Jennifer G.
Scout
ScoutLakewood Park Campground
Beautiful and Fun
Beautiful and fun. Kind staff. Hoping for a dog park in the future.
Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Benton, PA
Ricketts Glen State Park Campground accommodates tent, RV, cabin, yurt and glamping campers with pets allowed in the designated small loop section. Dogs must remain on 6-foot leashes at all times, including when hiking the popular Falls Trail with its 21 waterfalls. Whispering Pines Camping Estates offers spacious, well-separated sites for camping with dogs, with some campsites positioned 200-300 feet from neighboring sites, providing ample room for pets to enjoy the surroundings without disturbing others. Red Rock Mountain Campground, just minutes from Ricketts Glen, features primitive tent sites that require a short hike to reach, offering more seclusion for campers with pets. Campground bathhouses and facilities are generally clean and well-maintained, though campers report varying hot water temperatures at shower facilities.
The Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen presents challenging terrain with many stone steps and steep inclines, requiring proper footwear for both humans and pets navigating the wet, rocky paths. Hiking poles are recommended for the descent and ascent sections, especially around Mohawk Falls where the trail becomes particularly steep. Lake Jean within the park provides swimming and kayaking opportunities, with designated beach areas where dogs can cool off from summer heat. Most campgrounds in the area enforce quiet hours, though campers have noted inconsistent enforcement at some locations. Seasonal considerations include cooler temperatures at Ricketts Glen's higher elevation, providing relief from summer heat with mornings remaining quite cool even when surrounding areas experience high temperatures. Cell service is extremely limited throughout the area, with most campsites reporting no service or at most 1-2 bars of LTE, regardless of carrier.
Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Benton, Pennsylvania (133)
1. Ricketts Glen State Park Campground
68 ReviewsSweet Valley, PA11 milesWebsite+1 (570) 477-5675$15 - $92 / night
"The biggest draw to this state park (which no one in Pennsylvania I spoke with seemed to know about) is the 22 waterfalls!"
"There are various trails for all skill levels, and pets are welcome!"
2. Whispering Pines Camping Estates
5 ReviewsCambra, PA5 milesWebsite+1 (570) 925-6810$50 - $110 / night
"Family friendly, Pet Friendly. The owners Dave and Teresa go out of their way to make your stay very comfortable"
"Rented one electric site and onenon-electric right next to it for a two tent set up for my family of five adults and two children and one dog. The sites were level, clear, and pristine."
3. Worlds End State Park Campground
28 ReviewsForksville, PA21 milesWebsite+1 (570) 924-3287$20 - $62 / night
"They need a larger pet area. The camping is great. Love the hiking trails"
"This is another Pennsylvania state park with excellent recycling facilities."
4. Pioneer Campground
12 ReviewsLaporte, PA16 milesWebsite+1 (570) 946-9971"We own some property near this campground and have stayed here a few weekends as a home base while we clean up our property. The owners are just amazingly nice people, always very helpful!"
"Our tent site was secluded and quiet, but not too far off the beaten path!"
5. Red Rock Mountain Campground
4 ReviewsCambra, PA8 milesWebsite+1 (570) 925-5039"Close to many family places such as Ricketts Glen and The Red Rock Scoop for ice cream! Love rummaging through the on-site flea market to see what I can find!"
"Quiet hours are not enforced, there were kids running around screaming well after midnight which was annoying because we were waking up for a sunrise hike at Ricketts Glen."
6. Knoebels Campground
24 ReviewsMarion Heights, PA23 milesWebsite+1 (570) 672-9555$59 - $160 / night
"Knoebels campground is situated next to Knoebels amusement park and offers sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as cabins. There is electricity at every site but not water."
"You can walk to their amusement park from the grounds as well as their giant pool with waterslides and diving boards."
7. Indian Head Campground
10 ReviewsCatawissa, PA16 milesWebsite+1 (570) 441-8628"Not much to do at the campground but it is 20 minutes away from Knoebles. The fees are fairly cheap."
"Good location, right on the river. The campground overall is very pretty. A few old, junk trailers around the property need to be hauled off."
8. Lake Glory Campground
15 ReviewsCatawissa, PA21 milesWebsite+1 (570) 356-7392$50 - $80 / night
"This campground is only minutes away from Knobels Amusement Park. The campground itself was clean but not a lot of amenities being it’s part of the amusement park."
"It’s a nice spacious campground next to the park."
9. West Creek Campground
1 ReviewBenton, PA6 milesWebsite+1 (570) 293-9485$75 - $375 / night
"Great location for hiking."
10. Deihls Camping Resort
1 ReviewBloomsburg, PA8 milesWebsite+1 (570) 683-5212
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Benton, PA
57 Photos of 133 Benton Campgrounds
Pedro R.
Ricketts Glen State Park Campground
Debbie H.
Bodnarosa Campground
Luis B.
Indian Head Campground
Elise D.
Lake Glory Campground
Giancarlo R.
Worlds End State Park Campground
Amanda + Will
Riverside Campground & Riverside Roadhouse
Jackie F.
Frances Slocum State Park Campground
Debbie W.
Splash Magic RV Resort
Brian C.
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Milton
JOHN T.
Williamsport South-Nittany Mountain KOA
Michael
Locust Lake State Park Campground
Robert A.
Breezy Acre Campsites
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Benton, PA
560 Reviews of 133 Benton Campgrounds
- Chris G.
GuideTwin Grove RV Resort
Great campground! Lots of fun
We loved it here. It accommodates a large family reunion with plenty of space. The campground was well populated but we didn’t feel cramped at all. Super dog friendly. Many little dog parks throughout. Great pool.
- Tiffany S.
TravelerTwin Grove RV Resort
Beautiful Campground
Nice campground with well taken care of sites. There is a pond to fish from, a dog park for your furry friend to play at and a few playgrounds for the kids.
- Tiffany S.Traveler
Twin Grove RV Resort
Beautiful Campground
This is an amazing campground! There are 2 dog parks right next to each other, which is great for your furry friend to be able to run around and play off leash. And for the kids there is an arcade, a ferris wheel and some other rides. On Saturday nights they usually have a band playing on the stage which is really neat. There is also a ice cream place to get a nice cold treat. The RV spots are really nice and well kept.
- SSean B.Scout
Splash Magic RV Resort
Friendly and very helpful staff
The area is beautiful and I would like to stay in the winter when many of the activities are available and it is warmer. I am just learning about using a travel trailer and the staff was of great assistance. They were easy to reach and were genuinely interested in my stay and plans. They have a dog park which my dog loved.
- CCindyGuide
Stonybrook RV Resort
Well maintained and comfortable RV Park
We stayed here for 3 nights and thought well of the park. The place was meticulously clean and the permanent campers keep their sites so well. The pool was warm, clean and enjoyable. There’s a nice playground and a GaGa pit. There’s lots of space to walk your dog on leash but no dog park. We had an issue with our surge protector and the manager had an electrician out to us quickly who helped us solve a problem. Pleasant staff in the camp store. The laundry area and shower rooms are beautiful and clean.
There is nothing to do in the immediate area, but we were there to use the bike trails and bop around Jim Thorpe…about 25 minutes away via pretty country roads.
Gayle B.
RangerWilliamsport South-Nittany Mountain KOA
Awesome!
One of our favorite places to camp! My daughter loves the pools, gem mining, and slushies. The farm animals are adorable. We go every year with friends who use a tent while we use a travel trailer and we've both loved our sites and the facilities. Dog park is great, too!
B C.ScoutWilliamsport South-Nittany Mountain KOA
Wooded campground
Very wooded campground. Gravel pad was narrow so the picnic table was within two feet of the trailer side. We had a pull through site that was uneven front to back so that our tongue jack was all the way down to get level enough. Side to side it was fine. The playground was excellent. The camp store was new looking and well stocked. The staff was friendly.
No breed restrictions for dogs. The dog park was good.
Kham L.ScoutLocust Lake State Park Campground
Beautiful lake. Horrible staff.
Good for day trip (but not returning). Bad for camping. Racist visitors. Rude and ignorant staff. Brace yourself, this is a long review.
In short, staff are rude. Park ranger don't know how to critically think. Racist visitors are allowed to stay (details below). Illicit drug use allowed by staff/ park rangers.
The park: it's a nice park with a good lake and activities. Short hikes are easy and fishing is good for kid activities. There's also a small beach area with sand that's great for kids and adults. Kayaking was decent and we caught some good size fish in the deeper parts. It's a shame our experience will lead us others to never return.
The campsites: they're the average small campsites that could fit two 4 person tents and one car, some sites are larger. We got a good shaded site with tall trees. Our picnic table was in pretty solid shape and not deteriorating. Most sites are too close to each other where neighboring ignorant campers will be ignorant. That's where one problem lies.
The bathrooms: better off digging a hole. Empty or near empty toilet paper. Some toilets were overflowing. It's just bad maintenance.
The staff: this is the real problem. I can deal with racist people; that's easy. What I can't is rude, ignorant, and or inexperienced staff. As mentioned, I camp all over the country and highly respect park rangers. This team was very different.
We arrive at the gate and was greated by Jane. She asked if we had any pets or alcohol. We didnt but a family member told her they had a dog but weren't staying the night. Jane said it was okay and told us we had 10 minutes to unload and park our cars at the big parking lot. We said okay and we all continue.
Less 10 minutes goes by (I know this because we just got to the site and opened the car doors to unload) and Jane drove by and said, “I said that you have 10min to unload, policy is 1 vehicle per site. You guys have too many vehicles, you have to remove them now!” A family member said to her we got here 5min ago and are in the process of unloading. Jane proceeds to say, “I also said no pets anywhere in this site. I see you have a dog. You need to take your dog off the site. They can’t stay.” She said this as a couple walked their 2 full grown labs right by us. The family member asked her “what about them? Aren’t those dogs?” She looked at us and said,”there’s a dog park further down for those sites down there. Your site isn’t allowed to have dogs.” If you remember when we entered we already established that a member had a dog and they were not staying the night and Jane was okay with it. So we tell her that we'll unpack and move the cars as she instructed at the gate.
Jane drove off and stopped to talk to the couple camping behind our tent. As they were talking, I noticed the man Jane was talking to kept turning back to look at us. We continued to enjoyed our day and the dog that Jane was complaining about left the campground. It was maybe 5am the next morning, someone’s child was crying. And from the tent behind us where Jane was talking to the man the day before, we hear a male’s voice yelled,”SHUT THE F*CK UP!" Around 6am we called to report the man and the lady we talked to said someone will come out asap.
Throughout the day the same man that was accompanied by a female, hurrled slurries of racial remarks to us and the other surrounding neighbors (they were not caucasian) throughout the day. We and two other families that we know of reported him. Again, the front office said someone will be out asap, yet throughout the day the man continued his racial remarks. At this point we had a feeling nothing was done about the racial-remarks-yelling man. We gave up on the staff that was responsible to keep the establishment a family friendly environment.
Someone reported us for having a dog and too many cars on our campsite. Who could that be? And so, a park ranger came and told us in a not-so-friendly way to remove the dog and limit our vehicles. This park ranger was clearly ignorant. If he took seconds to assess our campsite, he would have counted 1 car per campsite. As far as the dog goes, there was none because it left with the owners the day before as stated to Jane (from the gate). The ranger obviously did not assess the situation before engaging in a demand that proved his ignorance to the many people before him. Though we knew his ignorance was apparent, we hoped God would enlighten him to do the right thing. So we proceeded to inform him of the racial-remarks-yelling man behind our campsite continuing to do what he was raised or learned to express; hate. And also that multiple people at our campsite smelled a stench of what can only be marijuana coming from behind our campsite. Sure, we don't know 100% exactly where it came from but it was strongest around the campsite where the racial-remarks-yelling man resided. The park ranger confirmed that they had received other complaints about that racial-remarks-yelling man and that "we" will loop back around and speak with him. I checked and marijuana was not legal for recreational use in Pennsylvania.
Their policies possessed a strict 10 minute limit to unload your camping gear along with your supplies and children but must not possess anything about foul language, rudeness, hate speech, or illicit drug use because the racial-remarks-yelling man was still there with his female companion and the stench of marijuana after we left the campground. That or the staff believed the racial-remarks-yelling man's action were fair. Whatever the case, it is a mystery for there was no update from the rangers or staff and the man continued to hurl hate towards us and the surrounding non-caucasian families after multiple reports from multiple families as confirmed by the park ranger.
In conclusion, racist people are easy to deal with. But when the staff and park rangers fail to enforce a family friendly environment at a family friendly campground, victims to people like the racial-remarks-yelling man wonder what kind of people are operating this establishment?
Benefit of the doubt, maybe staff was busy... And you can't leave a review on their website without it being "approved" for publication. Best way to have 5 star rating
Guide to Benton
Ricketts Glen and the surrounding Endless Mountains offer camping options at elevations between 1,000-2,300 feet, creating cooler microclimates that provide relief from summer heat. Most campgrounds near Benton maintain primitive tent sites alongside established RV areas, with campsites typically spaced 30-100 feet apart depending on location. Cell service throughout the region ranges from nonexistent to unreliable regardless of carrier, with most campgrounds recommending offline navigation tools.
What to do
Hike Butternut Trail: For families with children who enjoy hiking challenges, Worlds End State Park Campground offers trails right within the camping area. "Butternut trail is right in the campground and is a perfect two-hour hike for kids who don't mind a good hike. There are some tricky spots, but it's manageable and well worth it when you reach the lookout at the top," notes Christine D.
Visit waterfalls beyond the Falls Trail: The region contains additional cascades beyond the main attraction. Pioneer Campground serves as a base camp for exploring these lesser-known areas. "We camped Monday to Saturday early August and and only one other campsite Was occupied till Friday night. I am excited to return," says Sharon B., who found the campground perfect for day trips to surrounding natural areas.
Fish in stocked waters: Lake Glory stocks its fishing pond regularly for campers. As Vince L. explains, "The lake is stocked and the fish are always hungry. 10 minutes to Knoebels with the mighty Phoenix." Most campgrounds allow fishing with a valid Pennsylvania fishing license, which costs $22.97 for residents and $52.97 for non-residents.
What campers like
Private tent sites: Red Rock Mountain Campground offers secluded primitive sites requiring a short hike to access. "We camped at Red Rock as couples. We stayed in primitive tent sites which you had to hike into. They were very private," reports Samantha M. These walk-in sites provide seclusion not found at more developed areas.
Spacious campsites: The unusually large sites at Whispering Pines Camping Estates stand out from typical campgrounds. Charlie & Danielle B. noted, "One of the quietest and most spacious campgrounds we've ever stayed in. As you'll see in the pictures, our campsite was probably a good 200-300 feet or more from the other sites on either side of us so we basically had a large front yard."
Clean bathroom facilities: State parks maintain excellent facilities even during busy periods. Lee D. reports at Worlds End State Park, "This is the third Pennsylvania state park we have stayed at recently and all get an A+ for the bathhouses. Very clean, heated, and the showers appear to be in good condition." Multiple campgrounds feature dishwashing sinks and stations for camper convenience.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Connectivity remains extremely limited throughout the region. At Grassmere Park Campground, Sara K. confirms, "Zero cell service at this campground, didn't effect us, but might be a problem if you needed to be reachable." Most campgrounds report similar conditions with Wi-Fi rarely available.
Weather variations: Temperature swings can be significant, particularly in spring and fall. Katy R. notes about Worlds End, "It rained very heavily during the night and our camp site did not flood or retain water which was really great." The mountainous terrain creates microclimates where temperatures can drop 20-30 degrees overnight.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends and fall foliage season. "Book early....these sites fill fast!" advises Eiron S. about Lake Glory Campground. Reservations typically open 11 months in advance for state parks and 6-12 months ahead for private campgrounds.
Tips for camping with families
Consider event weekends: Knoebels Campground and nearby accommodations host regular activities. "The sites are very close to one another. We lucked out in Bermuda Triangle as there was a little more space and we were further away from some of the noise," advises Derek W. Themed weekends often include organized activities for children.
Locate quieter loops: Family camping requires strategic site selection. Gayle B. recommends at Pioneer Campground, "We started with a trip in the summer because of their candy bar hunt and heated swimming pool. We try to get the same campsite each year because it is wooded and spacious." Most campgrounds have specific loops better suited for families with young children.
Pack for temperature variations: Jennifer F. advises about Worlds End, "I usually come in the fall in October/early November. It's my favorite time to come because it's not extremely packed with campers and the leaves are beautiful. If you come in the fall, make sure you bring a cold weather sleeping bag or heater because the temp does drop." Mountain elevations create cooler conditions than surrounding areas.
Tips from RVers
Level with care: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring preparation. Wilson G. notes about Indian Head Campground, "This is a nice campground very laid-back. Not much to do at the campground but it is 20 minutes away from Knoebles. The fees are fairly cheap." Bringing leveling blocks is essential at most area campgrounds.
Consider hookup availability: Full hookup sites are limited at many locations. The review from James S. at Ricketts Glen mentions, "Our full hookup site was large with table and fire ring, and required some leveling. Not much shade in the full hookup loop, so was happy to have electricity for A/C." Water access varies significantly between campgrounds.
Plan for dump station wait times: During peak checkout periods, dump station lines can grow long. Gregory L. observed at Pioneer Campground, "I don't believe most sites have a sewer connection, and there is only one dump station, but the owner John was going around pumping people out Sunday morning when the line to the dump station was long." Several campgrounds offer pumping services for an additional fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Benton, PA is Ricketts Glen State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 68 reviews.
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