Dog-Friendly Camping near Enola, PA

Enola, Pennsylvania sits in the Cumberland Valley at approximately 400 feet above sea level, with the Susquehanna River forming its eastern border. The camping season typically runs from April through October with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F. Winters can drop below freezing, limiting year-round camping options to facilities with heated accommodations.

What to do

Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground serves as the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail. "Great trails to bike or hike on... This park is the half way point on the AT, and we got to meet quite a few hikers and hear some cool stories about their travels on the trail," shares Jeffrey H. The park also features a scenic viewpoint hike to Pole Steeple.

Water recreation: Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground offers diverse water activities on Pinchot Lake. "The lake is great to jump in and cool off after a summer run," notes Carly E. from Pine Grove Furnace. At Gifford Pinchot, camper Julie Y. adds, "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. Boat rentals available. Good sized lake for canoeing or kayaking."

Historical exploration: Visit the iron furnace and Appalachian Trail Museum at Pine Grove Furnace. "The Park also has an old iron furnace with historical information about it. There is an Appalachian trail museum, which was very neat to check out, and the old Ironmaster's Mansion serves as a hostel and event venue," explains Carly E.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Little Buffalo State Park Campground receives praise for maintenance. "This place is so quiet and so well maintained! The trails are awesome and the swimming pool is great for the kids in the summer," reports Kelly M. Brandon C. agrees, noting it's "an amazing little quiet camping ground. Super clean. Lots of easy hiking trails and tons of fishing."

Convenient Hershey access: Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA provides easy access to attractions. "Close to Hershey World, nice campground mid week, nice and few campers. Nice staff, trash pickup at site, friendly escort," writes Victoria G. The campground offers "large and easy to enter/exit sites" according to Nate J.

Water access for pets: Unlike other locations, Lower Allen Community Park offers unique kayak camping possibilities. "Cute site in a local township park that not many people know about. The sites sit right along the Yellow Breeches creek so you can put in a few miles up and float down to your site," explains Joann I. This provides excellent water access for dogs who enjoy swimming.

What you should know

Train noise: Trains regularly pass near several dog friendly campgrounds near Enola. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, Kit warns: "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!"

Limited cell service: Pine Grove Furnace has minimal connectivity. "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)," cautions Carly E. This affects several pet-welcoming campgrounds in more remote locations.

Site spacing considerations: Some campgrounds pack sites closely. At Deer Run Campgrounds, Michael G. notes: "Tight sites and no grass in the majority of the sites, but the majority are well shaded which was nice." For campers seeking distance between sites, request perimeter spots when available.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Little Buffalo offers excellent swimming facilities. "They offer a large area that is only 1 foot deep, great for little ones! There is also a splash pad! There are 2 slides for fun," explains Amanda H. This makes it a standout option for families with small children.

Kid-friendly activities: Deer Run Campgrounds schedules regular events. "Fun campground! Pool was nice, playground was nice and the golf cart rental was fun!" shares Cait B. However, be aware of scheduled activities that might affect your stay, as Michael G. cautions: "The water wars themselves did not bother us, however several people did not respect our site boundaries."

First-time camping spots: Gifford Pinchot provides an accessible introduction to camping. "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. I like that it wasn't a commercialized camping experience," says Julie Y.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling: Many RVers note leveling challenges at several pet-friendly campgrounds near Enola. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, Stephen W. explains: "Stone surface. Not too bad for leveling. Our site was spacious." Check campground maps before reserving.

Hookup availability: Gifford Pinchot offers various hookup options. "We have camped here several times and love the waterfront sites and the yurts," mentions Tom F. Sites with electric are available, though RVers should note water access points are shared rather than at individual sites.

Space constraints: Large RVs may struggle at certain campgrounds. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, Mike J. shares: "Our 32' with slides just fit the sight and we had zero room for the truck. They have other spots up on the hill but would have been more of a challenge with our rig."