Dog-Friendly Camping near Emigsville, PA

Pet friendly camping near Emigsville, Pennsylvania offers diverse options across the region's rolling hills and wooded areas. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 400-800 feet, with summer temperatures typically ranging 70-85°F. Local campgrounds remain open from April through October, with several extending their season through November for campers wanting to experience fall foliage.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, anglers can access both day use areas for shore fishing. One visitor caught "a handful of bass and an absurd amount of bluegill from shore" while noting that rangers regularly check fishing licenses. The park features two separate day use areas—Conewago and Quaker Race—both with excellent fishing access points.

Disc golf courses: Two separate 18-hole courses provide different playing experiences depending on your skill level. The Conewago course remains relatively flat, while the Quaker Race course incorporates hillier, more wooded terrain. One camper warned about poison ivy, noting they "played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge."

River activities: River Rock Recreation offers direct access to the Susquehanna River for boating and kayaking. A camper mentioned, "We spent our time fishing the river banks right outside our tents and kayaking on the Susquehanna to fish the warm waters. We caught a ton of catfish and carp using live bait." The site includes boat launch access directly from the campsite area.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower areas. At Codorus State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the "modern, clean bathrooms" with "nice hot showers with great showerhead that stayed on without pushing a button." Another camper noted their site was "close to the bath, a trail head, and field where we lay in the sun and played frisbee."

Lake access and activities: The lakes at several parks provide recreation beyond swimming. One camper described Codorus State Park as having a "beautiful lake to fish or kayak on," mentioning that while "there is no swimming allowed in the lake," a pool is available at no extra cost for campground guests. Most lakeside parks offer boat rentals for those without their own watercraft.

Farm animal interactions: Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm provides unique opportunities to interact with animals. Multiple reviewers mentioned this as a highlight, with one stating it was "probably still one of our kids favorites after being on the road for over a year." Another camper shared, "Got a kick out of the children playing with the kids (baby goats), pigs, goats, chickens, horses and even lamas. Plenty to see and learn."

What you should know

Site selection varies widely across campgrounds. At Thousand Trails properties, sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. One camper advised, "For everyone complaining about driving around and not finding spots, if you get there early enough around 1 pm, you won't have a problem." This can cause frustration during peak season when arriving later in the day.

Environmental factors affect camping comfort. Train noise impacts several campgrounds, particularly Hersheypark Camping Resort, where multiple reviewers mentioned trains running "all night long." One camper advised, "I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks because the trains run all night long!"

Pest awareness is important during warmer months. Multiple reviews mention encountering wildlife and insects. A tent camper at Gifford Pinchot State Park reported "waking up with a serious case of chigger bites" after their stay. Another camper hiking near Boiling Springs spotted a rattlesnake "about 20 feet off the trail in a downed wood pile."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature recently updated play equipment for children. Cedar Lake Family Campground maintains "nice sized sites" with a "beautiful campground" atmosphere that works well for families. One camper noted "we had site 114. It has water access and is right next to a small man made beach and playground."

Activity scheduling: Check event calendars before booking. Many campgrounds run structured activities, particularly on weekends. At Merry Meadows Recreation Farm, one visitor shared, "We stayed here this past Easter and they had plenty of activities for kids and adults. Easter egg hunts for kids, adult scavenger hunts for alcohol."

Quiet areas consideration: Request sites away from group camping areas for better sleep. One camper at Gifford Pinchot suggested, "Next time I will be getting a site away from the group area. Some of the groups can get rather loud especially when there are a bunch of teens."

Tips from RVers

Site selection priorities: Level sites with appropriate hookups remain essential for comfortable stays. At Thousand Trails Circle M, reviewers recommend the lower Riverside sites over the more crowded upper section. One camper shared, "While the top part of the campground seemed more communal, we chose the lower, Riverside sites and were glad we did!"

Campground layout awareness: Some properties have challenging navigation for larger rigs. Multiple reviews mention tight turns and narrow roads at certain campgrounds. One RVer warned about Hersheypark Camping Resort, noting "the lower drive threw spots are packed together. Our 32' with slides just fit the sight and we had zero room for the truck."

Hookup capabilities vary between campgrounds. While most offer electric, water and sewer connections, amperage options differ. Some campers recommend calling ahead to confirm electrical capacity matches your needs, particularly for air conditioning units during summer months.