Dog-Friendly Camping near Houston, MO

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    Montauk State Park Campground provides comprehensive pet-friendly accommodations with multiple camping options. Pets are allowed throughout the developed campground areas which feature drinking water, electric hookups, and picnic tables at each site. The campground maintains well-spaced sites with fire rings where pets can join their owners, though they must remain leashed at all times. Paddy Creek Recreation Area offers more primitive pet-friendly camping with basic amenities. Sites near the creek are particularly appealing, with several having their own paths leading to the water where dogs can cool off. The campground remains quite and secluded with vault toilets and trash receptacles available.

    Mark Twain National Forest's Paddy Creek Recreation Area welcomes pets at its primitive campsites from April through December. Dogs enjoy exploring the spring-fed creek which stays cooler than most waterways in the region during summer months. The area provides excellent hiking opportunities with the Big Piney Trail loop accessible directly from the campground. No water sources are available at the campsites, so visitors must bring adequate water for themselves and their pets. Cell service is unavailable throughout the campground area, requiring pet owners to plan accordingly for emergency veterinary needs. The closest supplies are located in Roby at a Dollar General and gas station approximately 20 minutes from the campground.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Houston (88)

      1. Paddy Creek Recreation Area

      4.3(9)17mi from HoustonRVs, Tents

      "Access to swimming, fishing, and hiking trails. We were surprised with how many sites were taken up, but there were still quite a few available."

      "Dollar General and a gas station located in nearby Roby. No cell service at cg. Had to drive up the hill to get a signal."

      2. Jesse And James Properties

      5.0(1)10mi from Houston6 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      from $18 - $20 / night

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      3. Alley Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

      4.7(29)30mi from Houston163 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Chose this location to be our hub while completing a Missouri springs tour. Visited 8 springs in total. Checked out the camping facilities at every spring that offered camping."

      "At this campground you have walking distance access to the river and a rental place nearby. Check out the Alley Mill while your there."

      from $20 - $140 / night

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      4. Pulltite Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

      4.8(12)26mi from Houston58 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "You also have a trail that leads down to a little private beach area on the river but this past year the campground was so full, people were camping right on the beach."

      "There is a very nice trail with the trailhead near the group sites. It goes through different terrains, including along the river bank."

      from $20 - $140 / night

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      5. Mark Twain National Forest Paddy Creek Recreation Area

      4.5(2)17mi from HoustonRVs, Tents

      "Stayed there twice, it is a voluntary pay campground, the sites are nicer close to the creek, the only drawback is you gotta go a ways for supplies"

      6. Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

      4.4(10)25mi from Houston

      "We visit this campground multiple times a year and it's always a positive experience. My parents have ano rv and they allow us to camp in a tent next to them!"

      "Stayed at site 9 next to the river. No need to go find the scan and pay by the vault toilet all the sites have QR codes at the sites for scan and pay."

      7. Round Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

      4.4(16)30mi from Houston64 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "There's a sign to keep car tires on pavement, but I wasn't able to and parked the Jeep on the grass next to the trailer."

      "There is a herd of wild horses that frequents the area (as evidenced by mounds of horse poop in an adjacent field!) and you can easily walk over to the beautiful round spring."

      from $20 - $140 / night

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      8. Cedar Grove/Dee Murray Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

      4.5(2)20mi from HoustonTents

      "Campground is very primitive you have to walk up a large Hill to get to the porta potty and is sometimes noisy with all the floaters but all in all a great place to go."

      9. Pinecrest Campground and Cabins

      5.0(1)20mi from HoustonRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $15 - $32 / night

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      10. Flying W Store & Campground

      5.0(3)24mi from HoustonRVs, Tents

      "About every thing you want to do is near by, I recommend you to give this place a try first before going anywhere else. They are Open all year round!"

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Houston, MO

    377 Reviews of 88 Houston Campgrounds


    • P
      Sep. 16, 2025

      Ozark Farms Family Campground

      Ozark Camp in Rolla, MO

      Easy to reserve online. Confirm reservation through email. Showers/RR/laundry facility. Clean and shady. Dog park.

    • Becky M.
      Jun. 10, 2023

      Doolittle Acres RV Park and Campground

      Great Route 66 stop

      The camp area looks new, cute playground, small fenced dog park type area, showers, laundry, fire pits and picnic tables. Very little trees or grass. Would love it if they played up the Route 66 theme they have going. Very convenient for our fishing trip!

    • Kelsey S.
      Apr. 19, 2025

      Doolittle Acres RV Park and Campground

      Nice area

      Good area only a mile off the highway so it made a great night stopping point. Had great access for our starlink. They have a little dog park, kids park, and it was all clean and well maintained. Easy access and some nice pull through spots. Water, sewer, and electric hook ups. Fire pit and picnic table at site. Since it’s close the highway it was a little loud with traffic. 57$ a night for premium spots, 42$ a night for non premium

    • C
      Jun. 1, 2020

      Road Runner RV Park

      Nicely spaced and clean campground

      We stayed at this campground 1 night on our way between COVID-19 quarantine locations.  We found the park easy to navigate (no tight turns).  Large semi paved spaces (I say semi paved because the concrete pads were crumbling at least in our spot).  Good separation between sites with picnic tables, no shade but they do have a dog park.  Hookups were easy to reach and appeared to be in good repair.  Decent water pressure.  Many of the spaces were permanent campers or long term workers but it felt safe and appeared well maintained.

    • D
      Mar. 10, 2021

      Fishermans Paradise

      This place has it all!

      Great staff! Biggins in the ponds, and great music events! The rv park at the top of the hill is great and pet friendly!

      Fish on!

    • Judith B.
      May. 23, 2019

      Timbuktu Campground — Echo Bluff State Park

      Newest state park in Missouri

      This is a great state park. Sites are level and have cement pads with full hookups. Not much shade now but they have planted trees between sites. Bathrooms are clean. There is also a lodge with store and restaurant just down the street. There are cabins there that can be rented also. And the real treat is the wild horses. Came right up to our site - but please do not feed or try to pet. The rangers will have to move them if they get to used to people.

      Also local river rafting companies will pick you up at your site

    • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 25, 2018

      Timbuktu Campground — Echo Bluff State Park

      Busy, busy, busy

      Echo Bluff State Park in Ozark National Scenic Riverways near Eminence, MO is a brand new “old camp”. 

      Opened in 2016 the history is rather interesting. From 1929 until the 1980s, Camp Zoe was a children’s summer camp, founded by Russell S. and Margaret McMahan Louis County teachers. There is one of the structures still on site with plaques and information. More recently, it was home to music festivals — and an open-air drug market. I didn’t find any plaques in relation to that. However when the government gained control of the land in a court proceeding it was decided to bring more business into Shannon County by opening a very nice campground for people not wanting to rough it. 

      And “BAM” you have very pricey accommodations from lodge rooms, to cabins and two story condos. The campground is pretty nice too but lacking in shade and privacy. There are walk-in (uphill) sites and nice wagons provided to transport your gear. Not my favorite style of camping. Completely full and busy, which is why it got a 4 instead of 5 star. This may be your type of camping and you would say a 5 star. Reserve ahead, I mean way ahead.

      There is a huge pavilion that can be reserved that overlooks the area. It has a large fire pit and mega size grill, one of the trails meanders below the pavilion. This would be a nice venue for an extended family get together.

      This is a very nice, new, recreation creation. The playground was given two thumbs up by my granddaughter. Then the river, which you can see from the lodge and playground was given 12 paws and 2 thumbs by dogs and grandkids alike. Crystal clear ice cold water that you can walk across to the sheer wall of rock. Bring your water shoes, the rocks aren’t fun to walk on.

      A very cool feature , if you are lucky , you will see the wild horses that roam the area. They are not for petting, so use caution. 

      Aside from the abundance of people we enjoyed Echo Bluff SP.

    • Allie A.
      May. 21, 2022

      The Devils Elbow Campground

      Quiet little campground

      We had whole the campground basically to ourselves, another couple came the second night. When we arrived Angie helped us get in and met up with us to check in after we got all unpacked and everything. She even went out of her way to give extra details and help us with entry. There is running (hot and cold) water as well as wood and a few other little things for sale at the entry. It was very well kept and we could hear the river while we were sleeping in our tents (which was super relaxing). This little camp ground has float across and is so close to some super awesome trails! We took a 10.5 mile hike about 15 mins away from her site! Not to mention the cute little town surrounding it. I absolutely recommend this little hidden gem. Just watch your dogs, there are some owners in the homes around the campground that let their (big) dogs wonder. We have every intention of returning again!!

    • A
      Sep. 23, 2018

      Maramec Spring Park

      Large campground small feel with lots of cool historic things to see

      Nestled in Mid Missouri this place is a jam! Popular with locals there are trails, historic iron works and a fish hatchery…very cool place. Close to highway, good overnight spot!


    Guide to Houston

    Montauk State Park and Paddy Creek Recreation Area offer multiple camping options within Mark Twain National Forest. Both locations feature well-spaced sites with amenities including picnic tables and fire rings. Montauk provides developed campground areas with water and electric hookups while Paddy Creek offers more primitive camping near a spring-fed creek. Dogs are allowed at both locations but must remain leashed throughout the campgrounds.

    What to do

    Trout fishing: Current River access at Montauk State Park Campground provides some of the best fishing opportunities in the region. "There is some hiking but everyone was fishing, canoeing, or swimming. Good big state park campground," notes Dan N. The park sells trout tags for $3.00 that allow keeping four trout per day with a possession limit of eight fish.

    Cave exploration: Schedule a tour at Round Spring Campground to see underground formations. "Tours of the cave are given daily June through August and cost $5. The lantern tours show an amazing cave with many beautiful formations," explains Marty C. The cave tours operate seasonally, so check availability when planning your visit.

    Float trips: River access points make this area ideal for canoeing and kayaking adventures. "Pulltite campground is right on the Current River. You can rent a canoe right here at the store and the people are extremely friendly," reports Tabby M. Many campgrounds serve as launch points for day trips on the river with rental services available nearby.

    What campers like

    Natural springs: Crystal clear water attracts visitors to Blue Spring Backcountry Camping for swimming and photography. "Blue Spring is beautiful and cold! This is a primitive camping area...There are so many areas to visit around the river this would be an excellent base camp," recommends Shelly S. The spring maintains a consistent temperature year-round.

    Shaded campsites: Tree coverage at established campgrounds provides relief from summer heat. "Very nice campground, tons of shade! My site (206) was very level and was surrounded in trees like basically ever other site which made it comfortable to sit outside all day," shares Trevor S. about Montauk State Park. The forest canopy creates natural temperature regulation.

    Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk offer prime animal spotting opportunities. "You may get lucky and see otters on your way to the spring, or some of the wild horses in the area. Go in the early morning to the spring trail to watch the mist roll off the water and enjoy the wildlife," suggests Lea B. Bald eagles, river otters, and wild horses frequent these areas.

    What you should know

    Cell service limitations: No connectivity in most forest campgrounds requires advance planning. "Cell service is unavailable throughout the campground area...The closest supplies are located in Roby at a Dollar General and gas station approximately 20 minutes from the campground," explains a reviewer about Paddy Creek. Alley Spring Campground also lacks service, so download maps and information before arrival.

    Reservation requirements: Book early for electric sites and holiday weekends. "It is a popular park in summer and fall, so reservations are advised," notes Joel R. about Round Spring Campground. Sites at Montauk State Park "do go quickly so you will need to book months in advance," according to Kyle H.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Houston, MO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Houston, MO is Paddy Creek Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 9 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Houston, MO?

    TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near Houston, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.