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Campgrounds near Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania include a variety of established facilities with amenities for different camping preferences. The Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA offers tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations within easy driving distance to Hershey attractions. Nearby Hershey Road Campground and Thousand Trails Hershey provide additional options for recreational vehicles and cabin rentals. River Rock Recreation offers a more primitive riverside camping experience along the Susquehanna River. Most developed campgrounds in the area feature electric hookups, water access, shower facilities, and organized recreation areas, while maintaining wooded settings that provide natural scenery.
Seasonal operation varies significantly among the region's camping areas, with most facilities open from April through October or early November. Campgrounds like Thousand Trails Hershey operate from mid-April to late October, while the Jonestown/Hershey KOA remains open year-round. Reservation requirements are standard across most established campgrounds, with many sites filling quickly during summer months and holiday weekends, particularly those near Hersheypark attractions. Sites with full hookups or premium amenities may require booking several weeks in advance during peak season. Most campgrounds maintain clean facilities with regular maintenance. A visitor noted, "Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA has large and easy to enter/exit sites with good WiFi and cable TV."
Campers frequently mention the convenience of area campgrounds for accessing regional attractions like Hersheypark, Amish Country, and outdoor recreation trails. The Conewago Recreation Trail receives positive mentions from visitors as a nearby multi-use path for walking and biking. River Rock Recreation stands out for offering a more secluded experience directly on the Susquehanna River, where one camper described it as "a single campsite that you rent, no other campers on site unless you are bringing them with you." Several reviews highlight the cleanliness of facilities, with bathhouses and amenities generally well-maintained across multiple properties. Families appreciate the organized activities at larger campgrounds, while those seeking quieter experiences can find more secluded options slightly farther from main attractions. Most campgrounds in the region accept pets, though specific breed restrictions may apply at certain facilities.
"This campground has a little something for everyone, from full hook up sites neatly stacked next to each other, to quiet patches of grass next to the river."
"They don’t sell alcohol but there is a shopping center within walking distance with restaurants and liquor stores! Even a supermarket. There is shuttle service to the park."
"We have a small camper and there are some great sites on the lake side to park it where you can get AMAZING sunset views. "
"We had site 108 which is an electric site along the shore and close to the beach, and it was perfect for our needs. "
from $24 - $89 / night
Check Availability"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."
"This is a clean, nice looking campground in a location very close to Hershey park and the outlets. It’s a very nice area."
from $50 - $60 / night
Check Availability"There was a bathhouse and dish sink nearby, as well as the entrance to a nice little nature trail a few sites down. "
"Large and easy to enter/exit sites. Wifi was pretty good. (It helped that the antenna was right beside our site!) Cable TV, too! Everyone we talked to was nice and friendly."
from $45 - $279 / night
Check Availability"Set just off I-76 in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, Pinch Pond Family Campground& RV Park is a large, all-in-one, family-focused campground with a layout that feels more like a small neighborhood"
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"Tucked into the rolling, wooded hills of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country RV Resort offers a unique blend of peaceful countryside and activity-packed camping, all just a stone"
"this campground is completely surrounded by a fairly dense forest, which likely is what blocks any irritable sound and most certainly blocks any highway or traffic visibility."
"There is no on site running water or electric but they did leave us with a 5 gallon water jug and a 5 gallon shower bag to use in the outside shower."
"https://www.riverrockadv.com/#/ I was fortunate enough to find this local gem while browsing“camping near me”. Not only that, my unlucky butt won a 2 night stay there!"
from $75 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Close to Lancaster for necessities and great proximity to Baltimore and Philadelphia for day trips."
"I used to stay here all the time with my grandparents when they were around. It was always some of the best times for me."
"Very close to Hersheypark. Nicest miniature golf course I’ve ever seen at a RV park. Same can be said for the swimming pool, absolutely beautiful. Great little dog park as well. "
"Great location a updated grounds, sites and restrooms n bath houses. Local to hershey but out of the traffic. Great vaction site for RVs n longer stays. Quiet n comfortable RV living!"
ScoutPicked the nicest days of the week. Got here and the carousel, Ferris wheel, restaurant, and ice cream shoppe are closed. They are apparently only open 2 days a week, maybe 3. I would have just went down the road to the KOA had I not known this.
ScoutStaff is friendly and everything is kept up well, newly renovated pool and pavilion area.
GuideWe used to camp here 30+ years ago. Nice that it hasn't changed much. Still has a game room with pool table, driving games, skeet ball, etc. No more pinball games like in the past. Apparently in the 1930 there was a working train around the campground, a restaurant and horse shoes - none of which are at present.
Sites are quite small. I thought our neighbor's awning was going to hit our RV, and that ours might hit the next neighbor's RV. In some parts the campers are also back to back, luckily ours is not.
They have wi-fi but you must pay for it, no free service. No cable TV (which is the norm these days). Good cell reception so you will need that or a Starlink to stream shows.
Staff are friendly. Sites are pretty level. The campground itself is rather pretty with trees, grassy areas, playgrounds for kids, etc. Lots of lightning bugs at night, and birds during the day.
At night it's interesting to walk around as so many seasonal and permanent campers have lights around their campers, trees, etc. Almost like walking around one of those light up parks they do around Christmas.
LegendPros- Pool is sparkling clear and new. Mini golf is awesome. Nice people, nice store.
Cons- further from Hershey Park than ideal, lots of seasonal campers leaving for work before dawn in loud trucks, not much privacy, some road noise.
ScoutWe stayed only one night in primitive tent site which was massive with a turnaround. It was great. There are fire pits and picnic tables and level ground. Very serene. We walked down to the river, breathtaking. Not sure of other amenities as we didn’t use them.
ScoutFrome the moment you drive up the women at the gate is about as welcoming ( as my Pops would say ) "A fart in church.," Great way to start your vacation. Didn't get much better in the office. The one guy that worked there did at least smile at us....
ScoutWhere do I start?
We came to this campground to connect with family who was hiking the AT. We left after one miserable night. Here are some reasons:
A giant confederate flag near the entrance
Highway noise and not one but two train tracks
One Filthy “bathroom”
No shade at our campsite- despite other available sites with some shade
A trail of poison ivy on the narrow path to the river
Cigarette butts everywhere
And a creepy man on a bike who declared he was a local and wouldn’t leave our site while I was alone and insisted on talking to me about the strip club down the street, where to buy condoms and how my tent’s mesh shelf is perfect for drying out my wet panties.
ScoutWe called ahead of time to reserve two sites for two nights for a bunch of people from out of state and some hikers from the AT. They said it was $35 per site per night. When we arrived we were told that we had to pay for three nights because it was a holiday weekend AND that the price was per tent. The porta potties were gross and hadn’t been serviced in a while. It was difficult to use them. During a heat wave we were given a site with little shade when several sites further along with plenty of trees were empty. The plumbed bathroom was dirty and had no soap. The shop did not in fact sell love bait, which cramped our fishing style. There is a loud rail road with constant trains on one side and a very busy highway with loud trucks on the other. The river front was lovely, but with detritus from previous campers on the rocks. We left after one night.
ScoutWell maintained campgrounds with thoughtful touches. Staff very friendly and responsive.
Camping near Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania sits in the heart of Lancaster County with elevations ranging from 400-500 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F during peak camping months from June through August. Most campgrounds in the Elizabethtown area remain open from April through October, with a few offering year-round accommodations for winter camping enthusiasts.
Fishing opportunities: The Susquehanna River offers excellent fishing access for campers staying at River Rock Recreation, where visitors can catch catfish and carp using live bait. "We spent our time fishing the river banks right outside our tents and kayaking on the Susquehanna to fish the warm waters. We caught a ton of catfish and carp using live bait," notes one visitor.
Disc golf courses: For active campers, Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground offers two full 18-hole disc golf courses located in separate day-use areas. The Conewago course is relatively flat while the Quaker Race course is hillier and more wooded. "The campground is huge but you're not stacked on top of your neighbor like the others," making it easy to access recreation areas.
Trail exploration: The Northwest Lancaster Trail runs near several campgrounds and connects to an "Edible Forest" area. Many campsites provide maps of local hiking options, with the 8.5-mile Lakeside Trail at Gifford Pinchot offering scenic views. A camper mentioned, "I took an early morning hike on the 8.5 mile Lakeside Trail that goes around the lake and it was really awesome to see the lake from all different angles."
Private camping experience: Unlike crowded commercial campgrounds, some locations offer exclusive use of the entire campsite. At River Rock Recreation, "This is a single campsite that you rent, no other campers on site unless you are bringing them with you!" The site accommodates up to 10 people with "plenty of room for everyone to spread out."
Outdoor shower amenities: Several campgrounds feature outdoor shower facilities that campers particularly appreciate. "The outdoor shower was spacious with shelves to stash your stuff and a hook for the shower bag," noted one visitor, highlighting the thoughtful design despite primitive facilities.
Covered kitchen areas: Practical amenities like covered cooking spaces receive positive mentions from campers. "One of my favorite features other than staying right on the river was the kitchen area. There is a stone floor, covered roof, and wrap around wood countertop space complete with an outdoor sink," shared a camper at River Rock Recreation.
Railroad noise considerations: Several campgrounds in the Elizabethtown area are situated near active railroad tracks. As one camper at Hersheypark Camping Resort noted, "Nice camp ground but super loud bc of the trains. Bath houses are nice and clean. I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!"
Shooting range proximity: Campers should be aware that some campgrounds are located near shooting ranges, which can affect the noise level during daytime hours. A reviewer at Pinch Pond Family Campground observed, "One thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region feature sloping terrain that requires additional equipment for level setup. "The campground is pretty hilly and they don't seem to want to level out the sites. We had to go out and get more blocks and we're still not very level front to back," reported a visitor at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Kid-friendly activities: Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA provides numerous organized events for children, particularly on weekends. "The kids enjoyed the indoor pool. Looking forward to coming back in the summer," shared one visitor. Another mentioned, "They have an indoor and outdoor pool. Nice playground."
Game room options: Several campgrounds feature arcade-style game rooms that children enjoy. A family staying at Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park noted, "Their game room has tickets. This is the one and only campground we have ever visited that gave tickets for playing games and my kids LOVED IT! It was like camping and going to chuckie cheese at the same time."
Halloween weekend events: For fall camping, look for special seasonal activities. "They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!" reported a family at Thousand Trails Circle M, where themed activities run throughout October.
Site selection strategy: At membership campgrounds like Thousand Trails, arriving early provides better options. "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. For everyone complaining about driving around and not finding spots, if you get there early enough around 1 pm, you won't have a problem," advises a camper at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Maneuverability considerations: RV campers should check site dimensions carefully before booking. At Old Mill Stream Campground, a reviewer with a large rig noted, "We stayed on site 123 with a 40 ft Allegro Bus. Plenty of room to maneuver a big rig. All gravel sites and we had full hookup with 50 Amp."
Water quality awareness: Some campgrounds in the region may have water quality issues. An RVer staying at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country reported, "Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay." Consider bringing additional water filtration equipment if this is a concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping amenities are available at Elizabethtown KOA?
Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA offers full hookup sites with water, electric, and sewer connections. The campground features clean restroom facilities, hot showers, and is big-rig friendly with pull-through sites. Recreational amenities typically include a swimming pool (seasonal), playground, and planned activities for families. The campground provides WiFi, a camp store for essentials, and is pet-friendly. Similar to other regional KOAs like Philadelphia-West Chester KOA, they likely offer cabin rentals in addition to traditional camping sites.
Can I rent an RV in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania for camping?
Yes, RV rentals are available near Elizabethtown. While there aren't dedicated rental facilities in Elizabethtown proper, nearby options exist in the Harrisburg-Lancaster region. Once you've secured a rental, consider camping at Hersheypark Camping Resort, which offers full hookup sites perfect for RVs with quiet areas along the river. Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country is another excellent option with RV-friendly amenities in the heart of Amish country. For rentals, check regional RV dealerships or online peer-to-peer rental platforms.
Where are the best campgrounds in Elizabethtown, PA?
Elizabethtown offers excellent camping options with Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park being a convenient roadside option for travelers visiting nearby Harrisburg or Hershey. For a more picturesque experience, Pequea Creek Campground offers large, tree-filled sites in a quiet setting close enough to Lancaster for shopping excursions. The area provides easy access to covered bridges, riverside recreation, and Amish country attractions, making it an ideal base for exploring the region.
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