Blue Knob State Park Campground allows pets at its secluded, wooded sites located on Pennsylvania's second-highest peak. The small, quiet campground has approximately 45 sites with varying levels of privacy, accommodating tents, RVs, and pet owners seeking natural surroundings. Most sites are relatively spacious with room for pets to settle in, though none feature specific pet amenities beyond the standard allowance. Shawnee State Park Campground and Quemahoning Family Recreation Area also welcome pets with similar basic policies requiring leashed pets under control at all times. The campgrounds offer electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables, creating comfortable settings for campers with dogs. 1889 Park near South Fork provides ten full hookup RV sites where pets are permitted, though the gravel lot layout makes it unsuitable for tent camping with pets. Visitors use The Dyrt to find real feedback on camping near South Fork, Pennsylvania.
Dogs enjoy access to multiple hiking trails at Blue Knob State Park, with routes varying from easy to difficult through dense forest terrain. The park contains Pennsylvania's second-highest peak with connecting trail systems that pets can explore while leashed. Quemahoning Recreation Area provides creek access where some pets enjoy wading or swimming near campsites, especially during summer months. Weather considerations include preparing for short rain showers at Blue Knob where clouds tend to break on the mountain, creating unpredictable weather patterns not always visible on weather apps. Campers note Blue Knob can be significantly chillier than surrounding areas due to elevation, requiring extra warmth for pets camping overnight. Most campgrounds in the region lack dedicated pet amenities like dog parks or washing stations, so campers should bring all necessary pet supplies, especially when staying at more remote locations like Blue Knob where the nearest supplies are about 30 minutes away.
$20 - $108 / night
"it’s small, with shaded sites around the perimeter and two walk in sites just left of the entrance."
"The hiking here is really spectacular with lots of scenery, overlooks, and side trails that extend many miles out into state forest lands which are adjacent to the park."
$20 - $110 / night
"Shawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National"
"The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride."
$20 - $50 / night
"Quemahoning Family Recreation Area offers great fishing, some nice trails and generally wonderful weather during the summer season. "
"Easy walk to beach area and boat launch. Very clean."
$20 - $57 / night
"This campground is perfect for people who are looking to get away from busy city life or just want to relax next to a lake."
"We stayed in one of the pet friendly loops of the park. We had a great time in our PUP....bathhouse was clean and well maintained."
"It has a huge back yard and easy access to the creek. Close by is Ligonier, Idlewild, and St. Vincent (where the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp takes place.)"
"Not only were the staff super friendly and helpful, but we were lucky enough to get a full-hookup site right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, everything you want on a spring trip."
$44 - $49 / night
"Right on the water, clean, and private access to the lake. Dog friendly cabins were available. We cannot wait to come back."
"The creek surrounding the island does make it cold at night so make sure to pack warmly."
"One of the best campgrounds I have stayed at so far the pond is nice and has a 1/2 mile walking path around it with trees and beaches to stop and sit dog park is big and has a place for small or large"
"The campground is nestled on the outskirts of Bedford Pennsylvania and is a very easy location to travel to regardless of your rig size."
$18 - $70 / night
"The campground was family and pet friendly on the hillside section. For the whole family enjoy."
"I camped in the Hillside Loop (Dog Friendly). Not a bad walk to the lake. Site was reasonable leave and plenty of room for my 32 foot Motor home and car."
GuideOne of the best campgrounds I have stayed at so far the pond is nice and has a 1/2 mile walking path around it with trees and beaches to stop and sit dog park is big and has a place for small or large dogs there is 3 play grounds all different and all well kept
GuideThis campground checks all our boxes. Beautiful scenery, quiet location, spacious campsites, full RV hookups, well-placed fire rings, dog park, nice large bathhouses, polite staff, and Wi-Fi that works.
This is located about an hour away from my home, so we plan on making this our go-to for quick camping getaways throughout the year.
Highly recommended. Definitely worth checking out.
GuidePreface: if your main objective is activities for children, you have come to the right place. This place is loud and full of kids.
We booked a site but chose not to pay to select which one. All the pictures looked great! We ended up on a grassy hill in the back. The spot was so unlevel there were 19 inches between my bottom step and the ground. This site was the same price as level ones closer to activities.
Also bathrooms were outdated. They had older residential toilets that plugged constantly. The day we left 2 of the 3 in our nearest bathroom were out of order.
Aside from all the above, the Dog Park is awesome. It’s the size of a real, normal dog park. The ice cream on site is also a nice perk.
RangerThis may be the first campground I give a 10 out of 10! All the amenities your could want, it's clean, sites are leveled, it's maintained beautifully, there are cows in the distance, fully stocked store, friendly staff. Laundry, bathrooms, fairly spacious sites, a pool, dog park. Very, very nice.
TravelerI was the only tenter at the time of my stay; had the whole place to myself. The sites are spread far apart and wooded. Table and fire rings are at each site. They have a brand new bath house which was spotless and a well kept dog park for the furs. If desired, there is a group campsite and the use of a pavilion too. The camp store if beautiful and has everything in it should you forget something. I’ll definitely be back.
GuideStayed 3 nights because I wanted to be centrally located to the he Flight 93 Memorial and Falling Water (about 30 miles to each). The non pet section is heavily wooded and very shady. The pet section is more of a loop set up with some trees. The no pet section had no, zero, zilch cell service so my stay was super quiet. Site 173 was easy to back into and had a large picnic area with a fire ring next to the brook. There is a lake with a small beach and a boat launch and numerous hiking trails. The park will s very nice pretty and during the week fairly empty. I would recommend
GuideWe chose this campground for its proximity to home with the chance to swim in the lake.
The camping did not disappoint. We always try to book “outside” loop sites so we don’t have “back neighbors” but none near the lake were available, so we took our chances on an “inside” site in E loop. It was great, smallish, but plenty of vegetation to make it feel private. (Some poison ivy around the edges, though.) The pull-in sites in general seem a bit small (space for our two 4-person tents and that’s it), but are well shaded and separated from neighbors by small patches of woods or bushes. The pull-through sites in our loop were more exposed to the road, but had a bit more space.
There was some noise from the interstate. There were surprisingly few mosquitoes. The bathhouse was clean, but showers were not very warm.
The swimming was unfortunately disappointing. The roped-off swimming area was 3 feet deep at the most. Warm water in August, nice for kids to splash around, but not really good for actual swimming. Bonus for dog people: pets allowed on the beach and in the lake.
During COVID-19, the bathrooms/bathhouses at the beach area are closed; porta-johns only.
We rented paddle boards and a canoe one afternoon and paddled around to one of the lake inlets, which was actually deep and had a good swim. But this is technically not allowed.
If you feel okay about rule-breaking and have water-safe family members (and no pets), I would absolutely choose a site in I loop close to the lake. The sites in E loop closest to the lake are actually up a fairly steep hill from the lake path.
Hiking trails were nice. My kids especially liked the rock scramble-ish up and down the stream gorge on Evitt’s Mountain trail.
RangerThere are two main loops in this campground. One that is pet friendly and more of a pitch-your-tent-in-the-yard thing and another that is pet-free and wooded. We didn't realize and stayed in the first one. Dogs were barking at all hours and there's no privacy. We drove through the other one and it looks so much nicer. Campsites more spread out with trees in between and way quieter. Will definitely stay there if we return.
GuideDue to a water main break, only one bathroom and showers were available. Bathrooms were quite old and run down. There are over 100 sites. Pets are only allowed on specific loops and cannot be walked on “non pet” loops. We had an electric site which was pretty level for our van. Bike trails were more like hiking trails ( not single track Mtn biking trails). I found this park to be “just ok”.
Camping options in South Fork, Pennsylvania range from small, secluded woodland sites to lakeside facilities with varied amenities. The region experiences temperature fluctuations with higher elevations often 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding areas, especially at Blue Knob State Park. Most campgrounds in the area require reservations during peak summer months from Memorial Day through Labor Day when occupancy rates reach 80-90%.
Hiking trails for all abilities: At Blue Knob State Park Campground, trails range from easy to difficult through dense forest terrain. "Plenty of trails to hike from easy to difficult. Local history is right around the corner with the Lost Children of the Alleghenies Monument. Blue Knob houses the second highest peak in PA," notes Jenna G.
Fishing in stocked lakes: The fishing areas at Quemahoning Family Recreation Area allow anglers to fish without a license in designated ponds. "On the lake. Good private tent sites in the woods. Rv sites too," says Timothy M., while another camper notes the park offers "Great campground, people were very friendly. Has a small store, very quiet, good view of the water in most areas."
Water recreation opportunities: Swimming, boating and beach access are available at several parks in the area. "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating. The campground was nice, quiet and clean," reports Casey S. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Quiet woodland settings: Many campers appreciate the secluded nature of Crooked Run Campground at Prince Gallitzin State Park. "Very nice state park in PA. Huge lake for water sports, scenic trails, small dirt bike oval track," says Judy H. The campground features paved sites and modern facilities.
Clean facilities with showers: Campers frequently mention the maintenance standards at the campgrounds. "Very nice campground. We've stayed in 2 different spots. Super quiet and relaxing place. Clean bathrooms," reports Cathy about Blue Knob State Park. Similarly, at Prince Gallitzin State Park, Nicole F. notes, "The site was clean, decently level area for tents, accessible to potable water and bathrooms with showers."
Family-oriented activities: Friendship Village Campground provides numerous recreation options. "Nice campground, clean and plenty of activities for the kids. The only thing we didn't like was all of the road noise," says Aaron S. Another camper shares, "Went camping here for the first time this weekend. Although it was the off season there was still tons to do. The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing."
Weather variability at higher elevations: Blue Knob's mountain location creates unique weather patterns. "It was chillier than surrounding areas due to being on the mountain. Since it's small there's no check-in, which was nice as we were getting in after dark," Laura notes. Another camper advises, "Clouds blowing east from the Midwest tend to break on the mountains here at Blue Knob, so short little bursts of rainfall are frequent, and they don't always show up on weather apps."
Limited cell service: Several campgrounds have spotty coverage. "Bring everything you need, it's about 30 minutes to some supplies. Make sure you bring firewood and be prepared for extremely limited cell service (Verizon)," advises Olivia L.
Site conditions and selection: Campsite layouts vary significantly across the region. At Shawnee State Park Campground, "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating!" reports Brittany V.
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Several parks offer child-friendly amenities. "We really enjoy camping here. Lots of activities and events throughout the camping season," says Michele M. about Friendship Village Campground. The campground includes multiple playgrounds, mini golf, and scheduled activities.
Swimming options for children: Keystone State Park offers water recreation suitable for families. "Small lake where you can fish, paddle boat, and swim. Quiet hours and parking are strictly enforced," notes Joseph S. Another visitor adds, "Park itself is gorgeous with a large lake and designated swimming area."
Pet-friendly camping with kids: Many dog friendly campgrounds near South Fork accommodate both children and pets. At Crooked Run Campground, a reviewer shares, "Great place for kids! We love staying at crooked run campground. Has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. Bmx track for kids."
Site leveling and access: RV campers should check site details before booking. "Site 5 was slightly sloped. It's listed as tent-only because there isn't really a parking spot for campers, we just parked on the grass," notes Laura about Blue Knob State Park. For Shawnee State Park, an RVer advises, "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time."
Hookup availability: Full hookups are limited at some campgrounds. At 1889 Park, located directly in South Fork, there are "ten sites located on a large gravel lot and would definitely not be suitable for tents. There are five sites on either side of the large lot. All have full hook-ups for a very reasonable price."
Site selection for larger rigs: Mirror Lake RV Camping offers suitable sites for larger trailers. "My wife and I stayed for two nights at this campground and enjoyed it greatly. We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up. We have a 32 foot trailer."
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near South Fork, PA is Blue Knob State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 9 reviews.
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