Clear Spring's location along the Appalachian Mountains corridor places campers at elevations ranging from 400 to 700 feet, creating a moderate climate with seasonal variations. Most campgrounds in the region remain open from April through October, with limited winter camping options. Road access to campgrounds varies significantly with terrain, affecting RV accessibility particularly during wet conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Raystown Lake provides accessible fishing from multiple shore locations. "Great campground for families with bathrooms, pool, pond, and general store. If you are looking for somewhere peaceful and secluded, this probably isn't it. BUT there are some positives- it's extremely close to 15 mile creek, the Potomac, and Bill's bar," notes a visitor to Little Orleans Campground.
Historic exploration: Gettysburg battlefield tours are available just 10 minutes from some campgrounds. "Great campground with a lot of amenities for all. Everyone whom I had contact with that had season sites were very friendly and provided some good info. It's literally like a mile from downtown Gettysburg, which also has a lot of different things to do," explains a camper at Drummer Boy Camping Resort.
River activities: Tubing and kayaking on the Potomac River run from May through September. "Gorgeous spot on the river. Small campground with not a lot of amenities BUT THAT RIVER IS GORGEOUS. Lots of activities - tubing, zip lining, fishing," reports a visitor to Harpers Ferry Campground.
What campers like
Waterfront campsites: Direct river access provides cooling options during summer heat. "Sites are right on the river so you can go swimming right from your campsite! The only downside is you are directly next to train tracks but being from the city, this noise doesn't bother my husband or me," shares a camper from Harpers Ferry Campground.
Convenience to trails: Many campgrounds connect directly to popular hiking routes. "A friend and I chose this campground because of it's right-on-the-river sites and it's close proximity to the tubing we'd be doing on the Shenandoah River through the same company as the campsite, River Riders," reports another Harpers Ferry visitor.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-serviced bathhouses. "The bathrooms/showers (3 of the 4 look brand new), and the pool has been crystal clear. This campground is a short drive to Raystown Lake in Saxton, PA which is beautiful and very big," notes a visitor to Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA.
What you should know
Train noise impacts: Many riverside campgrounds sit adjacent to active rail lines. "The proximity to the tracks means that if the sound doesn't wake you up, the rumbling ground will. Every hour through the night," warns a Harpers Ferry camper.
Seasonal population shifts: Weekend occupancy differs substantially from weekday availability. "Staff is nice, wood wasn't badly priced and the camp store had a huge selection of things you may need," notes a visitor to Little Orleans Campground.
Reservation timing: Peak season weekends require booking 3-6 months in advance. "We closed out the season with a trip here. It was absolutely serene and beautiful as the leaves were changing, fall vastly approaching. The sites are close together but there is still privacy as most sites are surrounded by trees," mentions another Little Orleans camper.
Highway proximity: Road noise affects some campgrounds significantly. "Nice campground, clean and plenty of activities for the kids. The only thing we didn't like was all of the road noise. This campground is located by 2 major highways and truck traffic and Jake brake are constant all night long," reports a Friendship Village visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds: Facilities with varied play structures keep different age groups engaged. "There are 3 play grounds all different and all well kept," notes a Friendship Village camper.
Swimming options: Pools provide alternatives to river swimming for younger children. "There are two pools at each end of the campground and they are very well-maintained and have lifeguard supervision. The pool hours are a little later than most campgrounds as they open at 11 through the week and 12 on Sunday," reports another Friendship Village visitor.
Outdoor movie nights: Several campgrounds offer evening entertainment. "The property had a movie showing in their barn on Saturday night (Despicable Me) and they also seem to schedule a lot of live entertainment, mostly Bluegrass," mentions a family at Friendship Village.
Mini-golf availability: On-site courses provide activity during rain or heat. "We were in tent sites which felt bigger than most and were right by river. Not far to go anywhere walking. Porta potties were cleanest I have ever seen even with a ton of recent rain," shares a visitor to Gettysburg Campground.
Tips from RVers
Utility placement challenges: Hookup locations can require extended hoses or cords. "Sites and roads are gravel, nice newer fire pit and picnic table at each. There is a pool, basketball hoops, and a fully stocked camp store with campground merch, blankets, snacks, toiletries, a lot of rv parts," notes a Little Orleans camper.
Leveling requirements: Many sites require substantial blocking materials. "Our site was pretty level and an okay side. Our site was separated from our neighbors site with nice foliage," shares a camper from Drummer Boy Camping Resort.
Dump station access: Some RV parks near Clear Spring have limited dump capacity leading to morning lines. "It is a monday so I imagine this place would be much busier on the weekend but it's nice and quiet. Sites are very close together with a couple trees in between, overall lots of trees," reports another Little Orleans visitor.
Site width variations: Space between RV sites varies dramatically by campground section. "The sites are quite packed together and the noise of traffic– at least in the frontmost sites– can get rather loud at night. However, the proximity to Gettysburg National Park can't be beat," notes a Gettysburg Campground visitor.
