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Woodlands Camping Resort offers pet-friendly camping with both tent and RV sites about 10 minutes from downtown Elkton. The campground provides a laid-back, quiet atmosphere with amenities including a swimming pool and fishing pond. Elk Neck State Park Campground, located in nearby North East, Maryland, also welcomes pets with spacious sites for tents, RVs, and cabins. The campground areas at both locations maintain a relaxed pet policy while requiring owners to clean up after their animals. Bathhouses at Lums Pond State Park Campground are exceptionally clean according to visitor reports, though tent campers should note they're positioned farther from tent sites than from RV areas. Pet owners appreciate the considerable distance between campsites at most locations, providing ample space for dogs to remain comfortable without crowding neighboring campers.
Hiking trails surrounding Elk Neck State Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with the 7-mile trail at Lums Pond offering a scenic loop around water features. Cecil County Permaculture maintains a small two-site property with basic amenities including an outhouse and fire pit, providing a more rustic pet-friendly option. The dedicated off-leash dog area at Lums Pond State Park includes a swimming section specifically for dogs, making it particularly popular during summer months. Most campgrounds in the region maintain standard pet policies requiring leashes no longer than six feet when outside designated off-leash areas. Wildlife encounters remain possible throughout the region's parks, so campers should keep pets secured particularly during dawn and dusk hours when animal activity increases.
"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"Ran through this camp area in Elkton! Beautiful place!"
"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."
"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."
"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"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 Availability"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."
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.
Camping areas near Elkton, Maryland sit at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay, with elevations ranging from 10-300 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot, humid summers with average July temperatures of 87°F and mild winters averaging 30°F in January. Most campsites in this area feature clay and loam soil that can become muddy after frequent summer thunderstorms, requiring proper groundsheets for tent campers.
Kayaking at Lums Pond: From Lums Pond State Park Campground, explore the 200-acre pond with rental equipment available at the boat launch. "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!" notes Amanda H., who appreciated the water activities.
Hiking to Turkey Point Lighthouse: The lighthouse trail near Elk Neck State Park Campground offers bay views and historical interest. Drew T. confirms: "Has a great walking trail to an awesome lighthouse that overlooks the Chesapeake Bay." The 1-mile trail provides moderate terrain suitable for most hikers.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple bodies of water offer fishing within 20 minutes of Elkton. According to Sandy E. at Lums Pond, the "7 mile hiking trail and 8 mile multi purpose trail" provide access to quality fishing spots. Local waters contain "northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish."
Historical exploration: Visit the working grist mill at Susquehanna State Park, which maintains regular weekend operational hours. "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," mentions Jen V., highlighting the educational value for history enthusiasts.
Spacious, private campsites: Susquehanna State Park Campground receives praise for site layout. "Site was very shaded, and probably the most secluded feel of anywhere we've camped. Camping pad was nice and level," reports Jen V. The separation between sites creates a more private camping experience than some other area campgrounds.
Clean shower facilities: Bathhouse quality varies across campgrounds, but certain locations maintain exceptional standards. "Bath house was absolutely immaculate; by far the cleanest I have ever seen in a campground. Must have been recently renovated," notes another camper at Susquehanna State Park, indicating infrastructure investments.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region's ecological diversity supports abundant wildlife. "We saw bald eagles and great blue heron," shares Kate J. from Elk Neck State Park. Morning and evening hours provide optimal wildlife viewing, particularly around water features and forest edges.
Off-leash dog areas: Dogs enjoy dedicated recreation space at Blackbird State Forest Campground, which offers primitive but spacious camping. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room," comments Sarah M., noting the dog-friendly atmosphere despite basic facilities limited to portable toilets.
Reservation difficulties: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially Lums Pond. "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B. Weekend reservations may require booking 6-9 months in advance for summer stays, though midweek availability improves significantly.
Tent pad limitations: Not all sites include level, rock-free spaces for tents. At French Creek State Park Campground, "I'd say about half- maybe more- don't have pads," according to Jennifer S., who recommends selecting sites carefully if tent camping.
Bathroom locations: Facility placement favors RV sites over tent areas at several campgrounds. "Some engineering genius put the bath houses furthest from the people that need them most. Tent campers….keep your shoes handy, its a hike," notes al K. at Lums Pond, highlighting a practical consideration for tent campers.
Seasonal bugs: The Chesapeake region experiences significant insect activity. "The water bugs are bad in the spring, no mosquitoes," reports Lisa T. from Bar Harbor RV Park. Spring and summer campers should pack appropriate repellents, particularly for camping near water features.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. Megan S. from Elk Neck State Park notes: "No cell signal in the campground so the family is forced to disconnect." This can be either a benefit or challenge depending on camper preferences.
Pool access considerations: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers extensive water amenities for children. "The water park is super fun for adults and kids. The entire campground is clean and very well maintained," reports Ashley S. The water park typically operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day with day passes available.
Playgrounds and activities: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment. Jennifer S. notes about French Creek: "For kids, the playground was fantastic, though, it was not shaded." Consider bringing portable shade or visiting playgrounds during morning or evening hours to avoid midday heat.
Nature programs: Several parks offer ranger-led activities for children. "The camp host were very friendly and were actually in charge of keeping the bathrooms clean (which they did excellent at)!" reports Jalissa Y. from Elk Neck, where weekend nature programs run throughout summer months.
Hiking with children: For family-friendly trails, consider loop options with water features. Mark from Lums Pond recommends: "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."
Site selection strategy: RVers at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA recommend requesting specific site types. "It was cold so we asked to be put close to bathrooms so we could leave camper winterized. They accommodated us nicely," shares Paula, highlighting staff flexibility for special requests.
Hookup availability: Regional campgrounds offer varying levels of service. "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," Ellen B. notes about Lums Pond, making it popular for pet-friendly camping near Elkton, Maryland with larger RVs.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds present navigation difficulties. Laure D. from Bar Harbor RV Park advises: "You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution." Pre-planning routes and understanding campground layout helps avoid difficulties.
Winter camping options: Year-round campgrounds remain available despite seasonal closures. "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," reports Laure D. about Elk Neck State Park, one of the few pet-friendly campgrounds near Elkton operating through winter.
Site drainage: Clay soils in the region create drainage challenges after rain. "It was raining and the area was saturated with no where to drain," warns Elvira A. about poor site conditions. Request elevated sites when making reservations, particularly during spring and fall rainy seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Elkton, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Elkton, 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 Elkton, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 75 dog-friendly camping locations near Elkton, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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