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Ridley Creek State Park Campground offers pet-friendly options for outdoor enthusiasts who camp with their four-legged companions. The campground welcomes dogs throughout its trail system and at the group camping sites, making it a popular destination for campers seeking pet-inclusive accommodations. Dogs must remain leashed at all times on the well-marked trails and in camping areas. Beautiful area to explore and the campground is fairly nice, with bonus points for accepting four-legged friends. The park features multiple tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits in a designated group camping area. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA also accepts pets and provides specific pet-friendly amenities across its tent sites, RV spaces, and cabins.
Hikers with dogs particularly appreciate Ridley Creek's extensive trail system where pets can join their owners on outdoor adventures. The trails provide various terrain difficulties suitable for different activity levels, with many featuring creek access where dogs can cool off during warmer months. Well-marked paths make navigation straightforward, even for first-time visitors with pets. For campers preferring more developed facilities, the Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA maintains very dog-friendly grounds with designated pet areas. Multiple review comments highlight the cleanliness of both campgrounds, including pet-friendly zones. Campers should note that while Tinicum Island allows pets, this location is only accessible by watercraft, requiring additional planning for those camping with dogs.
"Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival."
"The neighbor’s sewer connection is right next to our picnic table! But, the sites are large enough for large RVs, they have 30/50 amp hookups and water & sewer."
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
"We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back"
from $57 / night
Check Availability"There are numerous hiking trails in the park that seemed to be well marked and maintained. The park is about 20- mins from Reading, and 10 mins from Birdsbroro."
"There is a connector trail nearby that can get you to most of the hiking trails. Site was nice. Bathrooms okay. This is a pet loop so be aware of dogs. Hiking trails in park were a nice challenge."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course."
"The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area. Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"This row of sites lacked the trees for shade and privacy found at most other sites around the campground. The pool was nice and clean."
"Not close off the highway, but wooden sites. Seems as though people spend their summers there. Pool was beautiful and looked new. Mini golf was decrepit and looked abandoned. Store was nice."
from $31 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It's almost 500 acres filled with trails, woods,and river. I usually go to the parking right off of Militia hill rd.and Skippack Pike intersection."
"m following up on my review from over a year ago with new photos, updated weathered campers’ tales and a quick snapshot of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Rustic group camping nestled in nearly"
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"It was a great place to walk with your dog and enjoy the Pennsylvania outdoors."
"Since he was 2 years old I’ve taken my son, and we always have an amazing time, either hiking the trails to wandering in the woods looking for “adventures”."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"year ago with some refreshed insight, additional photos and, well, because once wasn’t enough, here’s a quick reel of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Hidden slice of suburban woodland tucked"
from $1 - $100 / night
Check Availability"They are new-ish Shasta campers, queen bed, 1 slide, rear bunks, 2 entrances. Very clean. Water area is great, splash pad is very fun so is the large blow up slide and pool area."
"I think the lale could use a little cleanup with the amount of bobbers, string and mess left behind by people. There have ao many cabins its crazy and alot of seasonal rentals."
TravelerCampground sites are nice and spacious, bathrooms are good, and there’s plenty to do for everyone. We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course. We always travel with our dogs and this place has the BEST dog park. Big open space with access to lots of water play. We definitely recommend this spot!
RangerWe stayed here for a night in transit. Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival. Good location - convenient but far enough off the highway. Would stay here again.
GuideI was able to book my site the day before the trip. The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area.
Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side. Firewood was $5 a bundle, but the register wasn't working and they could only take cash.
The hiking in the immediate area was beautiful, lots of fun trails and wildlife. Fishing, kayaking, zip lining, tons of great activities.
The firepits have grates over one half, so campfire cooking is a breeze. Cook up and use the provided picnic table for an easy dinner set up.
The park itself is very dog friendly and most sites had dogs. There is also an off leash dog park at Lum's pond and dog water dishes outside the camp store.
The showers and bathrooms were incredibly well kept with hot water and stocked supplies. If you didn't feel like walking so far, the tents had a spiget with running water near the parking areas.
Reception for Verizon was spotty, t mobile was pretty great. Wish there was an ATM on site though I don't think the cash only situation is a normal one for this campground.
All in all an amazing trip, and I'll be back as soon as possible.
GuideMy family and I stayed at French Creek State Park while attending an event in Reading. The park was clean and well maintained. We stayed in Loop A which had no camp host. The camp hosts were in loops B & C. We had a full hook up site. The water and electric worked great! The campground was well patrolled by Rangers throughout our stay. The bathhouses appeared to be clean and maintained. The quiet time starts at 9pm and seemed to be followed by most campers. There are numerous hiking trails in the park that seemed to be well marked and maintained. The park is about 20- mins from Reading, and 10 mins from Birdsbroro. There are many stores and restaurants in the area for food and supplies if needed. We had good cellular service with both AT&T and T-Mobile. The one downside was that there was no off leash dog park. We had to take our dog to a dog park in Birdsbroro. We would stay at this park again.
Guidewell marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills.
LegendWest Chester KOA This is a really nice KOA not too far from downtown Philly. The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy. A bridge nearby the campground was washed out earlier by a hurricane so we had to take an alternative route going about thirty minutes out of our way. (Make sure you check their website for directions!) There is a lot to do in the surrounding area like visiting the historical sites in downtown Philadelphia, Valley Forge, or exploring Amish country.
This is a typical KOA with lots of amenities and activities for kids– swimming pool, jump pad, miniature golf, volleyball, butterfly garden, gem mining, playground, store, dog park, nature trail, etc. There is a large pool area with pavilion but it was closed during our stay since we were there early in the season. The campground is right on the Brandywine River which is a slow meandering pretty river that is great to get your feet wet or go for a paddle. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent if you have time and as there is very little current in the river you can paddle out and back without any trouble. There is a nice, short nature trail which was nice to walk our dog and she enjoyed getting wet in the river.
The campground is hilly which means that a fair number of sites are not level. Our site (#27) was level for our RV but the patio sloped downhill and we could not use our picnic table or find a level spot for our chairs. Some sites are “premiums” with paved patios, Adirondack chairs, fancy firepits, BBQ grill, and tables and chairs with an umbrella. These sites are really nice, but you pay a lot more for them. Some sites are located adjacent to the river with nice waterfront views, but beware some might be muddy. There are lots of camping cabins and a couple of glamping tents.
Overall, the campground is very clean with no trash lying around and the grass was mowed and trimmed. The 50-amp electric was good as was the water pressure. The sewer connection uphill from our site so it did not drain properly. There is basic cable but since you are so close to Philly there are plenty of over-the-air channels. The Wi-Fi at our site worked well. Garbage is picked up at your site. The surrounding area has plenty of restaurants, shopping, and interesting things to see and do.
GuideWe do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations.
Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well.
Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There’s an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!
LegendThis is unquestionably the best KOA I’ve been to. I usually do not like KOA, except when there are no alternatives. This one is way above average. Typically these places are all gravel and dust. This one has paved roads, grass and trees. There is a pond for fishing, too. The only complaint is that, like all KOAs, the sites are on top of each other. The neighbor’s sewer connection is right next to our picnic table! But, the sites are large enough for large RVs, they have 30/50 amp hookups and water & sewer. There are cabins and large tents you can rent. There is a playground, pavilion, laundry, and several shower/bathrooms. (The one near us didn’t have hot water. The office people said they were working on it.) There us also a large, grassy, fenced dog park which my 2 spaniels appreciated.
TravelerWe stayed at site 18 in Loop A. There is a connector trail nearby that can get you to most of the hiking trails. Site was nice. Bathrooms okay. This is a pet loop so be aware of dogs. Hiking trails in park were a nice challenge.
Located about 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Swarthmore offers convenient access to several campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The area features gently rolling terrain with elevations ranging from 50 to 400 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically average 75-85°F with moderate humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions with highs in the 60-70°F range.
Hiking trail exploration: 3.5 miles of well-marked paths at French Creek State Park Campground provide various terrain difficulties. "Easy hike. We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back," notes Andrea R. The trails connect to scenic overlooks and two lakes.
Water activities: Boating and fishing options on multiple lakes where you can catch various warm water fish. "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish," mentions a camper at French Creek. Lums Pond also offers water recreation opportunities.
Outdoor challenges: Try ziplines and climbing activities for more adventurous visitors. "Going Ape, kayaking and peaceful," says Leah H. about her experience at Lums Pond State Park Campground. The park offers options for various skill levels.
Private, wooded sites: Natural barriers between campsites create secluded camping experiences. "The sites are not on top of each other. Sites were not right on top of each other. Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers," explains Jen R. about her stay at French Creek State Park.
Clean, modern facilities: Recently renovated restrooms and showers at several campgrounds receive positive reviews. "The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms," according to Adam and Suzanne B. who stayed at Lums Pond.
Pet-friendly accommodations: Multiple campgrounds welcome dogs throughout Tinicum Island, which allows pets but requires watercraft access. The island offers primitive camping with opportunities to enjoy nature with your four-legged companions.
Reservation requirements: Book well in advance for popular campgrounds, especially during peak season. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park. Most established campgrounds in the area require reservations.
Campsite variations: Sites range from primitive to full hookups with different levels of privacy and amenities. "The all-grass site just fit our 37' motor home. This row of sites lacked the trees for shade and privacy found at most other sites around the campground," notes Matt S. about his stay at Old Cedar Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Some campgrounds close during winter months or have limited services. "This does close for winter and reopens in April but call park for exact closure dates because they do change," advises a camper at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA.
Playground access: Multiple age-appropriate play areas available at family-oriented campgrounds. "Nice playground, so good for kids, but not so much an all adults stay," mentions Jaquiline D. about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA.
Kid-friendly activities: Scheduled events and recreation options keep children entertained. "They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget. The place is so clean including the bathrooms," shares Nicole S. who enjoyed the family programming.
Swimming options: Pools and water features provide cooling opportunities during warmer months. "A huge pool that has a beautiful view overlooking the lake," says a visitor to French Creek. Many campgrounds offer swimming facilities from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Hookup considerations: Water access can require extra equipment at some campgrounds. "The water hookups are shared every other site. I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses," advises Matt S. from his experience at Old Cedar Campground.
Level sites: Many campgrounds offer concrete or paved pads making setup easier. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze," notes Jen R. about French Creek, while Evansburg State Park Campground offers "beautiful scenery" according to Joe B., with sites that accommodate various RV sizes.
Access to Philadelphia: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Swarthmore provide convenient access to city attractions. "We stayed here for 3 nights while visiting family In Philadelphia. It is a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was was quick and responsive," shares a reviewer about their stay at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Swarthmore, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Swarthmore, PA is Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Swarthmore, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 94 dog-friendly camping locations near Swarthmore, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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