RV campgrounds near Franklin, Pennsylvania provide year-round camping options within Pennsylvania's northwestern region, where elevation ranges between 1,200-1,400 feet. Winter temperatures typically drop to 20-30°F with summer highs averaging 75-85°F, creating distinct camping seasons that require different preparation. Several camping facilities remain accessible when snowfall averages 40-50 inches annually.
What to Do
Fishing access: Lake Wilhelm at Goddard Park Vacationland Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities. "Very family friendly. Not sure if it was dumb luck, but we did not experience any bug issues," notes one visitor who enjoyed the proximity to fishing spots.
Playground activities: Family-oriented campgrounds provide structured recreation for children. "The pool and playground are awesome for the kiddos. The resort has lots of planned activities on the weekends," according to a camper at RV Village Camping Resort.
Off-site adventures: State parks and local attractions surround most campgrounds. "The neighboring towns have everything you could want from mall shopping to individual boutiques, restaurants, entertainment, golf and lots of nature to explore," explains a Rustic Acres visitor.
Halloween events: Seasonal themed weekends occur at several campgrounds from August through October. "It was Halloween themed weekend and the extent of planning they do for the patrons was outstanding," reports a visitor to Goddard Park Vacationland.
What Campers Like
Spacious sites: Sufficient room between campsites varies significantly. "RV sites are large and the spacing is not crowded. The camp ground was quiet and extremely peaceful," explains a visitor to Rustic Acres.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse maintenance standards differ widely between properties. "Great campground with a great staff. This was the first campground we ever RV'ed in and we've returned now for three years," notes a repeat visitor to Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest.
Swimming options: Multiple pools provide relief during summer months. "2 pools and a dog park," mentions a camper at Goddard Park Vacationland who appreciated these amenities.
Family programming: Organized activities enhance weekend stays. "We were thrilled to find they had a children's program on Saturday mornings. Our children had a ball making crafts, playing games, finding items on a scavenger hunt and of course snacks!" writes a visitor to Rustic Acres.
What You Should Know
Site levelness: Terrain variations affect setup difficulty. "Sites are not level and are close to each other," notes a visitor to one campground, highlighting a common issue.
Electrical reliability: Power outages occur at some facilities during peak usage periods. "We all heard that the electric would be back up within an hour and a half," explains a frustrated camper about a prolonged outage.
Traffic patterns: Internal roadways vary in quality and congestion. "It's not relaxing at all. I used to live in the city and near NYC. This place looks like the Vegas strip or time Square but instead of taxies... golf carts until 11pm," reports a visitor about golf cart traffic at one location.
Reservation timing: Popular weekends book quickly, particularly at Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground. "When we discovered that Shenango Corps of Engineers park had closed early in September, we needed to find a home right away. This met our needs very well," explains a camper who found availability.
Tips for Camping with Families
Structured activities: Many campgrounds offer supervised programming. "Our children enjoyed the Saturday kids program, crafts, snacks and games with other children," notes a visitor to Rustic Acres who appreciated organized children's activities.
Pool rules: Swimming areas may have inconsistent age restrictions. "1 is for adults only... unless they have changed the age of adults... there were kids in both pools," reports one camper, suggesting families should verify policies.
Noise considerations: Sound carries between closely-spaced sites. "The daily sites are a bit tight which lends to noisy evenings past quiet hours. We had to get creative making white noise for our toddler to sleep," explains a visitor to RV Village Camping Resort.
Holiday weekend planning: Book 3-6 months ahead for holiday weekends. "We come here each Labor day for a long renting weekend. Our dog comes with us and we always have a good time," shares a regular visitor to Goddard Park Vacationland.
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: Connection locations vary widely between sites. "Some sites require over 50' of hose and multiple power cords to reach power box due to the great amount of trees providing good shade throughout camp ground," notes a visitor to Kalyumet Campground.
Tent vs. RV sections: Camping areas are often segregated. "Lots of RVs, not many tents. Small section in the back of the campground for tents," reports a visitor to one campground, indicating less favorable tent locations.
Road conditions: Access roads present challenges for larger rigs. "This campground is easy access to I80, less than 10 minutes," explains a visitor to Rustic Acres who appreciated the convenient location.
Site selection: Research specific site details before booking. "We plan to return but our only complaint would be the site we were in (11) and others next to it were quite far from the water and cable hookups. I ended up having to run 60ft of water hose and 50ft of cable in order to get a connection," advises a camper at Kalyumet Campground.