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Group Camp at Ridley Creek State Park accepts four-legged friends, featuring several pet-friendly camping options near Chester Heights. The campground offers group tenting sites surrounded by well-marked trails that are particularly suited for hiking with dogs. Picnic tables and fire rings are available at each site, and electric hookups are provided. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, approximately 30-40 minutes from Philadelphia, offers a more developed camping experience with full hookups and amenities. Reviewers consistently note the extremely clean facilities throughout the campground. The campground is particularly dog-friendly with designated pet areas, though specific pet rules include keeping dogs leashed at all times while on campground property.
Dog owners will find multiple hiking opportunities along Ridley Creek where pets can cool off at permitted creek access points. The trails at Ridley Creek State Park are particularly well-maintained and pet-friendly, with several miles of paths suitable for all skill levels. Tinicum Island, accessible only by boat, offers a more primitive camping experience where pets are permitted, though there are no facilities or amenities available. Brandywine Creek Campground and French Creek State Park also welcome pets with specific designated areas. Most campgrounds in the region enforce standard pet policies including proof of vaccination, proper waste disposal, and preventing excessive barking during quiet hours. For emergency situations, several veterinary clinics operate within a 20-minute drive of the Chester Heights area campgrounds.
"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"
from $57 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival."
"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 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."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
"This row of sites lacked the trees for shade and privacy found at most other sites around the campground. The pool was nice and clean."
"Not close off the highway, but wooden sites. Seems as though people spend their summers there. Pool was beautiful and looked new. Mini golf was decrepit and looked abandoned. Store was nice."
from $31 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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)."
from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability"It was a great place to walk with your dog and enjoy the Pennsylvania outdoors."
"Since he was 2 years old I’ve taken my son, and we always have an amazing time, either hiking the trails to wandering in the woods looking for “adventures”."
from $43 / night
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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.
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.
LegendWest Chester KOA This is a really nice KOA not too far from downtown Philly. The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy. A bridge nearby the campground was washed out earlier by a hurricane so we had to take an alternative route going about thirty minutes out of our way. (Make sure you check their website for directions!) There is a lot to do in the surrounding area like visiting the historical sites in downtown Philadelphia, Valley Forge, or exploring Amish country.
This is a typical KOA with lots of amenities and activities for kids– swimming pool, jump pad, miniature golf, volleyball, butterfly garden, gem mining, playground, store, dog park, nature trail, etc. There is a large pool area with pavilion but it was closed during our stay since we were there early in the season. The campground is right on the Brandywine River which is a slow meandering pretty river that is great to get your feet wet or go for a paddle. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent if you have time and as there is very little current in the river you can paddle out and back without any trouble. There is a nice, short nature trail which was nice to walk our dog and she enjoyed getting wet in the river.
The campground is hilly which means that a fair number of sites are not level. Our site (#27) was level for our RV but the patio sloped downhill and we could not use our picnic table or find a level spot for our chairs. Some sites are “premiums” with paved patios, Adirondack chairs, fancy firepits, BBQ grill, and tables and chairs with an umbrella. These sites are really nice, but you pay a lot more for them. Some sites are located adjacent to the river with nice waterfront views, but beware some might be muddy. There are lots of camping cabins and a couple of glamping tents.
Overall, the campground is very clean with no trash lying around and the grass was mowed and trimmed. The 50-amp electric was good as was the water pressure. The sewer connection uphill from our site so it did not drain properly. There is basic cable but since you are so close to Philly there are plenty of over-the-air channels. The Wi-Fi at our site worked well. Garbage is picked up at your site. The surrounding area has plenty of restaurants, shopping, and interesting things to see and do.
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.
Dispersed camping near Chester Heights offers campers access to southeastern Pennsylvania's Piedmont region, located where the rolling hills begin to transition to coastal plains. This area typically sees moderate precipitation year-round with summer high temperatures averaging in the mid-80s°F. Most campgrounds around Chester Heights require advance reservations during peak season from May through September, with availability opening 6-12 months in advance.
Hiking with varied terrain: At French Creek State Park Campground, campers can access several well-maintained trails. "There are a ton of picnic tables too so you can take a lunch and just sit by the lake to relax and have a bite to eat," notes one visitor who also mentioned attending an Orienteering event at the park. The park's frisbee golf course adds another dimension to outdoor recreation.
Water activities beyond swimming: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers canoeing and kayaking opportunities on their 200-acre pond. "Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking," explains one camper. The park prohibits swimming in the pond but maintains a separate pool facility during summer months.
Historical exploration: Nearby Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site provides educational opportunities about early American iron-making. "There is the Reading and Berks County Visitors Bureau and Chester County Visitors Bureau, State Game Lands 43, Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and Daniel Boone Homestead," explains a reviewer detailing attractions near French Creek State Park.
Natural separation between sites: Hibernia County Park offers wooded sites with natural buffers. "Most sites are heavily wooded which means plenty of hammock hanging opportunities," notes one visitor. The campground's layout provides a sense of privacy despite being a relatively small camping area with just 19 sites in Fiddlers loop.
Clean, modern facilities: At Elk Neck State Park Campground, bathhouses receive consistent praise. "Nice clean bathhouses. Sites were level, spacious, spaced apart, with packed gravel surface," mentions one camper. Another notes that "The camp host were very friendly and were actually in charge of keeping the bathrooms clean (which they did excellent at)!"
Variety of site types: Campgrounds in the region offer everything from primitive to full-hookup sites. "Lums Pond is one of Delaware's nicest state parks...Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," explains a regular visitor. Most campgrounds in the area offer a mix of site types to accommodate different camping styles.
Booking requirements: Most area campgrounds require advance planning. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns a reviewer about Lums Pond State Park. The most popular campgrounds often fill 6-12 months in advance for weekend stays during peak season.
Primitive camping options: For those seeking a more rugged experience, Tinicum Island offers boat-in primitive camping. "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft," notes a visitor, highlighting the unique access requirements. The island has no facilities, requiring campers to pack in and pack out all supplies.
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate with limited facilities in winter. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great!" reports a winter camper at French Creek State Park, which remains open year-round but with reduced services. Researching seasonal closures and limitations is essential for off-season visits.
Playground access: Old Cedar Campground provides family-friendly amenities. "Very quiet Campground. Easily can sleep late here! Clean, woodsy and nice staff," notes one seasonal camper. Another mentions, "There was also activities for the younger kids - making slime," highlighting the organized programming for children.
Fishing opportunities: Several area campgrounds offer stocked fishing ponds. "We spent Saturday afternoon fishing but not catching anything at Scott's Run. It's a beautiful location and it was still a fun way to spend the day with the kids away from the site," reports a visitor to French Creek State Park. At Hibernia County Park, a camper mentions "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing."
Educational programming: State parks often offer ranger-led activities and environmental education. "They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget," mentions a camper at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, referring to their organized programming schedule. Many campgrounds host weekend activities during summer months specifically designed for younger campers.
Site selection considerations: Many campgrounds have varying site layouts and sizes. "As long as you don't stay right across from the bath houses you will find ample shade at your site," advises a frequent visitor to French Creek State Park. Another camper notes, "In the full hook up loop pay close attention to the lengths specified. The actual pads are fairly level but some of the driveways to them are very sloped. Long rigs will have issues in a few of the sites."
Water access planning: Not all pet friendly camping near Chester Heights offers full hookups. At Hibernia County Park, a reviewer cautions: "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank." Proper planning for water needs is essential at more primitive campgrounds.
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds lack on-site dump stations. "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home," warns a camper about Hibernia County Park. Researching these facilities in advance prevents unwelcome surprises at the end of your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Chester Heights, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Chester Heights, PA is Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Chester Heights, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 93 dog-friendly camping locations near Chester Heights, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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