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sorcha A.
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TravelerShady 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.
Tent Camping near Bernville, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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State parks and county-managed lands surrounding Bernville, Pennsylvania provide several tent camping options within a 30-mile radius. Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers 15 walk-in tent sites along a creek, while Mill Creek Camping Area in Lancaster County provides tent-only camping with spacious sites for multiple tents. Hibernia County Park, located about 25 miles southeast of Bernville, features two camping loops specifically designed for tent campers, with the Lake Loop being more open and popular with group tenters.
Most tent campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from April through October. Sites are predominantly set on grass or forest floor with minimal grading, requiring careful tent placement. Hibernia County Park charges $15 per night for basic amenities including picnic tables and fire rings, but lacks hookups. Potable water access varies significantly between locations, with some campgrounds offering only limited water sources. According to reviews, Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park provides clean bathrooms but limited water access, with one camper noting "the only potable water was from a near-broken water fountain at the public restrooms."
In early fall, many tent-only sites offer more seclusion and cooler temperatures. Campers at Hibernia County Park appreciate the heavily wooded environment that creates natural privacy between sites. One visitor described it as "quiet, heavily wooded with nothing to do except walk or bike the beautiful trails." Mill Creek Camping Area features creekside tent sites that provide a cooler camping experience with the natural sound of flowing water. For backcountry tent camping experiences, the Appalachian Trail corridor north of Bernville offers primitive tent sites along ridgelines with established stone fire rings and flat areas for tents, though water must be carried in. Walk-in tent sites generally provide more privacy than drive-in options, with tent-specific campgrounds offering a quieter experience than mixed-use facilities.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Bernville (29)
1. Shambala at Mystic Hollow
"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!"
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
2. Rolling Hills Retreats
"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"
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
from $160 - $380 / night
3. Mauch Chunk Lake Park
"Our first time tent camping was here and it set a great tone."
"Easy drive from Philly area, courteous staff, very wooded and quiet at night. Has many sites right along the lake edge, some very large."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
4. Hibernia County Park
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $50 / night
5. Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park
"Clean restrooms, lots of open space!"
"Large sites, clean bathrooms, lots of hiking trails"
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $30 / night
6. Mill Creek Camping Area
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $23 / night
7. Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area
8. Evansburg State Park Campground
"Lots of tree cover running along a small running creek"
"You need a license to fish, and if you plan on catching Trout you need the Trout endorsement on the fishing licence, currently$9.90.The restroom facilities we're clean."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $43 / night
9. Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park
"Terrific space for exploring"
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $57 / night
10. AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap
"The only downside was my sleeping pad sprung a leak, so it wasn't the best night's sleep. But the site itself was great and I would camp there again."
"A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area."
Drive Time
- 15 min from Reading, PA
- 30 min from Lebanon, PA
- 44 min from Lancaster, PA
- 47 min from Allentown, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bernville, PA
39 Photos of 29 Bernville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Bernville, PA
974 Reviews of 29 Bernville Campgrounds
- RRussell A.
Scout100 Mile View Camping
What a great place. So unique! Love the view, and a great experience! There are no hook ups, so be prepared but if you are looking for the dispersed camping experience you have found it. What a gem!
Nancy W.
LegendHickory Run State Park Campground
Peaceful State Park Camping in the Fall
This is a large campground with a wide array of campsites so be careful attention when you book online, especially if you have a pet because some sites are not pet-friendly. Some are 50-amp full hook-up and some are primitive with no hook-ups.
There is a nice nature center with interesting interpretive exhibits and lots of informational brochures including ones about the hiking trails, bears, scat and tracks of local animals, and fishing. Our site was at the edge of the campground and backed up to Route 534 which resulted in a bit of road noise at our site. Other than the road noise the campground was pretty quiet and was not very crowded when we camped there in October.
Not all sites are level and we happened to book one that was not and we had to live with a slant for our stay. The roads in the park are gravel/dirt and since it rained the day we arrived the roads were a muddy mess which made the roads slippery and there were lots of potholes. Unfortunately, some campers were disrespectful and left bags of trash in the fire pit and scattered around their site which was totally unnecessary because there were dumpsters plenty of dumpsters in the campground. Since we camped at Hickory Run late in the season, there were no camp hosts and the trash never got picked up.
The campground is open from mid-April to mid-December; however, the shower facilities and dump station are not available after the third week of October so plan accordingly. We really like the hiking trails which are of varying degrees of difficulty and lengths. The Hawk Falls is a nice easy walk (1.4 miles round-trip) to a waterfall but is extremely popular so don’t think you will be admiring the falls alone. The parking lot at this trail head fills up fast so you better get there early if you want to get a spot.
You can enter the park from two different directions. If you have a big-rig, it is best to approach from the east side. We made the mistake of coming in from the west side as we dropped down from I-80 and came down 534 and the road was really windy with no shoulder. Luckily, there was very little traffic so we could go 10 mph and safely navigate the roads.
Be aware alcohol is not allowed in PA state parks. This park does allow hunting in certain sections of the park. The no-hunting areas are clearly marked with white no hunting signs on trees and you can also pick up a brochure from the office that designates hunting and no-hunting sections.
Peggy C.TravelerCountry Acres Campground
Lovely campground!
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!
Tony F.
Guide100 Mile View Camping
The best views
This is a hidden gem, as close to dispersed camping you can get with dirt, gravel roads, large stone fire pits, a amazing views with the added benefit of a five gallon jug of non potable water and very clean port-a-potties. The owner regularly patrols the site and makes sure everything is okay.
Pam R.GuideGifford Pinchot State Park Campground
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.
Troy P.TravelerShikellamy State Park Campground
meh
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
- LLynn C.Scout
Old Mill Stream Campground
Never Again
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.
- jjeanne A.Guide
Council Cup Campground
Better than nothing
Small campground with rude owner. Everything I asked about was putting her out. It was cheap though at $36 for water and electric with a military discount.
Guide to Bernville
Tent campsites near Bernville, Pennsylvania offer primitive to developed camping options within deciduous forest areas at elevations between 400-600 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during peak camping season, with cooler nights around 55-65°F. Access roads to many sites remain unpaved, requiring vehicles with adequate clearance during spring's muddy conditions.
What to do
Paddle boarding on Mauch Chunk Lake: The clear water at Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides excellent conditions for water activities. "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm. I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear," notes Lisa S.
Creek hiking: Evansburg State Park offers unique creek exploration opportunities within a 30-mile drive from Bernville. "Great place to creek hike, nice for horses, we did get a lot of ticks, but not deer ticks, thankfully," shares Meg F. The creek maintains water levels suitable for wading through summer months.
Disc golf: Green Lane Park features an 18-hole disc golf course that remains accessible year-round. "Phenomenal disc golf course, hiking, and fishing," reports Benjamin C. The course winds through wooded areas with minimal elevation changes, making it suitable for beginners.
What campers like
Creekside tent sites: Primitive camping along Mill Creek provides natural cooling effects during summer months. "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," says Meagan J. from Mill Creek Camping Area.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds within 30 miles of Bernville maintain stocked fishing ponds for younger anglers. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," notes Anna from Hibernia County Park. Fishing licenses cost $22.97 for Pennsylvania residents.
Trail access: Many tent sites connect directly to hiking networks. "I've stayed here a couple times with groups. I believe it is a great spot to go with people who haven't camped much before. It has flat tent spaces, generally clean bathrooms, and access to tons of things to do on the campground and nearby," explains Mackenzie B. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
What you should know
Water access limitations: Many campgrounds near Bernville have restricted water sources. "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'," cautions Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park.
Site privacy varies significantly: Green Lane Park offers large sites but minimal separation between campers. "The sites are lined up next to each other along the campground driveway and there are absolutely no trees or shrubs between them. It's a shame because it's a beautiful park in a beautiful area but even with it being so close to home, I'd never stay there because I like some privacy," warns Jen.
Trail traffic through campsites: Hikers sometimes cross through designated camping areas. "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. They should post this info for the people on the trails," reports Sakina P. about Mill Creek.
Tips for camping with families
Children's activities: Rolling Hills Retreats provides family-friendly camping within 15 miles of Bernville. "5 of us went here for my best friends birthday weekend. We are so thankful for the host as he was very accommodating but also gave us privacy," shares Jillian P.
Playground access: Several campgrounds include playground facilities within walking distance of tent sites. "The park ranger this weekend was the nicest and very helpful with directions to walk to the playground and indoor restrooms," explains Anna about Hibernia County Park's family amenities.
Weekend noise levels: Some campgrounds become crowded and noisy during peak times. "We visited in the summer on a weekend when it was full. The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers. It was not just 1 group; there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight," cautions Danielle F. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Evansburg State Park Campground requires careful positioning for RVs. "This hidden gem of a campground is beautiful. There is plenty of hiking trails. Only downside is having to haul gear by foot to the campsite. Some are further than others," explains Chuck C. Most sites require blocks or levelers to achieve stability.
Water fill options: With limited on-site water connections, plan accordingly. "The bathhouse OK, but just basic. Tent spots are just lined up against one another facing a service road," notes Ra F. about Green Lane Park's facilities. Most campgrounds near Bernville provide shared spigots rather than individual connections.
Site sizing considerations: RV lengths over 28 feet face significant limitations in the Bernville area. "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 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper," advises Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Bernville, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bernville, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bernville, PA is Shambala at Mystic Hollow with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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Bernville, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Bernville, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Bernville, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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