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Best Tent Camping near Ephrata, PA

839 Reviews

Several tent campgrounds serve the Ephrata area in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, offering a mix of established sites and primitive camping options. Mill Creek Camping Area in Lancaster provides tent-only sites along a creek with good tree cover. Hibernia County Park in Coatesville offers tent campsites with basic amenities in wooded settings. Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area specifically caters to tent campers with walk-in and hike-in access options. These areas operate seasonally, with most open from spring through fall.

Tent sites at most campgrounds near Ephrata include picnic tables and fire rings, though amenities vary considerably between locations. Mill Creek and Lancaster County camping areas feature drinking water access and toilet facilities but lack showers or electrical hookups. Hibernia County Park maintains tent sites on grassy surfaces under tree cover with portable toilets that reviewers note are "very clean and don't smell." Most tent campgrounds permit fires and provide firewood for purchase, though alcohol is generally prohibited. Some sites require reservations while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with prices typically ranging from $15-25 per night.

The tent camping experience near Ephrata offers creek-side sites that provide natural cooling during hot summer days. Most locations feature wooded surroundings that create shade and some privacy between campsites, though the level of seclusion varies significantly. Hibernia County Park offers hiking trails and lake access near its tent sites, making it popular for outdoor activities. Public trails sometimes run near or through campgrounds, which can affect privacy. "We loved the lake campground. The lake is about a 3 minute hike down the clearly marked trails. Each site has a large picnic table and a fire ring with a built-in grill. Plenty of firewood to be found," noted one visitor to Hibernia County Park. Campers seeking the most secluded tent sites should consider the walk-in and hike-in options at Lancaster County Mill Creek.

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Best Tent Sites Near Ephrata, Pennsylvania (19)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Ephrata, PA

21 Photos of 19 Ephrata Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Ephrata, PA

839 Reviews of 19 Ephrata Campgrounds

  • Ra F.
    Aug. 28, 2024

    Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park

    OK, but camping gets a low rating.

    The park is lovely, but the camping facilities are subpar, primitive and lack any kind of privacy. I bike toured there. The only potable water was from a near-broken water fountain at the public rest rooms and no electrical connection to recharge electronics. There was also a fair amount of road noise at night. Bathhouse OK, but just basic. Tent spots are just lined up against one another facing a service road.

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Locust Lake State Park Campground

    Serenity on the lakes

    Pretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Campsites Jammed Closely Together

    PROS 

    Reserved 328 days prior to arriving

    $13.50 senior discount 

    Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful 

    Site C3 parking pad level asphalt 

    Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable 

    One hook lantern pole 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival 

    Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites 

    Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center. 

    Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP 

    CONS

    $6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation 

    Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching 

    Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together

    Pitiful low water pressure  in Loop C

    Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level 

    Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking 

    Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday 

    Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable) 

    Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced

    Lots of barking dogs 

    No wood sales in park 

    No WiFi 

    1 bar Verizon

  • 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! 

    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. 

    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 couldn’t believe we hadn’t visited before because it is a great state park. Wood is available for purchase at the campground hosts’ 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.

  • 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.

  • Max C.
    Oct. 14, 2019

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Gorgeous in the fall

    Stayed in B-08 on mid October and had a great trip. The site was non-electric and it seems most of the outer side of this loop is basic camping with the inside of the loop having power. The other loops offer full hookups but opting for this area kept us from being surrounded by massive RV's. Easy back in spot for our car, partially shaded, decent brush cover between sites and able to keep tent about 20 yards from the road on a crushed rock pad. I will say this site has a little bit of slope but nothing that affected our sleep. The fire ring is very high sided and if you're not sitting on a higher camp chairs you kind of miss the fire. Picnic table was sturdy but easy enough to move lnto place to fit our needs. Tons of hike mg within the park including some historic sites at Hopewell Furnace like the blacksmith shop and old residences. Checked in a. It before the stated 3pm time without issues. Very few rangers seen during stay but it is after labor day and most of the seasonal attractions like the pool etc were closed for the season. Very clean bathrooms with easy to use dish sinks on the outside. Overall for a trip that within 75 minutes of Philly you can't go wrong for a quick jaunt out of town.

  • K
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Nice campground for primitive tenting

    Large campground but only 15 sites dedicated to“roughin’ it” 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 didn’t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutes’ drive. Definitely going back…!

  • Tara T.
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park

    Easy Camping

    Green Lane is a beautiful park with a small campground. The spaces are right on top of each other with no tree cover between spots, so you’ll definitely be right up on your neighbors. The fire rings are big and frustrating, the fire sits on a lifted grate so you go through wood like crazy. Lovely park, lovely rangers, but not my favorite spot.

  • E
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Elk Neck State Park Campground

    Good Intro to Camping

    I booked a tent site as my first introduction to the park. Setting up a reservation was incredibly user friendly, park staff was fantastic at getting us checked in, and the camp store was well stocked and priced. 

    Our site, however, left something to be desired. The sites were all very close together, and the tent pad areas were fairly small. You can drive right up to your site and park there, which is incredibly convenient in terms of unpacking and set up. Around our site was pretty loud with neighbors at all hours, regardless of quiet hours, and balls being kicked into our tent pad area from surrounding visitors. There were some bottle caps and garbage on our tent pad upon arrival.

    I think if you had kids and were looking for a "not so quiet" get away into nature, this would be a fantastic spot. There were larger and more private sites on our loop, and if I returned I would prioritize getting one of those. There are also more loops than the one we were on. 

    The firepit had an adjustable height grill grate, and there was a picnic table at each site. Firewood ran $5 a bundle at the camp store.  Ice and potable water was also available. 

    There was a nearby dumpster that was easy to use. Disappointed that there did not seem to be a recycling receptacle. Bathrooms were nice, the handicapped shower was very spacious. No shortage of hot water. 

    We hiked all available trails from the trail map, though it seems there were more than listed, and a portion of the park is closed following previous tornado damage. We saw an abundance of herps, gorged ourselves on pawpaws, and generally foraged and tracked a ton of interesting wildlife. The trails themselves were pretty, but the rankings somewhat misleading. The "hard" trails would be hard in comparison to a flat gravel path, but in terms of general hiking, were comfortable with only a couple mildly steep or narrow points. I am unsure if the ranking system is for general hiking or in terms of ADA accessibility, however. If accessibility, it makes a lot of sense. For hiking? Less so; I'd rank the trails as a normal difficulty for their 'hard' trails. 

    The beaches were lovely! We did not get the opportunity to kayak, swim, or fish, but are hoping to do that sometime in the future. Was still relaxing to sit out with a book and watch the water.

    I do feel like we explored most of what the park had to offer, so while I would be happy to return it feels less urgent to do so. I think I would be better equipped to pick a site (or explore a cabin!) the next time which would resolve my minimal issues. Given the relaxed atmosphere of the trails, close amenities, etc. I think this would be a good choice to bring friends who are new to the camping scene, or for families.

Guide to Ephrata

Tent camping near Ephrata, Pennsylvania offers creek-side experiences in the rural Lancaster County landscape, where summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 400-600 feet, creating moderate humidity levels and making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. The area's camping season generally runs from April through October, with limited winter availability.

What to do

Creek exploration: Mill Creek Camping Area provides direct creek access for wading and cooling off during hot summer days. "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," reports camper Meagan J.

Hiking trails: Susquehannock State Park Campground features trails with panoramic views of the Susquehanna River. A visitor notes, "a short walk from the scenic overlooks and other hiking trails," while another mentions "It's look out over the Susquehanna River is fantastic and puts you up with the birds."

Bird watching: Several campgrounds in the region offer opportunities to spot local bird species. During certain seasons, eagles can be spotted near Conowingo dam. As David G. explains about Susquehannock State Park, "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."

What campers like

Shaded sites: Hibernia County Park has two camping loops with good tree coverage. "Fiddler's loop is where we always camp... it's tiny (19 sites in Fiddlers loop), it's quiet, it's heavily wooded," describes Jennifer S., noting the "plenty of hammock hanging opportunities."

Budget-friendly options: Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers affordable creekside camping. Jake C. confirms: "Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water."

Natural cooling: Creek-adjacent sites provide relief from summer heat. One Mill Creek Camping Area visitor explains: "The stream is refreshing and the site stays fairly cool. When it's hits the high temperatures a quick dip in the water is amazing."

What you should know

Weekend-only operation: Some campgrounds have limited schedules. Jennifer S. notes about Hibernia County Park: "This campground is only open on the weekends, in season. Sites can be reserved on line, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration."

Trail traffic: Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area has public access trails running through camping areas. One camper mentions: "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."

Primitive facilities: Many sites have basic amenities only. At Hibernia County Park, "There are only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop, however there is a bathroom with running water, flush toilets and electric outlets (no shower) within walking distance of the loop."

Tips for camping with families

Children's activities: Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park provides multiple options for kids. A visitor commented, "we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."

Kid-friendly fishing: Some parks offer stocked ponds specifically for young anglers. At Hibernia County Park, a parent shares: "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing."

Site selection for families: Choose sites with adequate space for multiple tents. "Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents," notes a Mill Creek Camping Area visitor, making it suitable for family groups.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds near Ephrata accommodate smaller RVs only. At Hibernia County Park, Jennifer S. advises: "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 leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain. Jennifer S. notes about Hibernia County Park: "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."

No dump stations: Plan for waste management. A camper at Hibernia County Park points out: "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."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ephrata, PA is Mill Creek Camping Area with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Ephrata, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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