RV parks near Conestoga, Pennsylvania typically sit at elevations between 300-500 feet in the rolling hills of Lancaster County. The region experiences humid continental climate with warm summers reaching 85°F and cold winters dropping to 20°F. Camping season runs primarily from April through October, with most private campgrounds closing during winter months when overnight temperatures regularly fall below freezing.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Sun Valley Campground offers a fishing pond where campers can enjoy catching catfish. "Caught some cat fish in the pond," notes one visitor who enjoyed the experience while staying at the campground.
Visit Amish Country: Explore the unique cultural experience of Pennsylvania Dutch Country while camping at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country. "I don't know if the Amish camp, but regardless, if you'd like to experience what it's like to go camping in Amish country then Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country RV Resort has you covered," shares one camper who appreciated the cultural immersion.
Mini golf: Many campgrounds offer mini golf courses for families. "The golf course setup for spooky time of year," mentions a camper at Round Top Campground, highlighting how some facilities theme their activities seasonally.
Historic explorations: When staying at RV sites near Conestoga, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg is within day-trip distance. "We were there to relax but also to explore the town and battlefields. Again the drive into town was short and had enough road side visuals to keep you from dwelling on the drive," explains a visitor who used Round Top Campground as a base for exploring Gettysburg.
What campers like
Live entertainment: Thousand Trails Circle M provides various entertainment options throughout camping season. "We happened to be there on the weekend a magician came, my kids loved it," shares a visitor who appreciated the programming.
Swimming options: Multiple pools are appreciated by campers, especially during summer heat. "2 pools which is a bonus. Many folks have golf carts, as the campground is huge—and you can get turned around easily," notes a camper at Drummer Boy Camping Resort.
Holiday activities: Campgrounds near Conestoga often organize special events for holiday weekends. "We spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!! They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October," explains a camper who visited Circle M, highlighting the seasonal programming.
Clean facilities: Pinch Pond Family Campground receives praise for maintenance. "Nice, forested campground. Friendly staff, clean bathhouses. Sites well maintained but ours wasn't level," shares a camper who appreciated the cleanliness despite other challenges.
What you should know
Site levelness varies: Many campgrounds feature sloping terrain that impacts site quality. "Very large park. Showed up on Wednesday, and was assigned a spot in loop 700 up on a hill in the center of a ring of trailers," reports a visitor to Sun Valley Campground, highlighting the topography challenges.
Seasonal closures: Most RV sites near Conestoga operate on limited schedules. Round Top Campground visitor notes, "Off-season so not crowded. Pool was clean and quite good sized, had it to ourselves due to season."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby facilities. "Main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby. Fortunately our dog wasn't bothered by the sound of gunshots and it's only during the day," explains a visitor to Pinch Pond Family Campground, providing important context for noise-sensitive campers.
Water quality issues: Water systems may experience discoloration at certain campgrounds. "Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay. The site on either side was the same rusty," reports a camper at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Tips for camping with families
Consider indoor pool options: For shoulder season camping, Lake-In-Wood Campground offers temperature-controlled swimming. "Nice pools and classes (water aerobics was fun for everyone). The did have a mini golf course too, but I am unsure if they do anymore," shares a visitor who enjoyed the water activities.
Book early for holiday weekends: Family-friendly campgrounds fill quickly during peak times. "We camped here in May for Memorial Day weekend. We usually avoid holidays but gave this campground a try. It was pretty full and everyone seemed to have a golf cart," notes a Drummer Boy Camping Resort visitor.
Check playground locations: Campground layouts affect convenience for families. "In my opinion as a mom of small kids maybe the worst part was that there was only 1 playground, it was all the way at the front of the campground (we had to drive to it) and it was very junky and run down," advises a parent who stayed at Drummer Boy Camping Resort.
Look for themed weekend events: Special programming enhances family camping experiences. "They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!" shares a Circle M visitor, highlighting how themed weekends create memorable experiences.
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions: Spring Gulch Resort Campground accommodates large rigs but requires planning. "Lots were a bit uneven, but pull through which was nice," notes one RVer, highlighting that pull-through convenience sometimes comes with leveling challenges.
Inspect sewer connections: Placement and height of hookups vary significantly. "The biggest complaint about our site was that the sewer hookup was inconveniently placed about six inches above the ground which meant that it would not drain properly (even with a slinky placed under it)," shares an RVer who visited Drummer Boy Camping Resort.
Consider off-peak timing: Visiting during weekdays provides quieter experiences. "Quiet during the week, weekends quite busy," notes a visitor to Drummer Boy Camping Resort, reflecting the typical pattern at campgrounds near Conestoga.
Watch for one-way roads: Navigation within larger campgrounds requires attention. "Roads through the park are fairly narrow with potholes. Some roads are one-way but people don't pay much attention to that and went whichever way they wanted, especially those in golf carts," advises an RVer who stayed at Drummer Boy Camping Resort.
