Dog-Friendly Camping near Duncannon, PA

Campsites near Duncannon sit along the Susquehanna River valley at approximately 400 feet elevation with surrounding mountain peaks reaching over 1,000 feet. This central Pennsylvania region experiences distinct seasons with summer highs averaging 85°F and winter lows often below freezing. The area's proximity to the Appalachian Trail (AT) makes it a popular stop for through-hikers seeking resupply points between April and October.

What to do

Fishing in the Susquehanna: Cast a line at Riverfront Campground where the river access provides excellent opportunities for catching smallmouth bass. "Great river front location! Could be a bit muddy depending on the river... Great place to kayak tube or hang out in the river. Close to Appalachian Trail," notes Jim N.

Hiking mountain trails: Explore the trails at Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground for day hikes ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. "I took an early morning hike on the 8.5 mile Lakeside Trail that goes around the lake and it was really awesome to see the lake from all different angles," shares one camper.

Historic site exploration: Visit the old iron furnace at Pine Grove Furnace for a glimpse into Pennsylvania's industrial past. "The park has an old iron furnace (hence the name) with historical information about it. There is an Appalachian trail museum, which was very neat to check out," reports a visitor.

What campers like

Clean facilities: The bathhouses at Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA receive consistent praise for cleanliness. "Bathrooms are very clean and modern, but a decent walk from tent sites. The facilities are all lovely, staff in the camp store are kind and helpful," reports Melissa C.

Spacious campsites: Many campers appreciate the room to spread out at Little Buffalo State Park. "The campsites are spacious. There are standard tent sites available and there are water/electric site available. There is a dump station available for the end. You can book your site online and go straight to your site!" explains Amanda H.

Nature viewing opportunities: Wildlife sightings are common at these campgrounds. "Wildlife is prevalent throughout...lots of space, wilderness at it's best. 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 eagle nest in the park," Dawn N. mentions about her experience.

What you should know

Train noise considerations: Several riverfront campgrounds have nearby train tracks that operate throughout the night. At Hershey Highmeadow Campground, "Nice camp ground but super loud bc of the trains. Bath houses are nice and clean. I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!" advises Kit.

Water level fluctuations: The Susquehanna River can change rapidly with rainfall. "Storms with heavy rain in the area made the river rise. We were told the campground is susceptible to flooding, so check the weather when you come!" warns a camper at Ferryboat Campsites.

Limited cell service: Connectivity can be spotty or non-existent at some parks. "Cell service is pretty much nonexistent in the campground, so keep this in mind if you can't be out of touch (we had Verizon)," notes a camper at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground offers family-friendly water recreation. "We took our 3 yo camping for the first time here. He had so much fun. It was clean campground located in a State Park. Easy walk to the lake with a small beach. There was also a beach location on the state park side vs campground side of the lake," shares Julie Y.

Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer organized events for children. "It has really nice trails to hike. There is a large lake for fishing! You can rent boats there! There is a pool! The pool is very nice! They offer a large area that is only 1 foot deep, great for little ones!" Amanda H. explains.

Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for younger campers. "A 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. Pool was great once you got there," mentions Paula R. about Little Buffalo State Park.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: At Ferryboat Campsites, RVers should note the site layout. "We stayed at a Susquehanna river view site with full hookups for 2 nights. Site was level and shaded, but very close to neighbors. Most sites were occupied by permanent or seasonal residents," observes Robin.

Hookup availability: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of RV service. "Hershey needs to invest some money into the Campground. You pay Resort prices for a state park campsite," notes James G., highlighting the importance of verifying what amenities justify the price.

Accessibility considerations: Some dog friendly campgrounds near Duncannon have challenging terrain. "The sites are gravel and most are not level. They are not well maintained as the site next to us has weeds a foot high. There are a few big rigs that can barely fit on a site," warns a camper about navigation challenges at one location.