Little Buffalo State Park Campground offers overnight accommodations within 30 miles of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The campground contains standard tent sites alongside water and electric sites suitable for RVs. Campers can register online with no check-in required, or use self-registration envelopes for available sites. Sites at Little Buffalo remain separated at a comfortable distance, providing adequate room for camp setups.
What to do
Fishing and boating: Little Buffalo State Park features a large lake with fishing opportunities accessible from the campground. Boat rentals provide water access. "Its an amazing little quite camping ground. Super clean. Lots of easy hiking trails and tons of fishing," reports Brandon C. from Little Buffalo State Park Campground.
Visit historic sites: The region contains significant Civil War historical landmarks. Sites near Gettysburg provide direct battlefield access. "Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded. Literally right outside the entrance of the campgrounds is where the battlefield starts," notes MJ B. from Artillery Ridge Campground.
Winter camping: Michaux State Forest allows cold-weather camping at designated parking lot sites. "Every January for the last few years some friends and I have gone and camped along the Appalachian Trail. It's you can park at Pine Grove State Park and then hike your way into locations or park at other trail heads," explains John S.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms throughout the region. "The bathrooms are clean. It is nice and dark at night," notes Amanda H. from Little Buffalo. Similarly, at Colonel Denning State Park Campground, visitors found "the bathrooms were the absolute cleanest bathrooms we've seen in a state park," according to Nate & Erika L.
Water recreation: Swimming areas provide relief during summer months. "The pool here is top notch and it's good for fishing but the hiking isn't super great," shares Christopher E. about Little Buffalo. Other campgrounds feature creek access for wading. "We love the dog friendly sites near the water, the kids and pups play all day," reports Casey L. about Colonel Denning.
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer adequate room between sites. "We had a site right on next to the trail going to Stangler Farm. The whole campground was clean and well kept," says Dave B. from Artillery Ridge. At Ferryboat Campsites, visitors can expect "water/electric sites in a loop behind the honeymooner cabins, and they have the best shade and set up for hammock camping," according to Avery M.
What you should know
Equestrian accommodations: Horse campgrounds near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania typically require advance planning. Michaux State Forest offers equestrian parking spots at Teaberry Parking Area with hitching posts. "Designated motorized parking lot sites also serve as equestrian sites, and horse camping is allowed here. Teaberry has a few hitching posts and a two step mounting block available," explains Bridget D.
Fire regulations: State forests enforce strict seasonal fire bans. "Fires are not permitted at all from March 1 to May 25, and are also banned when fire danger is deemed too high," notes a Michaux State Forest camper.
Rustic conditions: Most horse-friendly sites lack advanced amenities. At Teaberry Parking Area Campground, "It was a very large gravel lot with 5 sites along one side, pretty well spaced. The campsites were pretty, parking on the edge of the sites in the parking lot felt a lot like just being in a parking lot with a view of trees on one side," reports camper J.A.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Little Buffalo features family-friendly swimming facilities with separate areas for children. "They offer a large area that is only 1 foot deep, great for little ones! There is also a splash pad! There are 2 slides for fun," describes Amanda H. However, note that "you have to pay to get in the pool, yes even if you are camping."
Playgrounds and activities: Many campgrounds provide recreation areas for children. At Gettysburg Campground, "It is a wonderful place to have Kids. tons of things for them to do. we were in tent sites which felt bigger than most and were right by river. not far to go anywhere walking," shares Kelly J.
Distance considerations: Some facilities require driving between camping areas and recreation spots. "We have smaller children and we could not bike from the campground to the pool, it was too far and the hill to get back was too big for them to ride up," notes Paula R. about Little Buffalo State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many campgrounds have terrain variations that affect RV parking. At Starlite Camping Resort, "it is quite hilly throughout the campground, but the individual sites are very level to park the camper with almost no blocks needed," reports Craig F.
Seasonal considerations: Proximity to attractions makes certain parks busy during peak seasons. "We stayed here mid-week in September so it was very quiet. There was a bit of road noise as our site was close to the entrance," notes Marcandpatti B. about Gettysburg Campground.
Hookup availability: Water and electric sites are common, with full hookups less prevalent. "Water pressure and electric were both great throughout the stay. There is no internet, but we had good cell phone service," shares an RVer at Starlite Camping Resort.
