Shawnee State Park Campground permits pets throughout its campground areas with multiple accommodation options, including tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping. Pets must be leashed and attended at all times during their stay. The Ohio River Campground section features a dedicated dog park with an agility course, providing ample space for dogs to exercise off-leash. Campsites are equipped with fire pits and picnic tables where pets can remain with their owners during meals and relaxation time. The campground bathrooms and common areas are clean and well-maintained, allowing for comfortable stays with pets. Shawnee's large, spacious campsites offer plenty of room for camping setups that include pet equipment, with some sites positioned on hillsides providing good separation between neighboring campers and their animals.
Hiking trails throughout Shawnee State Forest create excellent opportunities for camping with dogs, with multiple trail difficulties available from easy walks to challenging backpacking routes. The backpacking loop spans approximately 36 miles with seven primitive campsites along the trail where dogs can accompany their owners. Turkey Creek Campground section has multiple bathhouses conveniently spaced throughout the grounds, helpful for campers with pets needing frequent breaks. Campers should note that cell service is extremely limited or non-existent in most campground areas, making it important to have emergency pet information available offline. Sandy Springs Campground and Lazy Village Campground & RV Park also welcome pets with full hookup sites and a creek-side setting. During summer months, the weather can become quite warm, so campers should ensure pets have adequate shade and water access, particularly at sites with limited tree cover.
$35 - $125 / night
"The campground offers something for everyone: playground equipment, basketball hoop and various balls, access to the river for fishing, and absolutely stunning views of the Ohio as well as the surrounding"
"We actually walked down boat ramp (which they have) and went swimming in the Ohio River! It’s nice to sit outside and watch the river and barges traveling up and down."
$25 - $60 / night
"Unlike many Ohio State parks I've visited, the Shawnee campground has a variety of great tent sites. Several of these are hidden in the trees at the top of some steps and up a short path. "
"Nestled close to the Ohio River and the Shawnee State Forest, you will find rolling hills and valleys that offer serene beauty and picturesque landscapes."
$65 / night
"Toward the front of the campground is a great splash pad, playground, and dog park, which includes an agility course."
"Paddle boats, marina, 18 hole disc golf, bike park, huge dog park, store,archery range, playground and trails."
$20 - $120 / night
"Water was running over the edges of cliffs and boulders throughout the park into the river that flows through the park."
"Hot dog cave where you have to climb up a tree trunk to get into it. The camping is good. There is a State park general store that sales camping essentials if needed."
$19 - $44 / night
"Place is very pet friendly. The people we have met here are great. Sites are wide but really close together."
"Primitive Site 22 was fantastic, tucked away from everyone and quiet. Greenbo just doesn't have a lot to do if you arent boating. And that's okay. We just wanted a lazy trip anyway."
$40 / night
"This is a really cool campground because it’s situated on an old racetrack. Check out the website for details on the full hookup sites."
$35 - $45 / night
"This little jewel is an actual island surrounded by the Little Sandy River in Greenup, KY. We fished al day and night. Caught a bunch of fish and had a catfish fry. "
"Of course, relaxing by the campfire, grilling hot dogs and making s’mores is really what makes the time with the kids special."
"We have been going here for the last 6 summers with a big group (nearly 30 kids with us). Everyone always has such a great time and it is the highlight of all the kids summers."
GuideThe campground is small. Has a nice dog park. Pickle ball courts Cafe Sky diving right here. The Ohio river is visible. The only real problem comes with the train tracks right here. The trains are close and do blow their whistle for crossing by the office.
ScoutVery friendly people and my dog loved the dog park.
TravelerWe stayed in Site 09. The sites are spacious with level, asphalted pads. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table.
Toward the front of the campground is a great splash pad, playground, and dog park, which includes an agility course. These are located away from the RV's; therefore, the campground was very quiet and peaceful.
Nearby was a marina, fishing access, and an archery range. The surrounding hills are pretty.
The bath house was clean. A laundry room was available.
The only drawback was the lack of shade. Because this place is relatively new, in time--as the planted seedlings grow--this problem will lessen.
LegendJust a beautiful park. Clean well maintained. Lots of amenities. Paddle boats, marina, 18 hole disc golf, bike park, huge dog park, store,archery range, playground and trails.
RangerKOA Review
The campground it’s self is very clean and taken care of. We were there in early March with winter temps. The staff was extremely nice and helpful, bath house and laundry was clean. The water at our site was inoperable and they offered to move us without me even having to ask which was nice. The site could be maintained better ours had lots of tire ruts and fire pit could have been better for the price. Overall it’s a good campground with amenities in great shape. A good little dog park that was extremely clean, putt putt, and more. I would come back again in the off season just cause we like camping with less crowds.
GuidePeaceful nice place, pets okay. I'd recommend it.
ScoutQuiet spot next to an industrial area. Nice view of man-made lake with a number of fishing huts for catch-and-release fishing. Pets allowed leashed, with no tie-outs permitted. Helpful owner who escorted us to our campsite with full service hookups but no picnic table or fire ring (some sites had tables). We had a peaceful overnight stay.
GuideGot there in April and basically no one was there which was awesome. Although we did lose our long haired cat named Trouble, she has her collar and chip but there were dogs around and she never came back. Attached is a picture. Other than the weather and losing Trouble it was great.
ScoutThe folks that run this RV park are very nice and obviously have a lot of pride in their place. Valley Breezy is very well kept and clean. Good amenities- electric/sewer/water hookup. Pets allowed (on-leash).
Campgrounds near West Portsmouth offer diverse camping experiences across southern Ohio and northeastern Kentucky. The region features rolling hills with elevations between 500-1,300 feet and typically experiences moderate temperatures from April through October. Summer camping often involves temperatures between 75-90°F with occasional thunderstorms, while fall brings cooler nights around 40-50°F with colorful foliage displays.
Kayaking on small lakes: Roosevelt Lake at Turkey Creek Campground provides limited but enjoyable paddling options. "The one at the campground is more like a large pond- fine for paddling around on a paddleboard for practice, but don't think you'll get in any meaningful kayaking or sight-seeing on this pond. The other lake is slightly bigger, but still not big enough for kayaking more than a couple hours at most," notes Megan M.
Splash pad for kids: The Ohio River Campground section includes water play areas for younger campers. "Toward the front of the campground is a great splash pad, playground, and dog park, which includes an agility course. These are located away from the RV's; therefore, the campground was very quiet and peaceful," shares Kim H.
Hiking various terrain: The region offers trails ranging from casual walks to challenging treks. "The backpacking loop spans approximately 36 miles with seven primitive campsites along the trail where dogs can accompany their owners," reports one visitor. Trails through Shawnee State Forest connect multiple campgrounds with varying difficulty levels.
Riverfront views: Sandy Springs Campground offers prime Ohio River frontage. "We stayed in site 10 right on the river and the views were great. Lots of green area to play. Huge open field as well by playground," mentions Tiffani C. Many campers enjoy watching barges travel the river throughout the day.
Clean facilities: Campground maintenance is consistently mentioned in positive reviews. "The bathhouse was clean. A laundry room was available," notes Kim H. about the Ohio River Campground section. Another camper mentions that "Turkey Creek Campground section has multiple bathhouses conveniently spaced throughout the grounds."
Dog amenities: Shawnee State Park-Ohio River Campground offers dedicated dog facilities. "Toward the front of the campground is a great splash pad, playground, and dog park, which includes an agility course," writes Kim H. Dog-friendly trails throughout the region make it ideal for pet owners seeking outdoor adventures.
Cell service limitations: Prepare for connectivity issues at most campgrounds. "There is absolutely no cell service in the Campground. The lodge at the top of the hill has a weak signal, but is better than nothing if you really need to check in with outside world," explains Carrie S. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Site selection challenges: Research campsite specifics before booking. "We had reserved Site 63 based on a review I read probably on The Dyrt but I would not recommend this site as it was decidedly not level and had a very short pad. Many of the other sites had even shorter pads; these would really best be suitable for tent campers as the pad would only fit a regular-size vehicle," advises Lee D.
Supply limitations: Stock up before arrival as store options are limited. "Not much access to a good town for supplies so bring what you need," suggests Jarrod M. Most campgrounds offer basic necessities, but comprehensive shopping requires advance planning or significant travel time.
Secluded tent options: Some campgrounds offer more private sites away from main areas. "Unlike many Ohio State parks I've visited, the Shawnee campground has a variety of great tent sites. Several of these are hidden in the trees at the top of some steps and up a short path. We stayed in 12. If you don't mind hauling your gear a short distance from your car, sites like this are perfect as they're for tent campers only," explains Jay T.
Activity variety: Long's Retreat Family Resort provides numerous family entertainment options. "The kids can either swim up at the lake (with multiple water slides and a huge floating dock with diving board), the little kids can have fun in the splash pad right at the beach, go carts, rock wall climbing, basketball, arcade and so much more," writes Kristi J.
Limited connectivity benefits: Many families appreciate the forced digital detox. "Best part is there is no phone service.....everyone has to actually spend time together and it's a great reset!" mentions Kristi J. This feature makes dog-friendly campgrounds near West Portsmouth ideal for family bonding time.
Hookup sharing: Be prepared for electrical connections that may require adaptation. "We were told that the site we'd been assigned was room enough for 52'. Our RV is only 34' so that would be more than enough. We got there and it was maybe 20-24" in length, with no wiggle room because one end was the park road/driveway, the other end a hill," reports Carrie S.
River access sites: Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground and other nearby options offer varied terrain. "Some secluded sites back in the woods, so you don't feel like you are camping in a parking lot in a few places. NOTE that most of these secluded sites (along the back edge of the campground) are up a flight of stairs. You have to carry all your gear up a hill or stairs to set up," warns Megan M.
Extension cords needed: Prepare for power source distances at some campgrounds. "You will need extra water hose and extension cords to get hooked up in a lot of the sites though," advises Ron & Bonnie D. This is particularly important at dog-friendly camping areas near West Portsmouth where hookup placement varies considerably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near West Portsmouth, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near West Portsmouth, OH is Sandy Springs Campground with a 5-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near West Portsmouth, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 76 dog-friendly camping locations near West Portsmouth, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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