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French Creek State Park Campground permits pets at designated campsites throughout its 843-acre property near Malvern. The park offers a variety of pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV spaces with electric hookups, and cabins where dogs are welcome. Leashed pets must be attended at all times on the campground premises. Ridley Creek State Park's group camping area also welcomes four-legged companions, with well-marked trails ideal for dog walking. Many campers appreciate the park's pet-friendly policies that allow dogs to enjoy creek access at several points. Both parks maintain a strict leash policy, typically requiring pets to be on leads no longer than 6 feet.
Hibernia County Park provides primitive tent camping with pets allowed from May through October. The Lake Loop campsites feature fire rings with built-in grills and picnic tables, though they sit further from the water than maps suggest. Clean porta-potties are available, but no running water bathrooms. Brandywine Creek Campground's tent sites border the creek, providing pleasant background sounds for camping with dogs. Several hiking trails throughout the region accommodate leashed pets, with Evansburg State Park offering excellent terrain for dog walking with miles of pet-accessible paths. Pet owners should note that wildlife encounters are possible, and proper waste disposal is required at all facilities. Veterinary services are available in Malvern and surrounding communities should emergency care be needed.
"There are numerous hiking trails in the park that seemed to be well marked and maintained. The park is about 20- mins from Reading, and 10 mins from Birdsbroro."
"There is a connector trail nearby that can get you to most of the hiking trails. Site was nice. Bathrooms okay. This is a pet loop so be aware of dogs. Hiking trails in park were a nice challenge."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
"We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back"
from $57 / night
Check Availability"It was a great place to walk with your dog and enjoy the Pennsylvania outdoors."
"Since he was 2 years old I’ve taken my son, and we always have an amazing time, either hiking the trails to wandering in the woods looking for “adventures”."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival."
"The neighbor’s sewer connection is right next to our picnic table! But, the sites are large enough for large RVs, they have 30/50 amp hookups and water & sewer."
"This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the “sites” are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters."
"Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It's almost 500 acres filled with trails, woods,and river. I usually go to the parking right off of Militia hill rd.and Skippack Pike intersection."
"m following up on my review from over a year ago with new photos, updated weathered campers’ tales and a quick snapshot of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Rustic group camping nestled in nearly"
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"Girlfriend and I stayed here while we visited nearby Longwood Gardens. The tent sites are spacious and they all border the creek which is a nice sound at night, as well as a good morning view."
"Close to Valley Forge military park, and convenient to Philadelphia by train."
"My family and I stayed at Lake In Wood for 4 days. The campground is very well maintained , and the staff is very nice."
"There is a quarry close by so you could hear the trucks beeping and the noise from there but that was the only negative thing."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course."
"The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area. Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Large sites, clean bathrooms, lots of hiking trails"
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability
TravelerCampground sites are nice and spacious, bathrooms are good, and there’s plenty to do for everyone. We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course. We always travel with our dogs and this place has the BEST dog park. Big open space with access to lots of water play. We definitely recommend this spot!
RangerWe stayed here for a night in transit. Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival. Good location - convenient but far enough off the highway. Would stay here again.
GuideI was able to book my site the day before the trip. The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area.
Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side. Firewood was $5 a bundle, but the register wasn't working and they could only take cash.
The hiking in the immediate area was beautiful, lots of fun trails and wildlife. Fishing, kayaking, zip lining, tons of great activities.
The firepits have grates over one half, so campfire cooking is a breeze. Cook up and use the provided picnic table for an easy dinner set up.
The park itself is very dog friendly and most sites had dogs. There is also an off leash dog park at Lum's pond and dog water dishes outside the camp store.
The showers and bathrooms were incredibly well kept with hot water and stocked supplies. If you didn't feel like walking so far, the tents had a spiget with running water near the parking areas.
Reception for Verizon was spotty, t mobile was pretty great. Wish there was an ATM on site though I don't think the cash only situation is a normal one for this campground.
All in all an amazing trip, and I'll be back as soon as possible.
GuideMy family and I stayed at French Creek State Park while attending an event in Reading. The park was clean and well maintained. We stayed in Loop A which had no camp host. The camp hosts were in loops B & C. We had a full hook up site. The water and electric worked great! The campground was well patrolled by Rangers throughout our stay. The bathhouses appeared to be clean and maintained. The quiet time starts at 9pm and seemed to be followed by most campers. There are numerous hiking trails in the park that seemed to be well marked and maintained. The park is about 20- mins from Reading, and 10 mins from Birdsbroro. There are many stores and restaurants in the area for food and supplies if needed. We had good cellular service with both AT&T and T-Mobile. The one downside was that there was no off leash dog park. We had to take our dog to a dog park in Birdsbroro. We would stay at this park again.
Guidewell marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills.
LegendWest Chester KOA This is a really nice KOA not too far from downtown Philly. The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy. A bridge nearby the campground was washed out earlier by a hurricane so we had to take an alternative route going about thirty minutes out of our way. (Make sure you check their website for directions!) There is a lot to do in the surrounding area like visiting the historical sites in downtown Philadelphia, Valley Forge, or exploring Amish country.
This is a typical KOA with lots of amenities and activities for kids– swimming pool, jump pad, miniature golf, volleyball, butterfly garden, gem mining, playground, store, dog park, nature trail, etc. There is a large pool area with pavilion but it was closed during our stay since we were there early in the season. The campground is right on the Brandywine River which is a slow meandering pretty river that is great to get your feet wet or go for a paddle. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent if you have time and as there is very little current in the river you can paddle out and back without any trouble. There is a nice, short nature trail which was nice to walk our dog and she enjoyed getting wet in the river.
The campground is hilly which means that a fair number of sites are not level. Our site (#27) was level for our RV but the patio sloped downhill and we could not use our picnic table or find a level spot for our chairs. Some sites are “premiums” with paved patios, Adirondack chairs, fancy firepits, BBQ grill, and tables and chairs with an umbrella. These sites are really nice, but you pay a lot more for them. Some sites are located adjacent to the river with nice waterfront views, but beware some might be muddy. There are lots of camping cabins and a couple of glamping tents.
Overall, the campground is very clean with no trash lying around and the grass was mowed and trimmed. The 50-amp electric was good as was the water pressure. The sewer connection uphill from our site so it did not drain properly. There is basic cable but since you are so close to Philly there are plenty of over-the-air channels. The Wi-Fi at our site worked well. Garbage is picked up at your site. The surrounding area has plenty of restaurants, shopping, and interesting things to see and do.
GuideWe do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations.
Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well.
Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There’s an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!
LegendThis is unquestionably the best KOA I’ve been to. I usually do not like KOA, except when there are no alternatives. This one is way above average. Typically these places are all gravel and dust. This one has paved roads, grass and trees. There is a pond for fishing, too. The only complaint is that, like all KOAs, the sites are on top of each other. The neighbor’s sewer connection is right next to our picnic table! But, the sites are large enough for large RVs, they have 30/50 amp hookups and water & sewer. There are cabins and large tents you can rent. There is a playground, pavilion, laundry, and several shower/bathrooms. (The one near us didn’t have hot water. The office people said they were working on it.) There us also a large, grassy, fenced dog park which my 2 spaniels appreciated.
TravelerWe stayed at site 18 in Loop A. There is a connector trail nearby that can get you to most of the hiking trails. Site was nice. Bathrooms okay. This is a pet loop so be aware of dogs. Hiking trails in park were a nice challenge.
French Creek State Park offers year-round camping across 843 acres of wooded terrain at 750 feet elevation, 8 miles southwest of Malvern. The park's diverse ecosystems include mixed hardwood forests and wetlands, creating microclimates that keep summer evenings cooler than surrounding areas. Campsites throughout the region experience frequent morning fog from April through October due to the proximity to creeks and ponds.
Fishing opportunities: French Creek State Park Campground features two lakes stocked with diverse fish species. "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish. Ice fishing is also allowed at both lakes and the ice thickness is monitored," according to one reviewer.
Disc golf courses: Courses near Malvern range from beginner to advanced. "There is also a frisbee golf course in the woods to make it even more interesting and competitive. The trees definitely make it harder!" notes a camper who visited French Creek State Park.
Water activities: Seasonal kayak rentals provide access to local waterways. At Lums Pond State Park Campground, "lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking" are available according to one visitor.
Winter activities: Several parks maintain winter recreation options when others close. "Cross country ski, or disc golf, and the trails along the Wissahickon Creek" are available at Fort Washington State Park according to a recent visitor.
Well-spaced sites: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Malvern feature adequate separation between campers. At Green Lane Park, "the sites are large but there is NO privacy. The sites are lined up next to each other along the campground driveway and there are absolutely no trees or shrubs between them," notes one visitor, showing the variation in site privacy across the area.
Creek access: Waterside sites provide ambient sounds and cooling effects. At Brandywine Creek Campground, "the tent sites are spacious and they all border the creek which is a nice sound at night, as well as a good morning view. Each site comes with fire pit and picnic table."
Level parking areas: Many campsites feature constructed elements to facilitate easier setups. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," explains a French Creek camper.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms rank high among camper priorities. "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease," writes a visitor to Lums Pond State Park.
Seasonal closures: Operating schedules vary significantly across parks. "This campground is only open on the weekends, in season. Sites can be reserved on line, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration," explains a camper at Hibernia County Park.
Limited hookups: Water access points may be restricted at some pet-friendly locations. At Hibernia County Park, "there are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank."
Reservation requirements: Some parks require advance bookings for specific events. "Hibernia annually hosts the (super fun!) 'Old Fiddlers Picnic' the second weekend in August. This is the only weekend that you are REQUIRED to call in to reserve."
Site variations: Terrain and layout differ substantially even within the same park. "The campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the 'sites' are smaller and it's more open," notes a Hibernia County Park visitor.
Playground access: Kid-friendly amenities vary across dog friendly campgrounds around Malvern. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA offers "a playground, so good for kids, but not so much an all adults stay."
Fishing spots for children: Designated areas exist specifically for younger anglers. At Hibernia, "the children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," making it ideal for introducing kids to the activity.
Kid-specific events: Scheduled activities occur regularly at larger facilities. "They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget," shares a KOA visitor, highlighting the family-focused programming.
Educational opportunities: Historical sites near campgrounds provide learning experiences. "Nearby there is Hopewell National Furnace and St. Peter's Village with shops and restaurants and hiking trails as well," notes a French Creek visitor.
Size limitations: RV capacity varies significantly between campgrounds. At Evansburg State Park Campground, the "only downside is having to haul gear by foot to the campsite. Some are further than others," which affects larger rigs and equipment.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require adjustments for comfortable parking. At Hibernia County Park, sites "aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Service accessibility: Cell coverage fluctuates throughout the area. A Clarksboro KOA visitor noted the "wifi was fairly fast but was prone to disconnects," which is typical of the region's variable connectivity.
Hookup positioning: Utility access points may require special setup considerations. One camper noted at a park near Malvern that "the site offered electric and water but they were on 2 different sides. This made it difficult to set up. Had to park the camper crooked to use both."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Malvern, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Malvern, PA is French Creek State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 83 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Malvern, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 98 dog-friendly camping locations near Malvern, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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