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Best Tent Camping near York, PA

903 Reviews

Tent campsites near York, Pennsylvania include several established options for nature enthusiasts seeking outdoor experiences. Lower Allen Community Park offers tent camping along Yellow Breeches Creek, while Mill Creek Camping Area in Lancaster County provides stream-adjacent tent sites within a public park setting. Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area features walk-in tent sites with seasonal availability from March to November.

Most tent campgrounds in the York area feature basic amenities with limited services. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at most locations, though facilities vary considerably between sites. Lower Allen Community Park provides fire pits and picnic tables but no drinking water or toilet facilities beyond portable toilets. Mill Creek Camping Area includes picnic tables, fire rings with built-in grills, and trash collection, along with access to basic toilet facilities. At Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area, potable water is available, and tent campers have access to toilet facilities, though no showers are provided. Reservations are recommended at several locations, while others operate on a first-come basis.

The tent camping experience near York offers unique outdoor settings typically unavailable to RV campers. Walk-in tent sites at Lower Allen Community Park provide direct stream access, making them popular with kayakers who can float down the creek to their campsites. The heavily wooded areas at several parks offer natural shade and cooler temperatures, especially valuable during summer months. Sites along creeks provide both scenic settings and natural cooling effects. According to one visitor at Mill Creek Camping Area, "Campsite is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night." Another camper noted that public trails sometimes cross through camping areas, with hikers occasionally passing through tent sites, so privacy expectations should be adjusted accordingly.

Best Tent Sites Near York, Pennsylvania (15)

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Tent Camping Reviews near York, PA

903 Reviews of 15 York Campgrounds

  • Rick W.
    Aug. 15, 2022

    Colonel Denning State Park Campground

    Tent camping sites

    Walk in sites have picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are level and smooth. Showers and restrooms are close to sites. Strongly recommend...

  • Craig F.
    Jul. 1, 2019

    Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    Fun Camping and Lake Activities

    We had a wonderful stay at Gifford Pinchot State Park!Ā 

    The camping area at GP is separated into A loop and B loops with approximately 300 sites. All sites had a paved pad, varying in size depending on the location, with tent site being smaller. Most sites have electric and there are 22 full hookup sites in the camping area. Both loops are peninsulas into the lake, which is convenient to launching boats directly from many sites. Loop A is closer to the designated swimming area with a sandy beach and playground. B loop is closer to many of the hiking trails and also several boat launch areas. It is nice that the camping area and amenities are separated from the public day use area. At the entrance to the camping area there are three dump stations.Ā 

    During our stay we were at a full hookup site which was very spacious and often hard to find in PA State Parks. Our site was#299 and for some reason the entire site was paved/blacktop, which was different than all the other sites where the pad was paved and the picnic table area was gravel/grass. While this site made it easy to level our camper, it became quite hot in the afternoon/evening after the sun had baked it all day.

    Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed GP and couldnā€™t believe we hadnā€™t visited before because it is a great state park. Wood is available for purchase at the campground hostsā€™ sites and ice at the park office. As with most PA state parks, quiet hours are at 9:00PM, which is a bit early, and there is no alcohol allowed in the park. We look forward to returning to GP in the future.

  • Nick C.
    Jun. 19, 2022

    Owens Creek Campground ā€” Catoctin Mountain Park

    Cozy and Clean - Lots of Firewood

    The sites are very clean but close to each Other. You can hear the kids and families and all that. The sites have a nice mulched tent pad, fire ring / grill grate, lantern pole and picnic table. There is a firewood hut at the entrance and you can take what you need - just leAve a donation. The bathrooms are very clean and thereā€™s some trails around the creek (dry creek/ nothing impressive)

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2023

    Owens Creek Campground ā€” Catoctin Mountain Park

    Peaceful w filtered sun

    Owens Creek Campground : (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17ā€™ trailer) Overall Rating: 4.5 Price: $15/night w senior pass Usage during visit: very low including Fri night Site Privacy: understory trees, filter l e of site in many sites. Site Spacing: most very nicely spaced Site surface: blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Very quiet Road Noise: Only a bit in first few campsites Through Traffic: no problem Electricity: No Water: Spigots at bathhouses Sewer: No Dump: No Generators: 6 AM to 10 PM Bathroom: Old but very clean.
    Showers: Yes. Double curtains Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (Verizon): Very good Setting: A thick deciduous forest Weather: nice. Cooler because of shade Bugs: A few. Will probably increase as month moves on Solar: Too much shade for fixed solar panels Host: Yes Rig size: Not all sites will accommodate a 22ā€™ trailing. Sites: Pictures are of some of the best sites. My favs: 14 nice woods view , (28 & 29 hear creek,)37. 45, 46

  • Jim N.
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Hibernia County Park

    Hidden gem

    A nice primitive campground - good for a quick trip away. The campground is a county run one that works on a first come first serve basis, which is fine if there are others close by. They are wooded sites and have 2 loops. There is no store, but there a places close to get supplies. The park is dry, no alcohol. No hook ups either. There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends.

  • A
    Sep. 24, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Nice Small Campsite Close to DC

    Nice small campsite in MD not too far from DC. One negative was that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down. Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby. Where we were hiking. šŸ˜¬ The positives are as others have pointed out there is a huge park for kids- itā€™s not within walking distance for little kids but itā€™s a very short drive by the entrance to the park. Thereā€™s also another small park on the loop. The restrooms were central and well maintained. We found a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park. All sites had a picnic table and fire ring. Firewood available from camp host. Hiking poles would have been good for the trails when we had a kid in a pack on our back. Overall a nice close small campground.

  • Sean M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Great Small Campground - Cool Cabinso

    This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two is the massive Patapsco Valley State Park. Itā€™s a bit odd getting here through a suburban neighborhood, but the Hilton area is great. It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes.

    The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table. The crushed stone at the sites isnā€™t comfortable for tents, and they wonā€™t let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground. There are helpful and friendly camp hosts always on duty. The bathhouse is nothing special, but itā€™s well maintained and clean. The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely ā€œrough it.ā€ We found everything reasonably priced.

    Remember: no alcohol or firewood can be brought into the park. Firewood can only be purchased on site due to harmful insects. But the money goes toward the parks volunteer program.

    This is a very nice small campground that is great for kids!

  • K
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Nice campground for primitive tenting

    Large campground but only 15 sites dedicated toā€œroughinā€™ itā€ 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 didnā€™t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutesā€™ drive. Definitely going backā€¦!

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2023

    Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground

    Camping at the AT Halfway Point

    Great small campground in South-central PA.Ā  Sites are nicely spaced except for a few that are tucked into a few odd-shaped places.Ā  I stayed in site 21, which was on an outside loop with a lot of space.Ā  Campground seems very well maintained and the hosts were very friendly and active.Ā  I wasn't there on a busy night, but nice to know it is a place where the hosts are trying to keep a relaxing atmosphere.Ā  Nearly everything is in the woods so there's lots of shade during the warm seasons.Ā  There's a fire ring, picnic table, lantern hanger and generous tent pad.Ā  There's also room in many outside loop sites to set up in the woods.Ā  Very quiet and relaxing evening.

    Bathrooms feel very modern and there is a combination of a traditional shower/bathroom center and a separate bathroom only area with 4 private bathrooms (though now showers).Ā  Showers were clean and had hot water, though when you press the button for water, it only runs for about 10 seconds.Ā  So you really have to just hold the water on while you shower one-handed.Ā  I think there was a 1-car per site rule while I was there.

    Firewood is on-site for $5 for a six-piece bundle, with kindling available.Ā  Wood lit right up for me.Ā  The park has a general store, swimming lake, Appalachian Trail Museum, Park office and a few other historic buildings so there's a lot to do.Ā  Just take note that everything closes at 4 PM.Ā  The park is just north of the halfway point of the AT and is a popular place for hikers to stop and take a slow or zero day.Ā  The museum is interesting if you have any interest in the AT and very knowledgeable host.

Guide to York

Tent camping opportunities around York, Pennsylvania provide woodland settings with several primitive options within a 30-mile radius. The region features elevations ranging from 400-1,100 feet with oak and maple forests dominating the landscape. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85Ā°F, while spring and fall camping seasons offer cooler conditions between 40-70Ā°F.

What to do

Fishing access: Hibernia County Park offers fishing at Chambers Lake and a special Children's Pond stocked for young anglers. According to a visitor, "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too."

Hiking trails: Susquehannock State Park Campground features trails with river views. A camper notes, "There are lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River. There's a great bike trail to the Conowingo dam which is a nice place to visit, and a great place to see lots of eagles."

Kayaking: Several campsites provide direct water access for paddlers. At Lower Allen Community Park, "You can put in a few miles up and float down to your site. The sites sit right along the Yellow Breeches creak so you can put in a few miles up and float down to your site."

Wildlife observation: The streams and wetlands attract diverse bird species. One visitor to Susquehannock notes, "There are amazing wildflowers on that trail. One trail has two amazing specimen trees."

What campers like

Natural cooling: Stream-side tent sites provide temperature regulation during hot months. A camper at Mill Creek Camping Area mentions, "Campsite for where we stayed is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."

Wooded seclusion: The best tent camping near York, Pennsylvania often features heavily forested sites. At Hibernia County Park, "Most sites are heavily wooded which means plenty of hammock hanging opportunities."

Affordable pricing: Many tent sites offer budget-friendly rates. A camper at Hibernia County Park notes, "Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups."

Historic features: Some campgrounds contain preserved structures. At Hibernia County Park, "There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends."

What you should know

Seasonal operation: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area is open "April 1 to October 30," while other sites close by mid-November.

Trail traffic: Some hiking paths run through or near camping areas. At Mill Creek, one visitor cautions: "The site is public access and there are lots of hikes, joggers, and people expecting you not to be camping. I was woke up every morning by people walking through the site."

Reservation systems: While some campgrounds allow self-registration, others require advance booking. At Hibernia County Park, "Sites can be reserved online, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration."

Site surfaces: Ground conditions vary between campgrounds. At Patapsco Valley, "The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. Patapsco Valley offers "a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park."

Kid-friendly trails: Some parks have specially designed paths for younger visitors. A camper at Patapsco Valley mentions, "There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center."

Cabin options: For families new to camping, some sites offer simple cabins. At Patapsco Valley State Park, "The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely 'rough it.'"

Safety considerations: Rain can create challenges at some locations. One camper at Patapsco Valley shared, "One negative was that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm."

Tips for RVers

Limited hookup options: Most tent camping sites near York lack RV amenities. At Hibernia County Park, "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank."

Site access restrictions: Many campgrounds have narrow access roads unsuitable for larger rigs. One camper noted about Hibernia County Park's Lake loop, "I wouldn't attempt to park an RV up there."

Dump station availability: Plan for waste disposal before arrival. A visitor to Hibernia warns, "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home."

Site leveling: Prepare for uneven parking surfaces. At Hibernia County Park, though sites "don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18... They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near York, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near York, PA is Lower Allen Community Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near York, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near York, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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