Stephen R.
Guide
GuideRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Summit Hill, PA
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Jim Thorpe Camping Resort accommodates pets at tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites where alcohol is permitted, fires are allowed, and full hookups are available. Located just minutes from downtown Jim Thorpe, the campground offers easy access to Mauch Chunk Creek for fishing and connects to the D&L Trail for dog-friendly hiking opportunities. Both primitive tent sites and developed areas with water and electric hookups welcome pets. Lakewood Park Campground and Lizard Creek Campground also maintain pet-friendly policies for campers bringing dogs. Most sites require pets to remain on leash at all times within campground boundaries, with specific designated areas for pet relief. Sites can become crowded during peak season, with limited space between neighboring campsites. Campers reference The Dyrt for top tips on camping near Summit Hill, Pennsylvania.
Mauch Chunk Lake Park presents conflicting information regarding pet policies, with several reviews indicating pets are prohibited despite being listed as pet-friendly in some directories. Visitors should contact the park directly before booking with animals. The surrounding region features multiple outdoor recreation options suitable for active dogs, including the Switchback Trail accessible directly from Jim Thorpe Camping Resort. Tent sites often contain exposed tree roots and rocks, requiring extra padding for comfort. Campgrounds in the area generally maintain clean bathroom facilities with hot showers. Several camping options provide access to water features where dogs can cool off during summer months. Morning and evening temperatures can drop significantly even during summer camping seasons, requiring appropriate gear for pets camping overnight.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Summit Hill (135)
1. Hickory Run State Park Campground
"We took the short drive to Hawk Falls Trail and also completed the Orchard Trail Loop."
"The bathroom facilities were clean, the hiking in the area was gorgeous and pet friendly and I’m looking forward to going back"
61 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $72 / night
2. Jim Thorpe Camping Resort
"Makes it fun searching for a good position within the site, kinda like roughing it in the actual wild... so not really a complaint. Sites are not very private or secluded."
"The sites were fine and I liked the location. Next to the creek where you can fish trout (don’t forget to buy a license). About 3 miles stroll along the creek to Jim Thorpe."
3. Mauch Chunk Lake Park
"Easy drive from Philly area, courteous staff, very wooded and quiet at night. Has many sites right along the lake edge, some very large."
"Beautiful lake beach and canoe and kayak rentals. There’s much to explore in the town Jim Thorpe and beautiful hiking close by."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
4. Blue Rocks Family Campground
"According to hikers on the AT, this is what they call Pennsylvania, as they hike through this section of the state. And Blue Rocks Campground doesn't dissapoint."
"Blue Rocks family campground is close to I78 however it is still off the beaten path. It is very peaceful to camp here as you have different types of environments."
5. Allentown KOA
"However the drive jn set the stage. It was a long winding road through the forest with a creek running below the road. Utterly magical. Had to park to check in and were led to our site."
"This campground is nestled in rhe mountains of Pennsylvania. This campgound is family oriented, it has a pool, a store, a game room. They also do things for different holidays."
6. 100 Mile View Camping
"My dogs had a great time as well."
"Paved road and hard packed gravel for a short distance to get to the camp site. We made it up there no problem motorcycles."
2 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $40 - $50 / night
7. Stonybrook RV Resort
"There’s lots of space to walk your dog on leash but no dog park. We had an issue with our surge protector and the manager had an electrician out to us quickly who helped us solve a problem. "
"Our site(F20) is level and beautiful— spacious and beautifully landscaped
- We interacted with 5 members of their staff and all were welcoming and friendly to talk with
- There’s a heated pool behind"
8. Lakewood Park Campground
"Hoping for a dog park in the future."
"They are in the process of adding lots more sites up away from the lake in the woods plus 2 bath houses. The sites along the lake are great, but be aware most of them are seasonal."
Check Availabilityfrom $65 - $97 / night
9. Lizard Creek Campground
"It’s just a short drive away from Jim Thorpe which is great. Would recommend!"
10. Pocono Point
"Good location and easy to get to from the PA turnpike NE extension 476. Also a good location to get to all the state parks nearby like Beltzville and Lehigh Gorge."
"Cute campground with RV and creekside tent sites near Lehigh Gap. The staff here was incredibly friendly and helpful and they have a well cared for site."
Check Availabilityfrom $45 - $550 / night
Drive Time
- 51 min from Allentown, PA
- 58 min from Scranton, PA
- 58 min from Reading, PA
- 1 hr 12 min from Lebanon, PA
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Summit Hill, PA
94 Photos of 135 Summit Hill Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Summit Hill, PA
1165 Reviews of 135 Summit Hill Campgrounds
- ssorcha A.
TravelerShady Oak Campground
Easy access to Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch areas. Friendly, welcoming staff and plenty of colorful trees in the autumn. The only RV park in the area that is open year round.
- RRussell A.
Scout100 Mile View Camping
What a great place. So unique! Love the view, and a great experience! There are no hook ups, so be prepared but if you are looking for the dispersed camping experience you have found it. What a gem!
Nancy W.
LegendHickory Run State Park Campground
Peaceful State Park Camping in the Fall
This is a large campground with a wide array of campsites so be careful attention when you book online, especially if you have a pet because some sites are not pet-friendly. Some are 50-amp full hook-up and some are primitive with no hook-ups.
There is a nice nature center with interesting interpretive exhibits and lots of informational brochures including ones about the hiking trails, bears, scat and tracks of local animals, and fishing. Our site was at the edge of the campground and backed up to Route 534 which resulted in a bit of road noise at our site. Other than the road noise the campground was pretty quiet and was not very crowded when we camped there in October.
Not all sites are level and we happened to book one that was not and we had to live with a slant for our stay. The roads in the park are gravel/dirt and since it rained the day we arrived the roads were a muddy mess which made the roads slippery and there were lots of potholes. Unfortunately, some campers were disrespectful and left bags of trash in the fire pit and scattered around their site which was totally unnecessary because there were dumpsters plenty of dumpsters in the campground. Since we camped at Hickory Run late in the season, there were no camp hosts and the trash never got picked up.
The campground is open from mid-April to mid-December; however, the shower facilities and dump station are not available after the third week of October so plan accordingly. We really like the hiking trails which are of varying degrees of difficulty and lengths. The Hawk Falls is a nice easy walk (1.4 miles round-trip) to a waterfall but is extremely popular so don’t think you will be admiring the falls alone. The parking lot at this trail head fills up fast so you better get there early if you want to get a spot.
You can enter the park from two different directions. If you have a big-rig, it is best to approach from the east side. We made the mistake of coming in from the west side as we dropped down from I-80 and came down 534 and the road was really windy with no shoulder. Luckily, there was very little traffic so we could go 10 mph and safely navigate the roads.
Be aware alcohol is not allowed in PA state parks. This park does allow hunting in certain sections of the park. The no-hunting areas are clearly marked with white no hunting signs on trees and you can also pick up a brochure from the office that designates hunting and no-hunting sections.
Tony F.Guide100 Mile View Camping
The best views
This 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.
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.LegendRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Beautiful Falls!
What a great campground! We stayed here on a recommendation from a friend after the Overland Expo. Great hiking trails and the falls were absolutely breathtaking. Truly enjoyed our stay and plan to return!
Roger V.TravelerBake Oven Knob
solid parking place for vans and RVs. road is dirt gravel but not terrible. nice hike nearby
Troy P.TravelerShikellamy State Park Campground
meh
i 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
- jjeanne A.Guide
Council Cup Campground
Better than nothing
Small campground with rude owner. Everything I asked about was putting her out. It was cheap though at $36 for water and electric with a military discount.
Guide to Summit Hill
Camping options in Pennsylvania's Carbon County center around Summit Hill, located in the Pocono Mountains region at 1,700 feet elevation. The area features dramatic elevation changes with ravines and valleys creating diverse camping environments. Morning temperatures often drop into the 50s even during summer months, requiring appropriate clothing layers for overnight stays.
What to do
Boulder exploration: At Hickory Run State Park Campground, visitors can experience the unique boulder field. "Boulders everywhere! Big ones, small ones, run (carefully) across them all! Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown," explains Mike M. The boulder field serves as the park's main attraction.
Hiking trails: Multiple hiking options exist throughout the region's parks and forests. At Hickory Run, "many hiking trails (44 miles of trails). They are rated from easy to difficult. We found the 2 trails we hiked - Hawk Falls and Shades of Death trails - where were rated 'more difficult' were not bad to hike at all," reports Shirley M.
Kayaking and fishing: Water activities remain popular with multiple access points. At Locust Lake State Park Campground, "we're both really big water rats and couldn't wait to get the kayaks into the water. While we were there, the entire place was covered in fig, which made it seem even cooler for us," writes DrDavid P.
What campers like
Access to town: Proximity to Jim Thorpe provides entertainment options. Dave R. from Jim Thorpe Camping Resort notes, "The secret it packs is the great town in which it shares its name. You are 5 minutes from the wonderful town of Jim Thrope."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain good hygiene standards. At Stonybrook RV Resort, "the laundry area and shower rooms are beautiful and clean," according to Cindy, who also mentions the resort is "meticulously clean and the permanent campers keep their sites so well."
Trail connectivity: Direct trail access ranks highly among visitors. Jim Thorpe Camping Resort offers "access to the Switchback Trail from the campground. A wonderfully scenic trail," writes Dave R. This provides campers with recreation options directly from their sites without driving.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Campsite quality varies considerably across locations. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, Corbin notes, "Our site was for the most part clean, the fire pit was so full of ash and trash and giant rocks that we had to clean ourselves right when we arrived."
Crowds and noise: Peak season brings high visitor numbers. "We visited in the summer on a weekend when it was full. The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers," warns Danielle F. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Weather preparation: Temperature variations require planning. Amber A. comments about Tuscarora State Park, "I can't imagine not visiting this park in autumn, but I'm sure it's pretty in summer too." This suggests seasonal considerations impact visit quality.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Several campgrounds offer kid-friendly play areas. At Lakewood Park Campground, visitors appreciate the "nice playground for kids." Melissa notes the campground has "paddle boats and kayaks and you can fish in the lake."
Swimming access: Water recreation provides important activity options. Cindy reports Stonybrook's "pool was warm, clean and enjoyable," making it suitable for families with children who need activities during hot weather.
Activity scheduling: Campgrounds run regular events during peak season. Dawn R. mentions at Locust Lake, "Great walking path around lake for kids to ride bikes to parks or beach. Beach area was nice." These amenities help families maintain routines and recreation options.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds require preparation for uneven terrain. Angie G. notes about Jim Thorpe Camping Resort, "The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because our site wasn't level and it took hours to get it right."
Space considerations: Site dimensions vary across parks. Brandon W. shares about Lizard Creek Campground, "Pretty easy back in spots, staff guide you to your spot and help guide you in." This assistance proves valuable for newer RVers unfamiliar with tight camping configurations.
Hookup availability: Utilities differ between campgrounds and sites. At Locust Lake, Brandon W. advises, "No water hook up. No sewer hook up. Just electric at certain sites." Understanding these limitations helps RV campers plan accordingly for water usage during their stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Summit Hill, PA?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Summit Hill, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Summit Hill, PA is Hickory Run State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 62 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Summit Hill, PA?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Summit Hill, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 135 dog-friendly camping locations near Summit Hill, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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