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Mountain Creek Camp Ground offers a fenced dog park for off-leash play while maintaining pet-friendly policies across their tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites. Dogs are welcome throughout the campground with standard leash requirements outside designated areas. Dogwood Acres Campground provides a spacious off-leash fenced dog area that receives positive mentions from campers. Both campgrounds maintain clean grounds with access to water, important for keeping pets hydrated during summer visits. Most sites in the Carlisle area campgrounds include full hookups, convenient for RV campers with pets who need climate control. Tent campers with dogs find the creekside sites particularly appealing for water-loving pets. The bathrooms can be a significant walk from some tent sites, which may be challenging when camping with dogs.
Hiking opportunities abound near these pet-friendly campgrounds, with Pine Grove Furnace State Park offering access to dog-friendly trails that connect to the Appalachian Trail. Dogs must remain leashed on trails to protect local wildlife and other hikers. Mountain Creek Camp Ground features a creek where dogs can splash and cool off during summer months, though owners should bring towels for muddy paws. The camp store stocks pet essentials if supplies run low. Seasonal considerations include checking for ticks after woodland hikes, particularly in spring and summer months. Sites in some areas are arranged quite close together, so dogs that are reactive to other pets or people may become stressed at busier campgrounds. Western Village RV Park accepts pets but receives lower ratings overall and has particularly tight spacing between sites.
"I liked the dish washing sinks outside of the shower houses. The site was nice with the tent pad backing up to the trees."
"Our site was in the pet loop and was set back off the road a good amount which kept a lot of the road noise down. It was very large and Iffered gIId trees fIr strIngIng up tarps and hammocks."
from $20 - $89 / night
Check Availability"This campground is far enough away from home but at the same time close enough for a weekend camping trip. Nice level spots for RVs. A pet area as well as a non-pet area."
"There is a pet section and a non pet section in this campground. There is also showers and clean bathrooms here. Plenty of trails and attraction to explore."
from $20 - $43 / night
Check Availability"This central Pa campground is located a short drive to many attractions. Amish Country, Hershey, Gettysburg, and winerys are within 40 min drive. There are many things to do at the campground, also."
"Camping trails, grills to cook on but bring ur own charcoal, giant lake to fish and boat on, hiking for all experience levels, great fishing, lots of space, wildlife is everywhere and there is even an"
"A playground is near bathhouse in the campground, along with several hiking trails. The dump station is easily accessible. Firewood is also available for purchase at the campground."
from $22 - $102 / night
Check Availability"Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites."
"We love the dog friendly sites near the water, the kids and pups play all day! We love how large site 15 is and that it is near the trail head. Bathhouse is very nice and clean."
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Lots of pets, bikes and golf carts. Kids can play in creek with tubes or hunt critters. Negatives: Bathrooms and activities can be a hike. Some areas flood when it rains hard."
"Campsites could be further apart and there's only one bathhouse and it's at the entrance."
"We stayed in the Chinquapin West side due to the restrictions of dogs. Not that I don't love dogs! It's just that it can get loud sometimes."
"Stayed here two nights while visiting Gettysburg (short 20mi drive between the two). Stayed on Chinquapin Hill, each site has picnic table and fire ring and good space for camp."
from $20 - $102 / night
Check Availability"Located a few miles off 81, in the country surrounded by beautiful views. It’s a mix campground of seasonal campers and short term campers. Very family oriented. Very nice off leash fenced dog park."
"It's close enough to 81 that's it's easy to find but tucked back in that you are not bothered by anyone."
"Tucked in the woods but near activities. The store is well stocked and also has a variety of sweet treats!"
"It was also a gated entrance which was nice. We will definitely return."
from $35 - $150 / night
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GuideWe stayed for 10 days in a rustic cabin. Campground is well organized and clean. Tons of activities and even a hiking path. Pet friendly with small dog park. We had civil war soldiers drilling and staying the weekend we were there. Bathrooms are super clean.
ScoutClean and well kept campground located 12 mile below Lewistown, Pa. As clean a campground as you will find. Staff is super friendly. Campground has two distinct levels with open spaces with few trees above and well shaded spots with large trees for shade located down along Juniata River. Great place for fishing, tubing or just getting wet. Campground has many activities for kids. On site is a pool, winery, dog park, office/supplies located in center of campground. WiFi is available to all. Nearly all full hook-ups with back-ins and pull-thrus available. Pets allowed. 42 mile South from State College and 48 mile North of Harrisburg on Rt 322. Highly recommend!
GuideWe have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.
ScoutThe rangers were nice and the campground hosts were sweet. I liked the dish washing sinks outside of the shower houses. The site was nice with the tent pad backing up to the trees. I would rather sleep in a tent any night over a motel room but this time was different. Due to my father passing, me and my daughter stayed there 3 nights. I will be back another time to actually enjoy the lake and being between Lancaster and Gettysburg makes both places easy to access. Next time I will be getting a site away from the group area. It was nice that the pet area is separate from those of us who don't have pets or want quiet from dogs barking. Some of the groups can get rather loud especially when there are a bunch of teens. It was nice that the pet area is separate from those of us who don't have pets or want quiet from dogs barking.
TravelerClean well kept family owned campground. Located a few miles off 81, in the country surrounded by beautiful views. It’s a mix campground of seasonal campers and short term campers. Very family oriented. Very nice off leash fenced dog park.
GuideWe 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.
GuideThis camp boasts a stream and beautiful city bridge for water play in the summer and photography in the cooler months. Grounds, bathrooms, showers, playgrounds, dog park, everything. This park is wonderful!
TravelerNice 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.
TravelerThis 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.
Carlisle camping sits in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania at around 450 feet elevation, surrounded by the Appalachian mountains with South Mountain to the east and Blue Mountain to the north. The region features deciduous forests that create vibrant fall colors from late September through October. Seasonal temperatures vary widely with summer highs often reaching the upper 80s while winter camping requires cold-weather gear for temperatures that frequently drop below freezing.
Hiking at Pine Grove Furnace State Park: Accessible year-round with direct connections to the Appalachian Trail. This park marks the halfway point of the 2,190-mile AT, making it a significant stop for through-hikers. Pine Grove Furnace State Park offers "great hiking...the Appalachian trail runs right through it and is said to be the middle point of the trail," reports Danielle W. For challenging routes, try the Pole Steeple trail for panoramic views of the valley: "We did a very nice run from our campsite out to the scenic viewpoint on top of Pole Steeple (about 7ish miles)," notes Carly E.
Swimming and beach access: Most state parks with lakes maintain dedicated swimming areas from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with some open through mid-September depending on staffing. Gifford Pinchot State Park features "a LARGE beach area in the QR day use area [that] is one of the nicest I've ever seen at a PA state park, with tons of picnic tables with grills, a playground, a volleyball court, and a special fence solution to keep the stupid geese out of the water in the swimming area," according to Danielle V. Colonel Denning State Park provides a more secluded swimming experience with "wide open area to swim that was very clean and well kept," says Casey L.
Mini golf and family recreation: Several campgrounds near Carlisle offer maintained mini golf courses suitable for all ages, typically at additional cost of $3-5 per player. Paradise Stream Family Campground stands out with "so many great site options depending on your needs/preferences... My kids enjoyed the beautiful Mini golf course, splashing in the creek, the pool and the pedal carts," writes Melissa. Similarly, Mountain Creek Camp Ground provides "mini golf and an excellent camp store. Sites in some areas are tight, real tight. Over all, a good camping experience," according to Jim C.
Clean, updated bathrooms: The condition of bathroom facilities varies significantly between campgrounds in the Carlisle area, with state parks generally receiving mixed reviews. Colonel Denning State Park earns consistent praise with "amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites... Cleanest facilities of the year so far," from Casey L. Nate & Erika L. confirm: "the bathrooms were the absolute cleanest bathrooms we've seen in a state park."
Creek access for cooling off: Several campgrounds feature natural water access beyond swimming pools, particularly valuable during hot summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 85°F. Dogwood Acres Campground receives high marks for its layout and water features, with one camper noting it's a "clean well kept family owned campground. Located a few miles off 81, in the country surrounded by beautiful views... Very nice off leash fenced dog park." This makes it one of the most popular dog friendly campgrounds near Carlisle for water-loving pets.
Proximity to historical attractions: The Carlisle region's central location provides convenient access to numerous historical sites within a 30-60 minute drive. As Pam B. notes about Pine Grove Furnace, it's a "nice level spots for RVs. A pet area as well as a non-pet area. A lake with a beach, as well as being close to the AT. Close to Gettysburg as well." For those exploring beyond camping, Caledonia State Park offers similar advantages: "We chose to go camping here for our honeymoon. The campground offered a lot of hiking trails and swimming... we were doing a lot of touring of Gettysburg," explains Claudia L.
Site spacing varies drastically: Campsite proximity is consistently mentioned in reviews, with private campgrounds generally having tighter spacing than state parks. Little Buffalo State Park provides "nice for a smaller campground. Only downfall is we have smaller children and we could not bike from the campground to the pool, it was too far and the hill to get back was too big for them to ride up," notes Paula R. The walking distance to facilities can be significant at some parks.
Seasonal availability and weather considerations: Most campgrounds operate from April through October, with limited year-round options. Christopher E. advises: "The pool here is top notch and it's good for fishing but the hiking isn't super great. We did have a nice bat spotting walk with a Ranger when we were there and there's an interesting historic mill you can tour." Winter camping is available at some state parks but with reduced services and often no running water.
Pet-friendly policies vary: While most campgrounds welcome pets, specific restrictions apply regarding breed, number, and designated areas. Dogwood Acres Campground is especially popular among pet owners visiting Carlisle, featuring a dedicated dog park that receives positive reviews. Beyond the designated pet sections, most campgrounds require pets to remain on leash at all times, including on trails and near water features.
Check campground activity calendars: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Carlisle organize scheduled weekend activities for children, particularly during summer months. Jeffrey H. reports from Pine Grove Furnace: "This park was definitely on point. Great amenities, incredibly friendly staff and camp host, two lakes to swim/fish/boat in, lots of trails to bike or hike on, nice DRY firewood!" He adds that "we got to meet quite a few hikers and hear some cool stories about their travels on the trail," highlighting educational opportunities for children.
Consider walk-in sites for older children: Several state parks offer walk-in tent sites that provide more privacy and a more authentic camping experience. Tiff T. explains about Colonel Denning: "We stayed in site 28 which was a walk-in site, this was perfect for us since we wanted to be further away from people and the light from the bathroom/shower facility. The site was not far from our parking spot, maybe a hundred yards but there was a slight hill."
Reserve summer weekends far in advance: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially those with swimming facilities. Mountain Creek Camp Ground visitor Barb C. notes: "We stay here 2-3 times a year in a tent. Family friendly campground, lots of weekend activities, great pool, well stocked campstore, playground. Lots of pets, bikes and golf carts. Kids can play in creek with tubes or hunt critters." For peak times, reservations should be made 6-9 months in advance.
Check site dimensions carefully: Many campgrounds in the Carlisle area were developed before larger RVs became common. Michelle S. cautions about Western Village RV Park: "The sites are so small that my truck was either parked over the firering or blocking our door. Our slideout is 3" from the neighbor site's picnic table." This sentiment is echoed across several private campgrounds where tight spacing creates challenges.
Water and electric connections may be shared: Some campgrounds have utilities positioned to serve multiple sites, requiring longer hoses or cords. At Western Village, Ernest G. found: "Came in late and add back into a very tight spot. The sewer is in odd locations all around our campsite I'm excited as well as sharing the water source with up to 5 other RVs."
Consider seasonal rental for frequent visitors: Many campgrounds near Carlisle offer seasonal options that provide better value for those planning multiple visits. Tracey describes Paradise Stream Family Campground as "great and our go to if we want to stay closer to home. The sites are a good size and there is plenty to do (swimming, fishing, hiking, escape room, and weekend activities for everyone). The new owners are doing a lot of upgrades in the off season to make it even better."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Carlisle, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Carlisle, PA is Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 57 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Carlisle, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 129 dog-friendly camping locations near Carlisle, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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