Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Yakima, WA

Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground maintains pet-friendly sites throughout its grounds with access to hiking trails and wildlife viewing areas. Pets are allowed at all sites with standard leash requirements in effect. Several campgrounds in the Yakima River Canyon also welcome pets, including Roza, Big Pines, Umtanum, and Lmuma Creek. These sites accommodate both tent and RV camping with pets, featuring picnic tables and fire rings at each location. Ellensburg KOA accepts pets at their tent sites, RV spots, and cabin accommodations with additional amenities like electric hookups and showers. Circle H RV Ranch in Yakima provides full hookup sites for RV campers with pets. Most reviewers note that camping areas remain well-maintained and clean despite concerns about security at some locations.

The Yakima River Canyon campgrounds offer excellent access to water for dogs with sites positioned along calm bends in the river. These locations provide natural swimming opportunities during warmer months. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground allows pets at both drive-in and boat-in sites with toilets and trash service available. Camping with pets requires proper waste disposal and keeping dogs leashed when outside designated areas. Visitors should be prepared for temperature extremes as summer temperatures can reach over 100°F while spring and fall camping may experience cooler nights. Park bathrooms are generally well-maintained though availability of soap and shower facilities varies by location. The main campgrounds remain accessible year-round with several offering all-season availability for pet owners seeking outdoor adventures throughout the year.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Yakima, Washington (100)

    1. Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Yakima, WA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 575-2774

    "It’s close to Yakima and great for a place to visit while you’re in “The Palm Springs of Washington”."

    "I head over to Yakima for my sun. This campground never disappoints!

    There are lots of spaces for tents and RVs. Clean and well maintained bathrooms."

    2. Big Pines Campground - Yakima River Canyon

    12 Reviews
    Selah, WA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 665-2100

    $25 / night

    "Lots of sites, reasonably priced, paved roads, near the Yakima River.  The train on the other side of the river will wake you once or twice during the night.  A great stop from Bend to North Cascades."

    "Right on the Yakima river, fishing. Boating, floating the river. Watching Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Eagles and Pelicans."

    3. Circle H RV Ranch

    2 Reviews
    Yakima, WA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 457-3683

    4. Roza - Yakima River Canyon

    4 Reviews
    Selah, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 665-2100

    $15 / night

    "Nice "fee" campground on the Yakima River.  This is and ending point for summer rafting trips that start near Ellensburg, WA and a great place for calm water fun. "

    "Great location and 20 min to Yakima or 15 to reds fly shop."

    5. Umtanum Campground - Yakima River Canyon

    10 Reviews
    Ellensburg, WA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 665-2100

    $38 / night

    "My husband and I don't really ever make our way around the Yakima area, only because the hiking there is more "desert" feel and in the summer the rattlesnakes are out and about."

    "It is a nice split between towns, Ellensburg and Yakima. The hiking is a pleasure in the area, with lots of wildlife. Many deer in the area, even walking through the campsite at times."

    6. Windy Point Campground

    6 Reviews
    Tieton, WA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 338-7869

    $22 / night

    "I wanted to introduce my boyfriend and his dog to camping and make sure they liked it. This place was perfect. Beautiful scenery (spots 4 and 6 were the only ones with river views). "

    "Hikers and backpackers are especially fortunate to have access to a variety of spectacular trails near the campground"

    7. Ellensburg KOA

    19 Reviews
    Ellensburg, WA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 562-7616

    "This is right off I90 very convenient but close to freeway so some road noise. I90 is the main east west freeway in Washington. It is right on the river and there's a pool."

    "Super nice sites on the Yakima river. My parents rented a cabin and we're wowwed! Nice folks and awesome scenery. Power and water to tent site. Good cell service and wifi. Hope to stay again soon"

    8. Yakima River Canyon Campgrounds (Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, Big Pines, Roza) — Yakima River Canyon

    1 Review
    Selah, WA
    15 miles
    +1 (509) 665-2100

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Dry camping only but close to Yakima. A fly fishing paradise.

    There are train tracks close by which can be a bit noisy. However, trains don’t blow horn when passing by."

    9. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    Vantage, WA
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 856-2700

    "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."

    10. Lmuma Creek Campground - Yakima River Canyon

    1 Review
    Selah, WA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 665-2100

    $15 / night

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Yakima, WA

507 Reviews of 100 Yakima Campgrounds


  • Shay F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2019

    Umtanum Campground - Yakima River Canyon

    Epicenter for Summer River Floaters

    Eastern Washington near the water is my favorite type of landscape.  It's a hot, windy, and a true desert climate.  When you get near a body of water like you do along the Yakima River, the diversity of life expands and makes for great wildlife watching.

    Umtanum Recreation Site is part of several BLM campgrounds lumped together along the Yakima River known as the Yakima River Canyon Campgrounds.  All can be reserved ahead of time via the reservation.gov website:  https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/250985.  Standard for most BLM camping in Washington, sites are very basic.  Gravel parking, pit toilets, and a picnic table.  This place does have a dumpster for trash, not all do.  There are no hook ups, no drinking water, and in our case, very little shade.  Neighbors are close and there is not a lot of privacy.  The day use area is right there too, close to camping and can be loud.  It is heavily patrolled by the wonderful BLM folks to keep everything clean and the people orderly.  They also give out tickets if you don't mind the warnings for correct passes or day use fees.

    The campground itself is one little loop with six sites.  The loop is an offshoot of a very large gravel parking area for day use.  Mostly boat launching and hiking access to Umtanum Creek and Umtaum Ridge trails.   You can check the Information Board for rules on day use and camping fees, passes, and how to check to see if a site is reserved. 

    We arrived on July 3rd in the afternoon.  The campground was very quiet and all the sites were reserved.  The morning of July 4th, the recreation site turned into a total madhouse.  BLM Rangers, Law Enforcement, making constant rounds to patrol the never ending hoards of people coming to park and float the river. There was a lot of noise, dust, drunk and rowdy folks.  Friday was calm again until afternoon, Saturday was not as bad as the 4th but still pretty crazy.  It was also hot!  No shade to be had in our site.  After hiking in the morning, we spent a lot of time across the bridge, in it's shadow, in the river.  

    If you are using this spot as a base to do some hiking, fishing, or floating it's very convenient.  I am sure in Spring and Fall when river floating is not at it's peak, it's gorgeous and peaceful.  The raptors and songbirds are splendid.  We saw Bighorn sheep on the hill, big rock squirrels, wild turkeys with babies, and fish.  No rattlesnakes or ticks, but this is prime territory.  Hiking down the Umtanum Creek trail, over the suspension bridge, is one of my favorite hikes ever.

  • R
    May. 13, 2024

    Whispering Pines RV Campground

    A little town

    So I tried booking a spot through this app, and then cashapp was pending the purchase. I ended up calling the campground and they never received my booking. So I waited about 10 min and then I seen that my money was refunded. I ended up calling the camp back and booking it through over the phone. Same price....so I don't see what discount might have done. And also this campground or the lady who answered the phone had never heard of this APP...and named a few partners they work with....this app not being one of them...so...I don't know... ANYWHO.....

    Stayed one night, the site 204 was a little difficult to find. The on-site store was pretty good size, from what I saw they had camping gear and regular convenience store stuff. When we got there there was only 1 other tent/ family set up a space away. The site was In a good place, just a walk away from the river. We did have like 2 hornets make their way into our tent. I used the showers behind the dog park, which had 2 shower stalls. And was empty. Hot water instantly, cute lil set up. The campground it self was pretty big...like it was a little town...big play area for kids, lake looked big, same with dog park. Then I took a walk around on the path, and followed the river (as in picture). Quiet time at 10....woke up early and packed up...felt safe, didn't get bothered..no trouble checking In...loved it...

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2024

    Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground

    Nice location on the lake

    Nice spacious sites. Lots of privacy between sites. 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. The town of vantage is very small with a lot of closed shops. Has a gas station and convenience store. That’s about it. Very scenic area and quiet and relaxing.

  • C M.
    Jul. 30, 2019

    Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground

    Really cool

    This place is pretty cool. It’s close to Yakima and great for a place to visit while you’re in “The Palm Springs of Washington”.

  • Megan C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2016

    La Wis Wis Campground

    Long time favorite

    I've been coming here since I was a little kid and it's still one of my favorite campgrounds (with leashed pets allowed). It's cute, wooded, with a moss covered old growth forest, fairly private camps, with one large group site available. Obviously the river spots are the prime locations but we recently had to branch out and stayed in the more wooded Loop B at site B4. We found we had plenty of space and privacy for a party of 5. At this location we had piped water between us and site B5, and we were conveniently located a short walk from restrooms and Purcell Falls. There are plenty of options to keep you busy inside the campground such as visit to one of the many rivers or creeks, the blue hole or a hike to Purcell falls.
    If you choose to use the campground as a base camp your close to many other options as well; Ohanapecosh campground and amphitheater, hike naches peak loop, visit the town of Packwood or Mount Rainier National Park (no pets allowed).

  • R
    Sep. 13, 2020

    Yakima River RV Park

    Great spot

    1. http://www/yakimarv.com
    2. My wife and I started full timing in our RV three years ago and have stayed at many RV parks during that time. Yakima River RV Park is one that is special to us. It's located on the Yakima River near Ellensburg Washington. It is a small privately owned park in a beautiful valley. The park is great for self-contained RV's and it does offer some dry camping sites. Due to the park being on a flood-plain there are limited FHU sites available for a minimum 2 day stay. WiFi is free and relatively strong. The grounds are carefully maintained with grass and trees between the spacious sites. Sites can accommodate RV's up to 60ft. and are pull through. Overflow parking is available for your toad or cargo trailer. If you are looking for a quiet overnight stay or longer, this is for you. Oh, you may occasionally hear the baying of the rodeo bulls in the pasture next to the park
  • Russ  H.
    Aug. 20, 2017

    Ellensburg KOA

    Stopover campground

    This is right off I90 very convenient but close to freeway so some road noise. I90 is the main east west freeway in Washington. It is right on the river and there's a pool. Rafting and fishing the Yakima river are great reasons to stay here. If you're looking for a wilderness experience this isn't the place. But for a place to stay while rafting or fishing it's great.

  • Travis P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2021

    Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground

    Decent campground in a bad area with poor maintenance

    My son and I are from the area and have been Boondocking all around Washington State for over a year now in our old RV's. My son purchased a panel truck to convert, and my shower is on the fritz, so we decided to give Yakima Sportsman Campground a try. We needed the advertised shower facilities as my son had court in Yakima the following day. Not ONE of the FOUR showers worked!! The camp host was a pleasant enough man, but had no idea (apparently) about the shower issues, and the Ranger wasn't due back until Wednesday. This was on Monday...the week before LABOR DAY! The campground loses at LEAST one star for being located in YAKIMA... I've been living in Parker since 2011, but my mother is from Parker, and the house I lived in has belonged to my family since she was a child (she passed last year at 78 years old), so I believe I've earned the right to say Yakima is the LAST place on the planet that I would bring my family for vacation. It's safer in COMPTON, California. I was raised in the East Bay, near Oakland, and used to travel frequently to the LA area for work, so I have a reference point for comparison. In fact, I'm Boondocking in preparation for a move back to California next month. Besides the dangerous location and the non-working showers, this would have been a 4 star visit, the sites had power and water, we're level and adequately spaced apart, and mine was the only "sketchy" looking vehicle around.... Which is appropriate, since I'm a little "sketchy" myself... Lol! (Blame it on the RAP... WEST SIIIIIIDE!!)


Guide to Yakima

Yakima, Washington, offers a variety of pet-friendly camping options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy nature with their furry companions.

Pet owners like the spacious sites and amenities

Dog owners appreciate the nearby activities

Tips for camping with dogs near Yakima

  • Bring plenty of water and a portable bowl to keep your pet hydrated, especially at campgrounds like Circle H RV Ranch where amenities may vary.
  • Ensure your dog is leashed at all times, particularly in busy areas like Yakima River RV Park where other campers and wildlife may be present.
  • Pack a pet-friendly first aid kit and any necessary supplies, as some campgrounds, such as Ahtanum Meadows Campground, may be remote and lack nearby stores.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Yakima, WA is Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 21 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 100 dog-friendly camping locations near Yakima, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.