Dog-Friendly Camping near New Bloomfield, PA

The New Bloomfield region offers access to Tuscarora State Forest and is situated in the Ridge and Valley section of Pennsylvania, with elevations ranging from 500-1,100 feet above sea level. Multiple stream corridors flow through this area, creating ideal conditions for camping near water features. Seasonal changes affect campground availability, with most locations operating from April through October.

What to do

Tubing excursions: At Buttonwood Campground, the Juniata River provides excellent recreation opportunities. "Tubing down the river is so fun and the highlight of a stay here," notes Heather G. The campground offers shuttle service for tubers as part of their activity wristband program.

Lakeside recreation: The 10-acre lake at Lake Heron Retreat provides fishing without crowds. One visitor mentioned, "We had the lake to ourself both evening and morning," while another noted that "The lake provides excellent fishing." The retreat spans over 240 acres of woodland.

Historical exploration: Visit Shoaff's Mill at Little Buffalo State Park to learn about regional history. The water-powered gristmill operations are demonstrated regularly. As Chelsea K. mentions at Gifford Pinchot, "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!"

What campers like

Clean facilities: Colonel Denning State Park receives consistent praise for maintenance. "Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites," reports Casey L. The bathrooms here are noted as "the absolute cleanest bathrooms we've seen in a state park."

Riverside camping: Waterfront sites are highly valued in this region. At Ferryboat Campsites, campers appreciate direct river access. "We stayed at a Susquehanna river view site with full hookups for 2 nights. Site was level and shaded," comments Robin. The campground also features a historic ferry that "has been in operation for the last 100+ years."

Family amenities: Several campgrounds offer extensive recreation facilities. "The pool here is top notch and it's good for fishing," states Christopher E. about Little Buffalo State Park. Paradise Stream features "beautiful Mini golf course, splashing in the creek, the pool and the pedal carts," according to melissa, who adds that "the attention to details makes all the difference."

What you should know

Train noise: Some campgrounds experience railroad disturbances. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, campers report "Trains are all night" and recommend "making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!" Similar noise affects Ferryboat Campsites.

Activity fees: Buttonwood Campground charges approximately $20 per person for an activity wristband that includes "mini golf and tubing shuttle." Similarly, Little Buffalo State Park requires separate pool admission fees even for registered campers.

Site spacing variations: Site proximity varies significantly between campgrounds. At Dogwood Acres, "sites were close together even for a premium site," while Colonel Denning offers "very tight sites" for RVs but "more isolated campsites further up the hill" for tent campers seeking privacy.

Tips for camping with families

Water features for kids: Paradise Stream Family Campground provides multiple water recreation options. "My kids enjoyed the beautiful Mini golf course, splashing in the creek, the pool and the pedal carts," writes melissa. Another camper adds there's "something for everyone" with "tubing, canoeing, swimming" available.

Kid-friendly beaches: Multiple parks offer swimming areas designed for children. Casey L. describes "Wide open area to swim that was very clean and well kept" at Colonel Denning State Park. Little Buffalo features a "large area that is only 1 foot deep, great for little ones" plus "a splash pad."

Playground proximity: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. At Buttonwood, the upper camping section contains "the playground and kids activities" while the lower section offers riverside views. Hersheypark's Pioneer section is close to playground facilities but also nearest to the train tracks.

Tips from RVers

Leveling considerations: Prepare for varied terrain at pet-friendly camping near New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. "Stone surface. Not to bad for leveling. Our site was spacious," reports Stephen W. about Hersheypark Camping Resort, while Camille W. indicates "Leveling was fine" at Lake Heron Retreat.

Site selection for larger rigs: For pet-friendly travel trailers and motorhomes, research site dimensions carefully. Mike J. warns at Hersheypark, "Our 32' with slides just fit the sight and we had zero room for the truck," while Shirley M. found at Colonel Denning that a "small 19" travel trailer was almost impossible to park due to very tight sites."

Hookup access: Campground sections often have different utility options. At Little Buffalo, most sites feature water and electric connections with a communal dump station. Buttonwood offers riverfront sites with full hookups, and Gary C. notes that at Dogwood Acres, "Nearly all full hook-ups with back-ins and pull-thrus available."