Maria L.
Scout
ScoutHastings Campground
Simple, no frills. Laundry and shower .Most campers are full time in place or long term contract workers. No vacation vibe.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Kearney, NE
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Fort Kearny State Recreation Area permits pets at all campsites while maintaining clean, well-kept grounds with stocked fishing ponds and full hookup options. Campers can exercise dogs in the designated pet area, with standard leash rules enforced throughout the park. Kearney RV Park & Campground features a spacious dog park large enough for pets to run and play freely, earning praise from visitors for the ample room to walk dogs along paths throughout the property. The park's concrete pads remain level without requiring adjustments, providing a convenient setup for RVs with pets. Both campgrounds accommodate tents, RVs and some glamping options, with most sites offering picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities.
Bassway Strip Wildlife Management Area offers free dispersed camping with pets allowed, providing a more primitive experience for campers seeking a natural setting without hookups or facilities. The 10-mile bike trail connecting Fort Kearny to downtown Kearney creates excellent pet exercise opportunities, though summer visitors should be prepared for significant mosquito activity. Morning walks along the paved trails at Windmill State Recreation Area wind through trees for comfortable dog outings. Campers note that highway proximity creates road noise at several campgrounds, making Kearney RV Park's fan settings useful for masking sound during overnight stays. Nebraska park entrance requires purchase of a state park permit before arrival, as these cannot be obtained on-site at many recreation areas.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Kearney (48)
1. Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
"Nice camp ground with helpful gate attendants, this Nebraska park represents the conundrum of many public campgrounds."
"There were about 8 sites empty in the grounds, and we were happily surprised by how peaceful and well spaced the camping spots were, many backing up to a lake."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $25 / night
2. Kearney RV Park & Campground
"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."
"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."
3. Bassway Strip State Wildlife Area
"Next to I-80 so some highway drone. Max of 3 days in 6 day period. Great overnight spot! Such a nice surprise to come across this camping spot. Thank you!"
"This is a general parking area for folks that want to fish, or use the beautiful, paved and lit hiking trail. However, it is close to I-80, so traffic noise is bad at night."
4. Windmill State Recreation Area Campground
"Nice trail around the outside that wove in and out of the trees for dog walking. Otherwise, I'm in an RV so no road noise."
"We lucked out and got a site in the back and were the only ones (89-92) on Lake 6. Other loops were full of RVs."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $25 / night
5. Sandy Channel State Rec Area
"Great smaller campground with lots of good fishing walking distance from all campsites and lots of hiking trails to multiple ponds"
"We chose this place because getting away feom highway noise sounded like a great idea, and we did accomplish that!"
6. Coot Shallows WMA
"This is a great spot along the shores of a small lake. Birds are all around chirping in the morning. For us it was the perfect overnight on a long-haul part of our trip."
"There are only 3 spots at Coot Shallows and a turnaround at the end so you can face the lake. Definitely a good amount of road noise but can’t beat free for quick overnight."
7. Pioneer Village Campground
8. Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area
"Semi hidden gravel drive. Very close to the highway and easy to get to. Gravel is fairly smooth for all vehicle types. Good stop for the night. Pretty quiet and plenty of spots for car or van."
"Nice place spot for two weeks close to highway but overall not bad spot"
9. Union Pacific State Rec Area
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $35 / night
10. War Axe State Rec Area
"Pets allowed, no fire pits onsite, no water or dumpsite. Can see interstate so expect traffic noise."
"Nebraska is abounding with recreation areas many within a reasonable distance of the main highway running across the state. "
Drive Time
- 42 min from Grand Island, NE
- 1 hr 49 min from Lincoln, NE
- 2 hrs 26 min from Omaha, NE
- 3 hrs 39 min from Manhattan, KS
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Kearney, NE
16 Photos of 48 Kearney Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Kearney, NE
294 Reviews of 48 Kearney Campgrounds
Jason
GuideHastings Campground
Full Timers Campground
The park is fine, in the middle of town, so convenient. But, this is a no frills full timers RV park. Great for visiting family...and needing a place to stay.
- Mary H.
RangerFort Kearny State Recreation Area
Seems like a nice campground
This was a quick overnight stop—we arrived at dusk on a dreary, rainy evening and had to hit the road again the next morning—so we didn’t get a great feel for the park, which I imagine is quite lovely in better weather. I liked the pond, and on a quick walk we spotted deer in the field behind the campground. There was also a cool viewing blind that I’m guessing is used for watching sandhill cranes during migration season. Bathrooms were clean, although they were quite a hike from our site.
Matthew G.
TravelerBlue Hole Wildlife Management Area
Great stop for the night!
Semi hidden gravel drive. Very close to the highway and easy to get to. Gravel is fairly smooth for all vehicle types. Good stop for the night. Pretty quiet and plenty of spots for car or van.
laura S.GuideMormon Island State Recreation Area
Expensive for what you get
For an out of state vehicle spending one night at an electric site, it’s $39 (2026). Kinda pricey just to park it with full-on interstate noise echoing across the campground. We were looking forward to sitting out and watching the sunset, but mosquitos drove us inside.
- LLori C.Scout
Kearney RV Park & Campground
Great place to stay overnight
Very clean facility. Easy access. Super friendly staff. Nice level concrete pads. Close to interstate but inside the camper you would never know it. Bish RV sales repair within a mile and super friendly place also. Will definitely stay here again when visiting family.
Red &.ScoutGrand Island KOA
Cute shaded, well equipped sites.
We found this little place and we are so happy we stopped here. They’ve got a little market that’s open until 6 PM. They’ve got the pizza delivery. The delights are very nice the sites they have a nice patio area with a barbecue and Adirondack chairs and picnic tables it’s got some play equipment for children. It does not have a dog park and it does not have a swimming pool, but it does have great shade and things for the kids to play on.
Kristina P.GuidePhillips Lake State Recreation Area
Beautiful area but a treacherous entrance
We stopped here on our way back from Colorado to the east coast in our camper van. We arrived in the dark which made finding a good spot difficult. There are a lot of ruts in the roads which made getting around somewhat difficult. Highly recommend 4WD and a higher chassis. It's also not a great place for trailers or long rigs. We eventually found a small mowed field to camp in (see map). Exploration during the daylight offered a better site near the water (see map). It is a beautiful space but there were a LOT of bugs at night in the high grasses and it feels pretty remote. We drove surrounded by corn fields for miles before even getting there.
Takeaways:
- DO NOT attempt if muddy or raining a lot unless you are experienced with getting out of muddy areas.
- Recommend 4WD, no trailers, and no long rigs
- Be careful with lights inside and screens if you arrive at night or you will end up with a vehicle full of small bugs
David W.GuideGeorge Mitchell RV Park
Roadside stopover
This is not my kind of camping experience but it’s a great place to- friendly and helpful at check in - full hook ups, a pool and mini golf -would be fun for a family
Guide to Kearney
Kearney sits in south-central Nebraska at about 2,150 feet elevation along the Platte River, creating natural wetland habitats ideal for camping and outdoor recreation. Seasonal temperature fluctuations range from below freezing winters to hot, humid summers, with July and August daytime temperatures often reaching the 90s. Dispersed camping opportunities near Kearney typically allow 3-day maximum stays and require adherence to wildlife management area regulations.
What to do
Fishing in stocked ponds: War Axe State Recreation Area offers a small pond with fishing dock that's just seconds from I-80. A local reviewer notes, "This is a nice clean little stopping point. They did have restrooms with running water, and flushing toilets" making it convenient for families wanting to fish without venturing far from highways.
Biking accessible trails: Fort Kearny State Recreation Area connects to a bike trail leading to the historic fort. One camper shared, "Bike rental is fun and the fishing was good as well," while another mentioned, "There's a bike trail that goes to the Fort at the historical park."
Swimming opportunities: Sandy Channel State Recreation Area provides designated swimming areas. A visitor explained, "There is a small 'beach' area designated for swimming in one of the ponds." Many campers appreciate cooling off during summer months, with one noting, "The water was nice and cooled us down nicely."
Wildlife observation: Primitive camping at Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area puts you close to wildlife viewing opportunities. A camper reported, "When I woke up in the morning...there was a boat launching spot and a small trail to lead to the lake," providing access for nature observation and photography.
What campers like
Peaceful water views: Campers at Sandy Channel enjoy lakeside sites, with one reviewer noting, "As you can see from the pictures, the spot is just a short walk from the small sand pit lake. Makes it ideal for early morning fishing and a quick kayak launch site."
Convenient highway access: Kearney RV Park & Campground earns praise for accessibility. A camper explained, "We rolled in and didn't even need to unhook. Level site, quiet (except for the interstate), easy breezy check in, clean, and easy out." Another mentioned, "It is right on a bike/walking path that goes into the city and to the archway that is super convenient."
Spacious sites: Windmill State Recreation Area offers room to spread out. One reviewer shared, "The sites are large with 30 amp power and excellent cell service," while another noted, "We lucked out and got a site in the back and were the only ones on Lake 6."
Dog exercise areas: Pet owners appreciate designated spaces at Fort Kearny. A visitor mentioned, "There are tent sites that are free. You can camp there off season. Some of the sites are on the river. There are also several hiking trails," offering good options for dog walking beyond the dog park.
What you should know
State park permits required: Nebraska recreation areas require entrance permits purchased in advance. As one camper at Windmill State Recreation Area explained, "I do think this campground is a little pricey for what you get - in addition to the camping fee ($25 for elec only) there is a $14/day fee to drive into the recreation area."
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Kearney, NE is Fort Kearny State Recreation Area with a 3.9-star rating from 34 reviews.
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