Near Gardners, Pennsylvania, campers find a mix of wooded campsites and open RV parks tucked within the Appalachian foothills at elevations ranging from 500-1,100 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons, with summer highs typically in the 80s and fall temperatures dropping to 50s during peak camping months. While RV enthusiasts often focus on full hookups, the area also offers tent camping along creek beds and farm-based camping experiences not far from historic sites.
What to do
Mini-golf fun: Drummer Boy Camping Resort maintains free mini golf for guests staying at this RV park near Gardners, Pennsylvania. "The park offers free mini golf, a pool and a splash pad pool area," notes one camper, explaining that while the golf course provides entertainment, "The store didn't have much for the size of the campground and store itself."
Farm animal interactions: Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm lets campers, especially children, interact with farm animals throughout their stay. "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. Perfect campground for the family," shares a visitor. Another adds, "We came amidst COVID-19, so the many activities and events this location usually holds are down, BUT there is still fun to be had here! We've enjoyed mini-golf, feeding the animals, 'hiking' through the cornfield, fishing, and campfires."
Historic Gettysburg exploration: With multiple campgrounds within 10-15 minutes of the battlefield, visitors can easily explore Civil War history. One camper staying at Gettysburg Campground explains, "The proximity to Gettysburg National Park can't be beat." This location allows day trips without long drives, as "It's nice and out of the way of the busy parts of town."
What campers like
Swimming pools: Many RV parks around Gardners feature swimming facilities even during shoulder seasons. At Pinch Pond Family Campground, "The pool was great, especially camping with younger kids." Another visitor notes that "unlike most campgrounds, the pool stayed open pretty late so that was a huge bonus for me."
Creekside camping: Water features enhance several campgrounds in the area. At Gettysburg Campground, "The tenting area is calm and has a creek right next to it to listen to in the evening and morning." Another reviewer mentioned they "were in tent sites which felt bigger than most and were right by river."
Fishing opportunities: Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country and other parks provide fishing access directly from campsites. "Great place to go fishing!" states one simple review. While these fishing areas aren't always pristine, they offer convenience for families: "The pond is not suitable for swimming and has no swimming signs around. Nature decided to reclaim the area and the fish have an abundance of kel to live in. It is a wonderful fishing and boating area."
What you should know
Shooting range noise: Several campgrounds experience unexpected noise from nearby ranges. At Pinch Pond, "The only thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner. If you're out and about, it won't be an issue. However if you enjoy sitting outside of your camper and relaxing this might be nerve wracking."
Water quality varies: Water systems at some RV parks near Gardners show inconsistencies. At Round Top Campground, "Water pressure is low, road traffic noise. Water and electric are in award spot on our site." Another campground had similar issues: "Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay."
Site leveling challenges: Many parks feature hilly terrain requiring substantial leveling. "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," reports one camper at PA Dutch Country. Another camper at Western Village RV Park mentions that "The fuse on the (campsite) panel kept blowing every time we ran the air and microwave together."
Tips for camping with families
Halloween activities: Fall camping includes themed events at many RV parks around Gardners. At Thousand Trails Circle M, "They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!" These special weekends typically include decorated sites, costume contests, and candy distributions.
Playground options: Some campgrounds offer better play facilities than others. At Drummer Boy Camping Resort, "The rec center with the splash pad was nice and had plenty of room for the smaller kids. Mini golf was free which the kids appreciated." However, one family had a different experience elsewhere: "In my opinion as a mom of small kids maybe the worst part was that there was only 1 playground, it was all the way at the front of the campground (we had to drive to it) and it was very junky and run down."
Game room accessibility: Indoor recreation varies widely between parks. "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.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup challenges: Some campgrounds have unusual water connection systems. One RV camper reported, "The campground is quite large with lots of seasonal sites but there are some transient spaces that can accommodate big-rigs. The water hook-up is in a pit so it doesn't freeze so look under the cover." Another mentioned shared water sources: "We shared 1 water source with 2 other campers. In order to hook anything up, you had to be in your neighbor's space."
Site selection strategy: Many parks have significantly different site qualities within the same facility. "The biggest complaint about our site was that the sewer hookup was inconveniently placed about six inches above the ground which meant that it would not drain properly (even with a slinky placed under it)," notes one RVer. For finding the best locations, "If you are 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."
Electric stability concerns: Power reliability affects some RV parks during peak usage times. "Electric went out 3 times, once for over 24 hrs. It was in the high 90°," reported one camper during summer at Round Top Campground. This highlights the importance of having backup power options during extreme weather conditions.
