State Parks Near Carlisle, Pennsylvania
28 state park units lie within 50 miles of Carlisle, including 3 parks across the line in Maryland. The closest is Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, about 8 mi southwest of town. 10 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Kings Gap Environmental Education Center8 mi southwest
- Within 25 miles
- 10of 28 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 168 with cabins
- Dog-friendly
- 16pets allowed
State parks near Carlisle, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central Carlisle; driving distance is usually longer.
Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
Visitors come for hunting in season, hiking, and picnicking. The official site lists about 25 miles of trails. Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites and group camping.
Hours, fees and rules for Kings Gap Environmental Education Center →Colonel Denning State Park
The park supports cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, canoeing and kayaking, and boating. Water access includes a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier.
Hours, fees and rules for Colonel Denning State Park →Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, winter sports, and hunting in season. Its trail network totals roughly 4 miles, according to the park.
Hours, fees and rules for Pine Grove Furnace State Park →Little Buffalo State Park
The park supports cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, canoeing and kayaking, and swimming. The official site lists about 8 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Little Buffalo State Park →Gifford Pinchot State Park
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, cross-country skiing, golf, horseback riding, and winter sports. Its trail network totals roughly 18 miles, according to the park.
Hours, fees and rules for Gifford Pinchot State Park →Fowlers Hollow State Park
The park supports snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and winter sports. Camping is available: 12 campsites, including RV sites with electric hookups and tent sites. The park says there are no showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Fowlers Hollow State Park →Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area
Visitors come for cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, and hiking. The official site lists about 12 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area →Big Spring State Park
The park supports snowmobiling, winter sports, hunting in season, hiking, and picnicking. The official site lists about 1.0 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Big Spring State Park →Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area
Things to do include cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, and hiking. Its trail network totals roughly 8.4 miles, according to the park.
Hours, fees and rules for Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area →Caledonia State Park
The park supports cross-country skiing, golf, winter sports, hunting in season, and swimming. The official site lists about 10 miles of trails. Water access includes a swimming pool and a fishing pier.
Hours, fees and rules for Caledonia State Park →Mont Alto State Park
Popular activities here are snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, and fishing.
Hours, fees and rules for Mont Alto State Park →Susquehanna Riverlands State Park
Popular activities here are boating and hiking. Its trail network totals roughly 4 miles, according to the park. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Susquehanna Riverlands State Park →Codorus State Park
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Its trail network totals roughly 19 miles, according to the park.
Hours, fees and rules for Codorus State Park →Memorial Lake State Park
The park supports snorkeling and diving, cross-country skiing, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and boating. The official site lists about 2 miles of trails. Water access includes a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Memorial Lake State Park →Samuel S. Lewis State Park
Visitors come for golf, disc golf, winter sports, hiking, and picnicking. The official site lists about 1.6 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Samuel S. Lewis State Park →Reeds Gap State Park
Visitors come for cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, fishing, and picnicking. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Reeds Gap State Park →Swatara State Park
Things to do include cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, winter sports, and hunting in season. Its trail network totals roughly 34 miles, according to the park. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Swatara State Park →Cowans Gap State Park
The park supports cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, canoeing and kayaking, and boating. The official site lists about 13 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Cowans Gap State Park →Greenwood Furnace State Park
Things to do include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, and canoeing and kayaking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier.
Hours, fees and rules for Greenwood Furnace State Park →Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park is a park in Frederick County, about 3 miles southwest of Thurmont.
Hours, fees and rules for Cunningham Falls State Park →Penn-Roosevelt State Park
Popular activities here are cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, winter sports, and hunting in season. For overnight stays there are 18 campsites (RV sites and tent sites).
Hours, fees and rules for Penn-Roosevelt State Park →Poe Paddy State Park
Things to do include snowmobiling, winter sports, hunting in season, fishing, and picnicking. Its trail network totals roughly 3.5 miles, according to the park.
Hours, fees and rules for Poe Paddy State Park →Poe Valley State Park
The park supports snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, and canoeing and kayaking. The official site lists about 3 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Poe Valley State Park →Buchanan's Birthplace State Park
Visitors come for fishing and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Buchanan's Birthplace State Park →Whipple Dam State Park
The park supports cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, winter sports, hunting in season, and canoeing and kayaking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Whipple Dam State Park →Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail
Covering about 330 acres, Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail lies in Baltimore County, about 7 miles south of New Freedom.
Hours, fees and rules for Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail →South Mountain State Park
Covering about 9,076 acres, South Mountain State Park lies in Washington County, about 9 miles northwest of Middletown.
Hours, fees and rules for South Mountain State Park →Trough Creek State Park
The park supports cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, winter sports, hunting in season, and canoeing and kayaking. The official site lists about 12 miles of trails. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Trough Creek State Park →
Best picks by activity
Camping near Carlisle
- Kings Gap Environmental Education Center 8 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Colonel Denning State Park 13 mi northwest · Campground listed
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park 13 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Little Buffalo State Park 18 mi north · 46 campsites
- Gifford Pinchot State Park 18 mi southeast · 289 campsites
+ 11 more in the list above
Cabins and lodging near Carlisle
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park 13 mi southwest · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Little Buffalo State Park 18 mi north · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Gifford Pinchot State Park 18 mi southeast · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Caledonia State Park 25 mi southwest · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Codorus State Park 32 mi southeast · Cabins or other roofed stays
+ 3 more in the list above
Dog-friendly state parks near Carlisle
- Colonel Denning State Park 13 mi northwest · Pets allowed under park rules
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park 13 mi southwest · Pets allowed under park rules
- Little Buffalo State Park 18 mi north · Pets allowed under park rules
- Gifford Pinchot State Park 18 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Fowlers Hollow State Park 20 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
+ 11 more in the list above
Swimming near Carlisle
- Colonel Denning State Park 13 mi northwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park 13 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- Little Buffalo State Park 18 mi north · Beach, pool or swim area
- Gifford Pinchot State Park 18 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Caledonia State Park 25 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 5 more in the list above
Hiking near Carlisle
- Kings Gap Environmental Education Center 8 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
- Colonel Denning State Park 13 mi northwest · Hiking trails listed
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park 13 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
- Little Buffalo State Park 18 mi north · Hiking trails listed
- Gifford Pinchot State Park 18 mi southeast · Hiking trails listed
+ 18 more in the list above
Fishing near Carlisle
- Colonel Denning State Park 13 mi northwest · Fishing listed
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park 13 mi southwest · Fishing listed
- Little Buffalo State Park 18 mi north · Fishing listed
- Gifford Pinchot State Park 18 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Fowlers Hollow State Park 20 mi west · Fishing listed
+ 13 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near Carlisle
What is the closest state park to Carlisle?
Kings Gap Environmental Education Center is the closest, about 8 miles southwest of Carlisle in a straight line. Next are Colonel Denning State Park and Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
How many state parks are near Carlisle?
28 state park units are within 50 miles, and 10 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near Carlisle have camping?
16 parks list camping, the nearest being Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, Colonel Denning State Park and Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near Carlisle?
Yes, at 16 parks, including Colonel Denning State Park, Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Little Buffalo State Park. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.
Are there free state parks near Carlisle?
None of the nearby parks list free entry; most charge a daily vehicle fee or accept an annual pass. Fees are on each park page.
State parks near other cities
- Near Harrisburg, PA18 mi east
- Near Hanover, PA29 mi southeast
- Near York, PA30 mi southeast
- Near Chambersburg, PA30 mi southwest
- Near Lebanon, PA42 mi east
- Near Westminster, MD44 mi south
- Near Hagerstown, MD47 mi southwest
- Near Lancaster, PA49 mi east
Or see all Pennsylvania state parks, Maryland state parks or every city we cover.
Built from official park data and updated as parks change; this list was last rebuilt Oct 30, 2026. Features shown are those the official source lists. Filter these parks on the map.