Shady Oak Campground
Easy access to Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch areas. Friendly, welcoming staff and plenty of colorful trees in the autumn. The only RV park in the area that is open year round.
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Tent campgrounds surrounding Annville, Pennsylvania include both small, primitive sites and more developed tent camping areas. Several established options include Lower Allen Community Park, which offers a tent camping area along Yellow Breeches Creek, and Lancaster County's Mill Creek Camping Area, located approximately 25 miles southeast of Annville with walk-in tent access. Hibernia County Park, though farther away, provides wooded tent sites in a county-managed setting with seasonal availability from May to October.
Most walk-in tent sites in the region require campers to pack in their own water and supplies, as amenities are typically minimal. Fire rings and picnic tables are common at established campgrounds like Mill Creek and Hibernia, but bathroom facilities vary considerably. Porta-potties or pit toilets serve most primitive tent campgrounds, with Hibernia County Park offering two camping loops but only basic facilities. Sites generally have flat, grassy terrain with varying amounts of tree cover. At Lower Allen Community Park, tent sites sit directly along the creek, making them popular with kayakers who can paddle to their campsite.
The tent camping experience near Annville offers opportunities for seclusion despite being relatively close to town. In Lancaster County's Mill Creek area, tent sites provide access to hiking trails, though some campers have noted challenges with privacy. A recent review noted, "The campground is not a far walk from the parking lot with great tree coverage," though others mentioned issues with hikers passing through designated camping areas. Hibernia County Park provides a more traditional tent camping setting with heavily wooded sites on their Fiddler's Loop, which accommodates up to 19 tent sites. Sites near creeks stay cooler during summer months, with water sounds providing natural white noise for sleeping. Most tent campgrounds in the region fill quickly on weekends during the peak summer season, with first-come, first-served policies at many locations.
"The park is in the suburbs so it’s close to lots of things. They do lock the park at dusk though. They have portapotties, fire pits, and picnic tables."
from $10 - $25 / night
"Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents, camping cost $25 a night flat rate, for up to 6 days. Campground will refund you if rain prevents your stay or allow you to rebook."
from $23 / night
"Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water. Check them out and share your experience on the Dyrt!"
from $40 / night
"Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites."
"This is Organized Group Tenting Only."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
"Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."
"We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. There’s running water available, porta potties are very clean and don’t smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."
from $15 - $50 / night
"Had a great time walking the trails and enjoying a picnic at the cliff-side pavilion."
from $25 - $50 / night
"Her boyfriend and I wanted to plan an outdoor camping trip but we’re completely over having no privacy, worrying about my reactive dog, feeling like we had to follow ridiculous rules when going camping"
Campground full this weekend
from $160 - $380 / night
Easy access to Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch areas. Friendly, welcoming staff and plenty of colorful trees in the autumn. The only RV park in the area that is open year round.
The staff here are amazing. Quiet time is respected, clean campground. Will come again.
Country Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
We booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
i mean meh with the most enthusiasm as you can live your entire life & be oki not going here. the trails are small & the overlook is fenced high for falls. it’s about as much scenery as going for a walk deer hunting. it’s beginner friendly if anyone wants to start getting into parks but i feel there’s more focus on pavilions & playgrounds than calling it a state park. for anything boating or canoeing on the river it’s a good place to be but your in town so it take it for what it is
You just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
The advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
We stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
We only spent the night and didn't look at the amenities. The manager was very friendly and accommodating.
Tent camping options near Annville, Pennsylvania range from basic walk-in sites to more developed campgrounds with minimal amenities. The region sits within the ridge and valley section of the Appalachian Mountains, with most campsites located between 400-800 feet in elevation. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with higher humidity levels, while spring and fall camping seasons offer cooler temperatures and less crowded conditions.
Creek fishing access: Lower Allen Community Park provides direct water access for anglers with tent sites along Yellow Breeches Creek. According to one camper at Lower Allen Community Park, "Cute site in a local township park that not many people know about. There actually three total. You just need to call the township to reserve."
Trail systems: Multiple hiking options exist within a 30-minute drive. At Susquehannock State Park Campground, one reviewer noted, "There are some excellent views of the Susquehanna River," while another mentioned "lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River."
Seasonal activities: Spring wildflower viewing peaks in April-May along forest trails. A Susquehannock visitor commented, "There are amazing wildflowers on that trail. You can bike to the trail from the campground. All downhill. So be ready for the climb back up."
Stream sounds: Creekside sites provide natural white noise for sleeping. One camper at Mill Creek Camping Area shared, "Campsite for where we stayed is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."
Cool temperatures: Sites near water stay noticeably cooler during summer months. A Mill Creek visitor noted, "The stream is refreshing and the site stays fairly cool. When it's hits the high temperatures a quick dip in the water is amazing."
Wooded privacy: The best tent camping near Annville, Pennsylvania often features tree coverage for shade. At Hibernia County Park, one camper described, "Fiddler's loop is heavily wooded which means plenty of hammock hanging opportunities. The sites are mostly grass, and not very well defined."
Reservation systems: Most campgrounds require advance booking during peak season (May-September). A Lower Allen visitor advised, "You just need to call the township to reserve. The sites sit right along the Yellow Breeches creak so you can put in a few miles up and float down to your site."
Bathroom limitations: Facilities range from pit toilets to portable units with limited hours. One Hibernia County Park camper explained, "There are only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop, however there is a bathroom with running water, flush toilets and electric outlets (no shower) within walking distance of the loop."
Trail traffic conflicts: Hikers sometimes cross through designated camping areas. A Mill Creek review cautioned, "Hikers take any trail instead of marked trails regardless of families camping in a private areas. When I made the reservation it was noted that hikers were not allowed on campsites."
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer play equipment within walking distance of tent sites. An Hibernia County Park visitor mentioned, "Great for families. We are already planning our next trip. Super great price at $15/night as well. The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing."
Kid-friendly fishing: Designated children's fishing areas available at select locations. One Hibernia visitor highlighted, "Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under."
Site selection: Corner sites typically provide more buffer space from other campers. A camper noted about Hibernia Lake Loop, "Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms."
Small RV compatibility: A few sites accommodate compact RVs despite primitive appearances. At Rolling Hills Retreats, one visitor emphasized, "It rained the weekend we went but it didn't ruin our time what so ever, somehow the fire was still roaring in down pouring rain."
Site leveling challenges: Prepare with leveling blocks as most tent sites have slight grades. A Hibernia County Park reviewer explained, "As I said in the first paragraph, we mostly camp in a 28ft 5th wheel and though at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18... They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Water access limitations: Fill tanks before arrival as water points are limited. Another Hibernia camper advised, "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank. There is one spigot at the bathroom."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Annville, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Annville, PA is Lower Allen Community Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Annville, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Annville, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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