Baden-Powell Scout Campsite

Baden-Powell Scout Campsite is a quiet bush camping ground on Cash Avenue at Samford Village, an easy walk from the village centre, and it takes public campers with dogs alongside its main role as a Scouts Queensland training site. That dual identity is the whole story here: you are camping on working scout land, which keeps prices low and the setting peaceful, but it also means the rules are firmer and the calendar less predictable than a commercial caravan park.

Dogs at the Baden-Powell Scout Campsite

Dogs are welcome in the public camping areas, which take tents and caravans on powered and unpowered sites. The on-site caretakers keep dogs themselves, so pets are a familiar part of the grounds rather than an exception. Dogs need to be under control and on leash around shared areas, and some campers report limited off-leash time in the open field areas at the caretaker's discretion, so ask on arrival rather than assume. There is no separate pet fee listed, but unpowered sites generally run around $40 a night for two people and powered sites a little more, and every public camper needs a $20 annual Supporter of Scouting membership to book. Confirm dog numbers and current rules with the caretaker before you lock in dates.

Worth knowing

Facilities are camping-basic: toilets and hot showers, an open grass field for setups, and a partially heated salt water pool that closes when scout groups are using it. Off-ground campfires are permitted if you bring your own fire tray and ash container. All visitors check in with the caretaker, and the grounds close during school holidays and major scouting events, so availability windows matter more here than at a year-round park. Bring your own bowls, bedding and towels.

Getting there and parking

Turn off Samford Road onto Cash Avenue and the entrance is clearly marked. Drive-in access suits tents, camper vans and caravans, with marked sites for public bookings, and Samford Village's shops and cafes are close enough to walk.

Close by with the dogs

Samford Parklands Fenced Dog Park gives your dog a proper off-leash run a short drive away, and Bloom & Bean in Samford Valley is a coffee stop for the morning after a night on the ground. The Samford Showground camping area nearby is the alternative if the scout site is closed for an event.

This suits budget campers after a peaceful bush stay near a village, with calm, well-mannered dogs happy to share quiet grounds with scouting groups.