Lums Pond State Park Campground features numerous pet-friendly sites with spacious layouts and full hookup options. The park maintains a well-regarded dog park with water access, making it popular among campers traveling with pets. Both tent and RV sites accommodate dogs, with electric, water, and sewer connections available. Additional pet-friendly options include Cecil County Permaculture, which allows pets at its primitive campsites, and Woodlands Camping Resort, offering cabins where pets are permitted. Tent sites sit at considerable distance from bathhouses, but provide ample room for pets to settle near their owners. Leashed pets must remain under control throughout all campgrounds, with waste disposal stations available at established sites.
The 7.5-mile lake trail at Lums Pond provides an excellent dog-walking opportunity, with multiple access points for water-loving pets. Sites range from sunny to heavily shaded, with the campground loop offering a convenient walking circuit for evening pet exercise. Campers report the spacious nature of sites allows plenty of room for pet setups alongside camping equipment. Nearby Elk Neck State Park also permits pets on most trails and at designated campsites. Weather considerations include summer heat, making morning or evening walks preferable during warmer months. The gated entrance at Woodlands provides security for campers with pets, though surrounding areas require supervision. Veterinary services can be found within 15-20 minutes of most campgrounds in the region.
$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)."
$21 - $50 / night
"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."
"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."
"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."
$20 - $90 / night
"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."
$10 - $16 / night
"Has outhouse, fire pit, running water on side of house near outhouse. An is a wonderful person. Good reception with T-Mobile!"
"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."
$57 / night
"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"
$15 - $50 / night
"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."
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.
Tent and RV camping opportunities expand beyond Lums Pond State Park when exploring pet friendly camping near Newark, Maryland. The region sits at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed with elevations ranging from 40 to 400 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically average 80-90°F while spring and fall bring moderate 50-70°F temperatures with higher precipitation rates.
Hiking along water routes: Multiple campgrounds offer water-adjacent trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. At Susquehanna State Park Campground, "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."
Paddling opportunities: Calm lake waters provide excellent kayaking and canoeing conditions. "Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking," notes a visitor to Lums Pond. Many campgrounds rent equipment from May through October with costs between $15-40 per half-day depending on watercraft type.
Historical sites: Several campgrounds connect to preserved historical locations within walking distance. At French Creek, visitors can access "Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and Daniel Boone Homestead" for self-guided tours that showcase the region's industrial and colonial heritage.
Spacious sites: Campers consistently mention the ample room between sites in this region. According to one Elk Neck State Park visitor, "Sites were level, spacious, spaced apart, with packed gravel surface. Back in and pull through sites available." This allows pets and families to spread out comfortably.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. A camper at French Creek State Park Campground noted, "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease."
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse wildlife populations. "We saw bald eagles and great blue heron," reports a camper who visited Elk Neck State Park, making it ideal for nature photographers and wildlife enthusiasts with or without pets.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months and holidays. A Cecil County Permaculture visitor notes, "An is a wonderful person," but with only two primitive sites available, advance booking is essential during peak season.
Tent site location: At several campgrounds, tent sites may require longer walks to facilities. One camper at Lums Pond observed, "Some engineering genius put the bath houses furthest from the people that need them most. Tent campers...keep your shoes handy, its a hike."
Water access variations: Water access points differ in quality and pet-friendliness across campgrounds. A visitor to Hibernia County Park mentioned, "The sites are farther from the lake than I expected," while others note shallow entry points that work well for dogs who enjoy wading rather than swimming.
Playground proximity: When reserving sites with children, check proximity to play areas. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Quarryville, "This park is all for the kids. This will be our second year going. So much to do for the kids... They have the pools and playgrounds and fishing."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer ranger-led programs specifically for children. "They hold a Sunday morning 'Church at the Park,' which we were planning to go to, but then it rained, and we didn't know there was a rain location (the park office), so we ended up missing that," shares a French Creek visitor.
Activity options for various ages: Consider age-appropriate activities when selecting campgrounds with children. "We just got back from this campground after spending 5 nights there. The water park is super fun for adults and kids," notes a Jellystone Park guest, while others mention the need for teen-specific options.
Site angles and leveling: Many RV sites in the region require careful positioning. At Woodlands Camping Resort, "Campground is a little outdated and where the overnight people are is separated from the seasonal people." Check site descriptions for pad types and levelness.
Hook-up locations: Utility placement varies widely between campgrounds. "The site offered electric and water but they were on 2 different sides. This made it difficult to set up. Had to park the camper crooked to use both," shares one RVer's experience in the area.
Security considerations: Some campgrounds offer gated access, which RVers appreciate. "The campground is gated and that is nice, because the surrounding area is not great," notes a Woodlands Camping Resort visitor, providing peace of mind for campers with valuable equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Newark, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Newark, MD is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Newark, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 81 dog-friendly camping locations near Newark, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
