Dog-Friendly Camping near Island City, OR

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    Grande Hot Springs RV Resort welcomes pets at all campsites with spacious pull-through sites providing ample room for dogs to rest alongside RVs. The campground offers tent sites, RV spaces with full hookups, cabins, and glamping options - all pet-friendly. Hilgard Junction State Park Campground, Morgan Lake, and Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 dispersed camping areas also allow pets throughout their grounds. Leashed pets must be supervised at all campgrounds, with most requiring owners to pick up after their animals. The resort features well-maintained walking paths around the perimeter specifically designed for exercising dogs. Most campers report having the lakefront sites at Morgan Lake entirely to themselves, providing excellent opportunities for quiet walks with pets.

    Dog owners should prepare for the mosquitoes at Grande Hot Springs, as several campers note the insects can be problematic during certain seasons. The steep, bumpy gravel road leading to Morgan Lake requires caution when transporting pets and gear, though the free camping and lake access make it worthwhile for dogs who enjoy water. Spring Creek Campground and Bird Track Springs provide additional pet-friendly options with more rustic amenities. Most campgrounds in the area lack designated off-leash areas, so owners should bring appropriate restraints. The walking trails along the small river at Grande Hot Springs offer fishing opportunities while exercising pets. During winter camping, the heated water taps at the resort ensure pets and owners have access to fresh water despite freezing temperatures.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Island City (87)

      1. Grande Hot Springs RV Resort

      4.5(45)8mi from Island CityRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Pet friendly, family friendly."

      "Pets cannot be off leash. The pool is mor of a big hot tub, not for actual swimming"

      2. Hilgard Junction State Park Campground

      4.2(12)9mi from Island CityRVs, Tents

      "There is a trail if you head North that winds up and puts you on the Oregon trail, I biked it on my ebike, it is pretty strenuous and bumpy."

      "Hilgard Junction is a small, Riverside day use area, travel rest-stop and campground at the junction of I-84 and Highway 244 on the Grande Ronde river at the base of Mt. Emily."

      from $10 / night

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      3. Morgan Lake - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

      4.4(5)5mi from Island CityRVs, Tents

      "But that's the only downside to this nice FREE campground just outside of LaGrande, OR.  I had the whole place to myself mid-week in May. You're up high, so beautiful view of the sky."

      "The sites are nice and most are lake front. There were a few other campers but none near our site. The road up is steep and bumpy gravel but we managed in our two wheel drive van."

      4. Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed

      3.9(10)12mi from Island CityTents

      "Light sleepers would have a hard time here due to highway noise but overall good rest stop. My dog wouldn’t stop trying to eat all the horse poop around the camp site."

      "Primitive dispersed campsites with rock fire rings right off the highway. Down side is it's a little too noisy for my taste."

      5. Spring Creek Campground

      4.2(9)13mi from Island CityRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "It’s direct access onto the road from the highway exit. It’s a rough road about 1.2 miles, that’s bumpy and has lots of pot holes. Snow coverage on the road was minimal, max 2”."

      "Arrived around 5pm on a Saturday in October and 3 spots were available - the others filled up after me. Quiet and beautiful while being close to the highway."

      6. Bird Track Springs

      4.3(8)13mi from Island CityRVs, Tents

      "If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, staying here in March is plausible. There was about a foot and a half of snow, but the bathrooms were still accessible. It’s cold, but fun!"

      "Every time we camp here it has been quiet, wild life comes around to say hi. Vault toilets, no water, no trash pickup. Always clean,,, Nice place..."

      from $5 - $10 / night

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      7. Fox Hill Campground by MERA Motocross Track

      3.7(3)4mi from Island CityRVs, Tents

      "Not a lot to choose from around LaGrande but we did grab a spot here for the night. A bit of local traffic going by but wasn’t bad once it got dark. Summer months might be a different story."

      "We stayed at Fox Hill Campground over Thanksgiving night (driving from Hells Canyon), and it turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly peaceful stop."

      8. La Grande Rendezvous RV Park

      3.0(3)1mi from Island CityRVs, Tents

      from $58 - $78 / night

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      9. Pilcher Creek Reservoir

      4.6(13)20mi from Island CityRVs, Tents

      "Most of the sites overlooked a beautiful lake stick among the hills, and we’re in decent shape with a fire ring, table and little grill."

      "Although there’s not a ton of spots, it’s lovely and was a quiet solitude away from the road but not too far. Saw a ton of wildlife too (bring your bear spray)."

      10. Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area

      3.5(26)24mi from Island City68 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Oregon always has beautiful state parks. This one is no different. It is close to Hwy 84, so there is road noise. The campsites don't seem to be as on top of each other as some places."

      "It was a welcome dose of green after a long day of brown along the interstate through Idaho and western Oregon. The cabin was rustic, the shower house was in good repair with nice hot showers."

      from $22 - $92 / night

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Island City, OR

    434 Reviews of 87 Island City Campgrounds


    • S
      Jan. 11, 2025

      A-Frame RV Park

      Friendly Front Desk Staff

      Paid $44 for a night with full hookups. We appreciated the friendly staff. Dog Friendly with a 14 acres off-leash dog park! Washrooms were small but very clean. Even though it is 1 minute off the highway it was fairly quiet.

    • T
      Oct. 8, 2021

      A-Frame RV Park

      Great stop

      Good stop great facility good dog park 30amp/water…easy on off the freeway. Great town/ location…we’ll worth the stop

    • Kacey H.
      Oct. 14, 2024

      Mtn View RV Park

      Easy

      Easy access off of I-84, mostly pull through full hookup sites, nicely landscaped with beautiful views! It has a small fenced-in dog park, pool and spa.

    • J
      Aug. 5, 2023

      A-Frame RV Park

      Ginormous dog park

      We stayed here just overnight. We used the showers and laundry --both were very clean. Courteous, helpful staff. It looked like about half of the tenants are permanent.

      The dog park on the back forty was seriously about 40 acres.

    • Kim J.The Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 3, 2025

      Fox Hill Campground by MERA Motocross Track

      Close to town and free ✨️

      The views are incredible. Ohv park so lots of riders. I enjoyed the sounds of people enjoying themselves. Others may not. Pets are allowed. Lots of trails! There's some trash.

    • Jon F.
      Sep. 2, 2018

      Grande Hot Springs RV Resort

      Picturesque.

      I wish we had more time at this spot. Beautiful scenery. Small but very clean pool. The campgrounds are very well taken care of. Pet friendly, family friendly.

    • Tara M.
      May. 28, 2025

      Pendleton KOA

      If you have another option go there

      We have been here for month and honestly that 29 days to long. This place is okay for one night but if you want piece and quiet, this place is not it. The spots are so close together that you can hear others conversations. Every other day we were woke up from the park staff talking beside my RV running sprinklers, doing lawn care, or something. Don't leave anything on their picnic table or they will knock on your door at 9:30 am and they will keep knocking til you answer. Sure there's wifi but good luck using it. Pet park really stinks. Yes dogs use it but they don't treat it so on a sunny day it's strong stinch of piss. Almost Unbearable. Staff in the office are sweet but maintenance guy is an asshole. But the veins are beautiful.

    • C
      Jun. 25, 2022

      Grande Hot Springs RV Resort

      Neat and beautiful

      They have an amazing brand new reception, very nice people. These are the cleanest restrooms I’ve ever seen, and we camp a lot! Wifi is okay. Only giving 4 stars because they could add some kids recreation. Other than that, 10/10. Pets cannot be off leash. The pool is mor of a big hot tub, not for actual swimming

    • Mark S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Mar. 29, 2026

      Grande Hot Springs RV Resort

      Quiet rv park with hot springs

      This park is a little pricey but it is in a great location near the Hot Lake Springs in La Grande Oregon. The sites are somewhat level, off between 1 and 3 inches so you have to watch how you park if you have an RV that can’t accommodate anything over 2 inches off level. There is a lot of grass, trees, birds, a couple of ponds, and it is very quiet. There is a super friendly and sweet cat who supervises all check-ins. The reservation process was easy, late check-in was easy, and they were flexible on check-out time. All hook-ups were conveniently located and worked correctly. They have seasonal hot spring soaking tubs which we did not get to use, but they were very clean and looked great. If we stayed more than one night we definitely would have enjoyed a soak!


    Guide to Island City

    Island City campers have several options within 30 minutes of town, ranging from developed RV parks to rustic dispersed sites. The area sits in the Grande Ronde Valley at approximately 2,800 feet elevation, surrounded by the Blue Mountains. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F while winters can drop below freezing, making campground availability seasonal at some locations.

    What to do

    **Mineral soaking pools: At Grande Hot Springs RV Resort, visitors can enjoy natural hot spring-fed soaking pools. "The two hot spring fed soaking pools were open for 'twilight soak' until 11 PM which was a great touch after a long day on the road," notes Paul B. The pools offer different temperature options with "one pool is warm and the other is hot," according to Ursala K.

    **Wildlife viewing: Pilcher Creek Reservoir offers excellent opportunities for observing local fauna. "Saw a ton of wildlife too (bring your bear spray)," reports Kennedy F. At Grande Hot Springs, the nature trail provides habitat for various species where campers have spotted "huge bull frogs, tadpoles, and fish. Also saw mule deer," according to Cheryl S.

    **Fishing access: Hilgard Junction State Park Campground provides river access for fishing. Located "right on the grande ronde river which was cool and peaceful," notes Steven G. The area offers "crystal clear water" with a "shallow river bed" that Brandon K. mentions has historically yielded gold findings.

    What campers like

    **Natural hot springs: The mineral-rich waters at Grande Hot Springs provide therapeutic benefits. "I was grateful for the health benefits of the mineral soak," writes Ursala K. The facilities are well-maintained as "the resort is well taken care. It's new and clean," allowing visitors to enjoy the springs in comfort.

    **Peaceful mountain settings: Pilcher Creek Reservoir offers tranquil surroundings with mountain vistas. "Super quiet spot that has beautiful views of the nearby mountain ranges," David E. reports. Julian R. found it "a short drive from the interstate (~8 miles)" making it accessible yet remote enough for solitude.

    **Spacious campsites: Campgrounds throughout the area provide ample room between sites. At Spring Creek Campground, there are "4 large sites with level spots, fire ring, picnic tables, vault toilet," notes Emily C. Grande Hot Springs features "very nice RV park. very clean and well maintained. Roads and all sites are gravel. Lots of green grass areas and dog areas," according to Richard H.

    What you should know

    **Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires preparation. Morgan Lake has "a road up to this campground is VERY steep—definitely smelled my brakes on the way down," warns Kathy B. For Spring Creek Campground, Charles T. advises, "About a mile of decent dirt road, a few washboards and potholes, just go slow."

    **Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds due to proximity to I-84. At Hilgard Junction, "Even though the freeway is about 60 yards away and up the hill the traffic noise was muted," according to Steven G. Brandon K. notes this park is "directly off of the interstate so there are a lot of random travelers coming and going at all hours."

    **Seasonal bugs: Insect activity varies by location and time of year. At Grande Hot Springs, Nichole M. reported "Lots of mosquitos!" in July. However, Joseph T. noted that in early spring "it was cold enough at night to keep the mosquitos at bay."

    Tips for camping with families

    **Clean facilities: Bird Track Springs offers well-maintained amenities for families. "Cheap, well-spaced sites, most of them shaded. Vault toilet. Great for an overnight stay!" Raymond V. reports. The site is "ADA friendly area with paved rv spots and designated well kept tent spots," making it accessible for all family members.

    **Wildlife education: Hilgard Junction offers opportunities for children to learn about local ecology. Cadie H. notes, "There is the Grande Ronde river right there, BBQ pits and plenty of space! Restrooms and fresh water are available." The area provides a "cool and relaxing" environment where "wild life comes around to say hi," according to Jim B.

    **Free camping options: Morgan Lake provides no-cost camping for budget-conscious families. "Beautiful campground. Maybe 15 sites, and totally free. 3 day camping limit. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings," explains Zachary. Jenna R. confirms, "What a great little campground, and FREE! We had the place almost completely to ourselves."

    Tips from RVers

    **Full hookups: Grande Hot Springs RV Resort caters specifically to RV needs. "Pretty mountain valley campground with many full hookup pull through sites. Friendly staff at check-in as well," notes Paul B. Richard H. adds that "All sites are pull through and can accommodate large RV's."

    **Dump station access: While not all campgrounds offer sewer connections, some provide dumping facilities. Hilgard Junction offers a sanitary dump station, though Travis T. cautions, "For some reason the app says there's rv dumps here when there isn't any," suggesting facilities may change seasonally.

    **Level parking: Finding flat sites is important for larger rigs. At Spring Creek, Emily C. notes the campground offers "4 large sites with level spots." David M. found Grande Hot Springs to be a "very quiet wide open campground surrounded by snowy peaks. Full hookups at all sites, mostly 30 amp service but many sites have 50 amp also."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Island City, OR?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Island City, OR is Grande Hot Springs RV Resort with a 4.5-star rating from 45 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Island City, OR?

    TheDyrt.com has all 87 dog-friendly camping locations near Island City, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.