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Lahontan State Recreation Area's dispersed beach campsites permit pets throughout the property with multiple access points for dogs to reach the water. Dogs must remain leashed in developed areas while most pets are welcome at both established and primitive sites. Samuel Buckland Campground at Fort Churchill State Historic Park provides shaded tent and RV sites with pet-friendly trails connecting to the historic fort ruins. Beach camping areas can become crowded on weekends with generator noise affecting the peaceful environment. Scout Camp at Fort Churchill offers a quieter alternative with tall cottonwoods providing shade for pets, although the access road occasionally washes out. The pit toilets throughout these campgrounds are generally clean and well-maintained.
Fort Churchill's riparian forest trails offer excellent dog walking opportunities along the Carson River with minimal elevation gain suitable for older pets. Visitors should be cautious about soft sand conditions throughout Lahontan Recreation Area as vehicles frequently become stuck, particularly when towing trailers. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, requiring extra water and shade considerations for pets. Beach camping areas experience significant wind events that can create challenging conditions for tent campers with animals. Desert Rose RV Park in nearby Fernley provides full hookups for those seeking more amenities with their pets. Cell service varies throughout the region, with T-Mobile offering 5G coverage at Lahontan while other carriers provide intermittent service at Fort Churchill campgrounds.
"There are no services and the ground is a little bumpy/sandy but we were able to get around just fine in our camper van."
"Really close to highway, so noise is definitely heard, even at night. Sites are close together, but there is a small amount of grass between them."
"Gravel drives, concrete pads, close together, small grass areas. Great staff, and the Wi-Fi worked (my last four campgrounds advertised Wi-Fi, and it worked at the office, but not at my campsite)."
from $5 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Has nice dog park, great hookups. Close to the Sparks marina if you want to walk, but we were here for the Nugget rib cook-off."
"The park is clean and has multiple very clean dog parks. We will stop again."
"Short walk to town with tons to do here"
"Great location and great store that had basic needs. Views overlooking the cemetery were pretty cool. Would stay again."
"Very close to town and the free WiFi actually works!"
from $45 / night
"The spaces are a good size but kinda close to one another. Rangers are friendly and often stop by just to see how things are going. Currently there's a fire ban but they do have fire pits."
"This is one of my fav hiking locations in Nevada! I love the variety. There are different levels of hikes from easy to more difficult."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"To close to the train tracks and highway"
"The GPS coordinates tell you to turn up what looks like a four wheeler path so we obviously kept going until we found a single bump out where we were able to turn around and stayed for the night."
"We appreciated the designated dog area filled with sandy gravel. The park itself is not anything special to look at. There isn’t much privacy or vegetation to speak of."
"We arrived early after a long drive. They immediately checked us in, gave us resort keys that allow access to the whole of the resort property. My kids loved the pool."
ScoutFound this quiet campground in Silver Springs, NV. Only about an hour to Carson City, Reno and Virginia City. We stayed 3 nights and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
RangerThis campground is in town but still is a great place to stop. Has nice dog park, great hookups. Close to the Sparks marina if you want to walk, but we were here for the Nugget rib cook-off. Just not sure on the all the rules as it seems some are followed some you can ignore.
ScoutWe broke a jack and the maintenance workers were incredibly helpful in getting a tool we needed to fix it. The park is clean and has multiple very clean dog parks. We will stop again.
ScoutI really liked this place. I stayed a month and wouldn't have minded staying longer.
The General Store had lots of supplies, and they gave RV customers a discount on "souvenirs".
I didn't use the showers or restrooms (although I did pay the $10, refundable, deposit for a key).
The staff was extremely nice.
There are plenty of trash cans around the park. They are emptied almost daily.
Pets are welcome. Dogs must be on leashes and picked up after. (There were lots of people there with dogs and/or cats.)
The spaces are roomy and each space has a picnic table. However, there was no grass, except near the hotel and near the horseshoe pits. (So, no grass at the sites.) Also, there wasn't much shade. ☹️ Sites are quite level, and are graveled. Hookups were very accessible.
The view of the lake was beautiful. However, I had to drive about 5 miles (to the County Park) in order to actually get to the water. ☹️. This would have been very inconvenient, if I hadn't had a toad.
All in all, I really enjoyed my stay at this park.
GuideLahontan is an acquired taste. If you're looking for a cool "forest" experience, shady pines, and easy-breezy camping then this is NOT the place for you. It's a huge man-made reservoir in the desert. It gets very hot in the dead of summer and shade is limited in many areas. The trees are mainly cottonwood and willow. Most of the camping areas are not formally developed and you just kind of have to "cop a squat" if you can find a decent spot. The area is hugely popular with boating, fishing, and jet-ski enthusiasts so the beaches and the lake can get very crowded. The restrooms in some areas are BASIC - some would even call them "outhouses". Others are much less primitive. There is one developed camp ground on the Silver Springs side (no RV hook-ups).
I grew up camping, boating, and fishing at Lahontan so it has a soft spot in my heart. Just know that it's not for every one.
GuideGreat location if you want to be near Costco and the capital city. Great views of the Sierras and the Carson valley. Sites are narrow, about twice the width of your RV, and separated by chain link fencing. But all sites are perfectly flat, paved pull-throughs; easy in, easy out parking. Also electric, water, sewer hookup, cable and strong wifi and cell service. Sites are gravel, but the campground has nice grassy dog parks, clean bathrooms and laundry, and well-stocked store with propane refill. Pool and fishing pond were closed but looked great. We were there in early April 2021; with our binoculars we could see skiers at the top of Heavenly Mountain ski area!
TravelerThe sites are close together and the sewer drains are literally going through the artificial turf area where your neighbors eating area is. A little ridiculous with the pet policy and pet areas are a long way away when you have to take your pets out at night.
LegendThe RV park was easy to find and enter. Check in was smooth with a very friendly staff, and we were escorted to pull through site 150 with FHUs for our three day stay. The utilities are nicely placed on the middle of the pad. Site 150 is a premium pull through. The only thing that makes this site premium is the concrete pad, small grass front yard, and shade trees; as there is no picnic table, patio, or fire pit. Sites are near each other throughout the park. We really didn’t see where any sites were better spaced than others. We received a Good Sam discount for the nightly rate, which basically paid for the lodging tax. Then there’s a $2 resort fee and $3 per pet fee ($6 for our two pets) with other charges if you bring additional people and vehicles with you. The WiFi was average for a park this size. Cable did not work, but they were trying to get the cable company to come fix it. However, we got a fair amount of OTA channels, with two prime channels. We got 2 bars on Verizon. There’s an interesting mix of full timers, seasonal, and short termers. I state interesting as many of the permanent party live along the South to West perimeter. Most take pride in their sites but as good as the park sites look towards the front it degrades in too many sites looking like, well, a “trailer park”. There’s a very clean and well maintained facility with a Rec Room, showers and nice big laundry. We like the rule where a site can only use two machines at a time. Unless you want to trek out into the desert where the Quads and ATVs go, there are no trails here to walk your dog, but there is a small fenced, off-leash dog area, which was nice. We thought this park would be more of a destination park and for us, it was not. This park had the worse road noise we've experienced after two years on the road. Our sound machine could not drown out the internal park muffler rumbles of locals going to work that started about 4:00 AM, the highway noise all day plus most of the night, and the 5:30ish AM train. We stayed here three nights based on reviews from other websites. Our opinion overall, this place is nothing special. However, it is a good overnighter and could be an option to explore the Reno area.
TravelerThe front desk lady was super super nice. The park is beautiful! The guests are all super friendly. Family and pet friendly. The pool isn’t open yet but the spa is. We can not wait to come back!
Silver Springs sits in the high desert of Nevada at approximately 4,200 feet elevation with temperature variations between 30°F in winter nights to over 100°F in summer days. The Carson River runs through this region, creating riparian areas that contrast with the surrounding sagebrush landscape. River access points offer alternatives to the popular beach camping areas and provide cooler environments during summer months.
Historic exploration at Fort Churchill: Tour the adobe ruins at Fort Churchill State Historic Park, where visitors can learn about this former military outpost. "Ft Churchill staff had an old time type of celebration. Fun activities for the entire family," mentions Scot J., who enjoyed the July 4th festivities.
Watercraft activities: Launch boats, kayaks, or jet skis from multiple points at Lahontan Reservoir when water levels permit. "Beach 7 and it wasn't to bad we were in a tent but the water was low in lake just Carson river running to dam," reports Elsie B., who noted the fluctuating water conditions at Lahontan State Recreation Area.
Birding and wildlife viewing: Watch for native desert birds and mammals in the riparian corridors. "Lots of birds and wildlife to observe as well," notes Alison, who appreciated the natural environment at Samuel Buckland Campground.
Carson River trails: Explore marked paths with minimal elevation gain. "Gorgeous Riparian Forest... Nice trail along the River," writes Virginia D. about Scout Camp at Fort Churchill, highlighting the natural beauty of the river corridor.
Historic context: The preserved fort ruins provide educational opportunities. "We watched the sunrise over the ruins then toured the visitors center," shares Graham W., who found the historical elements engaging at Samuel Buckland Campground.
Shade coverage: Mature cottonwood trees create valuable shade in the desert environment. "Desert Oasis... Great little campground with plenty of shade for all nestled among ancient and stately cottonwood trees," reports Alison about Samuel Buckland Campground.
Access to water: Direct lake access for swimming during hot months. "We camped right by the water!" explains Sabrina D., who enjoyed the beach access at Dispersed Campgrounds within Lahontan Recreation Area.
Site separation and privacy: Some campgrounds offer better spacing between sites. "Large sagebrush and trees also provide privacy," notes Alison about the natural screening between campsites at Fort Churchill.
Seasonal water level fluctuations: Lahontan Reservoir can vary dramatically between drought and wet years. "The reservoir is completely full this year and the water has flooded out the established campground area and many beaches are not accessible," Katie S. reported during a high-water season at Lahontan.
Sand challenges: Soft beach areas can trap vehicles without 4WD. "Be careful!!! Almost got stuck in the sand while trying to find a spot level enough to park," warns Richard M. about conditions at Lahontan Recreation Area.
Weather preparedness: Wind events can make tent camping difficult. "It did get windy at the night I was there but calmed down by 10PM," Teresa M. observed at Lahontan Recreation Area.
Limited facilities at some locations: Services vary significantly between campgrounds. "You must go through the main entrance to the Fort Churchill historical site to enter this campground. DO NOT drive down the gravel road that runs along the river," advises Jessica M., providing important access information for Samuel Buckland Campground.
Look for developed sites: Families typically find better facilities at established campgrounds. "Great experience all around. We pulled a 36' toy hauler, and we were able to find a pull through spot," reports Sydni B. about their stay at Samuel Buckland Campground.
Visit during weekdays: Weekends bring larger crowds and more noise. "Weekdays offer serene silence, but come the weekend, it's party and generator central—so bring your earplugs!" advises Sabrina D. about Lahontan's dispersed camping areas.
Check availability of dog friendly campgrounds near Silver Springs: Most local parks accommodate pets but have different restrictions. "Site on the Pony Express... Site had a pre-made fire pit. There's a few spots here to choose from," notes Julianne N. about Scout Camp, a pet-welcoming option.
Pack all supplies: Limited services mean bringing everything you need. "Bring all items you need or be prepared to leave camp to go to the store," suggests David M. about camping at Samuel Buckland Campground.
Road access considerations: Some campground roads may be difficult for larger rigs. "Scout camp access is deeply rotted so our Class A couldn't safely get in there, otherwise there would have been plenty of space for us," cautions Janet M. about conditions at Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill.
Consider proximity to highways: Road noise affects some campgrounds more than others. "Only about an hour to Carson City, Reno and Virginia City. We stayed 3 nights and enjoyed the peace and quiet," notes Virginia C. about Samuel Buckland Campground, highlighting its central location.
Washboard and flood-damaged roads: Access points sometimes wash out seasonally. "As of October 2023 the access road to scout camp was washed out. But there is dispersed camping on the terrace to the south," Virginia D. reports about Scout Camp.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require significant effort to level rigs. "Many people had dug out around their trailer to get the slides out," Richard M. observed at Lahontan State Recreation Area, describing the lengths some RVers go to for comfortable setups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Silver Springs, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Silver Springs, NV is Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill with a 3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Silver Springs, NV?
TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Silver Springs, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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