Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Hawthorne, NV

Sportsmans Beach Walker Lake Recreation Area maintains three camping levels near Hawthorne, Nevada, each accommodating dogs with different proximity to Walker Lake. The upper level sites provide panoramic lake views with better breezes and fewer mosquitoes than the lower camping areas closer to water. Whiskey Flats RV Park also welcomes pets on their concrete pad sites, though they have specific rules about dogs not urinating on grass areas. Both campgrounds offer toilet facilities, with Whiskey Flats providing full hookups and showers for RV campers with pets. Twenty Mile Beach dispersed camping provides a more primitive option for campers with dogs looking for lakeside access. The bathroom facilities at Sportsmans Beach are basic vault toilets that some campers find unusable despite the free camping.

Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the Walker Lake Recreation Area's campgrounds, with pet owners responsible for cleaning up after their animals as some campers report dog droppings being prevalent around certain areas. The concrete pad sites at Whiskey Flats offer level parking with small grass areas, though pet waste must be properly disposed of in provided trash receptacles. For outdoor exercise, dogs can be walked along the shoreline at Walker Lake, with the beach access providing space for pets to explore, though the lake itself has a distinctive odor that some find unpleasant. Wildlife considerations include potential mosquito problems during certain seasons, especially at lower elevation sites near the water. The Safeway within walking distance of Whiskey Flats RV Park provides convenient access to pet supplies for campers needing to restock during their stay.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Hawthorne, Nevada (44)

    1. Sportsman's Beach

    22 Reviews
    Hawthorne, NV
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 885-6000

    "This is our second stay at this campground by the lake. The sites are pretty level and can accommodate a larger rig."

    "I live close by and we go occasionally. FYI dogs are welcome at Walker Lake!"

    2. Whiskey Flats RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Hawthorne, NV
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (775) 945-1800

    $50 / night

    "There was a Safeway within walking distance as well as a pub and a casino. Only thing strange was they asked our dogs not to pee on the grass."

    "They also have a “dog area” which is just a sandy area near the office, right in busy US 95, but it’s not fenced in! I would not let my dogs run there."

    3. Sportsmans Beach Walker Lake Recreation Area

    9 Reviews
    Hawthorne, NV
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 885-6000

    $4 - $22 / night

    "There are two areas to camp at, one up higher and the other lower, walking distance from the lake. I've stayed at both."

    "Vault toilets, trash container, covered picnic tables and nice view of Walker Lake. As per other reviews, there are three levels at this campground."

    4. Twenty Mile Beach Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Hawthorne, NV
    17 miles
    Website

    "This BLM site is 1 of 3 along the west side of Walker Lake. This is the northernmost BLM campground along Highway 95. Follow the signage along the highway."

    "There is no shade anywhere around, so if you're tent camping in summer be prepared to get up early. The sun and heat had us out of bed by 6am, taking down the tent."

    5. Scotty's RV Park

    Be the first to review!
    Hawthorne, NV
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (775) 945-3411

    6. Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

    24 Reviews
    Bridgeport, CA
    37 miles

    "No camping is allowed at the hot springs themselves, but outside of the hot springs there are a few cleared out spots with fire rings where you can camp.  "

    "Lucky for me I don't mind sleeping in my car when necessary so I was able to enjoy the stay uninterrupted just a short distance from the spring itself."

    7. Paradise Shores RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Bridgeport, CA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 932-7735

    "The drawback to this of course is that everyone has to walk right by your campsite to enjoy these views. Expect very limited privacy, friendly conversation, lots of it, and to meet every dog in camp."

    "Great campground on Bridgeport Lake. RV sites are graveled and level, clean bathrooms/showers/laundry."

    8. Buckeye Campground

    14 Reviews
    Bridgeport, CA
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 331-6444

    "We visited this site Memorial Day weekend after driving through the 108 on Sonora Pass. It took about 30 minutes to get to the campground from the main road."

    "Driving in you will cross over a bridge and just up and off to your right you will see the parking area for the hot springs."

    9. Mono Lake South Dispersed

    16 Reviews
    Lee Vining, CA
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 873-2400

    "We stayed here for a single night while on a road trip, the drive in along CA-120 was beautiful."

    "Nice view of Mono Lake and Mountains, lots of shady spots under pines, main entry road hard pack gravel, soft sand gravel mix off road. Mostly sloped some level spots."

    10. Lundy Canyon Campground

    15 Reviews
    Mono City, CA
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 932-5440

    $16 / night

    "Three major accidents put us way behind schedule on our way to find a site at Yosemite, Tioga Pass, and June Lake. Fortunately, I still prefer guidebooks and was able to find this site."

    "Quite ,  little creek running through,  aspens all around,  high desert across the street amazing hikes lakes and beaver dams!  "

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Hawthorne, NV

282 Reviews of 44 Hawthorne Campgrounds


  • Wesley M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 11, 2021

    Twenty Mile Beach Dispersed Camping

    Sweet spot right on the lake!

    This BLM site is 1 of 3 along the west side of Walker Lake. This is the northernmost BLM campground along Highway 95. Follow the signage along the highway. Access to the site is along a slow and easy gravel road that is wide enough for two rigs to safely and comfortably pass each other. As you come down the road into the campground you'll notice you have an option to turn right (south) or left (north). Both roads lead to a vault toilet building with access to drive right on down to the beach. We opted for a site near the northern vault toilet. The views are spectacular as you are surrounded by mountains on all sides with Walker Lake in the middle of it all! This is dispersed camping at it's finest! While you'll have to deal with a little bit of highway noise it's not terrible since it's Highway 95 and not heavily travelled by anything other than semi trucks. The town of Schurz is a mere 12 miles north of the site and has several amenities along with fuel. The towns of Walker Lake and Hawthorne are 10 and 20 miles to the south, respectively. Hawthorne is a more populated area with grocery, gas and other shopping amenities. Highly recommend to any other lovers of boondocking. We stayed during the second week of November and the weather was clear, light wind with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s with the lowest nighttime temp of around 38. We'll be back here again for sure!

  • V
    Sep. 18, 2018

    Topaz Lake Recreation Area

    Offers something for everyone on a scenic lake

    Besides the beautiful scenic lake spot that offers fun on the lake during the day and star gazing at night it’s a well ran campground with amentities. Has lots of camping style options between RV hook up spaces and non hookup. Also has tent spots. Great restrooms and showers. Moms with babies and toddlers would appreciate the restrooms. Showers are their own private room with space and a changing table. Camping spots are roomy and come with a fire pit. Campfires are allowed. Generators in RVs have to be off at 10 pm. Pets are allowed but need to be on a leash. Grass area for kids playing or throwing the ball or frisbee. Horse shoe game area. Big lake side beach. You can set up badminton or beach volleyball. Cell service is spotty at the campsite but oddly great on the beach and at the Lake.

    Lake offers boating, fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing, and swimming. Boat launch and fish cleaning are a good distance from camp sites. Has a cleaning station for watercraft for invasive species.

    This campground has a lot to offer. Pack the sun screen and the life jackets and have fun!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 9, 2022

    Willow Springs Resort

    Nice family owned facility convenient to Bridgeport

    General: 27-site RV park plus eight-room motel. Restrooms and laundry facility. Pets are allowed and the WiFi signal was decent. 

    Site Quality: All sites are gravel, back-in, and appeared level. A few in the rear of the park looked like they might be slightly skewed sideways. All are full hook-up, although we did not use the hookups. Our site (and several others) had nice birdhouses in the trees.

    Bathhouse: Small but clean. Two stalls, one sink, and one shower. There is no additional cost to use the shower, but you are asked to keep it short to conserve water. 

    Activities: Close to the turn-off to Bodie State Park and also the town of Bridgeport. There is a horseshoe pit and large campfire area which I imagine would be in use during the summers when the park is full. 

    Be aware that you will hear road noise as this RV park is located on Highway 395, but it did quiet down later in the night. We normally do not stay in RV parks, but this was just an overnight for us and because there were only a few people there when we were there, our site felt more private. Becky, the owner, was very accommodating for our last-minute stay request.

  • Lyf Uninterrupted ..The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2020

    Sportsman's Beach

    Beautiful View of the Lake

    This is our second stay at this campground by the lake. The sites are pretty level and can accommodate a larger rig. Be sure to go all the way to the end to find the RV sites with covered picnic tables and fire rings. The terraced views of the lake are beautiful. You can walk down to the water but know the lake is farther out than it looks. Vault toilets and dumpster on site. Town of Hawthorne is about 10 miles away with all necessities. If this park is full, you can try Tamarack and 20 mile beach but they’re not as nice.

  • Cheryl D.
    May. 10, 2018

    Sportsman's Beach

    Love walker Lake

    I live close by and we go occasionally. FYI dogs are welcome at Walker Lake!

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 24, 2022

    Crags Campground

    Great dry camping with lots of nearby hiking, water sports

    Our early fall adventure in the eastern Sierra was coming to a close and many of the campsites were closing down for the season. We stopped at the ranger station outside Bridgeport to get the lowdown and found out our first choice had just closed but got recommendations for other nearby campgrounds. 

    We ended up at Crags Campground which is actually 2 loops. We stayed in the Matterhorn loop after seeing that Crags was mostly big RVs with generators. Most of the primo sites were double sites (at double the price). We ended up in site #20 which was next to the empty camp host site. 

    • Beautiful, high desert scenery, surrounded by granite peaks
    • Great star gazing
    • Dog friendly 
    • Very clean vault toilets (public campgrounds in this area are managed by a third party vendor) 
    • Great hiking nearby. Our campsite neighbors shared an 8 mile hike to Barney Lake that delighted us with fall color, a stunning lake view and moderately easy hiking (there was some easy elevation gain). The trailhead was a short drive away.
    • We needed to dump and shower and were able to get both at the Twin Lake store for small fees. There was also a nice, clean laundry facility next to the showers open to the public. 

    We definitely will be back to this area and explore this and other campgrounds.

  • John F.
    Aug. 13, 2024

    Whiskey Flats RV Park

    Great spot right off the highway

    Super easy to get to, to get into and get out of. There was a Safeway within walking distance as well as a pub and a casino. Only thing strange was they asked our dogs not to pee on the grass.

  • J
    Jul. 4, 2020

    Toiyabe National Forest Crags Campground

    Quiet campground surrounded by few mature pines and lots of sage brush.

    Clean and quiet campground located just outside of Bridgeport, Ca. Surrounded by several streams and within walking distance of Twin Lakes. Excellent fishing abounds!

  • Angie R.
    Jun. 28, 2021

    Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina

    Good times at Bridgeport

    Campsite is very clean. Flat tent spots. Bathrooms and showers.Weather was beautiful but windy. Came on a day a strange storm came thru. Steps away from a reservoir. Close to Bodie and Mono Lake.


Guide to Hawthorne

Walker Lake Recreation Area offers dispersed and established camping options near Hawthorne, Nevada at elevations ranging from 4,000-5,000 feet. The climate features hot summer days reaching 95°F and cool evenings dropping to 50°F. Strong winds can affect campsites, particularly those closer to the lake shoreline.

What to do

Hiking and exploration near Mono Lake: Multiple dispersed camping areas around the lake provide access to unique geological features. "Down near the lake it was definitely windier and a bit colder than the upper sites," notes a visitor to Sportsmans Beach Walker Lake Recreation Area, which offers both upper and lower camping areas.

Fishing at Walker Lake: Bring gear for lake fishing, though success varies by season. "My kids tried fishing, even though the fishing report stated fishing was not good. I have 9 and 11 year olds... They don't like to reason when it comes to fishing, or 'wetting a line' as they say," reports a camper at Walker Lake Recreation Area.

Visit nearby ghost towns: The historic mining town of Bodie is accessible from several campgrounds. "I ended up spending an entire day at Bodie thanks to its close proximity and really enjoyed that this offered something closeby but also a bit closer to the community of Bridgeport where I could find services and supplies," notes a reviewer at Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed Camping.

Hot springs soaking: Several natural hot springs provide relaxation options. "The water in the springs we went to was actually super warm. We got there later in the evening and it was difficult to find a spot with the crowds, so try to time it right," advises a Travertine Hot Springs visitor.

What campers like

Lakeside views: Many sites offer direct views of Walker Lake and surrounding mountains. "Beautiful views. Nice spots. Quite a few camping areas. Might be a bit different on a busy summer day but in winter it was nice. Close to the hwy so very convenient. Felt very safe," shares a camper at Sportsman's Beach.

Covered picnic structures: Upper level sites at certain campgrounds include built shade structures. "Be sure to go all the way to the end to find the RV sites with covered picnic tables and fire rings. The terraced views of the lake are beautiful," recommends a visitor at Sportsman's Beach.

Affordability: Many camping options offer low-cost or free stays. "The price is right, only 3.00 for this senior pass holder. And what a view! You don't even hear the highway above. Paved spots and covered picnic tables," states a review of Sportsman's Beach.

Stargazing opportunities: Clear desert skies provide excellent night viewing. "Stargazing from the hot springs was awesome!" exclaims a visitor to Mono Lake South Dispersed, which offers primitive camping with no amenities or facilities.

What you should know

Wind conditions: Strong winds affect tent camping, particularly at lower elevations near water. "If you are camping in anything other than a tent this spot is probably fine. But if you camp with a tent this is a last resort. It's not the prettiest spot and the wind will keep you up all night," warns a visitor to Twenty Mile Beach.

Variable terrain conditions: Some roads require four-wheel drive to navigate safely. "The east entrance road to the vaulted toilet and maybe two spots is a hard packed sand & semi-gravel/rock road. The rest of the roads leading down toward Lake Walker is loose gravel and sand in which I recommend having a four wheel drive vehicle," cautions a Twenty Mile Beach reviewer.

Seasonal considerations: Summer temperatures can be extreme with limited natural shade. "The sun and heat had us out of bed by 6am, taking down the tent. It was very spacious and there's no need to worry about being too close to your neighbors," notes another Twenty Mile Beach camper.

Bug activity: Insects can be problematic, especially in evening hours. "The bugs didn't seem to be a problem during the day, but they get CRAZY at night!!! Big gnarly spiders infest the area and make webs on everything, including your tent," warns a Twenty Mile Beach visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Choose upper camping levels with children: Higher elevation sites offer more consistent conditions. "We selected a site at the top for the amazing view and nice breezes. A bit less breezy and more buggy in lower campsites closer to water," advises a visitor to Lundy Canyon Campground.

Bear precautions: Secure food in provided storage or bring containers. "Bear bins at each site. Use them. Pretty sure we heard a bear in the night messing around with the firepit grate," warns a Lundy Canyon camper about this dog friendly campground near Hawthorne.

Fishing for kids: Several lakes offer fishing opportunities appropriate for children. "This location was suggested to me by a local who told me to just skip on past June Lake campground and some of the more popular ones. Was right on the Mill creek which made for some super fun fly fishing for wild brown trout," shares another Lundy Canyon visitor.

Visit during shoulder seasons: For more moderate temperatures and fewer crowds, consider spring or fall visits. "It was Memorial Day weekend but the place was only about 20% full. Boaters and families playing at the lower level had the place almost to their selves," reports a visitor to Walker Lake Recreation Area.

Tips from RVers

RV site selection: Choose sites based on size and leveling requirements. "The sites are pretty level and can accommodate a larger rig," notes a reviewer at Sportsman's Beach about this dog friendly campground near Hawthorne, Nevada.

Water and waste management: Plan ahead for water needs since many sites lack hookups. "Very clean and well maintained. Concrete, level FHU pads with picnic tables. Clean showers and restrooms," reports a visitor to Whiskey Flats RV Park.

Road conditions: Watch for challenging road surfaces when towing. "The gravel road down to the site was a little bumpy. Maybe not suitable for low profile vehicles," warns a Walker Lake camper.

Nearby services: Know where to find supplies and dump stations. "Called about 2 hours out. They had room. Great level spots. Very nice landscaping. Helpful staff. Absolutely a come again place," shares a Whiskey Flats RV Park visitor noting the convenience of this location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hawthorne, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hawthorne, NV is Sportsman's Beach with a 4.5-star rating from 22 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hawthorne, NV?

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