Camping opportunities near Ephrata, Pennsylvania sit in the heart of Lancaster County's rolling farmland at elevations between 350 and 450 feet. The region's climate includes four distinct seasons with warm, humid summers reaching into the mid-80s and winters that can drop below freezing. Most campgrounds in this area feature mature tree cover with a mix of wooded and open sites on terrain that typically requires leveling blocks for RVs.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The small fishing pond at Lake-In-Wood Campground offers catch-and-release fishing with several duck families around the water. "There is a huge pond for fishing, miniature gold, nice indoor and outdoor pool and a kiddie pool. Goats to pet and watch," notes one visitor.
Farm animal interactions: At Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm, visitors can feed animals during scheduled morning sessions. "Got a kick out of the children playing with the kids (baby goats) pigs, goats, chickens, horses and even lamas. Plenty to see and learn. Prefect campground for the family," shares a camper who stayed at site C103.
Local shooting range access: Located within earshot of Pinch Pond Family Campground, target practice enthusiasts can visit the nearby range. "You will hear target practice going on, especially in the wee early hours," notes one reviewer, though families should note the noise impacts camping experience during daytime hours.
What campers like
Pool facilities: The indoor-outdoor pool setup at Lake-In-Wood Campground stands out among rv sites near Ephrata, Pennsylvania. "I liked how the kid area wrapped around and connected to the deeper end," writes one family visitor who appreciated the thoughtful design.
Proximity to Amish country: Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country places campers "in the heart of one of the most picturesque natural landscapes anywhere in the Keystone State." A visitor describes the setting as "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."
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds offer extensive holiday programming, particularly Halloween celebrations. At Circle M RV Campground, "they had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!" according to a seasonal visitor who appreciated the festive atmosphere.
What you should know
Weather impacts on sites: After rainfall, some campgrounds experience drainage issues. At Robin Hill Campground, "Sites are swampy if they've had rain! Took us over two hours to disconnect because of mushy, muddy site!" reported one camper who normally completes setup in under an hour.
Noise considerations: Multiple campgrounds have noise sources that affect the camping experience. Near Pinch Pond, "the only negative thing is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner," warns one reviewer, while another notes highway noise can be an issue at sites closest to I-76.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies between locations and providers. At Sun Valley Campground, a visitor reported "2 bars LTE on T-Mobile" with no internet access. Several other campgrounds offer WiFi only for additional fees, with varying quality of service.
Tips for camping with families
Mini golf options: Free or low-cost mini golf courses appear at several RV parks near Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Pinch Pond Family Campground offers "tickets for playing games and my kids LOVED IT! It was like camping and going to chuckie cheese at the same time," according to one mother who visited with children.
Arcade availability: Game rooms vary widely in quality and maintenance. One Pinch Pond visitor appreciated that "Their game room has tickets. This is the one and only campground we have ever visited that gave tickets for playing games." Meanwhile, at Robin Hill Campground, a visitor warned "games in arcade are dated and most don't work."
Weekend crowds: Expect significantly higher occupancy Friday through Sunday at most campgrounds. A Spring Gulch visitor noted "We camped here over Memorial Day weekend and it was full," while another mentioned that Circle M "gets very full on the weekends."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region feature uneven terrain requiring extensive leveling equipment. At Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, "Unlevel is an understatement we were in E row and every camper there had front end 4 foot off the ground. Many other sites were the same," warns one RVer about the hillside positioning.
Site selection strategy: For the best experience at Spring Gulch Resort Campground, "the Prime Sites are very spacious" according to a satisfied visitor. At Thousand Trails properties, arriving early is critical since "Thousand Trails sites are a first come, first serve. Meaning you have to arrive early in order to get the best spots."
Pull-through availability: Limited pull-through sites exist for easier access with larger rigs. At Lake-In-Wood Campground, the roads can be challenging as they are "very tight and you really had to watch how you drove through because of the trees. Our site was a drive-through but slanted."
