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French Creek State Park Campground's pet-friendly Loop C accommodates campers with dogs while maintaining separate areas for those seeking quiet from barking. The campground features full hookup sites (1-7, 39-47) with paved pads, picnic areas, and fire rings. Jonestown/Hershey KOA provides a dedicated dog park where pets can run off-leash, with a beautiful stream setting and forest surroundings. The park rangers at French Creek State Park patrol the grounds regularly, enforcing quiet hours that begin at 9 pm. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the region require dogs to remain on leash except in designated dog park areas. Twin Grove RV Resort maintains two separate dog parks positioned next to each other, allowing furry friends to run and play safely off-leash.
Hiking trails throughout the Newmanstown area campgrounds vary in difficulty, with French Creek State Park offering numerous paths labeled as "more difficult" where leashed dogs are permitted in designated loops. Lake-In-Wood Campground provides a spacious dog park alongside family-friendly amenities including pools and a well-stocked camp store. Campers report good cellular service with AT&T at most locations, though Verizon coverage can be spotty at some campgrounds. Several campgrounds including Starlite Camping Resort and Hickory Run Family Camping Resort remain open from May through November, offering seasonal camping opportunities for pet owners. Wildlife encounters are possible throughout the region, so keeping dogs leashed on trails is essential for both pet and wildlife safety. Campground bathhouses are generally well-maintained but can become crowded during peak summer weekends.
"The "pet loop" was clearly geared towards RVs etc. All of the sites are full electric and more than a few have very little space for a family size tent to be safely away from the fire ring."
"Streams are close by, hiking trails are numerous and Hawk Falls was a high point of the park. Peaceful, crisp air and beautiful Surroundings."
"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"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."
from $50 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Set just off I-76 in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, Pinch Pond Family Campground& RV Park is a large, all-in-one, family-focused campground with a layout that feels more like a small neighborhood"
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"Starlite offers a wide variety of amenities such as a community pool, general store, snack bar, playground area, toilets, indoor shower stalls, daily activities, pets permitted, water/electric utilities"
"Starlight is a nice campground to relax or explore central Pennsylvania."
"this campground is completely surrounded by a fairly dense forest, which likely is what blocks any irritable sound and most certainly blocks any highway or traffic visibility."
"Tucked into the rolling, wooded hills of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country RV Resort offers a unique blend of peaceful countryside and activity-packed camping, all just a stone"
"Bathrooms were clean, spots had decent room, a lot of monthly residents, NO dog areas."
"Easy access and a great central location to TONS of antique shops. Very clean and very friendly. Highly recommend!"
"Grounds, bathrooms, showers, playgrounds, dog park, everything. This park is wonderful!"
"Nice dog park."
"Check in is as 3pm, we showed up at 2:45 after a 7 hr drive and they made us pay $15 extra. Sites were average. Caught some cat fish in the pond. The pool wasn't bad, and bingo was fun."
"We started our trip Friday afternoon, we pulled into the campground and they had a table set up outside to “check in.” We did not wait in a mile long line to park and go into the office."
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
GuideThis is a hidden gem, as close to dispersed camping you can get with dirt, gravel roads, large stone fire pits, a amazing views with the added benefit of a five gallon jug of non potable water and very clean port-a-potties. The owner regularly patrols the site and makes sure everything is okay.
GuideWe booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
Travelersolid parking place for vans and RVs. road is dirt gravel but not terrible. nice hike nearby
Traveleri mean meh with the most enthusiasm as you can live your entire life & be oki not going here. the trails are small & the overlook is fenced high for falls. it’s about as much scenery as going for a walk deer hunting. it’s beginner friendly if anyone wants to start getting into parks but i feel there’s more focus on pavilions & playgrounds than calling it a state park. for anything boating or canoeing on the river it’s a good place to be but your in town so it take it for what it is
ScoutThe advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
GuideWe only spent the night and didn't look at the amenities. The manager was very friendly and accommodating.
RangerWe stayed just a couple nights here on our way north. The camp host was helpful before our stay and during check-in. Our site was pretty isolated from the others, so it was very quiet (no complaints here). There is a decent mix of sunny sites by the river and shady sites under the trees. The weather was perfect mid September. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was a good experience and it was a nice taste of fall PA scenery. Beware that the roads are tight for a big rig. Side note, it did seem like most campers lived there.
Newmanstown, Pennsylvania sits at approximately 435 feet above sea level in the eastern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The area experiences all four seasons distinctly, with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds near Newmanstown operate seasonally from April through November, with several closing during winter months due to snowfall and freezing conditions.
Fishing at Scott's Run Lake: French Creek State Park offers two fishing lakes with northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, and various panfish species. The fishing pond at Appalachian Camping Resort provides a more controlled environment. "Caught some cat fish in the pond," reports Michael K., who enjoyed combining fishing with other activities during his stay.
Rail trail access: Campers staying at Jonestown/Hershey KOA can access the Swatara Rail Trail directly from the campground. "Campground is connected to the Swatara Rail trial which is great for biking. The Swatara creek runs right next to it so it is great for kayaking, tubing, etc," notes Bobby S., highlighting the multiple activity options available.
Mini golf courses: Several campgrounds offer free or low-cost mini golf. Appalachian Camping Resort provides free mini golf where "You can borrow golf clubs but you do have to buy balls," according to Melissa Y., while other campgrounds charge a small fee for this family-friendly activity.
Spacious, private sites: Many campers appreciate the thoughtful layout at French Creek State Park Campground, where "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," according to Jen R. The campground's design creates a sense of privacy despite being fully booked during peak season.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse cleanliness receives consistently high ratings across most Newmanstown area campgrounds. At French Creek State Park, campers note "Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes," highlighting the thoughtful amenities that make longer stays comfortable.
Seasonal activities: Starlite Camping Resort offers a rotating schedule of events throughout their May-November season. Elizabeth L. reports, "There are regular activities for all ages including bingo, crafts and live music," making it ideal for families seeking structured entertainment during weekend stays.
Uneven terrain: Many campgrounds in the Newmanstown area sit on hilly terrain, creating leveling challenges. At Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, "Sites are pretty uneven," and Justin B. observed, "Unlevel is an understatement... every camper there had front end 4 foot off the ground."
Highway noise: Several campgrounds are located near major highways for convenience, which creates noise concerns. Pinch Pond Family Campground sits near I-76, though its elevation and tree cover help reduce noise. Kathy L. notes another noise source: "Main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby."
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds experience water quality problems. At Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, campers reported, "Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay," suggesting bringing extra filtration for drinking water.
Splash parks and pools: Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Eagles Peak offers excellent water features for children. Ashley S. notes, "The splash park is a lot of fun for both the kids and adults," making it ideal for summer visits when temperatures frequently reach the upper 80s.
Playgrounds and recreation: French Creek State Park Campground features "a very nice playground situated conveniently between the loops of the campground" with "slides, a bridge, lots of monkey bars, ladders to climb on and the best feature was the zip line," according to one reviewer, making it perfect for families with children of various ages.
Budget considerations: While most campgrounds offer similar amenities, pricing varies significantly. James F. described Eagles Peak as "expensive but very nice" with "very friendly and helpful staff," suggesting it's "a bit on the expensive side but for an occasional splurge it is wonderful."
Site selection strategy: At Lake-In-Wood Campground, RVers should be aware of tight navigation. Mary C. warns, "The roads were very tight and you really had to watch how you drove through because of the trees," suggesting arriving during daylight hours for easier setup.
Hookup configurations: Full hookup availability varies between campgrounds. French Creek State Park offers limited full hookup sites (specifically sites 1-7 and 39-47), while Lake-In-Wood provides more options but with potential space constraints. Edward M. describes it as "Very nice and clean campground" with "Some tight spots to navigate through."
Reservation timing: Popular pet-friendly campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. Starlite Camping Resort typically books completely for holiday weekends 3-4 months in advance. Craig F. recommends booking early: "We had two sites this trip with water and electric, but they do have quite a few full hook-up sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Newmanstown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Newmanstown, PA is Hickory Run Family Camping Resort with a 4.1-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Newmanstown, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 128 dog-friendly camping locations near Newmanstown, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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