Cabins near Carlisle, Pennsylvania provide access to outdoor recreation in the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations between 550 and 2,000 feet. Most cabin accommodations remain open from spring through fall, with limited winter options available at select locations. Temperatures typically range from 20°F in winter to 85°F in summer, affecting facility availability and trail conditions.
What to do
Hike the Appalachian Trail: Pine Grove Furnace State Park serves as the halfway point on the AT with multiple connecting trails. "This is the half way point on the AT! You may even bump into a through hiker excited to chat! Make sure you take a hike on the AT and then up to Pole Steeple for a great view," notes a camper at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
Visit historical sites: Explore the iron furnace at Pine Grove or the Appalachian Trail Museum. One visitor mentions, "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."
Water recreation options: Multiple parks offer swimming, fishing and boating opportunities. At Gifford Pinchot State Park, "The LARGE beach area in the QR day use area is one of the nicest I've ever seen at a PA state park, with tons of picnic tables with grills, a playground, a volleyball court, and a special fence solution to keep the stupid geese out of the water in the swimming area."
Scenic overlooks: Several trails lead to mountain viewpoints with minimal hiking required. A visitor to Pine Grove Furnace mentions, "We did a very nice run from our campsite out to the scenic viewpoint on top of Pole Steeple (about 7ish miles)."
What campers like
Creek access: Several campgrounds feature creeks for summer recreation. At Mountain Creek Camp Ground, "Kids can play in creek with tubes or hunt critters," according to a regular visitor.
Well-stocked camp stores: Many campgrounds maintain supplies and treats. "The store has everything. Including hand dipped ice cream. Pool. Mini golf. A creek to fish or splash in," shares a visitor to Mountain Creek Camp Ground.
Variety of accommodation types: Options range from primitive tent sites to full-service cabins. At Paradise Stream Family Campground, "So many great site options depending on your needs/preferences. We had site 20 which we liked! Tucked in the woods but near activities."
Organized activities: Most campgrounds offer scheduled events, especially on weekends. "We really enjoyed this lovely, clean campground... So many things to do here! Very family oriented. Pedal carts, mini golf, swimming pool, ceramic painting, hiking, fishing, bike riding, sluicing for gems, game room, camp store, ice cream, baked foods, even a winery was there with samples!"
What you should know
Tent site variations: Quality of tent sites varies significantly between campgrounds. At Deer Run Campgrounds, one camper noted, "Our tent site was one of the flatter and less rocky ones that I could see."
Privacy considerations: Site separation varies dramatically by location and loop. "This is not camping, people are packed together like sardines. Grounds are poorly laid out and maintained," reported one dissatisfied Deer Run visitor.
Seasonal amenities: Pools and certain facilities operate on limited schedules. "The pool here is top notch and it's good for fishing but the hiking isn't super great. We did have a nice bat spotting walk with a Ranger," notes a visitor to Little Buffalo State Park.
Bathroom availability: Distance to facilities varies by site location. At Mountain Creek Camp Ground, "Two bath houses, one near the entrance and one in the way back. May not be anything fancy or new, but they are clean."
Tips for camping with families
Water features for children: Select sites near water access points for summer visits. At Little Buffalo State Park, "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!"
Playground access: Most family campgrounds feature play equipment. "The sites are spacious! If you are on a site around the perimeter you can turn your chair and your back to the campground and look out into the forest! Paved roads for bike rides!"
Wildlife education: Ranger programs often feature wildlife encounters. One Little Buffalo visitor mentioned, "We did have a nice bat spotting walk with a Ranger when we were there."
Nature exploration: Streams provide hours of entertainment for children. "The kids had a blast, tubing in the creek, swimming pool and an excellent camp store," noted a Deer Run visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring blocks. "Nice sized spots, wooded, paved roads beautiful lake. Not a garbage can to be found park wide! Dumpster at either end that's it," notes a visitor to Gifford Pinchot State Park.
Hookup considerations: Electric, water and sewer availability varies by campground and site. At Dogwood Acres Campground, "Flat all gravel sites. Clean pool. Pavilion was a nice meeting place. Big pond was pretty. Friendly staff."
Dump station locations: Some campgrounds require awkward turns to access dump facilities. "The dump was up on the other side so had to pull a U turn, luckily our camper was small enough to make the turn," noted a Paradise Stream camper.
Tree clearance: Many sites have low-hanging branches that can damage taller RVs. "The access roads are so tight/narrow, that there is multiple areas of damaged trees and corners of structures."
