Dog-Friendly Camping near Royal City, WA

96 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Potholes State Park Campground accommodates pets throughout its well-spaced campsites and multiple camping areas. The park features standard pet-friendly facilities at both its RV hookup sites and more primitive tent camping areas. Dogs must remain leashed while in the campground, with owners responsible for waste cleanup. Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping and Sand Hollow Campground also permit pets in a more rustic setting. Campers bringing pets should be aware of the local wildlife, as rattlesnakes have been spotted in the area. The campground layout includes six circular RV loops with grassy sites surrounded by poplar trees, plus a separate tent camping area with more shade. A large day use section provides additional space for pets to exercise on leash. Ticks have been reported on dogs during warmer months, requiring preventative measures for camping with pets.

    Hiking trails near the campgrounds offer pet-friendly recreation options, though owners should monitor their animals closely for encounters with wildlife. The reservoir provides water access, but the shoreline can be muddy and unsuitable for dogs to swim in certain areas. During summer months, mosquitoes become problematic for both humans and pets, particularly in shaded camping areas. Excessive barking may disturb neighboring campsites, especially when campgrounds are fully occupied on weekends. Temperature extremes are common in this region, with hot days and cool nights requiring proper shelter and water access for pets. O'Sullivan Sportsman Resort provides an alternative with well-maintained grounds and full hookups for those seeking more amenities while traveling with pets. Spring and fall bring more moderate temperatures, making them the most comfortable seasons for dog-friendly camping near Royal City, with most campgrounds open year-round to accommodate pets across all seasons.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Royal City (96)

      1. Potholes State Park Campground

      4.3(23)13mi from Royal City139 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Cons: Typical designated camping stacked right next to each other so barking dogs, crying kids, or drunks are highly likely to be a nuisance. Overall it's really well maintained and accessible."

      "We got site 98 which backs up to the lake.  Great idea, but due to people having no manners, we had people walking through our campsite to get to the water to fish constantly."

      from $12 - $71 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground

      4.4(28)18mi from Royal CityRVs, Tents

      "No dog park. Great view of the lake from your door. We took a 4 mile, one-way, bike ride to the town of Vantage and then to the Ginkgo Petrified Forest."

      "This place is close to home for anyone in central Washington, the sites are giant and the views are amazing."

      3. Sand Hollow Campground

      3.8(9)17mi from Royal CityRVs, Tents

      "Walk in sites are really tight. Heavy winds at night.  No running water bathrooms. Noise from highway at night is very noticeable. No recycling option."

      "Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and path down to a rocky beach on the Columbia."

      4. Mardon Resort

      4.2(5)14mi from Royal CityRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This place is a staple in eastern Washington."

      "Tucked in right on Moses Lake. Good fishing & a beach with sand. Fully stocked store and friendly staff."

      5. Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping

      4.7(10)19mi from Royal CityRVs, Tents

      "Great location so close to 90 but tucked away - will be staying here often"

      "I prefer to park here when its not busy as the "Feathers" basalt columns are really pretty to camp up next to. The second open site down the road has pit toilets and is a much larger area."

      6. Vantage Riverstone Resort Campground

      3.8(9)19mi from Royal CityRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "It is hay cutting season, and semi’s are racing up and down the road 60 feet away from the front sites starting at 7:30 am and continuing until dark. Jake brakes will wake you up. Trust me."

      "Location has trees, grass, picnic tables, full hook ups, basic and premium rates, showers(3 minutes hot water for .50, buy 2 tokens at a pop, you can walk down to the river."

      from $30 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Long Lake

      4.3(8)19mi from Royal City

      "Would have been 5 stars if not for the garbage & toilet locations. Burn ban currently in effect. Very dry - embers would not be good. Even next to the lake. Would stay again"

      "Great place for camping right next to the lake. A little broken glass here and there but mostly pretty natural."

      8. O'Sullivan Sportsman Resort

      5.0(2)13mi from Royal CityRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "It’s right next to a golf course, it’s absolutely gigantic and incredibly well manicured. Great for a family or longer term stay, though it was a bit expensive for us."

      9. Perch Point Wild Camping Area

      4.4(5)17mi from Royal CityRVs, Tents

      "Pros: The lake has a really pretty sunset view. Spots are spaced out and the ones by the water have picnic tables. Easy drive in."

      "This is a must stop for anyone heading east or west through Washington. It’s easy to get to. Plenty of spots, I counted 7 to 8 along the water. But you can prob get another 5-6 more inland."

      10. Martha Lake Dispersed Camping

      4.0(6)18mi from Royal CityRVs

      "Martha Lake was a pleasant surprise. We stayed overnight on the 4th of July in our Sprinter van to give our dogs a break from the fireworks."

      "I didn't drive very far in since I've never been here and it was dark. I parked close to the water near the entrance and next to a sketchy bathroom that had bullet holes in the door."

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time



    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Royal City, WA

    485 Reviews of 96 Royal City Campgrounds

    • Courtney L.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Big Pines Campground - Yakima River Canyon

      Nice, clean, & beautiful overnight stop. There were plenty of sites to choose between, we stayed in site 11 since we were departing early. Like other reviews stated, no water or cell service but that’s to be expected.

    • Courtney L.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Ringold Springs Camping

      Big empty field with plenty of space for campers of any size. They have a vaulted toilet available if needed. The sign says you must register but there is no way to register. Discovery pass required. It’s well off the beaten path, in the middle of farms. There is a river & boat launch that plenty of people occupied but unless you go that way, you’d never know they are there.

    • RThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Wanapum State Park Campground

      Nice stop. One night for me. A little pricey at $51 since I didn't need hookups but I rolled right into spot 11 on the river with a great view. Easy registration and clean facilities.

    • BThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 10, 2026

      Coyote Run RV Park

      LOUD, LOUD, LOUD

      CG is yards away from the highway on-ramp. Our rig would shake as semis accelerated past. Not to mention the general highway noise. Additionally, there’s a 24 hr fueling stop near the CG, so all night long there are trucks coming and going. CG was tidy, folks were nice, bathrooms were clean-ish. Did I mention it was loud? If you have to stay here avoid east perimeter spots 60-72, they are closest to the highway. I will not stay here again.

    • Emily A.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 27, 2026

      Perch Point Wild Camping Area

      Surprisingly great!

      I’m really pleasantly surprised by this site. It’s right on the way (closest we’ve ever gotten to stay because we’re a bigger rig). Close to town!!! Has a perfectly nice bathrooms nearby. Beautiful sunsets. Lots of room for spreading out. Not popular for late September. Mosquitos are out at night but not during the day time!

    • DThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 21, 2026

      Smokiam Campground & Kampers Korner

      Nice clean not spectacular

      It is basically a gravel lot along soap lake. It has full hookups and costs $52/ Night. Easy to get in. You have to use the QR code box on the board beside the gate. It works easily and you get your gate code by email quickly. The internet is strong but slow. We are using our Verizon with 5g signal. Showers nice and hot.

    • Dustin W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 20, 2026

      Perch Point Wild Camping Area

      Pretty view, lots of bugs, stinky

      Pros: The lake has a really pretty sunset view. Spots are spaced out and the ones by the water have picnic tables. Easy drive in. Not many people here Cons: we visited in mid September, arrived around sunset, and the bugs were BAAAADDD, like real bad by the water. Went up to an inland site and they were still active but not as terrible. You can hear road noise. Also smells like horse manure

      Update: some random man came and parked right next to us at 0630 to “walk his dogs”

    • Betsy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 19, 2026

      Quincy Lake

      Quiet!!

      Pit toilets clean and stocked. Sites spread out. Only one other camper on a Saturday. Diverse landscape with variety of birds Verizon 2 bars on ridge 1 bar in lower sites. No trash or water.

    • BThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 17, 2026

      Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground

      Nice weekend in Yakima

      We decided to try out our new Jeep toad as well as invite son/family with his new travel trailer to Yakima Sportsman.  There was a bit of reluctance to book on rumors of homeless issues, but we went ahead and I'm glad we did.  Other than a couple homeless cars in the day use area, we had no problems in the RV/Travel Trailer camping areas.  In fact, we really had no issues anywhere as we walked all over the place.  We took the grandkids fishing in the small pond on site.  Drove to Sarge Hubbard Park and walked to river to fish, caught a nice trout and set it free.  There was a homeless camp across the river from our fishing spot but again it had no impact on our stay.  All in all, a very nice get away!

    Guide to Royal City

    Royal City, Washington sits amidst the Columbia Basin at approximately 1,060 feet elevation, characterized by rocky basalt formations and dramatic coulees carved during the Ice Age floods. Camping conditions range from developed state parks to primitive dispersed sites, with extreme temperature variations common between day and night. The region's open, arid landscape offers minimal natural shade but excellent stargazing opportunities.

    What to Do

    Rock climbing opportunities: Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites offers exceptional climbing terrain with numerous routes. "Tons of campsites. Tons of rock climbing. Limited bathrooms," notes Tyler N. The area attracts climbers year-round with "great climbing in any weather."

    Waterfall hiking: At Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping, visitors can hike to a scenic waterfall visible across the coulee. "There's a trail down to the waterfall and one toilet but no tp so be prepared," advises Breanna R. The area combines hiking with geological exploration.

    Water recreation: Mardon Resort provides direct reservoir access for fishing and boating. "Tucked in right on Moses Lake. Good fishing & a beach with sand... you can rent golf carts for driving on the beach & campground," explains Shawn A. The location offers both motorized and non-motorized water activities.

    What Campers Like

    Stargazing conditions: The open desert landscape creates ideal night sky viewing. At Rocky Coulee Recreation Area, campers appreciate the unobstructed views. "Gorgeous view. Nicely maintained area with picnic tables and campfire pits," reports Jamie C., highlighting the minimal light pollution.

    Wildlife encounters: Multiple campgrounds offer opportunities to view native desert species. "We had a large herd of bighorn sheep as pre dusk visitors which was great to admire," shares Chad L. about Rocky Coulee. The area supports diverse wildlife despite the arid conditions.

    Geological features: The basalt formations and petrified wood attract geology enthusiasts. "There's great fishing if you have a boat, but with no easily accessible shore, it's not great for shore fishing. The shore is mud so swimming also isn't ideal either," notes Stephanie S. about Potholes State Park, emphasizing the unique shoreline conditions.

    What You Should Know

    Wind conditions: Expect consistent winds, especially in open areas. At Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground, campers note: "Can be really, really windy and rowdy if groups are staging for concerts at the Gorge." Wind intensifies at night, affecting tent stability.

    Limited natural shade: Most sites offer minimal tree cover. "Not very private, but the place was clean and quiet. Make sure there isn't a burn ban before you go otherwise you might be out of luck for dinner," advises Kevin K. about Ginkgo Petrified Forest.

    Wildlife precautions: Encounter preparation is essential in this desert environment. "This is a good place to camp, but... While we did have good coverage for our Verizon phones... This was also the first time we experienced animal problems on a camping trip," reports Doug at Sand Hollow Campground, detailing raccoon encounters.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Royal City, WA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Royal City, WA is Potholes State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Royal City, WA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 96 dog-friendly camping locations near Royal City, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.