Camping options near Elizabethville, Pennsylvania lie primarily within the Appalachian Mountain region at elevations ranging from 500-1,200 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer highs averaging in the mid-80s and winter lows frequently below freezing. River valley campgrounds offer proximity to water recreation while maintaining relatively flat terrain suitable for most recreational vehicles.
What to do
Fishing at local ponds: Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country features a stocked fishing pond that campers can access directly from the campground. "Not much for amenities, but I loved the surrounding dutch/Amish towns! It was pretty cool to seemingly step back in time," mentions Jill R. about the overall experience.
Visit Amish communities: Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country puts you within 20 minutes of authentic Amish experiences. "Should you leave 'the reservation' for any reason, you'll be engulfed by the incredibly rich, verdant countryside populated by incredibly rural residents who's ancestors settled this vast rich farmland a few hundred years ago," notes Stuart K.
Seasonal activities: Fall camping brings special events at many campgrounds, especially around Halloween. At Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm, "We were there around Halloween and they had decorated the park so nicely. The sounds of the farm animals all around was fun and amusing for us," says Mary H.
Farm animal interactions: Several campgrounds feature working farms with animal interactions. "We came amidst COVID-19, so the many activities and events this location usually holds are down, BUT there is still fun to be had here! We've enjoyed mini-golf, feeding the animals, 'hiking' through the cornfield, fishing, and campfires," explains Kasey M. about Gettysburg Farm.
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Twin Grove RV Resort earns consistent praise for cleanliness. "Spotless. Plenty of room for whatever size tent or RV you have. Always lots of activities. Nice arcade and mini golf in an area set off to the side with a ferris wheel, merry go round, and other small kiddie rides," says Mike J.
Recreational amenities: Many campgrounds offer extensive on-site activities. "We have already booked our next trip and made sure we were not on another buddy site. Now that I know this, we can avoid that one issue in the future. I enjoyed this campground so much that this will now be our go to campground when we want to stay close to home," shares Melissa Y. about Appalachian Camping Resort.
Family entertainment: Several rv sites near Elizabethville, Pennsylvania feature organized activities for children. "My family and I just stayed here for a long weekend over the Labor Day holiday. Appalachian is one of the absolute best campgrounds I have ever stayed at. It's extremely clean and very well organized," notes Melissa Y.
Outdoor swimming: Pools are common amenities at campgrounds in this region. "The pool was open until 10pm everyday. This campground has free mini golf. You can borrow golf clubs but you do have to buy balls," notes another reviewer about Appalachian Camping Resort.
What you should know
Site selection strategy: At many Thousand Trails locations, sites are first-come, first-served rather than pre-assigned. "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. 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 Yamileth K. about Thousand Trails Hershey.
Terrain considerations: Many campgrounds in the region feature sloped sites requiring leveling equipment. "Depending on your rig size you're only available certain sites. They won't give you a 50 amp site unless your 50 amp or 40', they save them for larger campers," explains Kasey M. about Thousand Trails Hershey.
Noise factors: Some campgrounds have external noise sources to consider. "The only negative thing I could possibly say would be our campsite was....awkward. We were unaware that our site was a buddy site. Now it was Labor Day weekend, the campground was completely full and we booked late," notes Melissa Y. about Appalachian Camping Resort.
Seasonal availability: While most campgrounds in the area operate April through October, some have extended seasons. "The sites are gravel and pretty level. Water pressure is pretty low and the sewer pipe is a little high but all around a really solid experience," reports Nick E. about Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Tips for camping with families
Animal interactions: Pinch Pond Family Campground offers a complete family camping experience. "My family recently spent a long weekend at Pinch Pond. Our campsite was very spacious and the ENTIRE campground was extremely clean and tidy. The office and grounds keeping staff were super friendly and helpful," shares Melissa Y.
Adventure activities: Many campgrounds feature recreational options beyond traditional camping. "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," notes the same reviewer about Pinch Pond.
Amusement options: Several campgrounds offer carnival-style entertainment. "2 very clean pools and water slides. 2 nice dog parks. Needs a pond and more shade but still is one of the nicer parks around. Twin Grove is also one of the cheaper ones, and that is hard to believe because of all they offer," writes Mike J. about Twin Grove RV Resort.
Pet-friendly facilities: Most camping areas near Elizabethville welcome pets with dedicated amenities. "This is an amazing campground! There are 2 dog parks right next to each other, which is great for your furry friend to be able to run around and play off leash," states Tiffany S. about Twin Grove.
Tips from RVers
Power management: Electrical capacity varies between campgrounds in the Elizabethville region. "Definitely got lucky with site F03 for Starlink. The rest of the campground has a lot of tree cover. Beautiful grounds and clean. Site is gravel and pretty level. Water pressure is pretty low and the sewer pipe is a little high but all around a really solid experience," notes Nick E. about Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Site dimensions: RVers should research site sizes before booking camping near Elizabethville. "We were in two different sites: the first was a two point site (water and electric) the road was dirt it seemed separate from the main drag of the campground, sites were wide but not very deep," explains Kasey M. about PA Dutch Country.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at many rv sites near Elizabethville, Pennsylvania. "The campground is huge but you're not stacked on top of your neighbor like the others. They have 4 different sections to stay in, we were in D. We were also able to pick which site we wanted. We chose a pull thru for its ease and the extra space it had being on the end," notes Sammii D. about Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Utility hookup positioning: Sewer and water hookup locations can create layout challenges. "One star taken away because fire pit is within feet from poop sewer connection of neighbor. Thankfully, they didn't use it, but imagine if they had as we were cooking over the open fire," cautions Luis B. about Appalachian Camping Resort.
