Lums Pond State Park Campground welcomes pets across its full-hookup RV sites, tent camping areas, and two pet-friendly yurts situated by the lake. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the park with a 6-foot maximum leash length, though the campground features a designated dog park with water access for off-leash play. Elk Neck State Park Campground, located about 30 minutes from Clayton, permits pets at both tent sites and cabins with a two-pet maximum per site. The spacious camping areas at Blackbird State Forest offer exceptional privacy for campers with dogs, with sites placed far enough apart that barking rarely disturbs neighboring campers. All pet-friendly campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, with most offering access to water and restroom facilities. Each campsite at Blackbird features at least one bundle of complimentary firewood, particularly convenient for overnight stays with pets during cooler seasons.
The 7.5-mile trail circling Lums Pond provides excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with multiple water access points along the route where pets can cool off. Seasonal campers note the spring and fall months offer the most comfortable temperatures for camping with pets in the Delaware region, as summer heat can be intense for dogs, particularly at less-shaded campgrounds. Tuckahoe State Park's pet-friendly accommodations include cabins and traditional campsites with nearby hiking trails suitable for dogs of all sizes. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours beginning at 10 PM, with pet owners expected to manage barking accordingly. Veterinary services are available within 20 minutes of most area campgrounds, with the closest emergency animal hospital located in Bear, Delaware. The multi-use trails connecting camping areas to recreational sections of the parks provide convenient dog walking routes, though campers should bring their own waste bags as pet waste stations are limited at most locations.
$17 - $32 / night
"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."
$21 - $55 / night
"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)."
$25 / night
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
$17 - $79 / night
"First time staying overnight at a campground in Delaware. The cabins are tiny on the inside but that porch really provides very useful space.
No paper towels, soap or kitchen utensils.""Delaware seemed short on camping options and this one was probably top of the line 40 years ago. It's dated in every way, but it's in a good spot. Seemed to have some residents mixed in."
$21 - $70 / night
"Mini cabin D is pet friendly but one of the few. Bathrooms were pretty clean, although perpetually wet floors throughout. Nice washing station for doing dishes, which was a major plus."
"There was a small lending library next to the store/office and wood was for sale too. There are sites that aren’t level but ours was okay. Nearby is St. Michael’s, MD."
$18 - $77 / night
"The park is pet friendly. The ranger was very vigilant and friendly. We met new friends and even attended a concert at their pavilion 🥰"
"Park is that the Electric loop (B) has all of the sites on the outside of the drive loop so you are not looking across the road at other campers."
$20 - $80 / night
"There is also a section of walk-in tent sites, each with 1 parking spot semi close by. (Bring a wagon if you stay at one of these)."
"There are miles upon miles of walking and biking trails. There are nice play facilities for kids, loads of water and beach access."
$49 - $57 / night
"They do have restrictions on dog breeds per their insurance guidelines; some sewer sites available; they do have rules and they are followed but they make for an enjoyable time; also have church services"
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.
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.
LegendOur GPS wanted to take us to the main park entrance on Howell School Rd versus Red Lion Rd to the campground entrance on the other side of the pond. The gate and store were not open so we went directly to back-in site 26 with FHUs. Our reservation sheet and vehicle pass were on the post when we arrived. Back-in was okay with having to swing our F-450 and 39’ 5th wheel into the grass between sites across the street. Utilities were smartly placed at the middle of the pad. We had 2 to 3 bars on Verizon and 2 bars on AT&T. However, we had trouble with AT&T maintaining internet on our Weingard Connect. The CG is in two loops. Sites 1-30 make up the first loop and that is where most of the larger rigs camped. A rough estimate(double check site size online) is that sites 12- 18 will take larger rigs up to around 45’ but you’ll need to park your tow vehicle or toad angled in front of your rig. Our site was long enough for our 39’ fifth wheel but we had to park our truck at an angle as well. The second loop does have larger sites but is mainly suited for small rigs to include a tent area. Both loops have a large grass field in the middle that the sites back up to, which is great for playing outside games and without many trees so you could use satellite from almost all the sites. From a spaciousness point of view, the best site in the CG is 17, but it is near the walking trail. The shower house also contains a small laundry with 3 washers and 4 dryers that are reasonably priced, although one washer was out of service at the time. However, there was not a change machine. You could purchase firewood from one of the on duty camp hosts. A short drive from the campground to another Lum’s Pond State Park area there’s a really cool dog park where you can walk the dogs off leash down trails and with open play areas along the pond. One of the best features of this off-leash area is how secluded it is away from the main road. Supposedly this is known as a haunted campground, although we didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary. If in the area, we would stay here again.
LegendWest Chester KOA This is a really nice KOA not too far from downtown Philly. The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy. A bridge nearby the campground was washed out earlier by a hurricane so we had to take an alternative route going about thirty minutes out of our way. (Make sure you check their website for directions!) There is a lot to do in the surrounding area like visiting the historical sites in downtown Philadelphia, Valley Forge, or exploring Amish country.
This is a typical KOA with lots of amenities and activities for kids– swimming pool, jump pad, miniature golf, volleyball, butterfly garden, gem mining, playground, store, dog park, nature trail, etc. There is a large pool area with pavilion but it was closed during our stay since we were there early in the season. The campground is right on the Brandywine River which is a slow meandering pretty river that is great to get your feet wet or go for a paddle. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent if you have time and as there is very little current in the river you can paddle out and back without any trouble. There is a nice, short nature trail which was nice to walk our dog and she enjoyed getting wet in the river.
The campground is hilly which means that a fair number of sites are not level. Our site (#27) was level for our RV but the patio sloped downhill and we could not use our picnic table or find a level spot for our chairs. Some sites are “premiums” with paved patios, Adirondack chairs, fancy firepits, BBQ grill, and tables and chairs with an umbrella. These sites are really nice, but you pay a lot more for them. Some sites are located adjacent to the river with nice waterfront views, but beware some might be muddy. There are lots of camping cabins and a couple of glamping tents.
Overall, the campground is very clean with no trash lying around and the grass was mowed and trimmed. The 50-amp electric was good as was the water pressure. The sewer connection uphill from our site so it did not drain properly. There is basic cable but since you are so close to Philly there are plenty of over-the-air channels. The Wi-Fi at our site worked well. Garbage is picked up at your site. The surrounding area has plenty of restaurants, shopping, and interesting things to see and do.
Camping areas near Clayton, Delaware sit at elevations under 100 feet above sea level, creating accessible terrain for campers of all skill levels. The region's climate features humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 85°F and mild winters, with most campgrounds maintaining year-round operations. Camping season typically runs strongest from April through October, with fall offering the most moderate temperatures and colorful foliage displays.
Kayaking at Tuckahoe State Park: The park offers water access for paddlers with a designated launch area near tent sites. "Nice pads, even with rain none were flooded... I LOVE the commercial-sized washing sink for your dishes, since you don't have full hookups its a BIG deal," notes Kasey M. about Tuckahoe State Park Campground.
Hiking at Lums Pond: A network of trails surrounds the pond, including the 7.5-mile perimeter trail. "The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond. It was a long, but easy hike," shares Mark about Lums Pond State Park Campground.
Fishing at Martinak: The waterfront access provides opportunities for anglers. "Great secluded campground, peaceful... This is a great place to catch some good action fish. I've always had some success whenever I've been here," writes Sam D. about Martinak State Park Campground.
Explore historic sites: The region contains preserved historic areas with educational value. "There is a historic area in the park, with a working grist mill, mansion and other little buildings to view. Not really my thing, but was pretty neat," explains Jen V. about Susquehanna State Park.
Privacy between sites: Some campgrounds offer greater separation between camping spots. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" says Sarah M. about Blackbird State Forest Campground.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention the quality of bathhouses. "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease," shares Mark about Lums Pond State Park.
Complimentary firewood: Select campgrounds include wood with your site. "Each campsite features a picnic table or two, and a fire pit, plus one bundle of firewood. The ground is dirt covered with woodchips and sometimes evergreen needles -- pretty easy to sleep in a tent," explains D R. about Blackbird State Forest.
Well-maintained sites: Many campgrounds feature level, prepared camping pads. "Site was well maintained and very clean. Bathrooms were clean with showers and wash stations. Great views of the bay and beaches," notes Kate J. about Elk Neck State Park Campground.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "We do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations... Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B.
Limited cell service: Some areas have spotty connectivity. "Cell service (T-Mobile) was spotty at times, bathhouses were fine, and the ranger was on patrol regularly. We felt very safe!" reports Shanna S. about Martinak State Park.
Site selection matters: Not all sites accommodate larger setups. "Pay close attention to the lengths specified. The actual pads are fairly level but some of the driveways to them are very sloped. Long rigs will have issues in a few of the sites," warns David G. about Elk Neck.
Hunting seasons: Some park areas allow hunting during specific periods. "Hunting - as a hiker, I am extremely wary of hiking in parks at a time when hunting is allowed," cautions Mary S. about Tuckahoe State Park.
Playground access: For sites near children's play areas. "The site was pretty level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus. Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards)," shares Mark about Lums Pond.
Water activities: Parks with water features for kids. "They have a large pond that you can rent paddle boats and small v-bottom boats! We did enjoy the paddle boats and saw a few cranes! They offer fishing at the pond which was also enjoyable!" reports Amanda H.
Junior ranger programs: Educational opportunities for children. "If you're looking to learn and explore with your kids, there is an extensive junior ranger program," notes Jean C. about Martinak State Park.
Camping road safety: Consider campground layout for bike riding. "The camp road was minimally hilly and would be safe and easy for little kids to ride their bikes, unlike some of the campgrounds that have pretty decent hills," observes Jennifer S. about Susquehanna State Park.
Hookup availability: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Clayton offer full hookup options. "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," explains Ellen B. about Lums Pond.
Dump station access: For sites without sewer hookups. "Good dump station and potable water fill. Spigots throughout the campground," notes Adam and Suzanne B. about Tuckahoe State Park Campground.
Site angles and access: Some sites require careful navigation. "Our site was uphill and at a difficult angle. Plenty of bigger TTs and 5th wheels were camping," reports Adam and Suzanne B. about Elk Neck State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Year-round camping options exist. "Finished the season at this state park in MD with full hook up (20, 30, and 50 amp, water and sewer) and the water was still on in November. Bathhouses were open with hot water," shares Laure D. about Elk Neck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Clayton, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Clayton, DE is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 49 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Clayton, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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