French Creek State Park offers dog-friendly camping within 7,526 acres of forest land in Berks and Chester counties, about 15 miles southeast of Reading. Loop C is designated as the only pet-friendly loop across four camping areas at this established campground. Campers with dogs can choose from sites with paved, level pads that accommodate both tents and RVs with electric hookups, though no water connections are available at individual sites.
What to do
Disc golf adventures: Boulder Woods Campground features an extensive disc golf course popular enough to host tournaments. "Great disc golf course," notes Benjamin C., while Karralee B. explains, "The camp ground has a very large golf disc course... They sell disc golf things in the store as well. This course is huge and brings in groups who play for the day."
Fishing opportunities: Hibernia County Park provides fishing access at multiple locations. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," explains Anna. For more serious anglers, "Walking/hiking trails and the lake were super peaceful," according to Chelsea, who visited the Lake Loop camping area.
Amish countryside tours: The Lancaster-New Holland region offers chances to observe traditional farming. At Lancaster-New Holland KOA, April L. reports, "The daily views of fields, farmers plowing with horses or the buggys going by was great." Matt S. adds that it's "a great spot for visiting Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County and about a one-hour drive to Hersheypark."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Blue Rocks Family Campground earns praise for its natural separation between campsites. "Great amenities, private and spaced out primitive sites. One mile off the Appalachian trail," according to Catherine M. Lorie O. adds, "I am a tent camper, and it's great to be able to camp without getting stuck near an RV with it's hookups running."
Off-leash areas: While most pet-friendly campgrounds require leashes, some offer dedicated areas for dogs to run. Boulder Woods Campground provides pet-friendly tent, RV and cabin accommodations. "The office was very easy to work with and we easily traded sites. It worked out great as we were able to get a full hookup without having to pay anything extra," notes Jen R.
Clean facilities: Spring Gulch Resort Campground maintains well-kept shower houses. Phinon W. observed, "The bathhouse had individual bathrooms and showers. Each was pretty clean and spacious." The campground offers pet-friendly RV and cabin options, with Phinon noting, "The one we stayed in had a set of bunk beds, a queen bed, and a fold out couch. It also had a bathroom with shower/tub."
What you should know
Limited water access: At several campgrounds, water sources require planning. French Creek State Park provides water spigots but not at individual sites. As Jen R. notes in Loop C, "There was a spigot for water at the next site over from us, so we didn't have to walk far to get fresh water."
Seasonal availability: Campgrounds operate on different schedules. Green Lane Park's Deep Creek Campground runs April through October, while Lancaster-New Holland KOA opens mid-April through October 31st. Check specific dates when planning dog-friendly camping trips.
Varying pet rules: Lake-In-Wood Campground has designated pet areas. "We had a great time at this campground. There is a quarry close by so you could hear the trucks beeping and the noise from there but that was the only negative thing," mentions Jen R., who also notes the campground offers a range of amenities including "miniature gold, nice indoor and outdoor pool and a kiddie pool."
Tips for camping with families
Boulder fields exploration: Kids enjoy natural rock formations at Blue Rocks. Gayle B. reports, "The best part was hiking in the boulder field!" while Terri S. adds, "our children loved to climb all over the rocks, that is where they spent most of the time. Primitive but fun!"
Playgrounds access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Sun Valley Campground, Becca U. notes, "There were also planned activities for children and adults." French Creek State Park has "a very nice playground situated conveniently between the loops of the campground," according to a reviewer.
Youth fishing ponds: Hibernia County Park features designated fishing areas for children. "Great children's pond for 12 and under," explains John Z. Anna elaborates, "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing."
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidance: French Creek State Park offers paved pads that simplify setup. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," notes Jen R., who stays in Loop C with pets.
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds have tight turns for larger rigs. April L. at Lancaster-New Holland KOA advises, "If you have a decent sized rig I would steer clear of this row. The road for this row is narrow and there is a fence that makes backing in more difficult, especially for a 30+ ft travel trailer."
Hookup limitations: Be prepared for partial or no hookups at certain campgrounds. At Hibernia County Park, Jennifer S. warns, "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."