In the event that you are in the capital of the Keystone State and looking to explore what is most certainly one of the busiest Costco retailers I have ever come across in all of my travels, then say ‘hello’ to Costco Harrisburg, which is located in the Paxton Towne Center. While this big box wholesale retailer looks and feels brand spanking new and it’s just down the road from just about everything you might be looking for, or as the case might be, getting away from. This particular retail outpost is busier than a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest, so unless you are incredibly drawn to retail parking lots with loads of traffic and jam-packed parking scenarios, my honest advise would be to bypass this unseemly retail traffic jam in pursuit of higher ground and, dare I say, slightly more manageable terrain and hospitable environs.
However, should you do decide to ‘drop anchor’ amidst this fairly busy hustling and bustling patch of pavement, then you will benefit from some freshly poured, absolutely flat pavement, super cheap gas prices, which I might add, substantially adds to the overall frenetic and otherwise busy atmosphere that you are most certain to discover here at this specific Costco property. The best location in this frenetic non-stop busy retail outpost to lay up for the evening would be in the northernmost or westernmost peripheries of this just medium-sized and otherwise unremarkably busy parking lot, which will keep you away from the store’s main entrance near Commons Drive, which is the primary road from which you likely entered from and where most of the traffic is focused. I would add that there is a slight, smaller sized parking lot enclave due east of this Costco property and south of the La-Z-Boy retailer though that seems like if a secret parking lot where I found very little if any traffic vying for similar parking space (read: it might be worth your effort to check out).
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Should you be RVing with your four-legged friends entowe, you’re in luck as just due southeast of here you’ll have Brightbill Park, which is headlined by Dauphin County Heroes Grove Amphitheater, which is simply fantastic whether you are looking to grab a local live act or hear the nearby high school chorus perform; (2) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the remains of what is in your onboard mini-fridge, half-empty Cordova roto-molded cooler, of course, there’s the pretty amazing food court inside this very Costco featuring footlong hot dogs, fresh made pizza, chicken Caesar salad or baked chicken, but if you’d like something a bit smarter, then you’ll have to head south where there’s the local Olive Garden, Hong Kong City, Noodles & Company, Red Robin, Panera Bread, Wendy’s or Old Country Buffet, but my ‘best tip’ would be to head to the Fine Wine & Good Spirits PLCB state store to pick up a nice bottle of Matua sauvignon blanc and cross the street to Kobes Hibachi Grill & Buffet for an evening fare of tuna tataki, sumo sampler or filet mignon teppanyaki; (3) Should you need to stock up on anything, obviously, you have this Costco to shop at, but if you’d like something a bit more upscale or altogether different, then nearby there’s a Giant grocery, Target, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, Books-A-Million and Aldi that should have you all stocked up in no time flat; and (4) Looking to get a bit tipsy and can’t believe that they actually make (good) wine here in Pennsylvania, then just check your ego and head on over to Spring Gate Vineyard for a nice oenophile diversion involving Pinot Noir, Sangria, Riesling and Chêne Rouge.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 2
Safety & Security: 3
Quality: 3
Peace & Quiet: 1
Amenities: 2
Overall, I scored this location a 2.
Happy Overnighting!
