95 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Group Camp at Ridley Creek State Park offers tent camping with pet-friendly trails, earning praise from campers for being well-suited to first-time tent campers with dogs. The park features well-marked hiking trails where leashed dogs are welcome, electric hookups, and reservable group camping areas with picnic tables and fire rings. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA provides a more developed camping experience with full pet amenities including pet-friendly cabins, RV sites, and tent areas. The campground maintains clean facilities and is particularly accommodating to dogs with dedicated pet areas. Bathrooms at this KOA are exceptionally clean, making longer stays with pets more comfortable.
Tinicum Island stands apart as a free, boat-access-only primitive camping spot where pets can join their owners for a more secluded experience. The island location requires watercraft access but allows dogs to explore natural surroundings without the constraints of developed campgrounds. Several state parks within driving distance of Claymont provide additional pet-friendly options, including Lums Pond State Park Campground with year-round accessibility and water access for dogs who enjoy swimming. French Creek State Park Campground offers diverse pet-friendly accommodations including cabins, yurts, and tent sites where multiple trails provide exercise opportunities for dogs. Most campgrounds in the region require pets to remain on leash at all times, though Ridley Creek's trails are particularly popular for their pet-friendly terrain and clear markings.
"Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival."
"The neighbor’s sewer connection is right next to our picnic table! But, the sites are large enough for large RVs, they have 30/50 amp hookups and water & sewer."
"We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course."
"The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area. Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side."
from $29 - $51 / night
Check Availability"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
"We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back"
from $57 / night
Check Availability"There are numerous hiking trails in the park that seemed to be well marked and maintained. The park is about 20- mins from Reading, and 10 mins from Birdsbroro."
"There is a connector trail nearby that can get you to most of the hiking trails. Site was nice. Bathrooms okay. This is a pet loop so be aware of dogs. Hiking trails in park were a nice challenge."
from $24 - $135 / night
Check Availability"This row of sites lacked the trees for shade and privacy found at most other sites around the campground. The pool was nice and clean."
"Not close off the highway, but wooden sites. Seems as though people spend their summers there. Pool was beautiful and looked new. Mini golf was decrepit and looked abandoned. Store was nice."
from $31 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Accessible and pet friendly. Great trails and great staff"
"Our go to State Park for camping as it is pretty close to home. Standard State Park with all the amenities you need. We are tent campers/ non electric (no pets/ no kids)."
from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability"They are new-ish Shasta campers, queen bed, 1 slide, rear bunks, 2 entrances. Very clean. Water area is great, splash pad is very fun so is the large blow up slide and pool area."
"I think the lale could use a little cleanup with the amount of bobbers, string and mess left behind by people. There have ao many cabins its crazy and alot of seasonal rentals."
"lake with water sports, hiking trails that are dog friendly, plenty of campsites. If you have kids staying longer for the lake would make sense. bring bug spray!!"
"Outside, to the back of the cabin, was a small deck with picnic table, a grill, and a fire ring. Beyond that you will find a path to the lake with beautiful swans."
from $20 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Girlfriend and I stayed here while we visited nearby Longwood Gardens. The tent sites are spacious and they all border the creek which is a nice sound at night, as well as a good morning view."
"Close to Valley Forge military park, and convenient to Philadelphia by train."
TravelerCampground sites are nice and spacious, bathrooms are good, and there’s plenty to do for everyone. We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course. We always travel with our dogs and this place has the BEST dog park. Big open space with access to lots of water play. We definitely recommend this spot!
RangerWe stayed here for a night in transit. Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival. Good location - convenient but far enough off the highway. Would stay here again.
GuideI was able to book my site the day before the trip. The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area.
Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side. Firewood was $5 a bundle, but the register wasn't working and they could only take cash.
The hiking in the immediate area was beautiful, lots of fun trails and wildlife. Fishing, kayaking, zip lining, tons of great activities.
The firepits have grates over one half, so campfire cooking is a breeze. Cook up and use the provided picnic table for an easy dinner set up.
The park itself is very dog friendly and most sites had dogs. There is also an off leash dog park at Lum's pond and dog water dishes outside the camp store.
The showers and bathrooms were incredibly well kept with hot water and stocked supplies. If you didn't feel like walking so far, the tents had a spiget with running water near the parking areas.
Reception for Verizon was spotty, t mobile was pretty great. Wish there was an ATM on site though I don't think the cash only situation is a normal one for this campground.
All in all an amazing trip, and I'll be back as soon as possible.
GuideNo electrical and no pets allowed in camp sites. But plenty of trees and huge fire rings in each spot. An RV would have a tough time but for car camping it’s great. The Delaware Canal is nearby with the tow path for biking. That makes this a nice Bikepacking stop.
GuideMy family and I stayed at French Creek State Park while attending an event in Reading. The park was clean and well maintained. We stayed in Loop A which had no camp host. The camp hosts were in loops B & C. We had a full hook up site. The water and electric worked great! The campground was well patrolled by Rangers throughout our stay. The bathhouses appeared to be clean and maintained. The quiet time starts at 9pm and seemed to be followed by most campers. There are numerous hiking trails in the park that seemed to be well marked and maintained. The park is about 20- mins from Reading, and 10 mins from Birdsbroro. There are many stores and restaurants in the area for food and supplies if needed. We had good cellular service with both AT&T and T-Mobile. The one downside was that there was no off leash dog park. We had to take our dog to a dog park in Birdsbroro. We would stay at this park again.
TravelerOur first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open. The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds. There was a pet exercise/walking area, but could use some sprucing up. However, no one really made an issue of walking your dog around the campground and as the weekend came around, more and more dogs were around.
You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution. Would like to try Bar Harbor again sometime.
Guidewell marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills.
GuideWe do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations.
Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well.
Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There’s an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!
LegendThis is unquestionably the best KOA I’ve been to. I usually do not like KOA, except when there are no alternatives. This one is way above average. Typically these places are all gravel and dust. This one has paved roads, grass and trees. There is a pond for fishing, too. The only complaint is that, like all KOAs, the sites are on top of each other. The neighbor’s sewer connection is right next to our picnic table! But, the sites are large enough for large RVs, they have 30/50 amp hookups and water & sewer. There are cabins and large tents you can rent. There is a playground, pavilion, laundry, and several shower/bathrooms. (The one near us didn’t have hot water. The office people said they were working on it.) There us also a large, grassy, fenced dog park which my 2 spaniels appreciated.
Near Claymont, Delaware, camping options span from full-service campgrounds to primitive waterfront tent sites across diverse terrain. At an average elevation of just 180 feet, this area offers year-round camping with particularly mild spring and fall conditions. Summer humidity can make waterfront sites especially appealing for their cooling breezes.
Hike through diverse terrain: French Creek State Park Campground offers multiple trail systems for different skill levels. "There is lots of hiking, the lake is beautiful, at least two playgrounds (perfect for our kids), the bathrooms were well maintained," notes one visitor who enjoyed exploring with their family.
Paddle on scenic waterways: With multiple lakes and rivers in the region, water activities are popular. "We did take our inflatable kayak out on the water, and it was lovely! There is also a nice picnic area with grills and picnic tables right by the boat landing," shares a French Creek camper.
Explore nearby historic sites: The area offers rich historical attractions within short drives. At Elk Neck State Park Campground, visitors recommend "definitely drive to, and then hike to the light house (open most weekends) the light house and the view are definitely worth it."
Level, spacious sites: Lums Pond State Park Campground receives consistent praise for its well-designed spaces. "The sites are large and well spaced. Many are in full sun. The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms," notes one reviewer who appreciated the campground's layout.
Privacy between campsites: Many campers value separation from neighbors. At French Creek State Park, "the campsites are not right on top of one another. There is a lot of shade and the campground is laid out well," according to regular visitors who appreciate the natural buffers between sites.
Immaculate facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers are frequently mentioned in reviews. "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease," writes one Lums Pond visitor, highlighting the attention to cleanliness.
Water quality varies by location: Some campgrounds have issues with water clarity or taste. At Parvin State Park Campground, "the water has a very high iron content. I couldn't even use it for tooth brushing. Most of the showers were out of order. The toilets were clean but had the orange staining from the iron in the water."
Seasonal closures and limitations: Check operating schedules carefully. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA "does close for winter and reopens in April but call park for exact closure dates because they do change."
Cell service inconsistency: Coverage varies significantly across campgrounds. At Parvin State Park, "Verizon cell service was between 1 and 2 bars," while Elk Neck has "no cell signal in the campground so the family is forced to disconnect."
Scout playgrounds and activities: Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA offers extensive recreation options. "There was so much to do there a pool, lake, horseshoes, cornhole, playground, big pillow and even more. They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget."
Consider site location and terrain: At French Creek, "it was kind of hard to find a level and rock-free spot large enough for our tent, but we managed!" Sites near facilities benefit families with young children.
Plan for weather contingencies: Storms can impact camping comfort. "When we were packing up a severe thunderstorm rolled through. The bag was in the rain and I was surprised that everything inside was dry!"
Check hookup arrangements: At Old Cedar Campground, "the water hookups are shared every other site (at least in the Fence Loop). I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
Consider length limitations seriously: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Claymont have size restrictions. At Lums Pond, "easy access from I-95, beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved."
Look for pull-through availability: Old Cedar offers convenient access for larger rigs. "I stayed here as a first trip for my new Class C RV, as a shakedown trip for the rig. The campground is quiet, well-kept, and relatively clean."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Claymont, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Claymont, DE is Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Claymont, DE?
TheDyrt.com has all 95 dog-friendly camping locations near Claymont, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
