Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Benton, MO
General Watkins Conservation Area provides primitive camping for pets and owners with four gravel sites featuring picnic tables and fire pits. This free camping spot near Benton allows dogs throughout the grounds with standard leash requirements. Sites accommodate both tents and smaller RVs, though the area lacks water hookups, showers, and flush toilets. A portable toilet is available for campers. Hinton RV Park offers a more developed alternative with full hookups, clean facilities, and pet-friendly policies across its level gravel sites. The park maintains a quiet atmosphere with mature trees providing shade for pets during warm weather. Local campers note the conservation area gets busy during Missouri firearm deer season in mid-November.
Trail of Tears State Park Campground welcomes pets at sites with electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings approximately 20 miles north of Benton. The park features multiple hiking trails suitable for leashed dogs, with paths winding through forested areas. Horseshoe Lake Alexander County provides another pet-friendly option with water access where dogs can cool off during summer camping trips. Most campgrounds in the region enforce standard leash policies and expect owners to clean up after pets. The area between Benton and Cape Girardeau offers several camping options ranging from primitive sites to full-service RV parks, all accommodating responsible pet owners. Camping areas near water features like lakes and ponds provide additional recreation for pets, though wildlife encounters require keeping dogs under control.