Dog-Friendly Camping near Winterthur, DE

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    Lums Pond State Park Campground offers spacious sites with full hookups, concrete pads, and pet-friendly accommodations throughout the park. Dogs are welcome at all campsites, which feature fire rings and picnic tables suitable for families camping with pets. The campground provides easy access to hiking trails where leashed dogs can explore alongside their owners. Several reviews note the immaculate bathhouses and well-maintained grounds that make extended stays comfortable for both humans and their four-legged companions. Tent sites, RV spots with 30/50 amp service, and glamping options accommodate various camping styles while allowing pets. Ridley Creek State Park and Brandywine Creek Campground also welcome pets, with Ridley Creek receiving praise for its well-marked, pet-friendly trails. The bathroom facilities at most locations remain clean and modern even during peak season.

    Hiking paths surrounding Lums Pond provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with the equestrian trail circling the entire pond offering a long but manageable trek. Water access points allow dogs to cool off during summer camping trips, though swimming areas may have specific pet restrictions. Brandywine Creek sites border the water, providing pleasant background sounds at night and good morning views without troublesome bugs even in August. Several campgrounds in the region feature dedicated off-leash dog areas, including a dog park at Lums Pond State Park. Most locations enforce standard leash requirements outside designated off-leash zones, typically limiting leash length to six feet. Campers report feeling safe at these locations with security present at many sites and quiet, respectful neighboring campers keeping noise to a minimum even during busy summer weekends.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Winterthur (87)

      1. Lums Pond State Park Campground

      4.5(52)19mi from Winterthur73 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "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 $22 - $40 / night

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      2. Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park

      4.7(10)12mi from Winterthur2 sitesTents

      "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

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      3. French Creek State Park Campground

      4.2(83)29mi from Winterthur227 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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 $20 - $75 / night

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      4. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

      4.3(21)19mi from WinterthurRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      5. Elk Neck State Park Campground

      4.4(60)30mi from WinterthurRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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

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      6. Brandywine Creek Campground

      4.7(3)15mi from WinterthurRVs

      "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."

      7. Hibernia County Park

      4.0(8)20mi from WinterthurTents, Glamping

      "This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the “sites” are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters."

      "Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites."

      from $15 - $50 / night

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      8. Jellystone Park™ Quarryville

      4.4(19)29mi from Winterthur5 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "So we make sure to get close spots so we can walk. You can bring pets but we choose not to as we are not at the camp much. We do go fishing while we are here and my daughter loves this place"

      "We stayed here in November with beautiful weather which meant the large farm behind the campground was spraying manure over their fields. We could smell it."

      9. Old Cedar Campground

      4.2(11)25mi from WinterthurRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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

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      10. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Elmer

      3.7(10)25mi from WinterthurRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Winterthur, DE

    819 Reviews of 87 Winterthur Campgrounds


    • L
      Aug. 6, 2018

      Lums Pond State Park Campground

      Very Dog Friendly

      Campground 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!

    • Kathy L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 3, 2021

      Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

      Really nice

      We 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.

    • E
      Aug. 4, 2021

      Lums Pond State Park Campground

      Impromtu tent camping success!

      I 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.

    • D
      Jun. 5, 2023

      French Creek State Park Campground

      Weekend Trip To Reading

      My 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.

    • C
      Aug. 23, 2018

      Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina

      RV Park surrounded by water!

      Our 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.

    • Mackenzie B.
      Aug. 4, 2018

      Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park

      love it here

      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.

    • Ellen B.
      May. 23, 2019

      Lums Pond State Park Campground

      Great place in the back yard

      We 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!

    • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 9, 2021

      Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

      Best KOA I’ve been to

      This 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.

    • Tamara P.
      Jul. 8, 2020

      French Creek State Park Campground

      Great Park!

      We stayed at site 18 in Loop A. 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.


    Guide to Winterthur

    Pet friendly camping near Winterthur, Delaware offers travelers access to several state parks within the Brandywine Valley region. The area sits at approximately 200-300 feet above sea level with a humid subtropical climate featuring four distinct seasons. Summer camping season typically runs May through October with July temperatures averaging highs in the mid-80s and overnight lows in the mid-60s.

    What to do

    Explore Turkey Point Lighthouse trail: At Elk Neck State Park Campground, campers can hike to a historic lighthouse with Chesapeake Bay views. "The lighthouse and the view are definitely worth it. Definitely drive to, and then hike to the light house (open most weekends)," reports David G. The trail is approximately 1 mile each way with moderate difficulty.

    Fish at Chamber's Lake: Hibernia County Park offers multiple fishing options for families. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," notes Anna. The park has designated areas specifically for young anglers under 12 years old.

    Paddle on Hopewell Lake: At French Creek State Park, visitors can rent canoes and kayaks for exploring the park's two lakes. "There's a ton of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking," explains Ellen B. Electric motors are permitted, but gas-powered engines are prohibited.

    What campers like

    Concrete pads at full hookup sites: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers well-constructed sites that remain level regardless of weather. "Beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved," shares Matt S. The concrete pads make setup easier and prevent sinking during rain.

    Space between campsites: French Creek State Park Campground provides privacy between sites. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," writes Jen R. This spacing allows for more relaxed camping experiences without feeling crowded.

    Dog-specific amenities: Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA offers welcoming facilities for those traveling with pets. "In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack," notes Jorah. The campground's layout provides good walking areas for exercising dogs.

    What you should know

    Early reservations recommended: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak season. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns Ellen B. about Lums Pond. Many campgrounds open reservations 6-12 months in advance.

    Site selection matters: Review site maps carefully as terrain varies considerably. "If you have a large family sized tent...many of the sites surrounding ours were very rocky and left little option," cautions Ellen C. about French Creek State Park. Some loops have more tree cover while others are open fields.

    Water access varies: Brandywine Creek Campground offers creek-side sites but swimming options are limited. "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," reports Dave G. However, swimming is only available at designated areas in certain parks.

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: When selecting sites with children, consider proximity to play areas. "The playground at the campground is situated conveniently between the loops," mentions Jen R. about French Creek. This allows kids to play while remaining within earshot of your campsite.

    Water activities for hot days: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Quarryville offers extensive water features for family cooling off. "The water park is super fun for adults and kids. The entire campground is clean and very well maintained," shares Ashley S. The water park includes multiple slides and splash features.

    Child-specific fishing areas: For young anglers, Hibernia County Park provides dedicated fishing spots. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," notes Anna. These areas typically have lower depth and higher success rates for catching fish.

    Tips from RVers

    Electric hookup details: While selecting sites, note the amperage available. "We paid $46 per night plus fees for a FHU 50 Amp Back-in site(#56)," reports Matt S. about Lums Pond State Park. Most parks offer both 30 and 50 amp service at different price points.

    Length restrictions matter: Some sites have deceptive length ratings. "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 State Park. Always confirm your total vehicle length fits the specific site.

    Water connection planning: Bring extra hoses for certain campgrounds. "The water hookups are shared every other site. I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed," notes Matt S. about Old Cedar Campground. Standard 25' water hoses may not reach connections at all sites.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Winterthur, DE?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Winterthur, DE is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 52 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Winterthur, DE?

    TheDyrt.com has all 87 dog-friendly camping locations near Winterthur, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.