Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Doniphan, NE

Mormon Island State Recreation Area Campground accommodates dogs throughout its site with a strict 6-foot leash requirement. The grounds feature paved, level parking pads with ample spacing between campsites, making it ideal for travelers with pets. Electric hookups are available for RVs and tent campers, with modern restrooms and shower facilities nearby. Grand Island KOA also welcomes pets with designated pet-friendly cabins and tent sites. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities that accommodate pet owners, though some visitors note Mormon Island enforces its pet policies strictly, including no dogs allowed on the beach or in swimming areas. Several sites near Doniphan, Nebraska are featured on The Dyrt.

The camping areas surrounding Doniphan provide various amenities for pets including walking trails suitable for dog exercise. Mormon Island offers paths through vegetation and around multiple lakes that provide pleasant evening strolls with leashed dogs. Highway noise from nearby I-80 may disturb sensitive pets, as multiple reviewers mention the persistent traffic sounds. Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area provides a more primitive option for those seeking quieter camping with pets, though this dispersed camping area lacks facilities such as running water or toilets. Morning hours at Mormon Island can start early, with one camper reporting air/fan boats from the Platte River launch beginning around 5am, potentially disrupting pets that react to noise.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Doniphan, Nebraska (44)

    1. Grand Island KOA

    30 Reviews
    Doniphan, NE
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 886-2249

    "The pool is cool and tucked away in the back. The store sold single local beers and was open late. They were slinging hot pizza. We stayed in an air conditioned camping cabin."

    "The pet friendly cabin was a cozy air conditioned break from the August heat. The location is great and feels tucked away every though it isn't far from the highway. The staff were very helpful."

    2. Mormon Island State Recreation Area Campground

    19 Reviews
    Doniphan, NE
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (308) 385-6211

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Family and pet friendly campground"

    "very few campers on a Tuesday in Oct

    • nice paths for an after dinner stroll with the dogs
    • att cell service is good
    • no internet
    • easy acces from the Highway
    • lots of Highway truck noise"

    3. George H Clayton Campground (Hall County Park)

    12 Reviews
    Grand Island, NE
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (308) 385-5087

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Cool campground with lots of playground equipment, easy access to walking and bike paths and right next to Stuhr Museum which is well worth a trip!"

    "Beautiful park on the outskirts of town. I counted 20 concrete rv pads and numerous tent sites. Access to water and dump station with electricity at the site. $30 per night."

    4. Streeter Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Marquette, NE
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 694-6992

    "There's a playground nearby and several walking paths as well as a restroom. these cell service was great and the camp even has free wi-fi provided by the city."

    "Nice city park trail through the trees for a good morning walk. "

    5. Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area

    6 Reviews
    Alda, NE
    13 miles

    "Highway noise might be an issue, but the privacy, birdsong, and pond make up for it."

    "It’s a gravel road right off I-80; farmland surrounded the camping spot and it was pretty private. No facilities so be prepared to pack out what you pack in."

    6. Firefly Meadows

    3 Reviews
    Alda, NE
    12 miles
    +1 (308) 380-7495

    $30 - $40 / night

    "Right off of I-80, next to a large Pilot truck stop with Subway."

    "Firefly campgrounds is a fairly new campground, around 2 years. The trees will need sometime to grow and the pond needs some work. The sites on the North side are close together."

    7. Hastings Campground

    3 Reviews
    Hastings, NE
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 462-5621

    8. Wood River Motel & RV Park

    1 Review
    Alda, NE
    12 miles
    +1 (308) 583-2256

    9. Bader Memorial Park

    5 Reviews
    Marquette, NE
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (308) 986-2522

    "Campground Review: Bader Park is located in Merrick County a few miles from Marquette Nebraska."

    "You have the option to fish from 3 or 4 ponds plus the river is walking distance. Beach area for kids seems to have people there often. Good weekend get away."

    10. Adams County Fairgrounds

    2 Reviews
    Hastings, NE
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 462-3247
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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Doniphan, NE

283 Reviews of 44 Doniphan Campgrounds


  • Melanie T.
    May. 27, 2023

    Kearney RV Park & Campground

    Why not 5

    Very nice campground. Plenty of room between sites. Nice little beach areas. Plenty of room to walk the dog. And the dog park is big enough for the dog to run & play in. Wi-Fi is excellent. Cell service too. Now you wonder why not a 5. Being right next to the  highway very bad road noise. Had to turn the fan on high to drown it out. Other than that, this is a great campground.

  • Dawn I.
    Jul. 29, 2021

    Grand Island KOA

    Favorite KOA

    This campground is set among the corn fields. The staff was super! The pool is cool and tucked away in the back. The store sold single local beers and was open late. They were slinging hot pizza. We stayed in an air conditioned camping cabin. Super close to the pool and bathrooms! 2 of the nicest fenced dog parks of any KOA. I would definitely stay there again if driving through.

  • Wendy H.
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Double Nickel Campground

    Very nice grounds and great amenities

    Popped in for a quick one night stay on our way west. Chose this place based on reviews on The Dyrt. It is mid week in October but it's so quiet, which we really like. Great pull through spaces with full hook ups and fantastic WiFi which allowed me to get some much needed work in. When I told the owner we had two dogs he put us directly across from the dog park which our pups really liked. Super cute touches around the place including bench swings at all the sites. Looks like the place could be great for families in the summer.

    It is directly adjacent to the highway so there is some noise but it's not too bad. We actually felt it was quiet and relaxing.

  • Ashley L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2021

    Double Nickel Campground

    One of my favorites!

    The staff is incredible! Super friendly and accommodating! The full hookups were great. Nice little dog park, putt putt golf and a good size pool.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2022

    Kearney RV Park & Campground

    Nice stopover

    Stopped here for one night headed east. Friendly staff, nice laundry and bathroom facilities that are handicapped accessible. Big dog park area for the pups. No fires here. Level concrete pads and you can move the picnic tables if needed. There are storm shelters available in the bathhouse.

  • Danielle C.
    Aug. 22, 2020

    Grand Island KOA

    Cozy Cabin in the Cornfields

    This was a wonderful spot to visit during our trip across the country. The pet friendly cabin was a cozy air conditioned break from the August heat. The location is great and feels tucked away every though it isn't far from the highway. The staff were very helpful. I would definitely recommend!

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2024

    Double Nickel Campground

    Well Run Campground with Exceptional Service

    We’d passed through this area a few years ago when traveling I-80 and noticed there was a campground(CG) and golf course here in Waco, NE. We added this CG to our list and finally got a chance to stay here. The CG is a little ways off I-80 and easy to get to. Check-in was quick and easy and we were led to pull through site 303 with FHUs. There are separate prices for weekdays and weekends. The utilities were at the center of the long gravel pad. Water pressure was okay at around 40 psi. We got 2 bars on Verizon. The sites here are decently spaced especially for a private CG. The CG was clean and well-maintained. If there were long-term residents, you could not tell. We were here over a weekend, so there were families and a lot of kids using the swimming pool, mini golf, and the large playground area. Each site, along with a picnic table and fire pit has a bench swing. There’s a decent-sized dog park on the south side and larger one on the north side. The CG has its own tornado siren plus an underground tornado shelter. There’s one cabin for rent. They also have a well-kept laundry room with 2 washers and 2 dryers. York has your main amenities such as Walmart. The golf course right next door is a deceptively tough 9-hole course.

  • T
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Cottonwood Park

    Would get ve 5 stars if there were full hook ups!

    Though located on the North side of the Missouri River, this campground is considered to be in Nebraska. Run by the US Corp of Engineers, there are no state permits required. We paid $16/night, but it’s possible that we could have gotten 50% off with our America the Beautiful pass. I just forgot to check and didn’t think to include the pass when registering.

    The site was electric only and I don’t believe full hookups are a available at the campground. We snagged this site, in what is normally a fully booked campground, thanks to Campnab.

    The site was paved and had an area covered with small rocks where the picnic table and fire pit were located. We had two trees at the north of our site that facilitated hanging the hammock with extended straps and also a tree on the west side of the site. The bath/shower house was a short walk (as was water access) and were very, very well kept and clean. Contractors live on site and clean several times a day. It was a great area for riding bikes and was very family and pet friendly.


Guide to Doniphan

Dispersed camping opportunities exist near Doniphan, Nebraska alongside established campgrounds. The area sits at approximately 1,860 feet elevation in the Platte River Valley with hot summers averaging 85°F and cold winters dropping below 10°F. Camping options range from full-service RV parks to primitive sites along the Platte River watershed that support diverse wildlife.

What to do

Fishing access: Multiple options exist for anglers at Bader Memorial Park where "tons of tent spots to choose from. You have the option to fish from 3 or 4 ponds plus the river is walking distance," according to Seth H.

Hiking trails: Bird watching opportunities are available on the park's natural paths. "Some nice hiking trails near the Platte River, bird watching hut to hike out to and small ponds for fishing," notes Anji L.

Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds maintain swimming areas during summer months. Bader Memorial Park offers "a swimming beach with a sandvolleyball net," while campers at Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area enjoy more natural water features where "the privacy, birdsong, and pond make up for it," according to Mary.

What campers like

Level, paved sites: Many RV campers appreciate the concrete pads at George H Clayton Campground where Todd A. found "20 concrete rv pads and numerous tent sites. Access to water and dump station with electricity at the site."

Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses remain a priority for campers. At Firefly Meadows, kenneth B. appreciated that "Restrooms are updated, nice big showers, water is clean, grounds are well kept."

Quiet atmosphere: Despite proximity to highways, several campsites offer peaceful settings. Bee C. found George H Clayton Campground "Very quiet considering busy road nearby" and appreciated the "wide-spaced level concrete pads with power."

What you should know

Tick prevention: Essential when camping in grassy areas. At Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area, Mary warns it's "Tick central! Stay on the gravel, and check, check, check. Took a 50 foot walk on short grass and had at least 15 ticks."

Highway noise: Can affect some dog friendly campgrounds near Doniphan. At Grand Island KOA, Peter W. notes "Although near the highway there was not a lot of road noise" while Steven V. reports "It is very close to Interstate, but I could not hear it."

Site spacing: Varies significantly between locations. Mary T. observed at Grand Island KOA that you're "on top of neighbors. Thought we might not be able to open our awning, only about 3 to 4 feet between sites." Conversely, at George H Clayton Campground, sites are described as "wide-spaced."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Doniphan feature play areas. At Streeter Park Campground, Loni T. notes it's a "Beautiful campground, very well kept up" with playground facilities nearby.

Wildlife viewing: Children enjoy watching local animals. At Grand Island KOA, Jared C. reports "There is lots to keep kids busy... our 3 year old spent most of the evening catching toads."

Pool facilities: Available at select locations during summer. Amy J. found at Grand Island KOA that the "Pool was chilly but nice after a long day of driving," providing relief during hot Nebraska summers.

Tips from RVers

Free camping options: Streeter Park Campground operates on donations. Sarah F. explains, "Camping is free but they take donations. We left a check for $30 for 2 nites" and appreciates the amenities: "30 amp electric good, water tasted ok and pressure was good."

Dump station access: Important for extended stays. Todd A. noted at George H Clayton Campground the availability of a "dump station with electricity at the site" while Greg A. appreciated Streeter Park's "Fantastic free campsite with electric, water and a dump station!"

Site leveling: Critical for comfortable overnight stays. Kenneth B. at Firefly Meadows found sites that were "shaded, level, concrete, water, electric" making setup easier for overnight campers with pets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Doniphan, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Doniphan, NE is Grand Island KOA with a 4.1-star rating from 30 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Doniphan, NE?

TheDyrt.com has all 44 dog-friendly camping locations near Doniphan, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.