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Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground features dedicated pet-friendly camping areas separate from non-pet sections, accommodating tent campers, RV users, and those staying in cabins. The park's level sites provide ample space for camping with dogs, with most offering electric hookups though no water at individual sites. Located at the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail, the campground maintains clean bathrooms and free showers for all visitors. The wooded campsites offer privacy and shade, particularly those situated around the perimeter where campers can face the forest. Many hikers with dogs appreciate the spacious sites that allow for hammock setup between the abundant trees throughout the campground.
Michaux State Forest permits free camping with pets through a permit-required system near Fairfield, approximately 10 miles from Walnut Bottom. The forest features numerous trails shared by hikers and their dogs, including sections of the Appalachian Trail that pass through Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Gettysburg Battlefield KOA, Artillery Ridge Campground, and Mountain Creek Campground all welcome pets with fully-equipped sites including electric, water, and sewer hookups for extended stays. Dogs can enjoy swimming at Pine Grove Furnace's two lakes, accessible via a rail trail ideal for walking pets. The park store sells firewood and offers Hershey's ice cream, though campers should pack all pet supplies as major stores require a 20-30 minute drive. Cell service is minimal throughout the camping areas, particularly at Pine Grove Furnace, where WiFi is only available at the general store.
"This campground is far enough away from home but at the same time close enough for a weekend camping trip. Nice level spots for RVs. A pet area as well as a non-pet area."
"There is a pet section and a non pet section in this campground. There is also showers and clean bathrooms here. Plenty of trails and attraction to explore."
from $20 - $43 / night
Check Availability"We stayed in the Chinquapin West side due to the restrictions of dogs. Not that I don't love dogs! It's just that it can get loud sometimes."
"Stayed here two nights while visiting Gettysburg (short 20mi drive between the two). Stayed on Chinquapin Hill, each site has picnic table and fire ring and good space for camp."
from $20 - $92 / night
Check Availability"Tons of activities and even a hiking path. Pet friendly with small dog park. We had civil war soldiers drilling and staying the weekend we were there. Bathrooms are super clean."
"In addition to that, there is a bounce pad, shuffle board, horseshoes, chess, over-sized jenga, playground, dog park, gem mining, basketball, bikes, wood, propane, etc. and they pick up trash daily right"
"I liked the dish washing sinks outside of the shower houses. The site was nice with the tent pad backing up to the trees."
"Our site was in the pet loop and was set back off the road a good amount which kept a lot of the road noise down. It was very large and Iffered gIId trees fIr strIngIng up tarps and hammocks."
from $20 - $89 / night
Check Availability"Friendly staff and bonus that it’s pet friendly. Watch out for falling black walnuts in October. We heard them hitting ours and other rigs during our three day stay."
"I always appreciate the near solitude experience of this campground as 90% of the sites are RV sites, that are kept away from the tenting area."
"Lots of pets, bikes and golf carts. Kids can play in creek with tubes or hunt critters. Negatives: Bathrooms and activities can be a hike. Some areas flood when it rains hard."
"Campsites could be further apart and there's only one bathhouse and it's at the entrance."
"Some reviewers have confused nearby State Parks with the actual State Forest, resulting in inaccurate information."
"Every January for the last few years some friends and I have gone and camped along the Appalachian Trail."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites."
"We love the dog friendly sites near the water, the kids and pups play all day! We love how large site 15 is and that it is near the trail head. Bathhouse is very nice and clean."
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Located a few miles off 81, in the country surrounded by beautiful views. It’s a mix campground of seasonal campers and short term campers. Very family oriented. Very nice off leash fenced dog park."
"It's close enough to 81 that's it's easy to find but tucked back in that you are not bothered by anyone."
"We have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see."
"Kids loved being able to see them and get close and even pet them! This campground is minutes from town and is practically on the battlefield."
GuideWe stayed for 10 days in a rustic cabin. Campground is well organized and clean. Tons of activities and even a hiking path. Pet friendly with small dog park. We had civil war soldiers drilling and staying the weekend we were there. Bathrooms are super clean.
ScoutClean and well kept campground located 12 mile below Lewistown, Pa. As clean a campground as you will find. Staff is super friendly. Campground has two distinct levels with open spaces with few trees above and well shaded spots with large trees for shade located down along Juniata River. Great place for fishing, tubing or just getting wet. Campground has many activities for kids. On site is a pool, winery, dog park, office/supplies located in center of campground. WiFi is available to all. Nearly all full hook-ups with back-ins and pull-thrus available. Pets allowed. 42 mile South from State College and 48 mile North of Harrisburg on Rt 322. Highly recommend!
GuideWe have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.
ScoutThe rangers were nice and the campground hosts were sweet. I liked the dish washing sinks outside of the shower houses. The site was nice with the tent pad backing up to the trees. I would rather sleep in a tent any night over a motel room but this time was different. Due to my father passing, me and my daughter stayed there 3 nights. I will be back another time to actually enjoy the lake and being between Lancaster and Gettysburg makes both places easy to access. Next time I will be getting a site away from the group area. It was nice that the pet area is separate from those of us who don't have pets or want quiet from dogs barking. Some of the groups can get rather loud especially when there are a bunch of teens. It was nice that the pet area is separate from those of us who don't have pets or want quiet from dogs barking.
TravelerClean well kept family owned campground. Located a few miles off 81, in the country surrounded by beautiful views. It’s a mix campground of seasonal campers and short term campers. Very family oriented. Very nice off leash fenced dog park.
ScoutThis campground is far enough away from home but at the same time close enough for a weekend camping trip. Nice level spots for RVs. A pet area as well as a non-pet area. A lake with a beach, as well as being close to the AT. Close to Gettysburg as well.
RangerGreat campground for families. Large water park that goes to 3 ft. Playgrounds, dog park, canteen, mini golf, jumping pillow, laser tag, pedal cars, gem mining are just some of the amenities. Very pricey during peak season. We did the camp & store at about $50/night.
GuideBeautiful campground. Very recently renovated. Very spacious and quiet.
Great little store stocked with everything you need.
Very close to Hersheypark.
Nicest miniature golf course I’ve ever seen at a RV park. Same can be said for the swimming pool, absolutely beautiful. Great little dog park as well.
They have a very nice schedule of monthly events. They had a few food trucks and fruit/vegetable vendors come to the RV park during our stay.
Would stay again.
RangerThis is a small campground with about half the sites being rustic electric back-in sites and the other being rustic walk-to tent sites. We stayed in the walk-to section. A lot of them are labeled "waterfront" by the park site but ours did not live up to that criteria so be aware of that. We were hoping to be truly stream-side but were not that near to it. The bathrooms were modern and clean. The park is extremely quiet and peaceful, probably one of the most remote PA state parks we've been to. The camper side was pretty full while we were the only ones on the walk-to side. We enjoyed walking the roads and little trails around the campground and seeing the old stone fireplaces/chimneys. There was a dog park area on the walk-to side which was nice. We liked it here.
The central ridge of the Blue Mountain range runs adjacent to Walnut Bottom, Pennsylvania, with elevations reaching 2,100 feet at points like Flat Rock. This creates a varied terrain of rolling foothills and valleys that's particularly appealing to hikers with dogs. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, making campground selection crucial for year-round pet friendly camping near Walnut Bottom.
Hiking with dogs on the AT: Within Michaux State Forest, located 10 miles from Walnut Bottom, dogs can join their owners on numerous trails including portions of the Appalachian Trail. "Every January for the last few years some friends and I have gone and camped along the Appalachian Trail. It's you can park at Pine Grove State Park and then hike your way into locations or park at other trail heads," shares John S., who notes the area provides the perfect environment for gaining outdoor confidence.
Swimming with pets: Colonel Denning State Park Campground offers a creek where dogs can cool off during summer months. "We love the dog friendly sites near the water, the kids and pups play all day! We love how large site 15 is and that it is near the trail head," according to Casey L., who considers this park among their favorites for pet-friendly outings.
Historical tours with dogs: Artillery Ridge Campground provides direct access to Gettysburg battlefield trails where leashed dogs are welcome. "Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded. Literally right outside the entrance of the campgrounds is where the battlefield starts," explains MJ B., highlighting the unique opportunity to explore history with your pet.
Secluded wooded sites: Gettysburg / Battlefield KOA offers more natural settings than typical KOAs. "What impressed me most about this CG was the landscaping and use of natural surroundings. There are tons of really nice boulders everywhere, bordering each site and most of the fire rings. The grounds are also very green and wooded, so it really does feel like a natural, rustic setting," writes Jen V., who found it more rustic than other KOAs.
Creek access for dogs: Mountain Creek Camp Ground features pet-friendly sites along a creek where dogs can splash and play. "Loved camping here. The store has everything. Including hand dipped ice cream. Pool. Mini golf. A creek to fish or splash in. My husband loved finding frogs and fish," reports Emily, who visited with her family including a 5-year-old child.
Clean facilities: Several reviewers specifically mention the cleanliness of Colonel Denning State Park's facilities. "Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites," writes Casey L., who appreciated the well-maintained bathrooms and campsites when traveling with pets.
Permit requirements: Michaux State Forest requires free permits for designated motorized sites. "Michaux State Forest sites fall in to 4 categories: 1. Designated motorized sites, which require a free online permit and are open April 2 until the 3rd Sunday after Thanksgiving," explains Bridget D., who clarifies that primitive backpacking sites are open year-round without permits but must be at least 1 mile from trailheads.
Site terrain variations: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain that affects site selection. "If you stay in lower sites you are near the water and will have to walk up a large hill to get to bathrooms," notes Casey L. about Colonel Denning State Park, highlighting the tradeoff between water access and bathroom proximity.
Cell service limitations: Service varies drastically between campgrounds. "Cell service varies greatly. Some sites will have none without a decent drive or hike, while others have 4 bars," explains Bridget D. about Michaux State Forest, while Dave B. notes Artillery Ridge has "AT&T cell reception at our site was hit or miss, but good in the rest of the campground."
Quiet campgrounds for kids: Dogwood Acres Campground provides a peaceful setting for families with children and pets. "Very nice family oriented campground nestled against the base of the mountains. I wish there was a better view of the beautiful mountain," shares Jen R., who appreciated that visiting friends could join them for a small fee so "kids could swim and play together."
Creek exploration with kids: Mountain Creek Camp Ground offers creek activities specifically designed for families with children. "Kids can play in creek with tubes or hunt critters," notes barb C., who visits 2-3 times yearly with a tent and finds the family-friendly weekend activities, pool, and playground worth returning for.
Educational opportunities: Artillery Ridge Campground provides historical learning experiences for families. "We did Park Ranger tours to learn about the 1st shot and how the war started to stand in the footsteps of General Buford at Senitary Ridge in the cupola overseeing the battlefield," explains MJ B., who found the campground ideal for a history-focused family trip where even older children gained greater appreciation.
Site selection for privacy: Caledonia State Park Campground offers varying levels of site privacy that RVers should consider. "Our site was a premium site that included a gas grill. Luckily, no one booked the cabins behind us that weekend or it would have been rather loud as the sites were close together even for a premium site," notes Jen R., suggesting campers carefully review site maps before booking.
RV navigation challenges: Gettysburg Battlefield KOA has some sites that can be difficult for larger rigs. "We stayed in site 55. Big site but hard to get into. There are a couple of pull thru sites that are much easier," advises Bill B., who still plans to return despite the navigation challenges.
Water access considerations: RVers should note that not all Michaux State Forest sites have water access. "None of the sites available in Michaux have electric or water hookups. If you used/saw one, you were in a State Park, not Forest," clarifies Bridget D., who advises RVers to understand the difference between state park and state forest facilities when planning a trip with pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Walnut Bottom, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Walnut Bottom, PA is Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Walnut Bottom, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 135 dog-friendly camping locations near Walnut Bottom, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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