2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country and Lake-In-Wood Campground house distinctive glamping accommodations in Pennsylvania's scenic countryside. Lake-In-Wood features unique glamping options including a treehouse, double-decker bus, and yurts set among wooded surroundings with full amenities. "This place has everything! Mini golf, playgrounds, indoor pool, outdoor pool, hot tub, kiddie pool, Cafe, arcade, camp store, pond with fishing, kayak and peddle boat rentals," noted one visitor about Lake-In-Wood. The glamping units typically include comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control for year-round comfort. Thousand Trails offers similar upscale accommodations with private decks overlooking the property's natural features. Both locations provide glamping guests with access to modern bathhouses, laundry facilities, and camp stores stocked with essentials.
French Creek State Park Campground and Tuscarora State Park expand the region's glamping possibilities with their yurts and deluxe cabins. According to a camper, "The yurts have 2 sets of bunk beds with one set having full size mattress on bottom. Yurts have heat and fans. Full size refrigerator, stove and microwave." These parks combine wilderness experiences with comfortable accommodations, featuring electricity, furnished interiors, and outdoor living spaces with fire rings and picnic tables. Guests enjoy hiking on multiple trail systems, fishing in stocked lakes, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Seasonal activities include kayak and paddleboard rentals at Tuscarora's lake, where each yurt includes a mooring slip for personal watercraft. The surrounding Amish countryside offers additional attractions including covered bridges, local markets, and historic sites. Most glamping accommodations require advance reservations, especially during peak summer months when minimum stay requirements apply.
"While its proximity to the highway makes access easy, the property itself is gated, organized into distinct camping zones and packed with amenities that clearly cater to longer stays and families looking"
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"That said, as the PA Dutch Country RV Resort rests at a slightly higher elevation than the turnpike, I have to admit, we really didn’t notice much of any noise coming from the highway and what’s more,"
"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"
"We first had a 2 point site near the river, but when it rains the sites get flooded with runoff from the campground. We moved to a full hookup on the Delaware section."
"I got an amazingly large site with a nice fire pit and picnic table. The site was very level so that was great! Nice indoor and outdoor pools! Cable TV isn't free, but I never use it anyway."
"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."
"The area up on the hill in the back is next to the CSX train track that runs 24/7. Lazy River Rest does flood when it rains and our relatives had to relocate their first night until it dried out."
"Tent sites are lined up along the water which is great for fishing (especially when you need to stay close to the littles sleeping in the tent). Lots of benches lined up along the water."
"The entrance in off the main road turns you into the theme park. Fear not. Turn in and follow the road to the right and into the campground. We stayed on site 123 with a 40 ft Allegro Bus."
"Starlite offers a wide variety of amenities such as a community pool, general store, snack bar, playground area, toilets, indoor shower stalls, daily activities, pets permitted, water/electric utilities"
"We had two sites this trip with water and electric, but they do have quite a few full hook-up sites. Overall the sites were large, with trees between, providing additional privacy."
"The "pet loop" was clearly geared towards RVs etc. All of the sites are full electric and more than a few have very little space for a family size tent to be safely away from the fire ring."
"Site 365 at this time of year was very quiet and secluded. Cold it was, 15 degrees was a teeth chattering experience. However our A Liner Ranger kept me warm and cozy."
"No pets though. B and C loop felt like the spaces were very close to each other. A loop was closed at this point."
"Got there at 11pm and the D loop says no pets allowed."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $90 / night
"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."
"Nice chairs, fire pit, and picnic table. The bath house was extremely clean and very nice. The pool was nice, but being that it was the end of June, the water was freezing! I couldn't get in!"
from $45 - $279 / night
"We stayed at one of the primitive tent sites with no hookups adjacent to the farm field. Watching a horse drawn equipment cutting grass while we cooked dinner was a joy."
"The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire."
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
GuideWe booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutThe advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
ScoutThe campground is in excellent condition. The facilities are top notch. The excellence and care of the campground is evident. The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire.
TravelerThere was no hot water in the showers. There are no dog poo stations. There is a dumpster marked “STAFF ONLY”. It’s nice they have a place to stuff the staff!
TravelerOMG! Next to busy interstate, railroad tracks and shooting range. Way to much for me!
GuideA beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
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.
Glamping opportunities abound within 30 miles of Elm, Pennsylvania, where the rolling hills of southeastern Pennsylvania meet the rich agricultural landscape. This region sits at elevations between 400-800 feet above sea level and experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F. Most campgrounds in this area feature wooded settings with varying terrain, often requiring careful site selection for level ground.
Fishing and water recreation: The small fishing pond at Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park offers easy access for anglers. "From a foodie standpoint, take my word for it, there is VERY little around these parts and what you can find nearby are local joints, which we loved BTW, including: Mount Gretna Hideaway, Gus' Keystone Family Restaurant, Kountry Kitchen Family Restaurant," notes one visitor who enjoyed combining fishing with local dining.
Golf and activities: Many locations offer recreation beyond standard camping. At Starlite Camping Resort, "There are regular activities for all ages including bingo, crafts and live music. Add all of that to the best view we have seen and it's a win win," explains a regular camper. The resort sits on a hilltop providing panoramic views of the countryside.
Historic sites: The region's rich heritage includes Amish settlements and historic landmarks. "If you're an RVer or 5th Wheeler, the best sites IMHO are those that back up to the periphery and are northernmost up the slight embankment as you'll have greater privacy and less noise being furthest away from all of the action in the center of this campground resort," suggests a visitor to Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, who used the location as a base for exploring local history.
Variety of amenities: Campers appreciate full-service facilities. At Lake-In-Wood Campground, "This place has a big lawn in the middle which rolls down to the lake. The weekend we were there they had A chicken dinner. It was actually very good. We experienced the hayride around the campground," shares one visitor. This resort combines natural settings with organized activities.
Scenic locations: Many campgrounds in the area feature beautiful natural surroundings. "Site Details: I forget our site#, but we were in the wooded area farthest from the central 'hub'. Our site was level, shaded and quite large. Almost every site in this section was similarly large and wooded, with an impressive amount of space between sites for a KOA," reports a camper at Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA.
Quiet camping options: Despite proximity to attractions, peaceful sites can be found. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other. Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean," notes a visitor to French Creek State Park Campground, highlighting the value of thoughtfully designed sites.
Site variations: Campgrounds often have dramatically different sites within the same facility. "We first had a 2 point site near the river, but when it rains the sites get flooded with runoff from the campground. We moved to a full hookup on the Delaware section. Open, accommodating for our rig," explains a camper at Thousand Trails Circle M.
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds have nearby noise sources. "The overwhelming impression of this campground was the smell of cow manure from the nearby dairy farm feedlot. The smell was not present the first day or so we were there and we enjoyed sitting outside in the afternoon, but when the wind shifted the horrid smell drove us inside," reports a visitor to Old Mill Stream Campground.
Reservation timing: Popular glamping options near Elm, Pennsylvania require advance planning. "Nice campground with a creek that runs along the backside of the campground! Even though the amusement park wasn't open yet, kids still had a good time! The grounds are clean and there's also a small playground and basketball court!" notes a springtime visitor, highlighting seasonal considerations.
Entertainment options: Look for campgrounds with multiple recreation facilities. "We tented in loop D…the only bad part was that it was kind of hard to find a level and rock-free spot large enough for our tent, but we managed! There is lots of hiking, the lake is beautiful, at least two playgrounds (perfect for our kids), the bathrooms were well maintained," shares a visitor at French Creek State Park.
Kid-friendly amenities: Some locations specifically cater to younger campers. "They have Hershey's ice cream in the office and my kids enjoyed getting a treat. 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," explains a parent at Pinch Pond Family Campground.
Proximity to attractions: Staying near regional destinations enhances family trips. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, "Very clean 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!" cautions a visitor, highlighting the importance of site selection even at premium locations.
Site selection strategies: Experienced RVers recommend checking site details carefully. "It's a koa but it's great, no on was there when we went in October. We had the whole place to ourselves," shares an off-season visitor to Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, highlighting the benefits of traveling during shoulder seasons.
Utility considerations: Water and power access varies significantly. "The one thing that comes to mind is gnomes! After our week here, we bought one from the gift store for future camping adventures. Great pools and classes (water aerobics was fun for everyone)," recalls a visitor to Lake-In-Wood, where full hookups complement extensive recreation options.
Navigational challenges: Some glamping sites near Elm, Pennsylvania present access difficulties. "The roads were very tight and you really had to watch how you drove through because of the trees. Our site was a drive-through but slanted. There wasn't much room on our site to do anything else," cautions an RVer at Lake-In-Wood, emphasizing the importance of careful driving in wooded settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Elm, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Elm, PA is Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park with a 4.3-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Elm, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 50 glamping camping locations near Elm, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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