Dog-Friendly Camping near Summerdale, PA

Summerdale sits within the Appalachian foothills of south-central Pennsylvania, where forests meet farmland at elevations ranging from 400-700 feet. The area experiences distinct seasons with warm summers reaching 85°F and winter lows around 20°F. Most campgrounds in this region operate from April through October, with limited wintertime availability at select locations.

What to do

Swimming at lakes and pools: Little Buffalo State Park Campground offers an exceptional swimming pool with multiple features. "They offer a large area that is only 1 foot deep, great for little ones! There is also a splash pad! There are 2 slides for fun!" writes Amanda H. The park also maintains a sizeable lake for fishing.

Hiking on the Appalachian Trail: The AT runs directly through several local campgrounds. Riverfront Campground provides "Great location with lots of riverfront sites. Pet friendly near the Appalachian trail. The propieter is also an AT shuttler," according to Gary C. Many trails in the area connect to this famous long-distance path.

Fishing in rivers and lakes: Multiple water bodies offer fishing opportunities in all directions. At Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, visitors report "great access for fishing (bring your license! the rangers in this park check), and we caught a handful of bass and an absurd amount of bluegill from shore."

Disc golf courses: Several parks maintain full 18-hole disc golf courses. One camper at Gifford Pinchot noted, "Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy!! We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge."

What campers like

Spacious, shaded sites: Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground receives praise for its site layout. One camper notes, "The campsites are spacious! If you are on a site around the perimeter you can turn your chair and your back to the campground and look out into the forest!" The campground offers ample shade throughout.

Clean facilities: Bathhouse cleanliness varies by campground but receives consistent mention. At Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, "Bathrooms are very clean and modern, but a decent walk from tent sites. The facilities are all lovely, staff in the camp store are kind and helpful."

Water activities: Access to rivers, creeks and lakes ranks high for summer visitors. A Ferryboat Campsites guest shared, "We enjoyed our stay here — but mostly because we liked being right on the water. Lots of tubing and fishing and kayaking in the river — we loved to sit out and watch the water go by."

Historical attractions: The region's rich history adds dimension to camping trips. Pine Grove Furnace offers "an old iron furnace (hence the name) with historical information about it. There is an Appalachian trail museum, which was very neat to check out, and the old Ironmaster's Mansion serves as a hostel and event venue."

What you should know

Site selection matters: Not all sites offer the same experience. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, "Sites are a bit close where we were but they had other sites that were more spread out." Research site maps before booking.

Train noise: Railroad tracks run through several campgrounds. Hersheypark campers warn, "Nice camp ground but super loud bc of the trains. Bath houses are nice and clean. I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!"

Variable cell service: Connectivity differs dramatically between campgrounds. Pine Grove Furnace notes, "Cell service is pretty much nonexistent in the campground, so keep this in mind if you can't be out of touch (we had Verizon)."

Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds operate April through October. Thousand Trails Hershey specifically runs "April 14 to October 29," while some state parks maintain limited winter accessibility.

Tips for camping with families

Look for playgrounds and pools: Little Buffalo State Park receives high marks for family amenities. "Kids love it there! Happy Camping!" writes one reviewer, while another adds, "The pool here is top notch and it's good for fishing but the hiking isn't super great."

Consider tent pads and surfaces: At various campgrounds, tent pads range from mulch to gravel. One camper at Hersheypark Camping Resort noted, "The material is very thick and durable, and weather resistant. In a prolonged downpour I think it would eventually soak through."

Check kid-specific activities: Campground programs vary widely. Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA provides "several pet parks for your own pets, several pet trails, there are people trails, mini golf, playground activities, a shuttle to hershey park & things to do nearby."

Confirm pet policies for family dogs: Pet-friendly camping near Summerdale, Pennsylvania typically includes designated pet areas. At Pine Grove Furnace, "There is a pet section and a non pet section in this campground. There is also showers and clean bathrooms here."

Tips from RVers

Plan for hookup variety: Available connections differ between campgrounds. At Ferryboat Campsites, one RVer reported, "We stayed at a Susquehanna river view site with full hookups for 2 nights. Site was level and shaded, but very close to neighbors."

Check site levelness: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. One Harrisburg East Campground visitor noted, "Our site was level, but many were not. The price was the highest we've paid on the east coast so far."

Consider pull-through availability: Larger rigs need appropriate sites. A camper at Hersheypark Camping Resort shared, "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."

Verify big rig access: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. At Pine Grove Furnace, "If traveling in an RV you will need to fill your fresh water tank as each site does not have water hook up."