Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Stoutsville, MO

Mark Twain State Park permits dogs throughout Puma, Coyote, and Badger campgrounds with sites that feature electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables on gravel pads. Most campsites provide good privacy with trees and vegetation between sites giving campers a sense of seclusion. The cabins at Puma campground accommodate pets while offering basic amenities including air conditioning, refrigerators, and electricity. The park's pet policy requires dogs to remain leashed in camping areas and on trails. Campground bathrooms and shower facilities remain clean and well-maintained throughout the camping season, with most loops having their own dedicated facilities. Sites are generally spacious though some may require leveling equipment as many aren't completely flat.

Hiking trails throughout Mark Twain State Park welcome leashed dogs, with multiple water access points along Mark Twain Lake for pets to cool off during summer months. The beach area provides additional recreation options, though pets must stay leashed and under control. Wildlife encounters are common, with raccoons frequently visiting campsites after dark, making proper food storage essential when camping with pets. Monroe City, approximately 7 miles from Indian Creek Campground, offers basic supplies and veterinary services if needed during your stay. Temperatures can rise significantly during summer months, so adequate shade and water access for pets becomes crucial during July and August visits. The campgrounds experience minimal noise after 10 pm, creating a peaceful environment for campers and their pets.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Stoutsville, Missouri (52)

    1. Indian Creek Campground

    19 Reviews
    Stoutsville, MO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 735-4097

    $10 - $125 / night

    "Nice trails to access the lake by foot or with the dogs. Clean bathhouses and campsites are some of the most well kept I've seen."

    "Though I grew up outside of St. Louis, I'd never been to this campground or to Mark Twain Lake.  Really enjoyed exploring the area and the campground was nice.  "

    2. Ray Behrens

    16 Reviews
    Perry, MO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 735-4097

    $24 - $30 / night

    "The whole park doesn't match the awesomeness of site 97 and the few around it, but the end of this loop is almost perfect."

    "This is the most common place my friends and family camp at for Mark Twain Lake. Very clean and well kept. The kids bike around on the pavement and play in the little park."

    3. Ray Behrens Recreational

    8 Reviews
    Mark Twain Lake, MO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 735-4097

    $18 - $30 / night

    "Hiking trails and easy access to Mark Twain lake."

    "The lake is beautiful...if you can see it. We have five sons and one of our musts for a campground is easily accesible water to play in. This is NOT the campground for that."

    4. Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area

    8 Reviews
    Monroe City, MO
    11 miles
    Website

    "Another cool find in Missouri. Lake in Conservation Area. Doesn't offer much but it was a bit out of the way. Campground was free. Sites are close together. Some spots more shaded than others."

    "Lake with free paddle boats(do need life preservers) and fish hatchery across the street. Free potable water and dump station behind ranger station."

    5. Frank Russell Campground

    6 Reviews
    Perry, MO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 735-4097

    $24 - $30 / night

    "Used their dump station and filled the water tank as we exited the park. Would recommend & would stay there again"

    "There is access to the lake from the campground, there is no beach. We spent on night during the week in mid May and there were only 5 campers in the whole park. We had the place to ourselves."

    6. Mark Twain Lake Jellystone Park and The Water Zone

    4 Reviews
    Mark Twain Lake, MO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 735-9422

    $20 - $299 / night

    "Great family location and for expanding children's knowledge"

    7. Indian Creek RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Mark Twain Lake, MO
    8 miles
    +1 (314) 913-9573

    "Relaxing spot near the lake with some beautiful views. The whole campground is in the woods so there’s lots of shade. Some spots are full hookups."

    8. Mark Twain Cave & Campground

    18 Reviews
    Hannibal, MO
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 221-1656

    $28 - $34 / night

    "This campground is located near the Mark Twain caves. There is also a winery located at the entrance to the campground."

    "Just a short walk from the Mississippi River and downtown Hannibal. They have two caves you can tour along with a winery on site."

    9. Shelbina Lake City Park

    1 Review
    Stoutsville, MO
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 588-4755

    10. Slate and Wild Roses

    1 Review
    Holliday, MO
    20 miles
    +1 (573) 289-5908

    $25 - $30 / night

    "As the evening wore on I heard barred owls and coyotes, as well as the nearby cows. The fireflies came out at dark and gave me an impressive show."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Stoutsville, MO

364 Reviews of 52 Stoutsville Campgrounds


  • April C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2022

    Lazy Day Campground

    Best campground and hosts

    Cleanest campground with all the amenities. The hosts are the owners and they are so nice and helpful. You follow them to your site and they deliver firewood if you paid for it. Sites are clean. There is a gated dog park. Everything above is at the campground. Our dog really liked the owner too.

  • Jeremy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2023

    Lazy Day Campground

    Wonderful level sites

    Great staff, wonderful level sites. Bathroom on site. Pool during season. Partially shaded. Dog walk area. Pet friendly.

  • Robyn C.
    May. 29, 2021

    Lazy Day Campground

    Mixed reviews

    We were parked on a hill with lots of gravel. Campsites are very narrow. But there was a very nice pond to fish at although it was a bit of a hike to get to. They have a dog park which was nice.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 19, 2022

    Lazy Day Campground

    Nice stop over in

    Stayed for one night, water/elec only. Easy on/off the interstate and staff is very friendly. Assigned site was in the back of the park and nice and shady. They have a very nice, large dog park which our pups loved. Being in the back of the campground we had to walk a little to get there, but no big deal. Did not use their showers or bathroom, so can’t comment on that. Booked to stay again on our return trip.

  • Donna N.
    Jul. 14, 2022

    Finger Lakes State Park Campground

    Didn't feel welcome

    We are homeless and we got a campsite for two week here and I got a special needs child. And my boy were up at the water and all I did was call then over to me and I get 3 cops at my site. When cross from me the people at that site start there car off and on all night and dog parks from 6 am to 8 am. But I get told if I am loud I get kick out. Thank you for the welcoming feel

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 1, 2025

    Lazy Day Campground

    One of the Nicer Private Campgrounds

    The campground (CG) was easy to find, located just 5 miles off I-70 with clear signage along the way. We parked at the designated registration area, and check-in was quick for our one-night stay. We were then escorted to pull-through site 17 with full hookups. The gravel pad was fairly level, and although the utilities were toward the back of the site, we had no trouble connecting. There were two sewer hookups—a nice touch. Water is shared, but the pressure was solid at about 50 psi. Sites are decently spaced, though some are closer together; ours was relatively close to the next site on the driver side. Our site had a nice yard, picnic table, and fire pit, but if someone had been in the site next to us, we would have been sharing that area. We got 2 bars on Verizon and 3 bars on T-Mobile, and our T-Mobile Home Internet worked very well. The CG WiFi was fine for email and web browsing. While the grounds have mature trees, most sites—including 17—are satellite-friendly. The 1/2-acre dog park was especially impressive. There was a mix of permanent, seasonal, and short-term guests. The park was clean, well-maintained, and featured fun wood carvings. The setting includes a pond and a trail to a small lake. A small camp store, ice, and propane are also available. Overall, this is a solid CG for overnight or extended stays. Out of the 325+ campgrounds we've visited, this one has the best rules sheet—hands down. It's hilarious, and you’ll instantly get their vibe!

  • Emily G.
    Oct. 25, 2018

    Thomas Hill Reservoir Conservation Area

    Great free camping

    Might not have showers but is a nice free campground. It’s pet friendly and you are not on top of your neighbors. Definitely going to come back here.

  • V
    Apr. 13, 2021

    Cozy C RV Campground, LLC

    Nice

    Pulled in 4/12, smaller campground, very few people here this time of year. Owners live right off the property so very convenient. Very nice owner Helen, came by the site to check us in. Right off a small county hwy, but not too noisy. Very quiet and relaxed place. No picnic talk or fire pit. They to have a public fit pit with free firewood. Laundry area is clean and 1.00 to was and .75 to dry. Gravel site with small grass area. minature golf and pet area. One trash receptical with recycling bins. Nice place for a stop over.

  • Amanda B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 15, 2024

    Vandalia Community Lake

    Peaceful!

    Gorgeous little lake. Vault toilets. Our camp fire ring was shaped like a heart! Probably not on purpose but we liked it. Very quiet. Lots of fishing. And we actually saw the cat!


Guide to Stoutsville

Mark Twain Lake provides several dog friendly campgrounds near Stoutsville, Missouri with spacious sites and lakeside access. Campgrounds sit at approximately 600 feet elevation, with summer temperatures regularly reaching the high 80s and winter lows below freezing. Most pet-friendly campgrounds have multiple water access trails leading directly to Mark Twain Lake, which spans 18,600 acres with 285 miles of shoreline.

What to do

Fishing access points: Ray Behrens Recreational area offers multiple fishing locations around the lake. "Great campground is well kept and offers both standard-electric and full hook up. The hosts are friendly and helpful," notes Phil W.

Hiking trails: Many trails are available throughout the area. Indian Creek Campground features maintained paths for exploration. "Nice trails to access the lake by foot or with the dogs. Clean bathhouses and campsites are some of the most well kept I've seen," writes Jacob S.

Beach swimming: Mark Twain Lake Jellystone Park and The Water Zone provides additional recreational options. "Mini golf was booming. They had nice pavilion areas for gatherings. There was also a large swimming pool," according to Cathy S.

Stargazing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer excellent night sky viewing opportunities. "Total darkness, perfect for stargazing," mentions Jason R. about Indian Creek area.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Puma Campground gets high marks for site separation. "Like the forest feel of the sites, with found coverage between the sites, giving a nice sense of privacy," notes Nathan P.

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses. "The campground bathrooms were clean and the shower temperature & water pressure were phenomenal," shares Jen R. about Puma Campground.

Affordable rates: Frank Russell Campground offers good value. "At $20/night ($10 for seniors) with electricity it's a bargain," says Doug W.

Quiet atmosphere: Most campgrounds maintain peaceful environments, especially during weekdays. "Very quiet. It amazes me that there are only a few campsites full in the middle of summer," reports Paul M. about Indian Creek.

What you should know

Distance to supplies: Be prepared with sufficient provisions before arrival. "This campground is out in the boonies so you'll want to stock up before you pull in... 25 min from Walgreens, 45 min from Walmart," advises Amie M. about Indian Creek Campground.

Site leveling: Many campsites require adjustment for RVs. "Beautiful area, but honestly not sure if any campsite is truly level. Be prepared," warns Nathan P. about Puma Campground.

Insects: Bug protection is essential, especially in warmer months. "The only issue I had was the amount of bugs that were everywhere. When I stepped out it felt like I was walking through a thousand spider webs everywhere," reports Declan W M. about Indian Creek.

Free options available: Budget-conscious campers have alternatives. "Free camping at its finest... Grass sites, fire pit and picnic tables. Lake with free paddle boats (do need life preservers) and fish hatchery across the street," explains Matthew H. about Hunnewell Lake.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several pet-friendly camping areas include recreational facilities for children. "We found a nice flat, shady spot. The campground was family friendly," notes Jenn S. about Ray Behrens.

Biking opportunities: Paved roads throughout many campgrounds are ideal for bike riding. "This campground has a lot of road to bike on if you like to ride your bike," shares Kayla S.

Fishing for kids: Some areas offer especially good fishing access for children. "Nice concrete sites with fire pit, full hookup. Great trails and fishing lake, with concrete sidewalk and benches around it to make fishing easily accessible," explains Beyond All about Frank Russell Campground.

Wildlife viewing: Animal encounters provide educational opportunities. "Abundant wildlife (turn sound up on attached video)," mentions Jason R. about the Indian Creek area.

Tips from RVers

Seasonal considerations: Coyote Campground offers good off-season options. "We visited twice in the off-season we loved the campground so much. It's quiet and secluded. Very clean and beautiful," shares Bradley R.

Hookup availability: Various levels of services are available across the region. "Even though it rained like crazy. Me and my husband loved this spot, especially with 3 perfect trees close enough to put our hammocks up!" explains Emily C. about Frank Russell.

Site selection: Many RVers recommend selecting specific sites. "The whole park doesn't match the awesomeness of site 97 and the few around it, but the end of this loop is almost perfect. Great shade, almost no slope to pads, all power options, great water pressure," advises Sam H.

Dump station locations: Know where facilities are located. "Free potable water and dump station behind ranger station," notes Matthew H. about Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Stoutsville, MO is Indian Creek Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 19 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 52 dog-friendly camping locations near Stoutsville, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.