Shelly S.
Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV & Golf Resort
Joel R.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave
Shelly S.
Maple Springs Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
Shelly S.
Mammoth Cave Horse Camp — Mammoth Cave National Park
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First Creek Dispersed Camping — Mammoth Cave National Park
Shelly S.
Nolin Lake State Park Campground
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Canmer, KY
713 Reviews of 69 Canmer Campgrounds
Jody A.
GuideHorse Cave KOA
This is a CUTE campground!
This is a super cute campground. Easily accessible and very clean sites! There is a small barn with animals penned up so you can just walk up to the fence and pet them. My wife and daughter loved that! Great little dog park with a mini obstacle course. We had a great little trip here and would love to come again for a longer stay!
- CCrystal H.Guide
Louisville South KOA
Nice
There was lots to do at this KOA. There was corn hole, ladder ball, pool, walking trails, access to the river, cat fish pond, small dog park, and washers & dryers. You could bring your RV, travel trailer, tent camp, or rent a cabin. I’m sure I’m forgetting something. The spots were close together. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The park was clean and well maintained.
Lisa M.GuideLouisville South KOA
Great place to stay
The staff are super helpful. The site we had was for a 38’ RV. Full hookups, dog park, lots of places to walk, even trails. We had a great stay here and will most likely come back next time we’re near Louisville.
Thomas R.
TravelerCave Country RV Campground
Good stop along the way
Off the freeway and very convenient. Very clean. Great dog park. Do not camp close to the railroad tracks. Loud horns in the middle of the night. Not much shade. Close to Mammoth Caves.
Shelly S.
LegendBowling Green KOA
Why would I pay that much?!
My brother visits KOA’s all the time for camping. Me, not so much. I have a hard time paying $40 for a tent site when I can camp for free or under $20. The Bowling Green KOA, Ky is located on the outskirts of Bowling Green near the I65 and Natcher interchange. You can actually see the back end of the campground from the ramp that connects the two. My first thought when considering a stay.
I spoke with two of the very friendly and helpful ladies in the office and got a plethora of information. So much so that I’m sure I’ll forget some of it, but here goes;) So first with your fee you recieve (you and all your group) a free game of Minature Golf a day. Next there is wifi and cable available. There is a swimming pool on site and two pay lakes with paddle boats. A dog park and short trail. Depending on the month you visit there are also special incentives to stay an extra night. In May some of your fee is donated to Camp. With a KOA card there are special incentives too and you earn points with every stay. So, all that being said I did purchase a KOA card. Though this is not my favorite type of camping it will come in handy on an upcoming trip and when I camp with my brother ;) I was pleasantly surprised that the interstate noise was mostly not noticiple. There are plenty of trees that help block the noise and offer a lot of shade. We were in a busier site at the end of Abby Dr but it was an easy walk to the two small “lakes“( more like ponds ) and the dog park and showerhouse (with dogwash station) were a short walk away. Not much else to do but a fun enough spot for younger kids. ( no “bears“ to take photos with) and not as many special activities as some other theme campgrounds. This is a nice older campground, worth a night or two visit to get away from the grind for a bit.
MickandKarla W.LegendBowling Green KOA
Nice KOA
This KOA was easy to find by following our GPS. We checked in about 45 minutes prior to their 1:00 PM check in time and they didn’t even mention us being early. We decided we didn’t need an escort to our site as it was near the office. We proceeded to deluxe-patio pull-through site H-4 with FHUs. The utilities were nicely placed in the middle of the pad. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. This site has plenty of shade as does most sites in the campground (CG) due to mature trees, so we did not put out Starlink. We got 4 bars LTE on Verizon and used our MiFi versus Starlink. Site H-4 has a utility box on the yard side, so we had extra space between the adjacent site. They have a decent sized dog park with an agility set up. This KOA has a lot of amenities and lives up to a Holiday KOA rating. The dog park is a nice size. They have a decent laundry room behind the office with 4 washers and 8 dryers. It’s$2.50 to wash and$1.50 to dry. They have 2 fishing ponds. The large one you can keep 2 fish for$20 and the small one is catch and release. There’s some traffic noise from I-65 and surrounding roads. Our main reason to visit the area was to visit the National Corvette Museum. We enjoyed our two night stay.
- hholly S.Traveler
Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave
Well maintained, easy access sites
Kid friendly park, no mature trees in new section but concrete pad with grill and fire pit. Pool with splash pad, pools, pillow pads, multiple playgrounds, dog parks and kennels are available. Also, lots of golf carts to rent.
Pawsfuradventure T.GuideMoutardier
Lakeside, fisherman's paradise
Moutardier Campground is a fisherman’s paradise. It is located on Nolin River Lake. Our site was lakeside which was beautiful (Site D6). This campsite offered electric/water hookup, fire pit, picnic table, filet table, bathrooms, and showers. There were boat ramps, a marina nearby to rent boats, and also offered a playground. Pets were welcomed (we have a dog and a hiking cat). We also had cell service (Verizon).
The view of the lake from the teardrop camper was awesome. We kayaked around the lake which was very enjoyable - saw ducks, and birds such as a grey heron. Also lots of fish jumping. There are power boats allowed in the lake. Many people were fishing from their boats, kayaks, or from the shore.
There is also a two mile hike that is in the campground called Shady Creek Trail. It looked like it had not been hiked in a while but it went through woods, small stream and had a cool rock formation at one part that you would swear is a haven for snakes. Pets enjoyed it but beware if you do not like spiders. This trail was covered in spiders and webs. No exaggeration that we cleared about a hundred spiders out of our path.
The campground was very well manicured and clean. Many of the sites were right on the lake. They were close together but did not seem it as they were on different levels and angles. Everyone was quiet and courteous. Bathrooms were very clean and well lit. The showers were “dated” - water stains but clean. Great water pressure and hot water.
There was no store on the campground but 5 minutes away was a great little restaurant called Sherry’s that we had both lunch and breakfast at. Food was delicious (fried dill pickle chips!) and one could buy bags of ice.
Overall this was a very relaxing campground. We met some wonderful people who have been coming to the campground for years. It is about 30 minutes from Mammoth Caves which was a great place to explore. Overall we gave the campground a 4 - lakeside and if you love to fish - it’s paradise.
Guide to Canmer
Mammoth Cave National Park anchors the camping area near Canmer, Kentucky, where the terrain consists primarily of karst topography with sandstone ridges reaching about 600 feet above the Green River valley. The caves maintain a steady 54°F year-round regardless of surface weather, creating a unique microclimate that affects nearby camping conditions. Most campgrounds in this area sit between 500-800 feet elevation with moderate tree cover.
What to do
Cave exploration beyond Mammoth: While Mammoth Cave is the main attraction, experienced cavers can find additional underground adventures. "The campground is standard run of fair, pretty spacious & woodsy. THE CAVE IS VERY BIG AND COOL. Reserve the all day guided tour with crawling about in small spaces for the best experience. Make sure your boots have enough tread or you won't be allowed to do the tour!" notes a camper at Mammoth Cave Campground.
Hiking with dogs: Many trails around Nolin Lake welcome leashed pets. At Wax - Nolin River Lake, visitors appreciate the waterfront access. "We value nature and privacy and we loved this campground! Sunset over the lake was spectacular and we loved watching all the birds here. Right from our camps we could see a trip of Redheaded Woodpeckers playing as well as a mama Northern Flicker feeding her babies."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple locations offer fishing for various skill levels. "The little catch-and-release pond is well-stocked and there is a catfish pay lake across the street, so our boys had plenty of fishing to keep them busy," reports a visitor at Singing Hills RV Park And Campground.
What campers like
Private bathroom facilities: Several campgrounds offer individual bathroom units rather than traditional communal facilities. "They have recently built a new bath house and it's awesome. It has rooms that each have a toilet, sink and shower. Total privacy! Nice and clean as well. Big points for this amenity," according to a review at Cave Country RV Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local animals. "Very clean & quiet! The wildlife are very friendly!" says one camper about Mammoth Cave Campground, while another notes, "Deer & turkey walk thru ur campsite!"
Waterfront camping: Sites with lake access are particularly popular in the summer months. "This place is amazing with direct view and access to the lake, it was spacious, leveled, had a fire pit, picnic table and small cooking table," shares a camper at Wax - Nolin River Lake.
What you should know
Weather preparation: The region experiences significant seasonal variations. "We pulled in later than we hoped to, because of stormy weather. When we arrived at 815pm, the storm was raging. I had to wait for a lull to go to the office to get paperwork, then wait again to get back to the truck... Then the quarter + sized hail joined in. It was a crazy night, with a tornado hitting a town just 28 miles away," recounts a visitor at Singing Hills RV Park And Campground.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies widely between campgrounds. "I would not recommend the concrete pads as most of them are too short for most rigs and will make it challenging to level. Sites are tight. Be prepared to get friendly with your neighbor when you go outside because you essentially share the minimal amount of space between sites," advises a camper at Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV & Golf Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Canmer, KY?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Canmer, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Canmer, KY is Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 140 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Canmer, KY?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Canmer, KY?
TheDyrt.com has all 69 dog-friendly camping locations near Canmer, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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