Campgrounds near Wrightsville, Pennsylvania provide varied terrain options from wooded hillsides to riverside locations within York County and Lancaster County. Most sites are located within 30 minutes of the Susquehanna River, with elevations ranging from 300 to 700 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during the day, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate 60-75°F daytime temperatures with cooler evenings.
What to do
Kayaking on the Susquehanna River: Access points near Otter Creek Campground provide excellent paddling opportunities. "The river is only a short walk from the campground which is directly across the street at Otter Creek Picnic Area where there are private and public boat docks. You could easily fish from anywhere along the riverside," notes one visitor.
Disc golf courses: Play two distinct 18-hole courses at Gifford Pinchot State Park. "Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy!! We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge all over the prime walking areas through the course," warns a camper.
Amish countryside exploration: The campgrounds near Elizabethtown provide easy access to Lancaster County's Amish communities. A visitor to Thousand Trails Circle M mentioned, "Close to Lancaster for necessities and great proximity to Baltimore and Philadelphia for day trips."
Hiking the White Rocks Trail: Located a few miles from Boiling Springs, this trail offers rock scrambles and connects to the Appalachian Trail. "Before fishing, we hiked the White Rocks Trail a few miles outside of town, and it was a ton of fun with some cool rock scrambles. It hooks up with the AT going through the area if you want to extend the hike."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded nature of certain campgrounds. At Pequea Creek Campground, "Campsites have plenty of room and give you options to be along the creek or tucked back in the trees. We had a huge spot on the end and hardly saw the other campers."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple locations offer access to both river and pond fishing. "The campground sits in the center of a horseshoe curve of the river, bring tubes and kayaks! We didn't know but went and bought a tube and spent the day on the river!" shares a visitor to Thousand Trails Circle M.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses are consistently mentioned in positive reviews. At Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, a camper noted, "Restrooms clean! Is there really anything else? Lol!"
Kid-friendly amenities: Parents appreciate campgrounds with dedicated recreation areas. "They have a tennis court, mini golf, basketball court, and you saw many kids out with their bicycles. There is even an arcade center for the kids and a rec center with a pool table," shares a camper about Thousand Trails Hershey.
What you should know
Seasonal variations: Most campgrounds in the region operate from April through October, though some close earlier. "The campground gets very full on the weekends here," notes a visitor to Circle M, highlighting the importance of reservations during peak seasons.
Flooding concerns: Low-lying riverside sites can experience flooding after heavy rains. "With all of the rain we have had here in Pennsylvania this summer the river was brown with mud and tree debris. The ground aside of the river was also so saturated from flooding it was difficult to walk through without sinking into the ground."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby infrastructure. At Pinch Pond Family Campground, "There is a shooting range near the property, so at all hours you will hear target practice going on, especially in the wee early hours."
Water quality issues: Campers occasionally report water concerns. One visitor noted, "Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access options: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming opportunities for children. At Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, "It has a small beach area within the campground loop that we camped in, but the main beach is on the other side of the large Pinchot Lake. The LARGE beach area in the QR day use area is one of the nicest I've ever seen at a PA state park."
Playground proximity: Consider site location relative to play areas. "We took our 3 yo camping for the first time here. He had so much fun. It was clean campground located in a State Park. Easy walk to the lake with a small beach."
Halloween weekends: October camping often includes special activities. "They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!"
Game room availability: Indoor recreation options for rainy days are valuable. "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."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at many campgrounds. At Old Mill Stream Campground, "The campground itself is nice but a bit overpriced for what you get. If it weren't for the smell, this campground would have gotten four stars. Our campsite was perfectly level and had a large gravel patio area and a large shade tree behind us."
Arrival timing strategy: First-come, first-served campgrounds require planning. "The first thing to know is that Thousand Trails sites are a first come, first serve. Meaning you have to arrive early in order to get the best spots. For everyone complaining about driving around and not finding spots, if you get there early enough around 1 pm, you won't have a problem."
Site size considerations: RV dimensions affect site compatibility. "Depending on your rig size you're only available certain sites. They won't give you a 50 amp site unless your 50 amp or 40', they save them for larger campers."
Full hookup availability: Services vary widely between campgrounds and sites. "Our site was in the wooded area farthest from the central 'hub' (in the top left corner if you're looking at a campground map). Our site was level, shaded and quite large. Almost every site in this section was similarly large and wooded, with an impressive amount of space between sites for a KOA."
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