If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Carlisle, look no further. The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Carlisle, Pennsylvania's most popular destinations.
Nestled on 110 acres of rolling land, Lower Allen Community Park (LACP) is in the southern part of the Township at 4075 Lisburn Road. It is an ideal location for retreats or meetings, weddings, parties, picnics, family reunions, athletic games and tournaments, special events, or just to simply enjoy family or some quiet time alone. In 2008, Capital Blue Cross and Central Penn Parent Magazine readers awarded LACP as the Second Best Park/Playground. The park offers pavilions, play areas, camp sites and numerous athletic fields for rent. The Camping area is located on the banks of the Yellow Breeches Creek and is perfect for anyone who likes to get back to nature. These “primitive” camp sites are available for tent camping. A nature trail, which winds its way through park pointing out native flowers and foliage, sets the backdrop for your camping getaway.
$10 - $25 / night
This 41-acre park is in an isolated area of the Seven Mountains region known as the Stone Creek Kettle. While this Centre County park is small in size, it is surrounded by an 80,000-acre block of Rothrock State Forest.
Penn-Roosevelt is a good base for those seeking low-density recreation on this vast expanse of public land. Popular activities include: hiking on the Mid-State or other State Forest trails, gravel-riding on over 100 miles of Forestry roads, and mountain biking the nearby Cooper’s Gap area, a destination Pennsylvania mountain biking trail system.
Rustic sites, tents only
The 18 rustic campsites are for tents only and are open year-round. Some sites are walk-in for more privacy. All campsites are first-come, first-serve.
Drinking water and non-flush toilets are available.
Due to the isolated location, Penn-Roosevelt provides an excellent opportunity to get away from noise and electric lights.
Park rangers routinely patrol the park and camping fees are paid through a self-registration/payment system.
Please keep food and coolers in vehicles to protect them from wild animals.
$25 / night
Nestled along Sherman’s Creek, our campsite sits on six wooded acres with 600 feet of creek frontage. Everything in the pictures is included in your stay! All you need to bring is food and your love of the outdoors. Firewood, charcoal, bedding, toiletries, kitchenware (as pictured), a private shower, sink and composting toilet are all included. The shower and sink have an on demand hot water heater, so no cold showers! Bring your fishing gear and you can reel in Smallmouth Bass, Sunnies, Fall Fish, and Trout all from our property. This campsite is far enough away from the city to enjoy the sounds of nature while still being less than 30 minutes from the shopping and dining and Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. Historic Gettysburg and Lancaster are just over an hour away. Hersheypark is less than an hour away!
This campsite is fully private. As your hosts, we live on the property, so if there are any issues or help needed, we are nearby!
A relaxing getaway nestled along the Juniata River. Less than one mile from the famous Port Royal Speedway! Come for the race, stay for the fishing, floating, and campfire memories you’re bound to make!
$25 - $50 / night
About Us
Our mission at Star Lee Farm is to provide a small farm experience for guests and share a private glamping experience. We are using agritourism to promote awareness of pollinators through our honeybee experience and educational programs. The Star Lee is an old “family” farm that we are working to grow into a self sufficient working farm.
We encourage our guests to explore nature that encompasses the farm's 104 acres and enjoy the solitude it can provide. We also invite our guests to “look up” into the night sky and behold the majesty and vastness of the universe we share.
View our Misty Mount: A Hidden Gem video (Audio described version ). Camp Misty Mount brings together small groups, families and individuals for rustic mountain cabin camping in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. The historic stone and wood cabins were built in 1937 as part of a federal program during the Great Depression. The cabins provided outdoor recreational opporunties for nearby urban areas, and over 80 years later you can still enjoy the outdoor opportunities provided by Misty Mount!
Misty Mount offers a number of nearby recreation opportunities.The trailhead to Catoctin Mountain Park's trail system at Wolf Rock is a short walk from the camp. Catoctin has over 25 miles of trails with stunning overlooks. Wildlife watching, bouldering, rock climbing and fly fishing are popular activities along with hiking and camping. Kids and adults enjoy the camp's swimming pool, open from late May through September.
Camp Misty Mount is surrounded by Eastern decidious hardwood forests on the slopes of Catoctin Mountain Park. The region is part of the Blue Ridge Province and offers access to scenic mountain views and clear streams.
Interconnected hiking trails can be reached from Misty Mount on the Wolf Rock Trail, or by driving within a mile of the camp. Try the Hog Rock Trail or the Thurmont Vista Trail for phenomenal views of the valleys below. Visitors can hike to Cunningham Falls, the tallest waterfall in Maryland, from the Visitor Center.
Changes and Cancellations A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees.
$360 / night
Scout
Large campground but only 15 sites dedicated to“roughin’ it” tent camping. However, those sites are isolated from the others. The tent sites were in very good condition, spaced well, and fairly private. Most sites have plenty of shade and grassy, though a few are dirt only. Many sites within walking distance from the lake(no swimming) and set up for you to store and launch your kayak or other boat. Water, bathrooms, and showers a little distant but everything clean and in excellent condition. Ice and firewood available on the grounds. There is also a small store but I didn’t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutes’ drive. Definitely going back…!
Guide
We stayed here May 1st, one night, it was a weekday night so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. I start my review with that because we have heard this place can get very busy. They said it has long already been completely (180 sites!) booked for Memorial Day. That being said, we tent camped, it cost about $25. We bought three bags of their kiln dried wood which made for a wonderful and easy fire ($15), the tent sites were perfectly flat with crushed gravel and fire rings. The place was CLEAN as heck, the bathroom/shower were so clean it was like it must have been built last week. I mean seriously in perfect condition, water was hot the sites are not on top of each other and each has its own designated parking area. The surrounding park is seriously gorgeous. You cannot go wrong here, we enjoyed every single second.
Scout
I don’t normally go camping in a Tent but I feel like it’s something I want you more often, I think this place is a great place to go for the weekend with the kids.
Scout
We camped in a tent. It was nice and quiet. Lots of birds singing, and owls at night. The bathroom is older, but ok.
Traveler
We tent camp here on weekends. Usually check to see what bands are playing or fun activity going on. We live 5 minutes away so it’s a nice “getaway”.
Only downside is the walk to the bathrooms if you tent camp. A long walk if you really got to go.
Scout
We have been here tenting twice, once last year and once this summer. They have upgraded the tent sites since last year, no more primitive sites, all the tent sites are now mulch pad with water and electric. Bathrooms are very clean and modern, but a decent walk from tent sites. The facilities are all lovely, staff in the camp store are kind and helpful. The snack bar is very convenient, breakfasts on the weekends in the summer. Close to lots of great activities and there is lots to do at the campground as well. Highly recommend.
Guide
We went to Cowans gap last full for a Halloween weekend and the children loved it. We even won the campsite decorating contest. We went this summer and camped in A-tent with friends of ours who had never done it Before & After the amazing trip at callans gap they want to do it again. Awesome beach, nice sights, And a quiet area what more could you want.
Guide
Classic small RV campground. Not especially great for tent camping.
Guide
Nice fairly private tent sites, clean showers and pet friendly.
Scout
They offer the typical tent camping environment, mostly out in an open field and good walk to showers/head. Other than that was enjoyable place to stay.
Scout
Such a wonderful campground. We have visited 5x this year. Wooded sites, open sites, tent sites. All great!
Traveler
I tent camped here about 30 yrs ago and was so happy to come back! But, the nearby Rt 30, especially before leaves return to the trees, is a major commuter route and soooo loud!
Guide
Stayed here in October while family stayed in hotels. This is a family campground and is mostly occupied by RV's who stay long term. Tent sites are spacious and fits 2 cars, sites fit 2-3 tents. The tent sites have numerous walnut trees, so there's a bit of a hazard there when walking around trying to dodge the falling nuts (cars are targets too!). The campground is pretty close to downtown Gettysburg if you're looking for restaurants/shops. It's in the heart of the battlefield access points and trails. The campground usually puts on various activities, parties, etc, mainly kid oriented. This is a nice site/area for base camping in the fall.
Scoutcampground was pretty crowded, but the tent sites were secluded and well kept. staff was extremely helpful. close to the battleground and all attractions.
Scout
Good tent site clean the staff was on top of collecting garbage. Had a few activities. Definitely need my bike next time cool rocks there to play on.
TravelerNicely wooded, quiet campground. Bathrooms were clean and staff was really nice. Close to Gettysburg museum. They were able to get us in a tent site to save $.
GuideThis is a great place for a long weekend away. The tent sites are nice and they have a number of dog friendly sites. Fun beach area, hikes and fishing.
ScoutThe campground had a good feel to it. We had a nice view of the lake. We booked a non electric site for our tent camping. The bath houses need updated though. The only negative I can say is that our site did not have a great spot for the tent except by the parking spot and not down by the fire ring.
ScoutHodgepodge mix of tent sites and long term motor homes on a creek which is nice . Owner is strange and will yell at clients blaming them of chopping down trees when they haven’t or other false claims.
Traveler
Everything was on point here! The staff run the place like a resort or a cruise ship. So many activities for kids and adults and a huge family atmosphere with staff and campers! Tent site near the lake is HUGE
Scout
Nice and quite campground, owners were amazing and very accommodating. Only power sites were all gravel. Could use some grass tent sites with power. Other then that this place was very quite, owners helped haul firewood to our campsite so we didn't have to carry it.
Guide
We stayed at one of the tent sites. There was an issue with the electric hookup, but the ranger was able to relocate us without issue. It’s small, but peaceful and the ‘regulars’ (as they referred to themselves) were friendly and welcoming. The grounds were well-maintained and the bathrooms very clean.
RangerIt 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. porta potties were cleanest I have ever seen even with a ton of recent rain. lots of history nearby .
RangerNot a bad camping trip. We stayed in a tent site with electric. It was pretty crowded. The sites were pretty close together and covered in rocks but level. It wasn't our favorite spot/site but there were a lot of things to do in the park! The young kids really enjoyed the playground and beach.
TravelerVery nice campground with clean bathrooms and showers. Nice creek for the kids to play on a hot day. Great spot for kids. Wish the pool was open!
Not sure about other sites- some sites appeared not to have tent sites and steep parking. All the full look-up sites appeared very nice.
Staff was very friendly and helpful!
Scout
We took a chance in September 2020 and decided to make plans to camp for two nights so we could get some hiking in nearby at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park. You're greeted by a sign on the front office door that says "Masks are optional," so that tells you all you need to know about camping here during the COVID-19 crisis. Check-in is easy enough and you are given a card to hang on your mirror that has a barcode to scan to get access to the campground. Then you drive to your site. The signs/directions posted are...not very helpful, and you can easily find yourself face-to-face with someone driving a golf cart from the opposite direction or kids running around through the road, so be very careful. We picked a tent site (218 or 219) as far away from everyone else as we could get. A bunch of the tent sites border the woods, and I definitely recommend snagging one of those if you're able. The tent and RV sites are absolutely crammed together. We started setting up our tent and were somewhat pleased with the amount of space we had from a big family in the next site because we could all enjoy our respective spaces without getting in each other's way. Then another car pulled up and signaled that there was ANOTHER site between us. There wasn't even 10ft between our tents; you could hear everything. The RV/camper sites looked even more snug, so I can't imagine trying to maneuver there. Our tent site was one of the flatter and less rocky ones that I could see. Each site is provided with a fire ring (more like a fire pit/contained cauldron) and picnic table, which was great. I will say that from what we saw, the grounds are kept very clean. The bath house near the tent site is cleaned daily, however not always at the posted hours so I would say to assume it is half an hour before the posted time. There are 2 showers and toilet stalls in each bathroom. Here is where we were the most unhappy about masks being optional: not a single other person that we saw over 3 days was wearing a mask while in the enclosed bathrooms. There are hand dryers, so particles are flying all over the place. There was a concert that ended while I was showering and it was a line of people to get in and the dryers were constantly blasting; I basically held my breath while I was in there. The campgrounds are clean and easy to find off of the main roads. However, if you're looking for a place to stay outside during the COVID-19 situation, look elsewhere.
ScoutVery nice campground nice size sites all have picnic table and fire ring. Lot of full time RV here but many other for people traveling and tent sites also. Nice lake for fishing. Easy check in. Nice little store. About an hour away from Hershey where we went to the RV show. We will come back if we are in the area again
Tent camping near Carlisle, Pennsylvania offers a blend of serene nature and convenient access to local attractions, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Carlisle, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Carlisle, PA is Lower Allen Community Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Carlisle, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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