Dog-friendly camping near Grantsville, MD ranges from primitive campsites at Savage River State Forest to reservable sites at a dedicated pet-friendly campground loop, giving pet owners solid options across different camping styles. Savage River State Forest's primitive campsites welcome campers with dogs at widely spaced sites positioned 50-100 feet apart, offering natural privacy between camping areas. The forest features multiple camping areas along streams that flow toward the river, with sites like 112 and 113 positioned in pine forest settings and open fields. New Germany State Park Campground maintains a dedicated pet-friendly loop called Hemlock Loop, where dogs are permitted while staying in tent sites or at the single electric site suitable for small teardrop campers. Both campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables at each site. The state forest operates on a first-come, first-served basis with payment via honor box, while the state park requires reservations. Unlike Maryland state parks where alcohol is prohibited, Savage River State Forest permits alcohol at campsites. Sites tend to fill quickly on summer weekends with New Germany's sites being particularly busy.
Hiking trails throughout both locations accommodate dogs on leashes, with New Germany featuring approximately 15 miles of well-maintained paths with trail maps posted at every intersection to prevent getting lost. The Savage River area offers opportunities for dogs to cool off in the adjacent streams, though campers should be vigilant about wildlife encounters including deer, raccoons, and chipmunks. Temperature in this western Maryland mountain region typically runs about 10 degrees cooler than surrounding areas, making summer camping more comfortable for pets. Limited cell service throughout both camping areas means pet owners should locate the nearest veterinary services in advance. The bathrooms at New Germany State Park provide showers and are regularly cleaned, though Savage River lacks restroom facilities at the campsites themselves. Pet owners frequently note the spectacular firefly displays that occur at night, creating natural entertainment for evening camping.
"I stayed at a primitive campsite with my dog and we found a site right on a beautiful stream."
"This was a beautiful state forest, with two state parks sort of bordering it (Big Run & New Germany). The roads were all paved which was nice."
$20 - $54 / night
"This camp was laid out very well and had plenty of maps and trails, as well as daily activities. They have a small amphitheater with easy access, a dump and recycling area."
"Aside from the rock water slide, which is burned into the kid's memories, there's great, easy hiking trails and a pet-friendly campsite."
$18 - $117 / night
"New Germany State Park is situated in Garrett County Maryland. The park has a small lake, a few trails, and two camping loops."
"It was quieter than Deep Creek with shaded good sized camp sites in the Hemlock loop where pets are allowed."
$21 - $65 / night
"Camp site(Tent camping) Camp site was pretty small and close to each other. The forest where the camp site was situated was beautiful."
"Lots of touristy things around the lake, then you drive by lots of vacation homes on the lakeshore and then you pull into the camp and you feel like you are miles away from all that stuff."
$155 / night
"It was an easy short walk to the parking lot. The campground has easy access to the bike trail. You can see bikers camping in a certain spot for the special rate of $14.00 per biker. "
"Great access to the Allegheny bike trail and all the small towns near. No shade over campsites."
$22 - $33 / night
"We did have a pet friendly site reserved but found out after we arrived that dogs are not allowed out of the campground."
"Thirdly, the campground was so close to the nature that we wanted to see. We went to see the falls and they were within walking distance from our campsite. Overall, it was an awesome place to camp."
$29 - $62 / night
"Incredibly clean & close To everything. Located right beside Ohiopyle and Yough Lake dam. There is a beach in campground but found the drive to Yough lake perfect."
"Creekside sites felt smaller and more crowded than lakeside sites, which open onto the beach and lake. Guests were very friendly and considerate of quiet hours."
$23 - $29 / night
"Great location in Western Maryland. 10 min ride to Cumberland (larger town) 5 min ride to small town of Flintstone. Lots of well marked trails that range from beginner to advanced."
"Rocky gap is one of my favorite parks to camp in Maryland! It is right along a great lake, where you can swim, fish, kayak or just lay about. The camp store is well stocked and the staff is friendly."
$10 - $55 / night
"This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
$20 - $64 / night
"Stayed 3 nights because I wanted to be centrally located to the he Flight 93 Memorial and Falling Water (about 30 miles to each). The non pet section is heavily wooded and very shady."
"The pet loop was essentially a field with trees around it. The none pet loop was in the trees and so you sometimes had more space and sometimes were right beside you."
GuideOne of the best campgrounds I have stayed at so far the pond is nice and has a 1/2 mile walking path around it with trees and beaches to stop and sit dog park is big and has a place for small or large dogs there is 3 play grounds all different and all well kept
GuideNew Germany State Park is situated in Garrett County Maryland. The park has a small lake, a few trails, and two camping loops. The Hemlock loop- the only loop that allows pets, is smaller and is mostly made for tent camping, though one site has electricity, but only big enough for a teardrop camper. There is a bathroom with a hot shower. The problems with the Hemlock loop is the proximity to the other campers. Our neighbors were loud, their kids were louder and their dog was ear- splitting loud. The tent pads are varied in size with sites 52, 53 and 57 being just big enough for a large tent and not much else. Every site has a large picnic table ( that is impressively hard to move) and a fire ring. Some sites are not very level, not not as much that your rolling out of bed in your sleep. There is water, but just at the bathroom area. This makes sense since the loop itself is very small. Deer are dense in these parts, and bears frequent the area. Summer temps usually do not get as nice 85max most of the summer. There is also cross country skiing in the winter. Despite the smaller sites, the Hemlock loop is frequently full, as is the non pet loop, which can accommodate larger tents and RV’s., but no pets.
GuideThis campground checks all our boxes. Beautiful scenery, quiet location, spacious campsites, full RV hookups, well-placed fire rings, dog park, nice large bathhouses, polite staff, and Wi-Fi that works.
This is located about an hour away from my home, so we plan on making this our go-to for quick camping getaways throughout the year.
Highly recommended. Definitely worth checking out.
GuidePreface: if your main objective is activities for children, you have come to the right place. This place is loud and full of kids.
We booked a site but chose not to pay to select which one. All the pictures looked great! We ended up on a grassy hill in the back. The spot was so unlevel there were 19 inches between my bottom step and the ground. This site was the same price as level ones closer to activities.
Also bathrooms were outdated. They had older residential toilets that plugged constantly. The day we left 2 of the 3 in our nearest bathroom were out of order.
Aside from all the above, the Dog Park is awesome. It’s the size of a real, normal dog park. The ice cream on site is also a nice perk.
RangerThis may be the first campground I give a 10 out of 10! All the amenities your could want, it's clean, sites are leveled, it's maintained beautifully, there are cows in the distance, fully stocked store, friendly staff. Laundry, bathrooms, fairly spacious sites, a pool, dog park. Very, very nice.
ScoutGreat location in Western Maryland. 10 min ride to Cumberland (larger town) 5 min ride to small town of Flintstone. Lots of well marked trails that range from beginner to advanced. Lake holds opportunity for numerous activities from swimming, fishing, kayaking, paddle board, and canoeing. No motorized boats which can be a good thing sometimes. The lake even has areas for pets to swim! Campground has tent sites, cabins, camper sites and group sites. All loops have bath houses with showers. Several loops have sites with electric hook ups and pets friendly loops as well. Casino and golf course located on the opposite side of the lake if you wish to visit them while camping.
RangerRocky gap is one of my favorite parks to camp in Maryland! It is right along a great lake, where you can swim, fish, kayak or just lay about. The camp store is well stocked and the staff is friendly. We always stay on Dogwood loop, and the camp hosts are there if you need them, but otherwise leave you be to enjoy your stay.
My only complaint is the sounds from the highway. You can hear the trucks go by, and that does take away from the experience a bit.
We just got our tent this year, so we have always stayed in one of the cabins, when camping here. The rest of the sites are rather separated though, and a great camping experience. I'm attaching several photos from our years of camping at Rocky Gap,, in cabin 104 Dogwood.
We usually stay on Dogwood Loop, which has a nice, direct path from one of the sites down to the beach area. I would say that it is about a 1/4-1/3 mile walk from the loop to the beach/playground area. That said, when going to the beach to swim, we took our car. However, for a trip to the playground or just for a nice walk, the path is great.
The beach area here is, by far, my favorite in the area. I've been to Greenbrier and Herrington Manor, and the beach area at RGSP is, in my opinion, superior. There is a roped off area for swimming, an area for dogs and an area for fishing. You can rent kayaks, paddle boards & canoes for about $5-10 an hour (depending on the type) and going out on the lake is a great way to spend the day! The water is incredibly clean and the best part, is that the 'day use' area for the general public is seperate. So, when you go to the beach at Rocky Gap, it is just other campers. This keeps the beach clean, quiet and not crowded.
There is also a roughly 5 mile loop trail the goes around the lake, and starts and finishes near the camp store. I have not done this hike, but often see runners and hikers coming in and out and have heard it is fantastic. There is also a small trail that comes off of the dogwood loop, across from the camp host's site. My small dog and I have done about 1/2 mile of it- it is rocky, but beautiful.
My son was 6 when we came here last and he was able to ride his bike around the dogwood loop just fine. It is a little hilly, but not too much and I've also enjoyed running the loops in years past.
I've been to 6 Maryland campgrounds this year, and I have to say that Rocky Gap has, by far, the best bathhouse. The women's room has 2-3 very updated shower stalls, roughly 5 bathroom stalls and is always clean. Outside of the bathhouse, is a dish washing station with hot water and a garbage disposal.
You can purchase bundles of firewood for $5 at the campstore and ice is around $3. They also don't have trash dumps on the loops, and you take your trash to the main trash area near the camp store.
TravelerI was the only tenter at the time of my stay; had the whole place to myself. The sites are spread far apart and wooded. Table and fire rings are at each site. They have a brand new bath house which was spotless and a well kept dog park for the furs. If desired, there is a group campsite and the use of a pavilion too. The camp store if beautiful and has everything in it should you forget something. I’ll definitely be back.
GuideWe chose this campground for its proximity to home with the chance to swim in the lake.
The camping did not disappoint. We always try to book “outside” loop sites so we don’t have “back neighbors” but none near the lake were available, so we took our chances on an “inside” site in E loop. It was great, smallish, but plenty of vegetation to make it feel private. (Some poison ivy around the edges, though.) The pull-in sites in general seem a bit small (space for our two 4-person tents and that’s it), but are well shaded and separated from neighbors by small patches of woods or bushes. The pull-through sites in our loop were more exposed to the road, but had a bit more space.
There was some noise from the interstate. There were surprisingly few mosquitoes. The bathhouse was clean, but showers were not very warm.
The swimming was unfortunately disappointing. The roped-off swimming area was 3 feet deep at the most. Warm water in August, nice for kids to splash around, but not really good for actual swimming. Bonus for dog people: pets allowed on the beach and in the lake.
During COVID-19, the bathrooms/bathhouses at the beach area are closed; porta-johns only.
We rented paddle boards and a canoe one afternoon and paddled around to one of the lake inlets, which was actually deep and had a good swim. But this is technically not allowed.
If you feel okay about rule-breaking and have water-safe family members (and no pets), I would absolutely choose a site in I loop close to the lake. The sites in E loop closest to the lake are actually up a fairly steep hill from the lake path.
Hiking trails were nice. My kids especially liked the rock scramble-ish up and down the stream gorge on Evitt’s Mountain trail.
Dispersed camping sites near Grantsville, Maryland offer outdoor recreation in the Appalachian Mountains at elevations around 2,500 feet. The higher elevation creates a cooler microclimate with temperatures typically 8-10 degrees lower than surrounding valleys. Several state forests and parks in western Maryland maintain primitive sites with varying levels of amenities and pet policies.
Hiking diverse trails: New Germany State Park features about 15 miles of well-marked trails with maps at intersections. "The trails are very nicely kept and clear with maps at every intersection so getting lost is very unlikely," notes one camper at New Germany State Park Campground.
Explore waterfalls: Muddy Creek Falls in Swallow Falls State Park stands 53 feet tall as Maryland's tallest waterfall. "Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs camped on the site in 1918, and 1921," shares a visitor to Swallow Falls State Park Campground.
Water activities: Deep Creek Lake offers swimming, boating and fishing throughout summer. "The lake is absolutely beautiful and perfect for all types of water sports. It's great for all ages as well, with things to do to keep everybody entertained," according to a camper at Deep Creek Lake State Park.
Natural separation: Sites at Savage River State Forest provide genuine privacy with generous spacing. "The sites are very spread out, and not very consistent in size/quality. We were able to nab site 112 and it was fantastic: lots of space, and privacy too," notes a visitor to Savage River State Forest.
Cooler temperatures: The mountain elevations provide relief from summer heat. "It was very quiet other than fireworks a couple times. We saw no wildlife until we left the site in the morning and saw some deer on the road. Though we did have a spectacular firefly display at night," reports a camper at Savage River State Forest.
Streamside camping: Big Run State Park offers sites adjacent to flowing water. "Beautiful campsite and loved the sound of the river as white noise!" shares a visitor at Big Run State Park Campground. Another notes, "Used lot 73 for a 26ft hybrid camper. Fit perfectly! It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. The kids loved playing in the water."
Limited facilities: Many sites are truly primitive with minimal amenities. At Big Run, "Pit toilets were pretty clean. Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish. So quiet and very little traffic. Tons of space between sites. Water and dump station is 10 minutes up the road at New Germany State Park."
Reservation systems vary: State parks require advance booking while state forests often operate first-come, first-served. At Rocky Gap State Park Campground, "The campgrounds are very nice, two lakes with crystal clear water, camp store, the camp sites are spread out but still a lot of people, hence a lot of noise."
Weather preparedness: Mountain weather can change quickly. "The weather was crazy the one night I stayed! Thunderstorms turned to ice turned to snow which made the area even more beautiful!" recalls a camper at New Germany State Park.
Beach access: Several parks maintain swimming areas ideal for children. At Rocky Gap State Park, "We love that the campground has their own beach so it's not over crowded with the public. Near the beach there is a nice playground near shade for parents to watch."
Wildlife viewing: The area offers opportunities for animal spotting. "The paths are littered with very docile deer and the lake is crystal clear," reports a visitor to Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground.
Pet friendly options: Hemlock Loop at New Germany State Park welcomes dogs. "We loved this campground. It was quieter than Deep Creek with shaded good sized camp sites in the Hemlock loop where pets are allowed," explains a camper, making it ideal for pet friendly camping near Grantsville, Maryland.
Limited hookup sites: Electric sites are scarce at New Germany. "The Hemlock loop- the only loop that allows pets, is smaller and is mostly made for tent camping, though one site has electricity, but only big enough for a teardrop camper."
Size restrictions: Many campsites cannot accommodate large rigs. At Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park, a visitor notes: "The roads were very narrow, with a decent incline, so not big-rig friendly."
Off-grid preparation: Limited cell service means preparation is essential. "This is a no frill camp area that actually feels like a campground instead of a resort. Not great swim areas, but one can jump in the river to cool off. Lots of bugs...but thats the Mid Atlantic."
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Grantsville, MD is Savage River State Forest with a 4.6-star rating from 18 reviews.
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