Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Alexandria, MN
Lake Carlos State Park Campground welcomes pets across its diverse accommodations including tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options. Several other pet-friendly camping facilities surround Alexandria, including Oak Park Kampground with full hookups and spacious sites, and Alexandria Shooting Park and RV Campground with level lots featuring water and electric connections. Andes RV Park in nearby Kensington permits pets at its cabin rentals and camping sites. Campgrounds maintain standard pet policies requiring leashed dogs, proper waste disposal, and compliance with quiet hours. Oak Park Kampground features a playground, swimming pool, and paddle boats—particularly popular with families bringing children and pets. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables where pets can relax with their owners. The bathrooms and shower houses at these campgrounds are well-maintained with hot water available. The Dyrt provides user ratings for locations near Alexandria, Minnesota.
Hiking trails throughout Lake Carlos State Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs and their owners. The park's wooded paths offer shade during summer months when temperatures rise, though sites in the lower campground near Lake Carlos have less privacy between them. Water-loving dogs have access to Lake Carlos for swimming, though owners should check specific beach policies. Alexandria's surrounding lakes create numerous options for dogs who enjoy water activities. Sinclair Lewis City Campground, accessible by boat, car, or foot, offers additional pet-friendly accommodations with both electric and full hookup sites available. Most campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations, with Lake Carlos State Park and Lakes Area Motel and RV Park remaining open year-round. Winter visitors note the park offers excellent snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities where well-behaved leashed dogs can join their owners on select trails.
