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Mountain Top Campground near Tarentum provides electric hookups and water at each site with spacious, level gravel pads bordered by grassy areas, making it comfortable for campers traveling with pets. The campground sits atop a mountain with panoramic valley views, particularly stunning during fall foliage season. Sites are well-spaced around the perimeter, offering good privacy for pet owners. While there's no dedicated dog park, the large open field in the center of the campground gives pets plenty of room to exercise. The family-owned operation maintains clean bathroom facilities with coin-operated showers. Pets must be leashed and supervised at all times, with owners responsible for waste cleanup.
Several pet-friendly accommodations exist within 30 minutes of Tarentum, including Smith Grove and Crooked Creek Lake. Smith Grove accepts pets at tent sites, RV spots, and cabins, with clean facilities and spacious campsites. Crooked Creek Lake features a more open camping area with sites close together but offers affordable rates and access to a small beach and lake perfect for dogs who enjoy swimming. Many campers note that Mountain Top Campground's 20-minute proximity to Pittsburgh makes it an excellent base for day trips with pets. The surrounding area provides multiple hiking opportunities where leashed dogs are welcome, though visitors should be prepared for limited amenities at some campgrounds - Crooked Creek Lake has no showers and relatively basic facilities compared to the well-maintained Mountain Top.
"gravel lots with wood boarders lots of grass on each site as well
full verizon coverage lte
30 + 50amp services
grey water dump on most sites
water
open year round
cons
no kids park
no dog"
"We recently stayed at this campsite with our 3 very young kids and dog. What amazing views from this location!"
from $48 / night
Check Availability"This is a small campground next to Crooked Creek Lake. The lake is manmade and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. There is a small beach and picnic tables."
"Nice small, quiet campground near Crooked Creek. Affordable as well. Love the lake, there is even a little beach for the family. Definitely worth a visit."
from $15 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $18 - $70 / night
Check Availability"While most of the campgrounds in the park are no pets- there are 2 loops that allow your furry companions! Loop F includes electric spots!"
"There's a trail right to the beach near the D loop, so it's a great place for families to go with pets. The sites are big, wooded, and all close to the bathroom."
from $18 - $128 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $30 - $95 / night
Check Availability"We rented space 16 late August 2020 and our friends (and their kids) rented #17 on the inner circle, right next to us with the playground right behind us. Great spots!"
"This is a nice, quiet small campground with a small lake. Our grandchildren loved it. The boat launch is a nice size to fit 2 boats at a time. The only problem is the beach is not that great."
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Very family friendly place and pets are welcome too! My son loves the horse rides on Sundays"
"The nightly RV sites are close to the park entrance and are relatively flat. The campground hosts themed events, game nights and arts& crafts."
from $30 - $300 / night
Check Availability"They have an Olympic sized swimming pool, nature trails, playground, basketball court, recreation hall and walking distance to harmony and all the live music and nightlife that Harmony and Zelienople have"
"Reason for mark down is due to the trains that came through in the night and it must’ve been trash day in Harmony as we heard dumpster being banged around in the early hours of the morning."
from $30 - $55 / night
Check Availability"It’s very military positive, even includes a reserved place for the fallen soldiers. Some sites are a bit close, the pull through sites are very ample. Gravel roads and level sites."
"Tent site was nice and conveniently located next to the bathhouse"
from $50 / night
Check Availability
TravelerOverLl great campground. The sites are a little close together but we still enjoyed our time there. Staff is super friendly and there was plenty for the kids to do, pool, arcade, fishing, and playground. Decent size dog park to let your dogs run and decent trails nearby.
GuideSites are super big and is a great family owned campground! Super close to a local ice cream shop and has a great dog park and is fully paved. Large fishing area and Camp store! I love that you can use Campers App at this campground and I love getting the Notifications when I camping there!
ScoutGood location for outdoor and city experiences, along with a relaxing getaway. Workers and permanent campers are very friendly with all the amenities necessary on site, including nice dog park. A small campground that didn’t have many kids for ours to play with during our visit. In addition, hill keeps permanent campers separate from temporary campers.
TravelerWhile most of the campgrounds in the park are no pets- there are 2 loops that allow your furry companions! Loop F includes electric spots! Loved seeing the 'neighbors' dogs get excited and curious when I walked my 4-legged best friend around the site. Clean area , close to a modern bathroom (a few stalls & even 2 showers!) Looking forward to going back at the end of the month.
Scoutnice campsite the closest to Pittsburg that i found. 35 mins
pros
amazing views at this mountain top campsite
45 per night for me ymmv
clean campgrounds
level gravel lots with wood boarders
lots of grass on each site as well
full verizon coverage lte
30 + 50amp services
grey water dump on most sites
water
open year round
cons
no kids park
no dog park
no cable hookups
moderate wi-fi (to be expected)
no black sewer hookup (does have dump station and honey wagon)
ScoutVery conveniently located off the interstate. Follow the signs to the campground NOT the GPS in order to avoid some narrow and sharp turn roads. Staff were super friendly! Front desk staff were knowledgeable and and helpful. We had some issues with our power, and Larry was at our site within minutes to fix it. Big open dog park! There are only a few shaded spots. Spot width was a little narrow where we stayed (on the hill), but perfect for a quick overnight stay. Bathrooms were fairly clean, laundry was nice. The pool looked very well maintained.
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
TravelerIn the past 5 years, I've made 13 trips to Raccoon Creek State Park and spent 16 nights in a tent there. It is my local state park and I can tell you lots about it.
The D loop is really great tent camping at Raccoon Creek State Park. It's tents only, no RVs. So it gets a really fun, party vibe on Saturday nights during the summer. There's a trail right to the beach near the D loop, so it's a great place for families to go with pets. The sites are big, wooded, and all close to the bathroom.
The C loop, however, doesn't take pets (which stinks). When we have our dogs with us, we gravitate towards the C loop. It's fine, but it's not as fun as the D loop.
When we don't make a reservation and we have our dog, we end up in the F loop. It's not our preference (but--let's be clear--even the worst site in the F loop is better than NO trip!).
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.
Camping areas near Tarentum sit along the Allegheny River valley with elevations ranging from 750 to 1,200 feet. The region features rolling hills and wooded terrain with late summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F. Most campgrounds remain open from April through October, though Mountain Top Campground offers year-round access with winter electrical service.
Kayaking at Crooked Creek Lake: Located 25 minutes from Tarentum, the lake provides calm waters ideal for beginners. "The lake is great for kayaking or small boats. We fish and kayak the creek opposite the lake," notes Jennifer P. from Crooked Creek Lake.
Hiking woodland trails: The terrain around Tarentum offers multiple walking paths through deciduous forest. "The hiking trails are in excellent condition and the park keeps them clear of fallen debris," says Jim L. about the trails near Raccoon Creek State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Anglers can find multiple spots within 30 minutes of Tarentum. "I don't doubt there's fish and it's really pretty in the backdrop," mentions James B. from Mountain Top Campground. At Keystone State Park, campers report "the lake is great for fishing with plenty of hiking trails."
Panoramic vistas: The elevation changes around Tarentum create notable viewpoints. "You come up a winding road and emerge atop the mountain. It's cute. Wide open grass land with sites around the perimeter. Half a dozen of them (premium) are at the edge and have a nice view to the hills beyond," shares Jennifer H. about Mountain Top Campground.
Proximity to Pittsburgh: Many campers value the short drive to urban attractions. "20 minutes to Pittsburgh staff friendly and very helpful," notes Doreen C. Sites at Bear Run offer "pull through sites for larger RVs" and remain "Family Friendly Friendly!" according to Terra B.
Affordability: Budget-conscious campers find value at several locations. "Affordable as well. Love the lake, there is even a little beach for the family," Amanda says about Crooked Creek Lake. Sites typically range from $25-45 per night with electric hookups.
Site placement considerations: Layout varies significantly between campgrounds. At Keystone State Park, "there are 2 campgrounds in the park, the hillside one and the one on the lake. The lakeside one is a glorified trailer park and is packed during the summer with no privacy," warns Matt R. The hillside campground "doesn't get near the crowds and it set in the woods."
Shower facilities vary: While Mountain Top offers coin-operated showers, other campgrounds have different arrangements. "Showers really need an update. There are no shower heads," notes a camper at Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA. Check facilities before booking, especially for longer stays.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have tricky approaches. "The hardest part is finding it. The roads get narrow so if in an RV call them for the easiest way in," advises Corey L. about Mountain Top Campground. At Crooked Creek, "Don't pass the drive coming in. We had to drive few miles to get looped back," cautions Keith.
Playgrounds and activities: When traveling with children, choose campgrounds with kid-friendly features. "My son loves the horse rides on Sundays" at Bear Run Campground, shares Jeani B. This campground also offers "a swimming pool and playground for the kids."
Swimming options: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Tarentum include water access. Keystone State Park has a "designated swimming area" that "attracts a lot of people in the summer." For less crowded options, Indian Brave Campground features "an Olympic sized swimming pool, nature trails, playground, basketball court."
Choose off-peak times: For quieter family camping, consider timing. "We stayed at this camp ground for our first experience camping! Quiet and friendly place!" reports Sandra F. about Bear Run Campground. Weekday visits typically offer more space and less competition for facilities.
Leveling challenges: Several campgrounds require extra preparation for RVs. "We couldn't use our fire ring because it ended up being very close to our rig," notes Patience W. from Madison-Pittsburgh KOA. She adds, "I couldn't get it level with my Anderson levelers it was pretty slopped."
Site selection for privacy: RVers seeking space should research specific loops. At Indian Brave Campground, "They escorted us to our campsite (which was larger than most) and made sure we had plenty of help getting backed in and set up!" shares Jon H., adding "even though you were close to your neighbors it didn't feel like it to us!"
Full hookup limitations: Not all sites offer complete connections. At Mountain Top, "There are no full-hookup sites…yet! They are currently working on having full-hookup sites throughout the campsite," according to a camper. However, they note "grey water hookup so you don't have to unpack and use your own!" makes the setup workable for shorter stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Tarentum, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Tarentum, PA is Mountain Top Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Tarentum, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 76 dog-friendly camping locations near Tarentum, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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