Glamping near Annville, Pennsylvania offers diverse lodging options within central Pennsylvania's rolling hills at approximately 430 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F, making May through October the primary camping season. Winter camping is available at select locations, though facilities may be limited during colder months when temperatures can drop below freezing.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: 25-minute drive to Gifford Pinchot State Park from Annville where anglers can catch multiple species. "We spent Saturday afternoon fishing but not catching anything at Scott's Run. It's a beautiful location and it was still a fun way to spend the day with the kids away from the site," notes one visitor to Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground.
Explore Amish country: 30-minute drive west of Annville. A camper at Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park recommends, "From a foodie standpoint, take my word for it, there is VERY little around these parts and what you can find nearby are local joints, which we loved BTW, including: Mount Gretna Hideaway, Gus' Keystone Family Restaurant, Kountry Kitchen Family Restaurant."
Amusement parks: Hersheypark is 15 minutes east of Annville. "There is a lot to do in the area. Obviously, the biggest draw for this CG is Hershey Park, which was closed while we visited. However, we'd been there prior to this trip, and it's a great, clean, family-friendly place if you're into amusement parks," reports a visitor staying at Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept shower and restroom facilities. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, a camper noted, "It had really nice bathrooms and showers. The washers and dryers work awesome, grateful for that! We paid $29 for a no hook up tent site. Very happy with our stay!"
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer good separation between camping spots. One visitor to French Creek State Park Campground shared, "As long as you don't stay right across from the bath houses you will find ample shade at your site. There are so many trees and brush in between most sites you can't even really see your neighbors."
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds organize special events. "Very well kept, bathrooms are clean, showers are hot. Sites are spacious and clean. Great staff, overall great campground!! Nothing bad to say. Also has best pool I've seen at a campground," explains a visitor to Twin Grove RV Resort.
What you should know
Train noise: At certain campgrounds, passing trains can disrupt sleep. A camper at Hersheypark Camping Resort warned, "Basic RV's park 95 night is way to much you pay for location. Nice camp ground but super loud bc of the trains. Bath houses are nice and clean. I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!"
Shooting ranges nearby: Some camping areas are located near shooting facilities. A reviewer at Pinch Pond Family Campground explained, "Nice, forested campground. Friendly staff, clean bathhouses. Sites well maintained but ours wasn't level. Gets packed on weekends... Main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the rolling hills require leveling equipment. "Not to bad for leveling. Our site was spacious," noted a camper at Hersheypark Camping Resort, while another at Starlite Camping Resort shared, "We had a great family camping weekend at Starlight and will definitely return in the future. Yes, it is quite hilly throughout the campground, but the individual sites are very level to park the camper with almost no blocks needed."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. At French Creek State Park, a parent shared, "We took our 3 yo camping for the first time here. He had so much fun. It was clean campground located in a State Park. Easy walk to the lake with a small beach. There was also a beach location on the state park side vs campground side of the lake."
Recreation options: Many campgrounds offer multiple activities. "This is an amazing campground! There are 2 dog parks right next to each other, which is great for your furry friend to be able to run around and play off leash. And for the kids there is an arcade, a ferris wheel and some other rides," explains a visitor to Twin Grove RV Resort.
Weekend themes: Look for campgrounds with scheduled activities. At Thousand Trails Circle M, a reviewer mentioned, "Lots of events to keep the kids busy. We happened to be there on the weekend a magician came, my kids loved it. They have an indoor and outdoor pool. Nice playground. We were down by the river and had a lot of room on our site."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: Choose perimeter sites when possible. A reviewer at Pinch Pond advised, "IMHO the best campsite locations are actually the ones designated for primitive tents as they are all located in the rear of the property and therefore quieter and more removed from the rest of the somewhat crowded campground – for RVers, I would recommend sites #102–120, again, in the far rear or sites #308–317 along Angler's Way."
Electric service quality: Many campgrounds offer reliable power options. At Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, a camper noted, "Large and easy to enter/exit sites. Wifi was pretty good. (It helped that the antenna was right beside our site!) Cable TV, too! Everyone we talked to was nice and friendly."
Site surface considerations: Different campgrounds offer varied parking pads. A French Creek camper shared, "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other. Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes."
