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Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders provides riverside pet-friendly camping along the Potomac with tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations. Leashed pets are welcome at all sites, with most campsites situated directly on the water offering scenic views. Similar pet policies exist at Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA, which maintains year-round operation for travelers with pets. Brunswick Family Campground in nearby Maryland also accommodates pets with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. The pet-friendly sites generally don't have specific designated dog areas, but the natural waterfront setting provides ample walking opportunities. Noise from passing trains may disturb some animals, particularly at night.
Watermelon Park Campground offers pet-friendly RV camping with water and electric hookups along the Potomac River, though some reviews note the absence of fire rings at all sites and inconsistent availability of picnic tables. The campground lacks sewer hookups but maintains a dump station on-site. Sky Meadows State Park Campground provides a more primitive pet-friendly option with hike-in tent sites that welcome leashed dogs on trails. Most campgrounds in the region enforce standard pet policies requiring dogs to remain leashed when outside vehicles or tents, proper waste disposal, and restrictions on leaving pets unattended. The area surrounding Rippon offers extensive hiking opportunities on the Appalachian Trail and C&O Canal towpath where leashed pets are permitted, providing excellent exercise options during pet-friendly camping trips.
"We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. "
"This place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September."
from $40 - $80 / night
Check Availability"This hike takes you well above the town settled in West Virginia. While some points are pretty steep don’t let this deter you from completing it. The trail is well maintained, marked, and exciting."
"Harper's Ferry is a little town in WV nestled right next to the Potomac River. It's also a convenient halfwayish point on the Appalachian Trail."
"Unfortunately, it is located right on a major highway. This means there is easy access, but the traffic noise is less than ideal. But the gem of this place is the management and staff!"
"No restaurant within walking range so have food on hand. There are a few places that will deliver but the food is a 5 out of 10 at best. Hwy 81 is right next door so you will hear road noise."
from $38 - $77 / night
Check Availability"It is a nice campground, decent and clean facilities and a nice location near the river. Price is a little high considering there is no sewer hookup (dump station is on site)."
"Well maintained and owner was around everyday doing work on the property and was friendly."
from $60 - $150 / night
Check Availability"Overall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them."
"Picked this location because it is close to our home in Silver Spring, MD but far enough to make us feel like we were leaving town."
from $10 - $90 / night
Check Availability"With easy access off major roadways and a short drive from Winchester, VA, you can get whatever you need and then be back in the woods in no time."
"My family and I (three boys and three dogs) love camping here!"
from $50 / night
"Parking is in a locked lot steps away from trail head which leads to campsites about a mile away. Campsites are in a wooded area of park well away from other park attractions so it's very quiet."
"But you have to drive up to the main building, register, go back to the overnight lot, put in the gate code, hang the lot tag on your mirror, and hike in to the site."
from $21 - $112 / night
Check Availability"There are four loops; two with no hookups and no pets allowed, one with no hookups that allow pets and one with electric sites that allow pets."
"My partner and our two dogs loved this campground! We were in the dogwood loop. Positives
* Big, immaculately groomed tent pads
* Mostly tent campers!"
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability"All the sites are very open and run along the multi-use trail. People are constantly walking, running, and biking by."
"Pretty standard campground—the perks are it’s location to nearby attractions and the river/creek. It depends on what you’re looking for—easy camping and proximity to Antietam and Harper’s? Golden."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Tons of trails great for families with dogs or those wanting to get out and hike. The campsite featured some of the best bathroom/ shower houses, they were super clean and well maintained."
"We used 2 lantern posts for dog lead and it was hard to find shade. It was a short walk to water and felt fantastic in the July heat. You couldn’t pay me to sleep here in a tent in July."
from $27 - $427 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe began our membership here this June. it has a great atmosphere on the banks of the Shenandoah River. There are activities every weekend like concerts and group activities. Staff is very friendly and helpful. The facilities are clean and very convenient. Pet friendly; two dog parks.
GuideBeautiful views. Adjacent to a working farm where cows, sheep, llamas, chickens and roosters can graze next to the campsites.
The grounds were beautifully manicured and incredibly clean.
It also had the largest dog park area of any campground I’ve ever seen.
Very nice pool, friendly staff and firewood available for purchase. They will even deliver right to your site.
Very close to downtown Luray, which has great shops and restaurants. There is a very nice 2 mile long walking trail, the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, near the campground that will take you right into town.
Also close by to some excellent hiking, wineries, breweries and distilleries.
LegendWe set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland.
We paid$114/night(average per night, including fees and taxes) for Site# 94. A bit pricey considering a lack of elbow room, but it’s a great location and everything is well-kept.
THINGS I LIKED:
Location, Location, Location! Close proximity to plenty of historic and tourist places to visit. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center is literally next door. Harpers Ferry Lower Town and Bolivar Heights are a few minutes by car(or shuttle from the Visitor Center). Frederick and Antietam are each barely 30-minutes by car. Gettysburg, Baltimore, and DC are about an hour’s drive.
Clean and level gravel site with well-maintained utility hook-ups.
Great campground store filled with food, drinks, camp supplies, souvenirs, and essentials you may need while away from home.
Friendly staff in the office& store.
The whole park is quiet and well-maintained.
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
Heads up, big rig owners! Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site(#199) had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45’ motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air. The nice staff kindly moved us to a FHU site without the patio and furniture. And refunded the difference in price for the lesser site. Thanks for providing the move but ‘premium’ sites should be somewhat level, am I right?
Get cozy, the sites are quite small and tightly packed together.
A $3 per night“Pet Fee” for our small, mostly-indoor dog felt a bit like nickel-and-diming. I realize it only amounted to an extra$12, but he didn’t need any extra gravel.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
ScoutThis campground is very close to Luray Caverns and all that they have to offer. There is also a Duke's of Hazzard themed museum and store where they do live music on weekends nearby, it's called Cooter's. This campground is very small but quiet. It does border cow pasture land so when the wind shifts you get the smell but it wasn't constant and it wasn't unbearable. They have 2 swimming pools and a very large dog park. The bath houses were clean and well maintained. I would definitely recommend this campground.
LegendThis place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September. The original site the gave us had a large rut and washed out spot, so we could not get level. I checked in the office and the reassigned another space that was much better. Full hook ups, nice clean shower and bathrooms, playground, pool, large dog park.
ScoutOverall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them. Also the pool and dog park isn’t on site you have to leave to go to it.
TravelerThe staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.
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.
RangerThe hike that leads to the lookout about harpers ferry was fantastic. This hike takes you well above the town settled in West Virginia. While some points are pretty steep don’t let this deter you from completing it. The trail is well maintained, marked, and exciting. It is filled with tons of history and when you walk across the bridge from the town be looking out for all the locks on the bridge that have been left behind by other avid hikers
Camping areas around Rippon, West Virginia sit at elevations between 400-500 feet along the Potomac River watershed, where the climate features humid summers and mild winters. Fall temperatures typically range from 45-65°F, making September and October popular camping months. Winter campers should prepare for nighttime temperatures that can drop below freezing between December and February.
Hiking access to Appalachian Trail: Several campgrounds provide easy access to the historic Appalachian Trail. Sky Meadows State Park Campground offers hike-in tent sites with connections to trail systems. "The trails are beautiful and I'm sure there was more to do, but didn't have a chance to see. Definitely a reason to return!" notes Alexander H. from Sky Meadows.
Tubing and river adventures: Watermelon Park Campground offers affordable tubing opportunities with shuttle service. "Cheap tube rentals with busses that take you 2-3 miles up the road and drop you at boat landing. Bring your own tubes and have a camp member drop you off as well," writes Matt S. The park charges extra for tube rentals but provides transportation to launch points.
Historical sites exploration: Visit nearby Civil War battlefields and historic towns. Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA places campers near significant historical landmarks. One visitor notes, "Location, Location, Location! Close proximity to plenty of historic and tourist places to visit. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center is literally next door. Harpers Ferry Lower Town and Bolivar Heights are a few minutes by car." The historic district offers self-guided walking tours that take approximately 2-3 hours to complete.
Riverside camping spots: Many campers appreciate direct access to the Potomac River. "Nice river front sites, and pool in the campground. Close to historic Harpers Ferry and lots of great hiking," mentions Beth C. about Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders. Sites along the water typically cost $29-60 per night depending on season and amenities.
Private wooded sites: For those seeking more seclusion, Berryville Berries offers secluded camping. "Very nice and secluded location where you feel like you're the only people out there. Camped right by the creek and couldn't have asked for more!" reports Adam B. The campground features 10 individual sites spread across wooded terrain with creek access.
Clean facilities: Many campers mention well-maintained bathrooms and campsites. At Greenbrier State Park Campground, visitors find "Big, immaculately groomed tent pads" and "Clean bathrooms with free showers were close by," according to Sarah K. The park maintains four separate camping loops with centrally located bathroom facilities in each area.
Train noise considerations: Multiple campgrounds sit near active train tracks. "The Marc train runs right above your head all night. If you are looking for a relaxing camp experience make sure to bring your noise cancelling headphones," advises Kristen M. about camping along the river. Trains typically pass every 1-2 hours through the night at some locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Rippon, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Rippon, WV is Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA with a 3.6-star rating from 41 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Rippon, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 117 dog-friendly camping locations near Rippon, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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