Stephen R.
Guide
GuideRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Carbondale, PA
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Keen Lake Resort Campground offers lake and land recreation for campers with dogs, featuring a dedicated dog beach where pets can swim separately from the people beach. The pet-friendly campground provides tent sites, RV sites with hookups, and cabin accommodations near Carbondale, with different sections offering various levels of amenities. Dogs can enjoy swimming at a dedicated dog beach separate from the people beach, allowing pets to cool off during summer camping trips. Most campers report clean, well-maintained facilities with regular bathroom cleaning and stocking. The campground maintains quiet hours enforced by security patrols, creating a respectful environment for all guests and their pets. Water and electric hookups are available at lakeside sites, while tent camping options without utilities exist on the opposite shore.
Hiking trails near the campgrounds provide exercise opportunities for dogs and their owners. Lackawanna State Park Campground and Tobyhanna State Park Campground both welcome pets, with clearly designated pet-friendly areas throughout their facilities. Campers should bring quarters for the coin-operated showers at Keen Lake, where 25 cents provides approximately five minutes of shower time. The lake offers excellent recreation for dogs that enjoy water, with paddle boats, row boats, kayaks and canoes available to rent for exploring with pets. Campground stores stock pet necessities in case supplies run low during longer stays. Dog owners particularly appreciate the spacious lakefront sites that provide direct water access for pets that enjoy swimming, though some report the Pioneer area sites being small and closely spaced with limited bathroom facilities.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Carbondale (127)
1. Keen Lake Resort Campground
"We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well maintained and flat which were the most important."
"I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. "
2. Clayton Park RV Escape
3. Honesdale - Poconos KOA
"We had a fantastic first camping experience for the kids (and dogs). I have been camping across the country so I know what to look for. I would highly recommend this campground."
"Enjoyed walking the trails and wooded area but sprained my right ankle. So I was laid up for a few hours before I left."
4. Cherry Ridge Campsites and Lodging
"Pets welcome"
"Nice lake for fishing . Reasonably priced breakfast on weekends . Great staff . Good utilities and clean bathrooms ."
5. Valley View Farm and Campground
6. Ponderosa Pines Campground
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $60 / night
7. Shady Rest Campground
"The beautiful setting around is nicely within the woods. There is also a playground and the rates are hard to beat."
8. Secluded Acres Campground
"Also saw RV sites that were very close to each other. Our tent site is perfect. An area of the lake is to swim and the other to fish in. Catch and release only. Lots of tress for great shade."
"The site itself isn't bad, a lot of woods to tuck into if you camp rite."
9. Hickory Run State Park Campground
"We took the short drive to Hawk Falls Trail and also completed the Orchard Trail Loop."
"The bathroom facilities were clean, the hiking in the area was gorgeous and pet friendly and I’m looking forward to going back"
61 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $72 / night
10. Cozy Creek Family Campground
"Campground is based around kids, there’s a lot for them to do!"
Check Availabilityfrom $17 / night
Drive Time
- 17 min from Scranton, PA
- 51 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 25 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 27 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
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Hickory Run State Park Campground
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Carbondale, PA
930 Reviews of 127 Carbondale Campgrounds
Nancy W.
LegendHickory Run State Park Campground
Peaceful State Park Camping in the Fall
This is a large campground with a wide array of campsites so be careful attention when you book online, especially if you have a pet because some sites are not pet-friendly. Some are 50-amp full hook-up and some are primitive with no hook-ups.
There is a nice nature center with interesting interpretive exhibits and lots of informational brochures including ones about the hiking trails, bears, scat and tracks of local animals, and fishing. Our site was at the edge of the campground and backed up to Route 534 which resulted in a bit of road noise at our site. Other than the road noise the campground was pretty quiet and was not very crowded when we camped there in October.
Not all sites are level and we happened to book one that was not and we had to live with a slant for our stay. The roads in the park are gravel/dirt and since it rained the day we arrived the roads were a muddy mess which made the roads slippery and there were lots of potholes. Unfortunately, some campers were disrespectful and left bags of trash in the fire pit and scattered around their site which was totally unnecessary because there were dumpsters plenty of dumpsters in the campground. Since we camped at Hickory Run late in the season, there were no camp hosts and the trash never got picked up.
The campground is open from mid-April to mid-December; however, the shower facilities and dump station are not available after the third week of October so plan accordingly. We really like the hiking trails which are of varying degrees of difficulty and lengths. The Hawk Falls is a nice easy walk (1.4 miles round-trip) to a waterfall but is extremely popular so don’t think you will be admiring the falls alone. The parking lot at this trail head fills up fast so you better get there early if you want to get a spot.
You can enter the park from two different directions. If you have a big-rig, it is best to approach from the east side. We made the mistake of coming in from the west side as we dropped down from I-80 and came down 534 and the road was really windy with no shoulder. Luckily, there was very little traffic so we could go 10 mph and safely navigate the roads.
Be aware alcohol is not allowed in PA state parks. This park does allow hunting in certain sections of the park. The no-hunting areas are clearly marked with white no hunting signs on trees and you can also pick up a brochure from the office that designates hunting and no-hunting sections.
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.LegendRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Beautiful Falls!
What a great campground! We stayed here on a recommendation from a friend after the Overland Expo. Great hiking trails and the falls were absolutely breathtaking. Truly enjoyed our stay and plan to return!
- WWill W.Guide
Lackawanna State Park Campground
Car camping
Stayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
- jjeanne A.Guide
Council Cup Campground
Better than nothing
Small campground with rude owner. Everything I asked about was putting her out. It was cheap though at $36 for water and electric with a military discount.
Daniel C.
ScoutHillside Campgrounds
Stay away... Unless you like 70 y/o men acting like high schoolers
This clothing-optional campground has a highly toxic, intrusive, and vindictive environment. During my stay, the seasonal permanent residents('perms') subjected me to intense harassment, inappropriate sexual advances, and severe social retaliation/rumor-spreading when those advances were rejected. The situation escalated to the point where an employee had to intervene for my safety. Furthermore, despite management allowing my photo to be taken in costume at a party, I was intentionally blocked from the community group where the photos were posted, leaving me unable to monitor how my image was being used. Avoid this place if you value your privacy, personal boundaries, and safety.
Thomas B.
RangerNeversink River Resort
Cool Riverside Campground
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Kathy L.RangerHickory Run State Park Campground
Beautiful forest
Gorgeous forested area in the Poconos. We stayed on the Rattlesnake Loop which was lovely. Sites not super private but most nestled in trees. The only bummer was that that Campground Loop didn’t have any direct links to the trail network and was far from it. The other Campground Loop was closer to trails and office. Would return!
Art S.LegendMoon Lake Recreation Area Campground — Pinchot State Forest
Quiet camping
Just a few others here so it is quite peaceful. A one mile walk gets you to the lake. They have a covered pavilion with plenty of picnic tables. My site is large with plenty of trees providing shade. The outhouse is a bit of a walk. Garbage cans are inside it. I haven’t seen a water source but it might be around.
Guide to Carbondale
Camping options near Carbondale, Pennsylvania span across the Pocono Mountains region, which ranges in elevation from 1,300 to 1,800 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach highs in the 70s-80s°F with cooler evenings around 50-60°F. The region receives approximately 45-50 inches of precipitation annually, creating lush forested camping environments with numerous lakes and streams for recreation.
What to do
Lake activities: At Promised Land State Park Campground, campers can kayak on crystal-clear waters. "I spent the night in the Promised Land State Park at Pickerel Point and it was so pretty and quiet. There was a beach nearby that was an excellent place to gaze at the stars," shares Carolyn M.
Hiking trails: The hiking options around Lackawanna State Park provide multiple trail difficulties. According to Janet R., "There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network of hiking and horse riding trails."
Winter activities: Some campgrounds remain open year-round. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers. The park is large with many hiking trails and ice fishing," notes Mara S. about winter camping at Pickerel Point.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Honesdale-Poconos KOA receives praise for its maintenance standards. "KOAs are known for being clean and this was no exception. The bathrooms and showers, every time we went in, were spotless," says Corey M.
Family-friendly atmosphere: Valley View Farm and Campground creates a peaceful environment. "One of the best places I've stayed all year. Great spots to setup your own tent as well as cabins and trailers. My daughter and I highly recommend this campground to anyone who loves the forest and the peace and tranquility that comes along with it," writes Steve.
Spacious campsites: Campers appreciate room to spread out at some locations. "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper. The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail. The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," says Kelly F. about her experience at Promised Land State Park.
What you should know
Pet policies: Dog friendly campgrounds near Carbondale have specific pet areas. At Tobyhanna State Park Campground, "Pet sites looked to have more space," according to Erik M., while the campground maintains dedicated pet-friendly zones.
Shower facilities: Many campgrounds have coin-operated showers. As Mara S. notes about Promised Land State Park, heated bathhouses with clean showers remain available even in colder months, though some areas have limited cell reception with Verizon.
Site selection: Choose carefully based on your preferences. "The sites are nicely shaded. Some are a little close to each other, but others offer plenty of space, including our site (52) on this trip. One of the biggest spots we have ever had," Michael shares about Lackawanna State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Activities for children: Cherry Ridge Campsites offers various entertainment options. "Multi site facility with many activities. Campfires permitted, fishing, row boat rental, bath house, dance hall. Country kitchen has breakfast and lunch on Saturday, breakfast only on Sunday," describes Beverly J.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. Kasey M. notes that Shady Rest Campground has "a playground and the rates are hard to beat. The campground is on 16 acres, and if you'd like you may hike around, there is a beautiful creek."
Organized programs: Look for campgrounds with scheduled activities. Emily Z. mentions about Keen Lake, "The staff were so accommodating and everyone was super nice. There is a lot for younger kids to do and the grounds are pet friendly which was a huge plus for us."
Tips from RVers
Utility considerations: RV campers should note hook-up availability. At Lackawanna State Park, Michael observed: "The site has one potential drawback for some, no electric hookup, however most of the loop we were in and the other pet friendly loop was also electric capable."
Site terrain: Be prepared for uneven ground at some locations. James P. explains that Shady Rest Campground is a "Very hilly campground. Sites aren't level," though it's "good for an overnight" stay and they recommend following the campground website for entry directions from I-81.
RV-friendly options: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Carbondale accommodate larger rigs. "This state park is a great way to get away and enjoy the forests. There is plenty of space to bring lunch and have a picnic," notes Maggie A. about Tobyhanna State Park, which has sites suitable for RVs with electric and water hookups.
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