Fort Loudon sits in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, at approximately 600 feet above sea level in the Cumberland Valley between North and South Mountain. The surrounding mountainous terrain creates varied camping environments with temperature differences of 5-10 degrees between valley and ridge campsites. Most campgrounds in the region operate from April through October, though several offer year-round camping options.
What to do
Creek fishing opportunities: Friendship Village Campground in Bedford features a catch-and-release fishing pond that requires no license. "There is a 1/2 mile walking path around it with trees and beaches to stop and sit," notes camper Steve K., who also appreciated the multiple playgrounds and dog park areas.
Mini golf courses: Several campgrounds offer on-site mini golf, saving families the drive to entertainment areas. Gettysburg Campground includes this activity among its amenities, though one visitor observed it was "in pretty sad shape" at Drummer Boy Camping Resort, suggesting maintenance varies by location.
Historical exploration: Gettysburg Campground provides an ideal base for battlefield tours just minutes away. "It's in the heart of the battlefield access points and trails," explains Dave G., who found the location convenient for accessing downtown shops and restaurants while avoiding hotel costs.
Water activities: Harpers Ferry Campground offers direct river access from most sites. "It is right on the river so you can go swimming right from your campsite," shares Robin W., adding that "there is also great fishing right from you campsite as well." The campground partners with River Riders for tubing and kayaking options.
What campers like
Creek-side sites: Tent campers at Gettysburg Campground appreciate the waterfront locations. "We were in tent sites which felt bigger than most and were right by river," reports Kelly J., who found the porta potties exceptionally clean "even with a ton of recent rain."
Family entertainment options: Friendship Village Campground receives high marks for its recreational facilities. "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing," writes Tasha M., who visited during off-season but still found plenty to do.
Proximity to attractions: Campers value locations near historical sites. "It's literally like a mile from downtown Gettysburg, which also has a lot of different things to do," notes David G. about Drummer Boy Camping Resort, appreciating both the amenities and the friendly seasonal campers who provided useful information.
Swimming pools: Multiple campgrounds maintain pools as summer highlights. "The pool with the slide was very clean," observed Sabrina H. at Drummer Boy Camping Resort, though she noted "the bathhouses could definitely use some upgrading for the money that place probably takes in each season."
What you should know
Train noise considerations: Harpers Ferry Campground sits adjacent to active railroad tracks. "The trains that come through here almost hourly range from quick commuter MARC or Amtrak trains to long freight trains," warns Sherri C., explaining that "if the sound doesn't wake you up, the rumbling ground will."
Site spacing variability: Many campgrounds pack sites closely together. At Western Village RV Park, one camper reported, "The sites are so small that my truck was either parked over the firering or blocking our door. Our slideout is 3" from the neighbor site's picnic table."
Seasonal differences: Off-peak visits offer different experiences. "Off-season so not crowded. Pool was clean and quite good sized, had it to ourselves due to season," reports John L. about Round Top Campground, appreciating the "reasonable spacing with gravel pads, mostly level" and trees between sites.
Utility placement issues: At several campgrounds, hookup locations create challenges. A Western Village RV Park visitor noted, "We share 1 water source with 2 other campers. In order to hook anything up, you had to be in your neighbor's space."
Tips for camping with families
Campground organization: Consider site locations relative to amenities. At Friendship Village, Christopher R. advises, "For tent campers I recommend staying in the area of sites 5-25 as there is a very nice bathhouse very close by... the best sites to stay at if you have kids are sites 145–171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit."
Weekend activity planning: Many campgrounds schedule weekend entertainment. At Timber Run Campground (formerly Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA), Paul B. describes their themed weekends: "We stayed during Bigfoot weekend. It was super fun as our family likes bigfoot fun. We started out Friday night getting the offered $12 bbq plate... On Saturday was rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party."
Avoiding falling hazards: Watch for natural debris at certain campsites. At Gettysburg Campground, Dave G. warns, "One of the drawbacks of this campground is that a lot of the trees are black walnut trees and the squirrels do not shy away from dropping the walnuts like bombs on your head, car, or table when you're preparing breakfast."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: RV sites near Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania vary in quality. At Round Top Campground, John L. found "sites have reasonable spacing with gravel pads, mostly level. Trees between sites with sloping hills, not just a big open field."
Power management: Electrical systems at some campgrounds have limitations. At Western Village RV Park, one camper reported, "The fuse at power source blew every time the air turned on," suggesting RVers bring surge protectors and manage power usage carefully.
Access difficulties: Western Village RV Park presents challenges for larger rigs. "The access roads are so tight/narrow, that there is multiple areas of damaged trees and corners of structures," notes one reviewer, adding that positioning their RV required navigating extremely limited space.
