Dog-Friendly RV Travel Guide to Frankfort, Kentucky
Bourbon country, historic downtown, great food, and plenty of places to explore with your dog.
Frankfort makes a great home base for an RV trip through central Kentucky. This guide will help you find dog-friendly RV campgrounds, restaurants and patios, trails, attractions, pet services, and practical information for traveling around Frankfort with your dog.
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8 Dog-Friendly RV Campgrounds Near Frankfort, Kentucky
Finding the right campground makes traveling with your dog a lot easier. These eight RV parks and campgrounds are within about 30 miles of Frankfort, giving you convenient access to Kentucky's capital and the surrounding bourbon-country attractions. Several also offer on-site dog parks, making them especially convenient when traveling with your four-legged companion.
Elkhorn Creek RV Park
📍 About 4 miles from downtown Frankfort
115 full-hookup sites with 30/50-amp service, concrete and gravel pads, and some creekside sites. An on-site dog park makes this a great choice when traveling with your dog.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ Full Hookups ✓ On-Site Dog Park
Kentucky River Campground & RV Park
📍 About 9 miles from downtown Frankfort
90 RV sites with 30/50-amp hookups, including riverfront sites along the Kentucky River. The campground has an on-site dog park and gives you easy access to the river and surrounding outdoor recreation.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ 30/50-Amp Hookups ✓ On-Site Dog Park
Still Waters Campground
📍 About 8 miles from downtown Frankfort
A smaller 17-site campground with full hookups and a quieter atmosphere. Dogs are welcome but must remain leashed, making this a good option for travelers who prefer a more relaxed campground setting.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ Full Hookups ✓ Quiet Setting
Cummins Ferry RV Park & Campground
📍 About 22 miles from downtown Frankfort
A scenic Kentucky River campground with a boat ramp and marina. Dogs must be leashed and non-aggressive, with a 2–3 pet maximum per site. An on-site dog park makes it especially convenient for dog travelers.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ On-Site Dog Park ✓ Riverfront/Marina
Three Springs Campground & RV Park
📍 About 26 miles from downtown Frankfort
30- and 50-amp sites with water hookups and a dump station. The campground also has three hiking trails. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and cleaned up after. A convenient option if you're also visiting the Ark Encounter or traveling north toward Cincinnati.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ 30/50-Amp ✓ Hiking Trails
Whispering Hills RV Park
📍 About 22 miles from downtown Frankfort
A larger RV park with 230 sites, 30/50-amp hookups, a swimming pool, fishing pond, playground and an on-site dog park. A good choice if you want more campground amenities during your stay.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ 30/50-Amp Hookups ✓ On-Site Dog Park
Camp on the Kentucky
📍 About 21 miles from downtown Frankfort
Back-in sites offer water, electric and sewer, while pull-through sites have water and electric. Most developed sites offer 20/30/50-amp service. Pets are allowed with no published breed restrictions.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ 20/30/50-Amp ✓ River Setting
Adventure Bound Eagle Valley
📍 About 30 miles from downtown Frankfort
A family-oriented camping resort with pools and planned activities. Water/electric and full-hookup sites are available, with 20/30/50-amp service. Every site includes a fire ring and picnic table. Dogs must be current on vaccinations and leashed at all times.
✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ Full Hookups Available ✓ Resort Amenities
Dog-Friendly Restaurants & Patios in Frankfort
Frankfort has plenty of places where you can grab a meal or drink without leaving your dog behind. From downtown restaurants and coffee shops to breweries and casual patios, there are options throughout the area for travelers exploring with their four-legged companions.
Downtown Frankfort Favorites
Doc Crow's Social — Patio Friendly
Southern comfort food with outdoor seating overlooking the Kentucky River. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor lot seating, with shade and water bowls available.
109 W Main St
Serafini — Patio Friendly
Italian dining with roughly a dozen outdoor tables overlooking the Old State Capitol. One of the more scenic dog-friendly patio choices downtown.
243 W Broadway St
Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe — Patio Friendly
A relaxed downtown coffee stop with outdoor tables and convenient leash hooks. Dogs stay outside while you order, making this a nice morning stop during a downtown walk.
235 W Broadway St
Capital Cellars — Patio Friendly
Wine, bourbon and market café in the heart of downtown. Outdoor seating makes it an easy stop while exploring Frankfort with your dog.
227 W Broadway St
Buddy's Pizza — Dog-Friendly
Brick-oven pizza with a strong local dog-friendly reputation. Frankfort's tourism board has even referenced its “K-9 Wall of Fame” featuring visiting dogs.
212 W Broadway St
Engine House Coffee — Dog-Friendly
A casual café with outdoor tables and a water bowl provided for dogs—a good morning stop while exploring downtown.
307 W Main St
Mi Fiesta — Patio Friendly
Casual Mexican dining with sidewalk and umbrella-table seating. A good alternative when you're looking for something different from Frankfort's Southern and bourbon-inspired restaurants.
334 St Clair St
Mortimer Bibb's Public House — Patio Friendly
Relaxed Irish pub with outdoor seating where you can enjoy a drink with your dog at your feet, weather permitting.
330 St Clair St
Downtown Frankfort Favorites
Hoggy's Ice Cream — Dog-Friendly
A fun stop for dessert with outdoor seating. A good choice after exploring downtown or for a quick treat during a warm Kentucky afternoon.
West Sixth Farm — Dog-Friendly
A spacious outdoor destination with beer, trails and plenty of room to relax. The farm setting makes this especially appealing when traveling with a dog.
Goodwood Brewing Frankfort — Patio Friendly
Kentucky-inspired food and craft beer with outdoor seating. A casual option for lunch or dinner when you're traveling with your dog.
Cliffside Diner — Outdoor Seating
A classic Frankfort diner known for burgers and traditional diner fare. Outdoor seating provides an option when you're exploring the area with your dog.
Pet policies and patio availability can change. We recommend calling ahead to confirm current dog policies before visiting.
Things to Do With Your Dog in Frankfort
Frankfort offers plenty of ways to get outside and explore with your dog. From riverfront walks and historic downtown streets to parks, trails and scenic overlooks, you don't have to leave Abi behind to enjoy some of the area's best experiences.
Dog-Friendly Parks, Trails & Walks
River View Park & Trail — Dog-Friendly
📍 400 Wilkinson Blvd
A flat, paved riverfront walk of roughly 1.4–1.6 miles along the Kentucky River. It passes 16 historic markers, public art and the Singing Bridge and continues toward Buffalo Trace. This is one of the easiest scenic walks near downtown.
Cove Spring Park — Dog-Friendly
📍 100 Cove Spring Rd
About 240 acres of marsh, streams and forest with roughly six miles of trails. The 1.3-mile Holly Trail passes Hurst Waterfall and remains of Frankfort's early waterworks. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Juniper Hill Park — Dog-Friendly
A 124-acre city park with walking areas, trails and a golf course. It also has a dog-oriented water fountain that's become a local landmark for dog walkers. This is better suited to a shorter, relaxed walk than a long hike.
Josephine Sculpture Park — Dog-Friendly
📍 3355 Lawrenceburg Rd
A free outdoor sculpture park with more than 70 artworks spread across roughly 30–40 acres. Leashed dogs can explore the grounds, making this an easy and unusual outing—and a good place for photos with Abi.
East Frankfort Bark Park — Off-Leash
📍 Near Hickory Dr & Myrtle Ave
Franklin County's dedicated fenced off-leash dog park, with agility equipment and wooded areas. This is the place to give your dog some genuine off-leash exercise during a multi-day stay.
Capitol View Park — Dog-Friendly
A 150-acre park featuring a scenic overlook of the Kentucky River. It's another good option for getting outside with your dog while taking in the landscape around Frankfort.
🐾 ABI'S PICK
River View Park & Trail
If you only have time for one dog-friendly walk in Frankfort, make it River View Park. This flat, paved riverfront trail follows the Kentucky River for roughly 1.4–1.6 miles, passing historic markers, public art and the Singing Bridge along the way.
It's scenic, close to downtown and continues toward Buffalo Trace Distillery—making it an easy way to combine a walk with some of Frankfort's history and bourbon-country scenery.
✓ Paved & Easy • ✓ River Views • ✓ Dog-Friendly • ✓ Free
Dog-Friendly Attractions & Bourbon Country
Frankfort sits in the heart of Kentucky bourbon country, but the experience isn't just for people. Several local attractions offer outdoor spaces where you can explore with your dog, from historic distilleries and Capitol grounds to public art and unique Kentucky destinations.
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Dog Access: Partial
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.
Dog-Friendly
West Sixth Farm
Dog-Friendly
One of Frankfort's signature attractions. Dogs are welcome across most of the property, according to the research in your guide, including the tasting area and gift shop, while the working bottling building is off-limits. Because Buffalo Trace does not publish a clear written pet policy, call ahead if you're planning around a specific tour.
For travelers who want to experience Kentucky bourbon without leaving their dog behind, this is one of the standouts in your guide. Leashed dogs are welcome in the taproom, on the tour, and outside on the patio and lawn.
A 120-acre working farm and brewery about eight minutes from downtown, with roughly four miles of trails and free farm tours. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout, making this a good half-day outing with your dog.
Kentucky State Capitol Grounds
DOG-FRIENDLY OUTDOORS
Explore the landscaped grounds and gardens surrounding Kentucky's State Capitol with your leashed dog. The grounds include monuments, impressive Capitol views and the Kentucky Floral Clock, making this an easy sightseeing and photo stop while exploring Frankfort. Dogs are not permitted inside the Capitol building.
📍 700 Capital Ave, Frankfort, KY 40601
Important: The main Capitol building is currently closed to visitors for renovations, but the grounds remain a sightseeing option.
Frankfort Public Art Tour
DOG-FRIENDLY • FREE
Plan on this as an outdoor-only stop with your dog.
Take your dog on a self-guided walk through downtown Frankfort while discovering murals, sculptures, historic architecture and other public art. Because the self-guided experience is outdoors, it's an easy activity to combine with a downtown walk, restaurant patio or River View Park. Your book identifies this as a dog-friendly outdoor activity.
The current 2026 Frankfort guide describes 40 sculptures and about a dozen murals downtown and beyond.
📍 Downtown Frankfort
Brochures/maps are available at the Visitor Center, 300 St. Clair St., Suite 102.
Want the Complete Frankfort Guide?
RV Travel with Your Dog: Frankfort, Kentucky
Planning a longer stay? The complete guide goes beyond the highlights on this page with detailed information to help you plan your entire RV trip with your dog.
Inside you'll find 8 dog-friendly RV parks and campgrounds, 20+ restaurants and patios, parks and trails, bourbon-country stops, local dog rules, RV travel information, Kentucky-specific safety tips, emergency veterinary resources, day trips, packing advice and sample day plans.
Take the complete guide with you and spend less time researching—and more time exploring Frankfort with your dog.
Available on Amazon • Paperback & Kindle
Know Before You Go: Visiting Frankfort With Your Dog
A little planning can make exploring Frankfort with your dog much easier. Here are a few important things to know before you head downtown or hit the trails.
🐾 Keep Your Dog Leashed
Frankfort's leash rules prohibit dogs from running at large. Keep your dog leashed or under direct control when exploring the city, parks and trails. Save the off-leash time for designated areas such as East Frankfort Bark Park.
🚐 RV & Downtown Parking
Downtown Frankfort is compact and better explored after leaving your RV at the campground. Parking in the core business district is generally limited to two hours during daytime hours, and there is no designated downtown overnight RV parking identified in our research.
🕷️ Watch for Ticks
Ticks are active in Kentucky's wooded and grassy areas, especially from spring through fall. After trails and parks, check your dog carefully around the ears, between the toes and near the base of the tail.
☀️ Summer Heat & Hot Pavement
Kentucky summers can be hot and humid. Carry extra water and check pavement before downtown walks. If the pavement is too hot to comfortably hold the back of your hand against it for five seconds, choose grass, shade or a cooler time of day.
Make a Day of It in Frankfort
Not sure how to put everything together? Frankfort's compact downtown, riverfront and nearby bourbon-country attractions make it easy to build a full day around your dog. Here's one simple way to experience the city.
🌅 MORNING — River View Park & Trail
Start the day with a quiet walk along the Kentucky River. The flat, paved trail is an easy way to get your dog some exercise before the day gets busy.
🍽️ LUNCH — Doc Crow's Social
Head downtown for Southern comfort food and relax at the dog-friendly outdoor seating overlooking the Kentucky River.
🐾 AFTERNOON — Kentucky State Capitol Grounds
Take a leisurely walk around the landscaped Capitol grounds and gardens with your leashed dog and enjoy one of Frankfort's signature sights.
🌇 EVENING — Bourbon On Main
Finish the day along the river with dinner on the outdoor patio. Because the restaurant itself does not publish a pet policy, call ahead to confirm dogs are currently welcome on the patio.
You've seen some of our favorite places, but there's much more to planning a great RV trip to Frankfort.
RV Travel with Your Dog: Frankfort, Kentucky gives you the complete guide—including campgrounds, dog-friendly dining, trails and attractions, practical RV information, safety tips, emergency resources, day trips, packing advice and ready-to-use itineraries.
Plan ahead. Travel with confidence. And bring your dog along for the adventure.
Ready to Explore Frankfort With Your Dog?
Available on Amazon • Paperback & Kindle
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