Best Tent Camping near Annville, PA

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.

Best Tent Sites Near Annville, Pennsylvania (16)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Annville, PA

879 Reviews of 16 Annville Campgrounds


  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Locust Lake State Park Campground

    Serenity on the lakes

    Pretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Campsites Jammed Closely Together

    PROS 

    Reserved 328 days prior to arriving

    $13.50 senior discount 

    Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful 

    Site C3 parking pad level asphalt 

    Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable 

    One hook lantern pole 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival 

    Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites 

    Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center. 

    Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP 

    CONS

    $6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation 

    Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching 

    Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together

    Pitiful low water pressure  in Loop C

    Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level 

    Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking 

    Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday 

    Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable) 

    Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced

    Lots of barking dogs 

    No wood sales in park 

    No WiFi 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Rick W.
    Aug. 15, 2022

    Colonel Denning State Park Campground

    Tent camping sites

    Walk in sites have picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are level and smooth. Showers and restrooms are close to sites. Strongly recommend...

  • Craig F.
    Jul. 1, 2019

    Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    Fun Camping and Lake Activities

    We had a wonderful stay at Gifford Pinchot State Park! 

    The camping area at GP is separated into A loop and B loops with approximately 300 sites. All sites had a paved pad, varying in size depending on the location, with tent site being smaller. Most sites have electric and there are 22 full hookup sites in the camping area. Both loops are peninsulas into the lake, which is convenient to launching boats directly from many sites. Loop A is closer to the designated swimming area with a sandy beach and playground. B loop is closer to many of the hiking trails and also several boat launch areas. It is nice that the camping area and amenities are separated from the public day use area. At the entrance to the camping area there are three dump stations. 

    During our stay we were at a full hookup site which was very spacious and often hard to find in PA State Parks. Our site was#299 and for some reason the entire site was paved/blacktop, which was different than all the other sites where the pad was paved and the picnic table area was gravel/grass. While this site made it easy to level our camper, it became quite hot in the afternoon/evening after the sun had baked it all day.

    Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed GP and couldn’t believe we hadn’t visited before because it is a great state park. Wood is available for purchase at the campground hosts’ sites and ice at the park office. As with most PA state parks, quiet hours are at 9:00PM, which is a bit early, and there is no alcohol allowed in the park. We look forward to returning to GP in the future.

  • V
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Knoebels Campground

    Clean, quiet, inexpensive, fun place to camp!

    Knoebels campground is situated next to Knoebels amusement park and offers sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as cabins.

    There is electricity at every site but not water. There are fill stations throughout the campgrounds. Most sites are level and shaded. There are nice sturdy wooden platforms for tent campers.

    The bath houses are clean and well maintained. There are outside sinks with mirrors, laundry facilities, shower stalls, and toilet stalls. Or if you prefer there are also traditional bathrooms with showers.

    Quiet hours are enforced between 10p and 8a.

    Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Wood is available by the bucket near the check in building. Sites are inexpensive and are all a short walk, or free shuttle ride, to the park!.

  • Jim N.
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Hibernia County Park

    Hidden gem

    A nice primitive campground - good for a quick trip away. The campground is a county run one that works on a first come first serve basis, which is fine if there are others close by. They are wooded sites and have 2 loops. There is no store, but there a places close to get supplies. The park is dry, no alcohol. No hook ups either. There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends.

  • Max C.
    Oct. 14, 2019

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Gorgeous in the fall

    Stayed in B-08 on mid October and had a great trip. The site was non-electric and it seems most of the outer side of this loop is basic camping with the inside of the loop having power. The other loops offer full hookups but opting for this area kept us from being surrounded by massive RV's. Easy back in spot for our car, partially shaded, decent brush cover between sites and able to keep tent about 20 yards from the road on a crushed rock pad. I will say this site has a little bit of slope but nothing that affected our sleep. The fire ring is very high sided and if you're not sitting on a higher camp chairs you kind of miss the fire. Picnic table was sturdy but easy enough to move lnto place to fit our needs. Tons of hike mg within the park including some historic sites at Hopewell Furnace like the blacksmith shop and old residences. Checked in a. It before the stated 3pm time without issues. Very few rangers seen during stay but it is after labor day and most of the seasonal attractions like the pool etc were closed for the season. Very clean bathrooms with easy to use dish sinks on the outside. Overall for a trip that within 75 minutes of Philly you can't go wrong for a quick jaunt out of town.

  • K
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Nice campground for primitive tenting

    Large campground but only 15 sites dedicated to“roughin’ it” tent camping. However, those sites are isolated from the others. The tent sites were in very good condition, spaced well, and fairly private. Most sites have plenty of shade and grassy, though a few are dirt only. Many sites within walking distance from the lake(no swimming) and set up for you to store and launch your kayak or other boat. Water, bathrooms, and showers a little distant but everything clean and in excellent condition. Ice and firewood available on the grounds. There is also a small store but I didn’t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutes’ drive. Definitely going back…!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 15, 2023

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Convenient to Philadelphia

    General: Four loops with a total of 200 campsites. Two of the loops allow pets (A, C) and two do not. Loop D offers no hookups while Loops A-C offer a mix of no hookups, water/Electric, and full hookups. We had no problem securing a site on a weekday in October with no reservation. There are also two yurts and three cottages. 

    Site Quality: We chose a non-electric site in the B Loop, so this review focuses on this loop. There are abundant trees separating the sites. The pads were paved and B12 was very long. A picnic table and fire ring complete the site. Because the loops are on a slight slope, not all of the sites are completely level, something that would be difficult to determine if making reservations ahead of time. 

    Bathhouse: Pennsylvania state parks get high marks for their modern, clean restrooms and this park (at least the B Loop) was no exception. Hot showers were no additional charge and generous in size. 

    Activities: 35 miles of hiking trails. Be aware that the Hopewell Lake Loop is not very well marked (it appears to be a work in progress) although blazes on trees are abundant for most trails. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent during the summer season, and there is a boat dock for your own boat for fishing (either from a fishing pier or on your boat). There is a huge pool available from Memorial Day through Labor Day (there is an additional fee for this). Some of the trails allow horseback riding. Nearby Hopewell Furnace is accessible via hiking trails, or you can drive there. Other activities include orienteering and disc golf. Make sure you wear blaze orange during the fall hunting season as you will hear hunters! 

    In general, it is obvious Pennsylvania invests in its state park campgrounds and the price is reasonable ($27 for a non-electric site during the week with a $4.50 senior discount). My only complaint is that the dumpsters are a hike from the loops, but this is a minor complaint.


Guide to Annville

Tent camping near Annville, Pennsylvania, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from public parks to private retreats, there's something for every camping enthusiast.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

  • The Hibernia County Park is close to Brandywine Creek and Chambers Lake, offering excellent fishing and hiking opportunities.
  • For those who enjoy kayaking, Lower Allen Community Park is situated along the Yellow Breeches Creek, making it ideal for a day on the water.
  • The scenic trails at Susquehannock State Park Campground lead to breathtaking views of the Susquehanna River, perfect for hiking and wildlife spotting.

Some prices for tent camping range from $15 to $30

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.