Best Cabin Camping near Carlisle, PA

Olive Green cabin, owned/operated by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is a two floor primitive cabin near Frederick, Maryland. It's a log cabin that was built around the mid-1860's. The last private owner, Olive Green lived in it until the 1980's (I think) when she was still living primitively without electricity or water. She grew her own food and had livestock on her property. The cabin itself is stocked with various cookware (including cast iron), bed frames, tables, chairs, books and games. We went in December after a storm and needed to shovel our way to the outhouse. Manual labor is not a bad thing! The opportunity to stay here and live primitively for a weekend was nice. The only downside is that the cabin is not effectively insulated, with numerous holes between the logging that lets a good amount of cold air in at night. There is also a wood burning stove on the first floor that's great for cooking on, but doesn't produce a lot of heat that needs to make its way to the sleeping quarters in the loft.

Site Details: We stayed in the Dragonfly camping cottage (quick weekend trip without the husband, and I’m not quite up for towing and setting up the popup by myself with 3 kids!). It was a standard rustic-type state park cabin, with one double bed, one single twin bunk, and one regular set of bunk beds, so it sleeps 5-6 comfortably. There was also a sturdy dining room table with chairs and an oscillating fan inside. Electricity/lights and heat, but no AC. Very clean inside. The cabin also had a really nice front porch, picnic table, and fire ring, and was situated with a beautiful lake view. The area we were in contained both rustic cabins and yurts (which looked really neat).

Facilities/Overall Park: Multiple bath houses were scattered among various loops, and each one we visited was very old, dim and drab, but they were also spacious and reasonably clean. Showers all had old rust and water stains. However, it was nice that there were so many of them, because this is a very large state park with multiple camping loops. Most tent and basic RV sites were shaded and private, while the newer FHU sites were more open (but still nicely spaced). Hosts and rangers were nice, but not very helpful or proactive when they needed to correct a reservation mistake they made (but it worked out in the end). There is a beautiful lake with a really nice day area in the center of the park, with a great playground and concession stand. The lake is popular for fishing and swimming, although there is oddly no sand beach; swimmers just entered the water straight from the grass.

Surrounding Area/Attractions: Not much going on in the immediate vicinity, but Harrisburg, Amish country, and Hershey are all doable day trips from the park. We were here just for the Hershey RV show, and it was an easy 40-minute drive.

Overall, this was a very pretty park with site options for every type of camper, but certain elements are in need of updating. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to make this park a destination, but it’s a nice option as a base camp for visiting the RV show or other attractions (with a much cheaper price tag than the private CGs closer to the action).

The first thing to know is that Thousand Trails sites are a first come, first serve. Meaning you have to arrive early in order to get the best spots. They don't reserve sites for you. For everyone complaining about driving around and not finding spots, if you get there early enough aroung 1 pm, you wont' have a problem.

This campground is located behind two farms and behind some woods, so you won't be able to see it from the main road. That is great because there was no traffic noise around. When we arrived to the gate house, the woman there was very helpful in recommending sites area for us. We chose a pull through site for our 30 ft TT since we are newbies (our 4th trip). There is ample space between you and your rv neighbor and no real obstructions to park. The trees are not in the way of the parking space. Each site had a lamp post so that at night, you could easily see where you are parked but they place them low to the ground so as not to add to light polution. The roads are a mix of gravelled area and asphalt. They have an overflow area for those with extra cars and those with tow dollies. This keeps the campground from looking like a junk yard.

As for the entertainment, we arrived too early for the pool to be open but they do have an indoor hot tub for those 16 years and older that is open. The store hours are a bit strange, with some days being open until 2pm on some weekdays. Their store has a good supply (just the essentials) but their best selling item is Hershey ice cream (so good!) They have a tennis court, mini golf, basketball court, and you saw many kids out witth their bicycles. There is even an arcade center for the kids and a rec center with a pool table.

The campground is very safe at night, no noise disturbances at night and we had no problems having our kids wander around by themselves. The batthrooms are nice and are designated shelters in case of severe weather. The pond is not suitable for swimming and has no swimming signs around. Nature decided to reclaim the area and the fish have an abuncance of kel to live in. It is a wonderful fishing and boating area.

All in all, it was a lovely campground.

We camped in on of the cabins overnight on a recent road trip. Cabins are nice and spacious, bath facilities are some of the best I've seen. We didn't;t get to explore since we were traveling, but there's plenty to do in the area.

I camped near Chimney rocks and Hermitage cabin and the place is truly magnificent. If you want to stay at the cabin, it looks super cute. If not, there’s a few campsites just a little bit down, close to the river and large enough for 4 double tents. There’s a lot to do near by with a town not too far away. I definitely recommend paying this place a visit!

The town really does smell like chocolate. This is a resort style park that we went to with scouts to ease them into tent camping. The sites are packed in like sardines and it’s pretty chaotic. Pros: close to the amusement park, cabin options, various park extras (early entry, coupons, package deals), pool, extensive store & gift shop, sports fields, etc. easy to remember loop names. Cons: very packed, lots of kids, not too quiet, train tracks right next to many of the sites and cabins, no park shuttle, not for nature experience. If you are ok with this kind of “resort” as a cheap place to stay while in Hershey, it’s ok.

If tenting, be sure to check tent on reservation request. Some spots are too narrow for tenting. Cabins are mainly across lake from campground. Only 2 yurts. Two day use areas. Two swimming areas- one for day use, one just for campers!

Actually I am a work camper, have worked here for 11 seasons. Nice Sites, both RV and tent as well as cabins. I know my opinion is biased, but I keep coming back because it is so great

Deer Spring Loop is near the top of the mountain.

This is not a pet friendly loop.

Site 112 is level, mostly shaded, backs up to the woods and has electric.

The site is between two cabins. Not a problem except the cabins were empty and the ac was running. Noisy and kind of wasteful.

There are lots of good hiking trails in the park. It’s a nice walk to the lake. Note that the hike back is 2/3 uphill.

They sell ice at the camp entrance, which is nice.

The bathrooms were moderately clean and had plenty of hot water.

I was not aware that there was a camp host until the third morning as I was readying to leave. I approached another camp to ask a question and they said they were the “camp hosts”.

Well-appointed, semi-rustic cabins set in Catoctin Mountain. Not far from the Wm. Houck lake area and trailhead to Cunningham Falls.

Our cabin came equipped with A/C and heat, full kitchenette, fireplace, screened in porch, and firepit area (including wood and fire starters!) with seating and picnic table.

Ole Mink Farm is very resort-like with a central pool and clubhouse. They also offer various activities — mainly on weekends — like cornhole tournaments and campfire gatherings.

And I can’t say enough about the customer service!! They take hospitality to whole new levels! We ran into a couple personal snags on our trip, and they were so accommodating. Even when my Mom got sick, they checked in on us and asked about her by name. What a wonderful group of owners!

If you want to “glamp,” I would HIGHLY recommend this place!

This campground is always a great place to stay. I've been coming almost annually for years and I always recommend it to anyone local. They offer reasonable prices for cabins and campground spots, and the local town of Dillsburg is perfect for getting late supplies or going to a drive in movie!

This is a great campground right at Hershey Park. It had a free shuttle to the park and Chocolate World! Nice sites, but some are pretty close together. Right on a small creek. Most sites are in the shade. Cabins look nice. The arcade barn is a must see for the kids!

Campground Review: Cowans Gap State Park was pretty awesome. Off the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Fort Littleton, through Burnt Cabin on Rt522, signage the entire way. A drive through the PA mountain-scape, excellent scenery to be seen.

The dog section is 1-30 and a few cabins are offered for them also. No restrictions for dogs on the trails but they are restricted from the rest of the campground.

Several trails to enjoy with easy to very strenuous climbs. Part of the Allegheny trail passes through the Buchanan State Forest, near the campground. Would be a good place to practice your backpacking craft.

New showerhouse facilities which are energy efficient lighting and heating. The water in the shower never gets very warm but they are very clean and well maintained.

There is plenty of water sports at the lake, watercraft, swimming and fishing.

Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I have the opportunity to review some pretty awesome outdoor gear. I received Mishmi Takin hiking boots after winning one of the monthly contests.

I love the color, I’m all about burnt orange. I have large feet and was happy to see that the company offers footwear up to 13.5 in. I ordered an 11, was surprised when they arrived and were a little big on my feet. So you may want to order a 1/2 size down. On the flip side though I put on my thick hiking socks, synched the laces down and they fit fine.

I wore the boots multiple times during our 8 state trip on several different trail types. I was impressed by grip, no slippage on multiple surfaces.

I hate to say it but I have sweaty feet! And wearing thick hiking socks in boots often leaves me with raisinie toes and damp socks/boots at the end of a long hike. I did not experience that problem while wearing the Mishmi Boots though. My feet stayed comfortable and were dry when I pulled the boots off back at camp. I am liking these boots!

Cedar Creek was amazing and clean. Staff was friendly and courteous. Price is affordable. The only complaint is the neighbor outdoors man sports out door range less than a mile away. Not bothersome or concerned for safety. Just takes away from the rural feel. Cabin was clean and perfect. Grounds were very clean. Toilet and showers clean. Golf carts a little dated but overall good. Night time was serene and quite. Perfect for relaxing.

Lots to do, nice wooded sites. A lot to do within walking distance of your site. When we went the swimming beach was kind of gross but they’ve done some repairs over the past year. Lots of fishing spots. Our friends stayed at a modern cabin and they were really nice too. Enjoyed the outdoor church service that they offer Memorial Day thru Labor Day. And for any homeschoolers there’s a great used bookstore a couple miles away (pa curriculum exchange)

Very nice family oriented campground nestled against the base of the mountains. I wish there was a better view of the beautiful mountain. Our site was a premium site that included a gas grill. Luckily, no one booked the cabins behind us that weekend or it would have been rather loud as the sites were close together even for a premium site. We were visiting friends in the area and they were able to visit for a small fee. They were then able to utilize the facilities so the kids could swim and play together. Nice playground with a small basketball court. We enjoy staying at state parks more because of the difference in site size but this was a nice change of pace.

This cabin was absolutely amazing. It is off of a stone road in Rothrock State Forest in a gated community. The instructions for gaining access to the community and to the cabin were provided by the owners. We had two families here which were four adults and three children. There was plenty of room for everyone. There were two full bathrooms a small kitchen, dining area, a living room equipped with movies since there was no cable or internet service, a side room off of the kitchen with an electric stove which heated the property. There was also a side and rear deck equipped with a picnic table, chairs and a gas grill. There were also three fire pits around the property to choose from which was great. The back yard was huge and was great for the kids to run around and play football and tag. There was also a horseshoe pit with shoes provided. All kitchen items for eating and cooking were provided. There was a coffee pot as well along with a toaster. Hiking at nearby Trough Creek State Park was amazing and we went to see the Balanced Rock. We also went to Raystown Lake visitor area and checked out the beach area and got some nice photos of the lake. We then headed to the nearby town of Huntingdon and went to Ferguson's Pub for lunch. The food there was great and the owner and waitress were extremely nice. I highly recommend giving them a visit while in town. I recommend the chicken bacon ranch wrap! There is a nearby antique car museum as well and local shopping. There really is something for everyone to do here. Not to mention boating, hiking, camping at the state park and just enjoying nature at it's finest. We had such a relaxing time here I can't wait to come back!

This is a very nice cabin with three bedrooms, a loft area and 1.5 bathrooms, LR, kitchen and small dining area. There is a large deck with a few chairs and a picnic table. You travel down a non-paved road and into the middle of absolute peacefulness. I sat on the porch for about an hour trying to hear something other than acorns falling, birds chirping and airplanes to no avail. There is a fire pit area however due to the rain we had all of the wood was wet and we were not able to get one started. The sofa in the LR was broken. It almost looked like someone jumped off of the balcony onto it. There was a bachelor party in there just before us so it looks like that had a good time. Also, all of the beds were absolutely not comfortable AT ALL. My back hurt so badly I almost slept on the floor. There is a TV there but no cable however there is internet so they have Hulu, Netflix, ROKU, Amazon Video and a lot of other ways to watch shows if you want. There is a washer and dryer, air conditioning and a wood stove for heat. They also have a crib for infants and a high chair which was very nice as we had a 1 year old at the time. The kitchen was also stocked with appliances, dishes, cups, cooking items, silverware and amenities so we didn't have to drag everything plus the kitchen sink along. Pets are allowed however there is no smoking. You have to be at least 25 years old to rent the cabin. Raystown Lake is very close by and so is Trough Creek State Park. There is a suspension bridge at the park, Balanced Rock and Rainbow Falls. We had a fantastic time and look forward to heading back to the area again someday soon. Everything was stocked very well and we definitely enjoyed our stay.