Best Campgrounds near Boiling Springs, PA

Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Gifford Pinchot State Park anchor the camping options near Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, providing a diverse range of accommodations within the rolling countryside of central Pennsylvania. These established campgrounds offer tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals, with most open from spring through fall. The region includes several private campgrounds with full amenities like Mountain Creek Camp Ground and Deer Run Campgrounds, which complement the state park options. Many campground areas are situated along creeks or lakes, making them popular destinations for water activities and fishing enthusiasts exploring the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in the Boiling Springs area, with most campgrounds operating from April through October. Pine Grove Furnace State Park remains open slightly longer, from March to mid-December, while some private campgrounds like Caledonia State Park offer year-round accommodations. Access roads throughout the region are generally well-maintained, though some sites feature terrain with slopes that may challenge larger RVs. Cell service can be limited in more remote camping areas, particularly in the state parks where natural settings are prioritized. A review noted that at Greenwood Furnace State Park, "There is little to no phone service here and it's not super close to town, so come prepared. It's a short distance to some amazing hikes, as well!"

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the area, with Gifford Pinchot State Park's lakeside sites being particularly popular. A camper described their experience: "We had site 108 which is an electric site along the shore and close to the beach, and it was perfect for our needs. It has a small beach area within the campground loop." Mixed-use campgrounds near Boiling Springs provide varied recreational opportunities beyond just camping, including disc golf courses, swimming beaches, and hiking trails. The Appalachian Trail passes through the region, offering day hiking opportunities from several campgrounds. Families appreciate the playground facilities and organized activities at private campgrounds, while those seeking more solitude can find it at the more primitive sites within the state parks, particularly during weekdays or shoulder seasons when visitation decreases.

Best Camping Sites Near Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania (138)

    1. Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Wellsville, PA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 292-4112

    $20 - $89 / night

    "We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge all over the prime walking areas through the course. "

    "We have a small camper and there are some great sites on the lake side to park it where you can get AMAZING sunset views.  "

    2. Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Peach Glen, PA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 486-7174

    $20 - $43 / night

    "It’s at the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail so there are lots of great hikes as well as a nice path between the two lakes. Our new favorite in Pennsylvania!"

    "We were right at the intersection near the campground entrance and one of the other loops, but it wasn't noisy at all. The drinking water was right next to our site, which was handy."

    3. Mountain Creek Camp Ground

    9 Reviews
    Peach Glen, PA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 486-7681

    "Campsites could be further apart and there's only one bathhouse and it's at the entrance."

    "Two bath houses, one near the entrance and one in the way back. May not be anything fancy or new, but they are clean. Staff needed to be reminded about activities scheduled during the week."

    4. Deer Run Campgrounds

    8 Reviews
    Mount Holly Springs, PA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 486-8168

    "This central Pa campground is located a short drive to many attractions. Amish Country, Hershey, Gettysburg, and winerys are within 40 min drive. There are many things to do at the campground, also."

    5. Caledonia State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Fayetteville, PA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 352-2161

    $20 - $92 / night

    "Stayed here two nights while visiting Gettysburg (short 20mi drive between the two). Stayed on Chinquapin Hill, each site has picnic table and fire ring and good space for camp."

    "It’s a fantastic state park with great picnic areas next to the creek. You can also drive up the road to the dam where there’s a beautiful lake with fishing, kayaking, etc."

    6. Little Buffalo State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    New Bloomfield, PA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 567-9255

    $22 - $92 / night

    "A playground is near bathhouse in the campground, along with several hiking trails. The dump station is easily accessible. Firewood is also available for purchase at the campground."

    "The driving path is gravel with a steep hill at the end so if you can help it I would avoid sites 32,34,36 as they are VERY difficult to back into with larger rigs."

    7. Western Village RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Carlisle, PA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 243-1179

    8. Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm

    9 Reviews
    Wellsville, PA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "The bathroom near the pool left a little something to be desired. It wasn’t filthy but also wasn’t sparking clean. It was great being close to the battlefield."

    "We were there around Halloween and they had decorated the park so nicely. The sounds of the farm animals all around was fun and amusing for us."

    9. Hersheypark Camping Resort

    29 Reviews
    Hummelstown, PA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (833) 936-0949

    "This campground has a little something for everyone, from full hook up sites neatly stacked next to each other, to quiet patches of grass next to the river."

    "They don’t sell alcohol but there is a shopping center within walking distance with restaurants and liquor stores! Even a supermarket. There is shuttle service to the park."

    10. Gettysburg Campground

    26 Reviews
    Gettysburg, PA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 642-5713

    "I always appreciate the near solitude experience of this campground as 90% of the sites are RV sites, that are kept away from the tenting area."

    "If you’re looking for a backwoods, off-the-beaten-path type of campground, this isn’t it."

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Recent Reviews near Boiling Springs, PA

883 Reviews of 138 Boiling Springs Campgrounds


  • christian G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Hartman Center Campground

    Nice, quiet, & clean

    Clean and well taken care of, pretty quiet. Would definitely stay here again but a few things to keep in mind.

    For kids the play grounds are run down. Also no real “dog run”. All in all if your a couple wanting to go relax its great, but if you have pets and or younger kids there isn’t much on the grounds.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park

    Hot showers! But no dump station

    Campsite We stayed at M17 after staying at M26 for a night. 17 wasn’t as level and so we had to scrunch to one side of the site to get level. It was closer to the bath house. Overall cozy. Bath house It’s in need of some repairs but don’t let that scare you- these showers are hot and the shower wands are a really nice convenience after using cold push button showers. Lantern flies! Invasive Spotted Lantern Flies are everywhere. I squished as many as I could but keep an eye out and check your gear before leaving! Dump station This campsite doesn’t have a dump station so we went to the Cunningham falls site to dump after leaving and they let us dump no problem. Road noise Since you’re near the highway, there is constant road noise and it’s even worse on the trails but it’s quiet otherwise. Deducted one star for no dump station.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park

    Great non-electric site, no dumstation

    This site is at the very top of the loop so it has a great cozy vibe and is spaced well away from other sites. The only downside is that the bathhouse is a walk downhill and then a walk back uphill. Surprised there’s no place for someone to park next to the bathhouse - only trails to it- so if you have accessibility needs, consider choosing a site that’s lower in the loop. The site is level and was raked by the hosts before we got there. Really clean and quiet except for some road noise. Showers are SO nice compared to other campsite. Hot water is hot, no push buttons, and there is a shower wand in both stalls. No dump station though!! Dump before you get here. Also if you work remote and depend on service, it’s spotty. Very wooded so Starlink can’t help much. OH- Don’t bother visiting the winery down the road. Ew. Just don’t.

  • tThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Stoevers Dam Park

    Park is closed. We were kicked out.

    LThe park is a beautiful city park. There are 7 small, level, back-in sites with electric, a picnic table and fire pit. We arrived in a Sunday and you have to call for a permit, but the office is only open on M-F during working hours. At 8 pm, a police officer told us the park was closed because of a bear, but that they had not gotten around to putting up signs. Wound up in a Walmart instead.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Old Mill Stream Campground

    Great place to stay!

    This Campground is in the town of Lancaster, close to everything. A little complicated getting in, you need to turn in at the Cartoon Network Hotel driveway. Nice showers & friendly staff. Our site was asphalt, that was a treat, tho not all of them were...

  • Brian C.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cowans Gap State Park Campground

    Solid State Park Camping

    Stayed in a walk-in tent site. Much better spacing than typical sites, though sites 2 & 3 were basically connected. The non-walk in sites in Loop B are typical to smaller than average and mostly suited for campers/RVs.

    Pros : Site spacing/privacy was good Bathrooms and showers were clean. Firewood available at the park ($5 for 6 pieces self-serve). Location near the dam and lake trail is nice. Cell service was limited, but had reliable (but low) signal with T-Mobile at my site. Easy access (on foot) to all of the hiking trails.

    Cons: The tent pads could use some leveling and there was some trash around the site. The major negative was generator noise coming from the facility just beyond the dam. Droning generator noise was on/off at all hours of the day and went on until 10pm in the evening. Not sure how far up in Loop B this was heard, but it was pretty loud in the walk-in site area.

  • Marcandpatti B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Gettysburg Campground

    Good spot for Gettysburg, a bit spendy.

    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. Host was super friendly. They have a bunch of things going on with groups that stay here; next group is quilters with vintage trailers, sorry to miss that. All of the utilities worked just fine. Sites re a bit close to each other, not a lot of foliage between sites.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Artillery Ridge Campground

    Great location and friendly staff

    We have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.


Guide to Boiling Springs

The camping areas surrounding Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania sit in the Cumberland Valley, tucked between South Mountain and Blue Mountain at elevations ranging from 500-1,000 feet. Campers in this region can find sites within proximity to the Appalachian Trail, which runs directly through the town. Peak camping season typically runs April through October with nighttime temperatures averaging 45-65°F during these months.

What to do

Hike to scenic viewpoints: At Pine Grove Furnace State Park, visitors can access the Appalachian Trail and other notable trails. "Make sure you take a hike on the AT and then up to Pole Steeple for a great view! You may even bump into a through hiker excited to chat!" reports Amanda H. The park marks the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail, making it a milestone location for hikers.

Visit historical sites: The region contains numerous historical attractions including iron furnaces and museums. "The Park also has an old iron furnace (hence the name) with historical information about it. There is an Appalachian trail museum, which was very neat to check out, and the old Ironmaster's Mansion serves as a hostel and event venue," explains Carly E.

Water recreation: Multiple lakes provide swimming and boating opportunities during summer months. At Gifford Pinchot State Park, Julie Y. notes, "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. Boat rentals available. Good sized lake for canoeing or kayaking."

Disc golf courses: Several campgrounds feature full 18-hole disc golf courses. "Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy!! We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge all over the prime walking areas through the course," warns Danielle V.

What campers like

Pet-friendly sections: Many campgrounds provide designated pet areas. At Little Buffalo State Park, campers appreciate that "there are standard tent sites available and there are water/electric site available. There is a dump station available for the end. You can book your site on line and go straight to your site! no check in required."

Lakeside camping spots: Waterfront sites consistently receive high ratings. "We stayed in site 114. It has water access and is right next to a small man made beach and playground," reports Toshi at Gifford Pinchot State Park. These lakeside sites typically book first during peak season.

Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathhouses and grounds. At Dogwood Acres Campground, Mary C. found that it "looked clean and tidy. Good signage. Flat all gravel sites. Clean pool. Pavilion was a nice meeting place. Big pond was pretty. Friendly staff."

Farm experiences: Unique camping options include farm settings with animals. "The greatest feature of this park is that there is access to the AT! And there are plenty of hiking trails! I do not care for the campsites. The size is not to bad but they are in need of some grooming," notes Amanda H. about Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

What you should know

Train noise: Some campgrounds experience railroad noise throughout the night. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, campers mention that "the trains run all night long!" Kit advises to "make sure you aren't close to the tracks" when selecting a site.

Limited cell service: Many camping areas have poor connectivity. Adam P. notes that at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, "the cell service is 'spotty' as they state on their website, but hey you are camping."

Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close during winter months. Little Buffalo remains open year-round but with limited services from November through March.

Varying site sizes: Site dimensions and privacy levels differ significantly between campgrounds. "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," shares Julie Y., highlighting the family-friendly nature of Gifford Pinchot.

Tips for camping with families

Water recreation options: Families with children appreciate swimming areas with graduated depths. "The pool is very nice! 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!" explains Amanda H. about Little Buffalo State Park.

Animal interactions: At Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm, families can enjoy unique farm experiences. "We came with 3 kids. They LOVED the animals and we fed them at the allotted time every morning and went to visit at other times," shares melissa, providing a popular activity for children.

Playground accessibility: Several campgrounds feature accessible play structures. At Mountain Creek Camp Ground, Benjamin A. mentions that there's a "nice playground with a small basketball court," providing recreation options beyond nature activities.

Weekend activities: Many campgrounds schedule family-oriented events, particularly on weekends. "Family friendly campground, lots of weekend activities, great pool, well stocked campstore, playground," reports barb C. at Mountain Creek Camp Ground.

Tips from RVers

Water hookup logistics: RV campers should note that not all electric sites include water hookups. "If traveling in an RV you will need to fill your fresh water tank as each site does not have water hook up," advises Adam P. about Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

Site selection challenges: Some campgrounds have tight spacing between RV sites. At Deer Run Campgrounds, Michael G. observes: "Tight sites and no grass in the majority of the sites, but the majority are well shaded which was nice."

Leveling considerations: Many sites require leveling blocks due to sloped terrain. "Our site was in good condition. Campground was very busy, nearly every site was booked. Sites are very close to each other, there's no privacy, and you can hear everyone and everything," notes Kyle J. about Caledonia State Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Boiling Springs, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Boiling Springs, PA is Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 56 reviews.