Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Halifax, PA

Ferryboat Campsites along the Susquehanna River welcomes campers with pets at water/electric sites in a shaded loop behind cabins, making it ideal for hammock camping with dogs. Lake Heron Retreat provides secluded pet-friendly camping across 240 acres of woodland with a 10-acre lake for fishing. All pet-friendly campgrounds near Halifax require pets to remain on leash throughout the property. Little Buffalo State Park Campground offers spacious sites with both standard tent camping and water/electric options where pets are permitted. The park features multiple hiking trails accessible to leashed dogs. Most campgrounds in the area have clean, well-maintained facilities with full hookup options for RV travelers bringing pets along for their stay. Seasonal sites are common with friendly year-round residents who often help weekend visitors.

The extensive trail system throughout these campgrounds provides excellent opportunities for dog walking, with Little Buffalo State Park offering wilderness trails where wildlife is abundant. Riverfront Campground's location near the Appalachian Trail makes it popular for hikers with dogs, though the proximity to train tracks might disturb noise-sensitive pets throughout the night. The Susquehanna River access points at several campgrounds allow pets to cool off during summer months when temperatures rise. Lake Heron's secluded setting provides quiet surroundings perfect for nervous or reactive dogs needing distance from other campers. Most campgrounds have pet waste stations available, and sites are typically spacious enough to accommodate portable dog fencing. Morning and evening walks around Little Buffalo's lake offer prime wildlife viewing opportunities for leashed pets and their owners.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Halifax, Pennsylvania (140)

    1. Little Buffalo State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    New Bloomfield, PA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 567-9255

    $22 - $92 / night

    "Camping trails, grills to cook on but bring ur own charcoal, 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"

    "A playground is near bathhouse in the campground, along with several hiking trails. The dump station is easily accessible. Firewood is also available for purchase at the campground."

    2. Hersheypark Camping Resort

    30 Reviews
    Hummelstown, PA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (833) 936-0949

    "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."

    3. Ferryboat Campsites

    6 Reviews
    Millersburg, PA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 444-3200

    $30 - $100 / night

    "With that said they do have primitive camping spots next to the putt putt course and water only tent sits at the upper feild."

    "Lots to do very close to water and many things to do in and around camp ground. Stayed for a few days would go back."

    4. Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    57 Reviews
    Wellsville, PA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 292-4112

    $20 - $90 / 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."

    5. Riverfront Campground

    4 Reviews
    Duncannon, PA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 834-5252

    "Great river front location! Could be a bit muddy depending on the river. The train does run right near all night long, but I find it soothing. Bath houses are a bit rough, hence the 4 stars."

    6. Lake Heron Retreat

    4 Reviews
    Millersburg, PA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (929) 464-3766

    $20 - $240 / night

    "I wanted to find something close enough to home, but far away from the hustle and bustle of our suburban lives. This fit the bill. There are 10 sites….some are occupied by seasonal guests."

    "This lake was beautiful! A short walk from the campsite. We had the lake to ourself both evening and morning. $61. No WiFi. Leveling was fine. Verizon service was fine."

    7. Jonestown/Hershey KOA

    16 Reviews
    Jonestown, PA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 865-6411

    "Grounds, bathrooms, showers, playgrounds, dog park, everything. This park is wonderful!"

    "Nice dog park."

    8. Buttonwood Campground

    14 Reviews
    Mifflintown, PA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 436-8334

    $30 - $78 / night

    "Clean and well kept campground located 12 mile below Lewistown, Pa. As clean a campground as you will find. Staff is super friendly."

    "One is along the River and the other is situated near the camp store, playground and pool. This campground had it all! There was laser tag, playground, jump pillow, pedal carts!"

    9. Thousand Trails Hershey

    21 Reviews
    Mount Gretna, PA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    $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."

    10. Twin Grove RV Resort

    9 Reviews
    Tower City, PA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 865-4602

    "Super dog friendly. Many little dog parks throughout. Great pool."

    "There is a pond to fish from, a dog park for your furry friend to play at and a few playgrounds for the kids."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 140 campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Halifax, PA

867 Reviews of 140 Halifax Campgrounds


  • barb C.
    Aug. 6, 2022

    Gettysburg / Battlefield KOA

    Amazing campground!

    We 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.

  • Gary C.
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Buttonwood Campground

    Beautiful Campground

    Clean 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!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Artillery Ridge Campground

    Great location and friendly staff

    We 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.

  • Melissa F.
    Jul. 21, 2018

    Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    Wish I stayed there under different circumstances.

    The 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.

  • C
    Oct. 21, 2021

    Dogwood Acres Campground

    Quiet and Friendly Staff

    Clean 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.

  • Chris G.
    Jul. 23, 2019

    Twin Grove RV Resort

    Great campground! Lots of fun

    We 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.

  • Kathy S.
    Oct. 18, 2022

    Jonestown/Hershey KOA

    Beautiful Park

    This 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!

  • Tiffany S.
    May. 15, 2019

    Twin Grove RV Resort

    Beautiful Campground

    Nice 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.

  • Tiffany S.
    May. 15, 2019

    Twin Grove RV Resort

    Beautiful Campground

    This 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.


Guide to Halifax

Halifax's camping offerings span from riverfront sites along the Susquehanna to quiet woodland retreats in the Pennsylvania countryside. Located within a 30-mile radius of the state capital Harrisburg, the area's geography combines rolling hills with river access points, creating diverse camping environments. Local campgrounds range in elevation from 400 to 1,200 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures typically reaching 80-85°F during peak season.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Heron Retreat features a 10-acre lake that provides excellent fishing. "This lake was beautiful! A short walk from the campsite. We had the lake to ourself both evening and morning," reports Camille W. The peaceful setting makes for productive angling throughout the day.

Water activities: At Buttonwood Campground, tubing down the Juniata River stands out as a popular activity. "Tubing down the river is so fun and the highlight of a stay here," notes Heather G., adding that "the pool area is nice, safe and clean." Access to water recreation represents a major draw for summer visitors.

Historical exploration: Beyond outdoor recreation, campers can explore nearby historic sites. "The historical mill was well worth the trip. By the far the highlight of ours as well. Especially since they engaged the wheel and actually ground corn!" shares Chelsea K. about her experience at Little Buffalo State Park Campground.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer adequate spacing between sites. At Twin Grove RV Resort, campers appreciate the layout. "Sites are spacious and clean," mentions Adam F., while Chris G. notes, "The campground was well populated but we didn't feel cramped at all."

Clean facilities: Consistently maintained bathhouses receive positive reviews across multiple campgrounds. "Very clean campground. Super friendly staff. Was here on Halloween weekend," reports Marc P. about Hershey Camping Resort. Similarly, Shirley M. notes at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, "Bath houses were very clean. Staff was pleasant."

Local attractions: Proximity to regional attractions enhances the camping experience. "Right off the interstate but you feel like you are miles away from civilization," explains Lisa B. about Jonestown/Hershey KOA, noting you can "access the Appalachian trail from campground" while still being near popular destinations.

What you should know

Train noise: Several campgrounds near Halifax sit close to active train tracks. At Riverfront Campground, Jim N. warns, "The train does run right near all night long, but I find it soothing." Similarly, Ryan L. mentions about Hershey Campground, "sites were a bit close where we were but they had other sites that were more spread out."

Seasonal population: Many campgrounds maintain year-round residents. At Twin Grove, Dee W. notes, "We were long term stay. Calvin was great and the yearly campers were fun and enjoyable." This creates a community atmosphere but can limit availability for weekend campers.

Weather considerations: Flooding can occur at river-adjacent sites. Robin at Ferryboat Campsites advises, "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!"

Tips for camping with families

Entertainment options: Thousand Trails Hershey offers numerous family-friendly amenities. "They have a tennis court, mini golf, basketball court, and you saw many kids out with their bicycles. There is even an arcade center for the kids and a rec center with a pool table," details Yamileth K.

Swimming alternatives: Beyond the Susquehanna River, dedicated swimming areas provide safer options 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!" explains Amanda H. about Little Buffalo State Park.

Campground activities: Scheduled programming enhances family stays. "We come here once a year to take our grandkids on an annual camping trip with us. Lots to do! Playgrounds, special events, crafts," shares Shirley M. about Twin Grove RV Resort. Many campgrounds offer weekend activities during peak season.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: For Jonestown/Hershey KOA, Angie G. advises, "The pull through sites are nice and long, but we were put in a buddy spot and didn't know. We were happy we made friends with our neighbors, but I'd check that first. The spaces on the creek are nice and shady."

Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for proper leveling. Mike J. notes about Hershey Camping Resort, "It is a nice camp ground but the lower drive threw spots are packed together. Our 32' with slides just fit the sight and we had zero room for the truck."

Early arrival benefits: Booking systems vary between campgrounds. At Thousand Trails Hershey, Yamileth K. explains, "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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Halifax, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Halifax, PA is Little Buffalo State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 18 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Halifax, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 140 dog-friendly camping locations near Halifax, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.