Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA features a fully fenced dog park where pets can exercise off-leash while their owners relax nearby. The campground accommodates tent campers, RV travelers, and those seeking cabin stays with multiple pet-friendly options throughout the property. All dogs must be leashed when not in the designated dog area, and campers report the staff enforces cleanup policies to maintain cleanliness. Ridley Creek State Park and French Creek State Park Campground also welcome pets at their sites, though specific designated pet-friendly loops may apply. The bathrooms remain exceptionally clean despite the high volume of pet travelers, making this an ideal base for those camping with dogs near Philadelphia. Guests consistently mention the quiet atmosphere makes for peaceful walks with pets throughout the grounds.
Hiking trails at the nearby state parks provide excellent opportunities for dog exercise, with Ridley Creek offering well-marked paths suitable for pets of various activity levels. Water access points allow dogs to cool off during summer camping trips, though owners should bring portable water bowls for trail excursions. Several veterinary clinics operate within 15 minutes of the KOA, providing emergency services if needed. The campground's stone sites drain well after rain, preventing muddy paws when returning to tents or RVs. The Philadelphia South KOA remains open year-round for pet travelers, while seasonal considerations affect other nearby options. Tent campers particularly appreciate the grassy tent sites that provide comfortable footing for pets compared to the standard gravel found at many commercial campgrounds.
"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."
$57 / night
"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"
$20 - $75 / night
"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."
$28 - $72 / night
"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"
$31 - $50 / night
"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."
$1 - $100 / night
"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"
$22 - $40 / night
"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."
$43 / night
"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”."
"Some sites have lake-side water access, so bring your canoes and kayaks and reserve these sites (4, 8, 10, 12, 20 and 22) early as they are popular."
"This was a nice large site in the“pet-friendly” section(sites 26-34) of the campground. Site 34 is close to Atsion Road, so there was car noise, but it wasn’t really an issue to us."
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.
The state parks and private campgrounds near Upper Darby provide diverse outdoor experiences within an hour's drive of Philadelphia. Upper Darby sits at approximately 230 feet above sea level in Delaware County, with camping options spanning eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. Most campgrounds in this region operate year-round with peak season running April through October when temperatures average 65-85°F.
Fishing opportunities: 4 miles from Upper Darby at Tinicum Island you'll need a watercraft to access this primitive camping area where "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft" according to Bobby S. The island provides unique boat-in camping in the Philadelphia area.
Hiking with elevation changes: 20 miles from town at Ridley Creek State Park where trails range from easy to moderate. "Easy hike. We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back," shares Andrea R. The park offers group camping only with well-marked paths throughout 2,606 acres.
Water recreation: 25 miles from Upper Darby at Lums Pond State Park provides kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. "Great state park with lots to do (kayaking, biking, and more)," notes Matt S. The 200-acre pond serves as the centerpiece for water activities, with rentals available seasonally.
Private, woodsy sites: French Creek State Park consistently receives praise for site spacing and natural barriers. "Sites were not on top of each other. Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes," reports Jen R. at French Creek State Park Campground, located about 40 miles northwest of Upper Darby.
Concrete pads at full hookup sites: Campers appreciate the infrastructure at Lums Pond State Park, which underwent renovations. "Beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved," shares Matt S. about their experience at the Delaware park.
Waterfront access: Multiple campers mention the benefit of lakeside sites. "I had site #8 and it has an amazing view of the lake. While camping at Atsion family campground, you have free access to the recreation center," writes Alexa L. about Wharton State Forest. Some sites allow direct water access for launching kayaks.
Reservation challenges: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park, which offers full hookup sites.
Group camping limitations: Some parks only offer organized group camping. "This is a very nice KOA, just over the Delaware River from Philly. The park is clean, quiet, full of families," notes Jason E. about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, which accepts individual reservations.
Varying site quality: Even within the same campground, sites may differ substantially. "It was kind of hard to find a level and rock-free spot large enough for our tent, but we managed!" explains Katie M. at French Creek State Park. Many campgrounds have some sites in full sun and others with ample shade.
Playground access: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near Upper Darby feature play areas. "Nice playground, basketball court, 2 fishing areas," reports Stacy D. about Old Cedar Campground, located 35 miles south of Upper Darby.
Educational opportunities: Historic sites near campgrounds provide learning experiences. "This very place lies in significance from the Revolutionary War when it housed troops led by then General George Washington on the way to Valley Forge," Stuart K. explains about Fort Washington State Park.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds include swimming areas. "They have a pool that is open Memorial Day- Labor Day," notes Travyl Couple about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA. Atsion Recreation Area in Wharton State Forest also features a lake beach included with camping fees.
Utility placement awareness: Check site maps before booking. "The water hookups are shared every other site (at least in the Fence Loop). I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed," warns Matt S. about Old Cedar Campground.
Bath facility quality varies: Consider your needs when choosing a campground. "The bathroom at the campground is very nice and new however it is a little on the dirty side," reports Jen R. about French Creek State Park. Many reviewers mention shower quality as a deciding factor.
Proximity to Philadelphia: For urban exploration while RV camping, Evansburg State Park Campground provides access. "This state park is close to Philly but has some wonderful tent sites," explains Angel L. The park has electric hookups and is pet-friendly, making it ideal for dog owners wanting to explore both nature and city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Upper Darby, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Upper Darby, PA is Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 95 dog-friendly camping locations near Upper Darby, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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