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Lums Pond State Park Campground near Chesapeake City provides spacious pet-friendly campsites with full hookups for RVs and dedicated tent-only areas. Dogs are welcome throughout the campground's hiking trails and open spaces, with a special off-leash dog area that includes water access for swimming. The park maintains clean facilities with recently renovated bathhouses and well-maintained grounds. Campers traveling with pets appreciate the extra-large sites that offer sufficient room for pet enclosures and exercise. Each site includes a fire ring and picnic table with plenty of space between neighbors. The campground features electric hookups, water access, and sanitary dump stations for RVers, while tent campers have access to clean restroom facilities.
Multiple pet-friendly trails surround the campground, including a 7.5-mile lake loop perfect for dog walking. The large dog park allows for off-leash play with a dedicated swimming area where dogs can cool off during warmer months. Elk Neck State Park and Susquehanna State Park campgrounds also welcome pets with similar amenities, though Lums Pond stands out for its particularly spacious sites and dedicated pet facilities. The well-maintained grounds and quiet atmosphere make it ideal for campers with dogs who might be sensitive to crowded conditions. During peak season, pet-friendly sites book quickly, especially on weekends, so advance reservations are recommended. The campground's proximity to hiking trails and water features provides multiple options for exercise and recreation with pets.
"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
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"Our site was really good and I love that it had it's own access to the bathrooms. Quite a few of the inner loop sites do. If you're a tent camper Acorn has some very private and secluded sites."
"The campsites are separated more widely than many other parks in Maryland (Cunningham Falls, Ft. Frederick, Pt. Lookout), and are quite secluded in comparison."
from $21 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It’s a clean, well kept space, completely surrounded by state forest, very close to shore access along the rivers/bay, hiking/biking trails right out of the campground."
"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."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Has outhouse, fire pit, running water on side of house near outhouse. An is a wonderful person. Good reception with T-Mobile!"
from $10 - $16 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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
Check Availability"The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds."
"This is close to us so it was an easy trip. Full hookup but we’re told to turn off and unhook water the night it dropped below freezing."
from $75 - $115 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $42 - $52 / night
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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.
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.
TravelerWe 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.
The region surrounding Chesapeake City sits at the narrowest point of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, with elevations ranging from sea level to about 80 feet above. Campers in this area experience humid subtropical conditions with hot summers and mild winters, making year-round camping possible at several locations. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Chesapeake City maintain their water hookups through late fall, with several offering dedicated dog areas beyond the standard pet-friendly designation.
Hiking trails with water views: At Susquehanna State Park Campground, you'll find multiple trails with river access. "We hiked back to the campground from here, which was a nice easy-to-moderate trail. The beginning was pretty rough for me, since I was wearing my infant son while navigating an uphill trail, but it quickly evened out," reports Jen V.
Kayaking on multiple waterways: Access to various water bodies makes this region ideal for paddlers. "From the moment I pulled in and observed how large the sites were, I was hooked. Bike trails, Going Ape, kayaking and peaceful," shares Leah H. about the paddling opportunities at Lums Pond.
Fishing at multiple locations: Several campgrounds offer fishing access without needing to leave the site. At Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina, you can "fish from your chair" according to Lisa T., who adds that "you can fish from the pier or right from your site."
Spacious camping spots: Elk Neck State Park Campground receives consistent praise for site dimensions. "Sites were level, spacious, spaced apart, with packed gravel surface. Back in and pull through sites available," notes Laure D., who appreciated the late-season camping options.
Clean, modern facilities: Many campgrounds in the area prioritize bathroom cleanliness. The bathhouse at French Creek State Park Campground was described by Jen R. as "very nice and new" with Ellen C. adding that "showers had good pressure and hot water."
Water recreation access: The proximity to various waterways is a major draw for campers. "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!" shares Amanda H., highlighting the water activities available even at the campgrounds she didn't love overall.
Seasonal operation variations: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. "We paid $46 per night plus fees for a FHU 50 Amp Back-in site(#56)," reports Matt S. about their stay at Lums Pond, adding it has "easy access from I-95" and is in a "beautiful park setting with fantastic site."
Reservation requirements: Popular sites book quickly, especially at Blackbird State Forest Campground. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room," notes Sarah M. about this smaller option.
Terrain considerations: Some sites present leveling challenges. "Some engineering genius put the bath houses furthest from the people that need them most. Tent campers...keep your shoes handy, it's a hike," advises al K., pointing out planning considerations for Lums Pond.
Look for dedicated playgrounds: Several campgrounds offer kid-specific amenities. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Quarryville, "the water park is super fun for adults and kids. The entire campground is clean and very well maintained," according to Ashley S.
Consider shower/bathroom proximity: When camping with children, bathroom access becomes critical. "The bathhouse was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease," reports Mark at Lums Pond.
Check for wading areas: Safe water access points make a big difference for families. "There is a large dog park allows for off-leash play with a dedicated swimming area where dogs can cool off during warmer months," notes one reviewer about pet-friendly amenities for the furry family members.
Site leveling considerations: At several dog-friendly campgrounds near Chesapeake City, the pads require minimal leveling. "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus," shares Mark about Lums Pond's accommodations.
Water hookup availability: RVers should note seasonal water access. "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," reports Laure D. about Elk Neck State Park.
Campground navigation: Some parks present challenges for larger rigs. "The road on the FHU loop is narrow and hilly. Our site was uphill and at a difficult angle," warns Adam and Suzanne B. at Elk Neck, though they note that "plenty of bigger TTs and 5th wheels were camping" successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Chesapeake City, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Chesapeake City, MD 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 Chesapeake City, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 71 dog-friendly camping locations near Chesapeake City, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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