Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground welcomes pets in designated camping areas across its 2200 Rosstown Road property in Lewisberry. Multiple tent platforms and RV sites accommodate campers with dogs throughout the park's April to October season. Nearby, River Rock Recreation offers a unique, secluded pet-friendly camping experience with a single private site directly on the Susquehanna River. The campsite remains remarkably clean with no trash or broken glass, creating a safe environment for dogs exploring the riverside area. Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA maintains several pet parks and pet-friendly trails but enforces breed restrictions—one visitor reported being turned away when staff determined their dog appeared to be mixed with pit bull. Cedar Lake Family Campground in Dover permits pets year-round across its 195 sites, while Codorus State Park Campground includes pets in its accommodation options for both tent and RV campers.
The Northwest Lancaster Trail provides excellent walking opportunities for dogs staying at River Rock Recreation, with maps of local hiking areas included in welcome packets. Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm in Dover offers a rural setting where pets can enjoy farm surroundings during the April to October camping season. Several campgrounds feature dedicated pet exercise areas—Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA provides multiple designated pet parks connected by walking trails. Most properties enforce standard leash requirements and clean-up policies. Campers report the Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA maintains exceptionally clean facilities with concrete stone patios at RV sites and is conveniently located just 15 minutes from Hershey attractions. For primitive camping with dogs, River Rock Recreation offers hammocks, tent platforms, and direct river access where pets can cool off during summer months.
$20 - $89 / night
"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."
$20 - $195 / night
"We got a spot for two nights in the pet area. We were shaded by trees, but the spots weren’t very private. Bathroom facilities are nice."
"The open field pet friendly sites are also large but provide no shade and it gets hot! You can feel the difference between these sites and the interior loop sites. "
$45 - $279 / night
"A little pricey and strict for vistors, they need to leave by 10 and can’t bring their pets."
"There was a bathhouse and dish sink nearby, as well as the entrance to a nice little nature trail a few sites down. "
"This campground has a little something for everyone, from full hook up sites neatly stacked next to each other, to quiet patches of grass next to the river."
"We stay here every September during the Hershey Dog Grooming Expo. We have never had any complaints. Office personnel are very friendly and helpful."
"The bathroom near the pool left a little something to be desired. It wasn’t filthy but also wasn’t sparking clean. It was great being close to the battlefield."
"We were there around Halloween and they had decorated the park so nicely. The sounds of the farm animals all around was fun and amusing for us."
$75 - $90 / night
"There is no on site running water or electric but they did leave us with a 5 gallon water jug and a 5 gallon shower bag to use in the outside shower."
"https://www.riverrockadv.com/#/ I was fortunate enough to find this local gem while browsing“camping near me”. Not only that, my unlucky butt won a 2 night stay there!"
$60 - $100 / night
"Nice lake for fishing. Easy check in. Nice little store. About an hour away from Hershey where we went to the RV show. We will come back if we are in the area again"
"Just takes away from the rural feel. Cabin was clean and perfect. Grounds were very clean. Toilet and showers clean. Golf carts a little dated but overall good. Night time was serene and quite."
$50 - $60 / night
"The first thing to know is that Thousand Trails sites are a first come, first serve. Meaning you have to arrive early in order to get the best spots. They don't reserve sites for you."
"This is a clean, nice looking campground in a location very close to Hershey park and the outlets. It’s a very nice area."
"Close to Lancaster for necessities and great proximity to Baltimore and Philadelphia for day trips."
"I used to stay here all the time with my grandparents when they were around. It was always some of the best times for me."
"Our dog was welcomed. Will definitely be going back. This was our first trip with our camper ever and everyone was helpful"
"It was a VERY dark walk to get to the bathhouse for showers. And the fire pit had no grill, so we ended up having to use the stoves of some RV camping friends for meals."
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Emigsville, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Emigsville, 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 Emigsville, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 129 dog-friendly camping locations near Emigsville, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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