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Best Tent Camping near Holtwood, PA

855 Reviews

Tent camping opportunities around Holtwood, Pennsylvania include several established campgrounds with primitive tent sites and walk-in options. Susquehannock State Park Campground offers tent campsites with scenic views overlooking the Susquehanna River, while Mill Creek Camping Area provides walk-in tent sites in a more wooded setting. Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area, open from March through November, features similar walk-in tent locations along a stream that keeps the area naturally cooler.

Most tent campsites in the Holtwood region feature picnic tables and fire rings, though amenities vary significantly between locations. At Susquehannock State Park, tent sites include electric hookups with both thirty and fifty-amp service, a rarity for tent campers seeking more creature comforts. In contrast, Mill Creek and Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Areas offer more primitive tent camping experiences with basic facilities. Drinking water is available at most locations, but many tent-specific sites lack shower facilities. Hibernia County Park provides tent campsites with designated fire pits and built-in grills, though the sites themselves aren't well-defined or level, requiring creative positioning.

The tent camping experience varies between walk-in and drive-in accessibility. A review mentioned that "campsites are spaced out with large spaces for multiple tents" at Mill Creek, making it suitable for group tent camping. Another camper noted that "the site is public access and there are lots of hikers, joggers, and people expecting you not to be camping," highlighting that some tent campgrounds share space with day-use areas. Tent sites at Hibernia County Park cost $15 per night but provide only basic amenities. Some tent camping areas like Lancaster Mill Creek feature stream-side camping, where "a quick dip in the water is amazing" during hot weather. Terrain across these campgrounds tends to be grassy and wooded, providing natural shade but sometimes limited privacy between neighboring tent sites.

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Best Tent Sites Near Holtwood, Pennsylvania (17)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Holtwood, PA

6 Photos of 17 Holtwood Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Holtwood, PA

855 Reviews of 17 Holtwood Campgrounds

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Campsites Jammed Closely Together

    PROSĀ 

    Reserved 328 days prior to arriving

    $13.50 senior discountĀ 

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

    Site C3 parking pad level asphaltĀ 

    Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveableĀ 

    One hook lantern poleĀ 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrivalĀ 

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

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

    Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cookingā€¦largest buffet in the USAā€¦16 miles from French Creek SPĀ 

    CONS

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

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

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

    Pitiful low water pressure Ā in Loop C

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

    Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parkingĀ 

    Loop C womenā€™s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess SaturdayĀ 

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

    Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced

    Lots of barking dogsĀ 

    No wood sales in parkĀ 

    No WiFiĀ 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Nate & Erika L.
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Susquehanna State Park Campground

    Great State Park Camping

    We decided to stay a weekend at Susquehanna based on the reviews on the Dyrt and itā€™s closer proximity to home. We arrived and were greeted by super friendly rangers who gave us the lay of the land. We found the rangers to be very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife, plants, and trees in the park. They had two display tables full of flora and fauna by the check-in station set up for kids and adults alike to glean some knowledge. On one night while we were there, there was a program run by the rangers where kids could learn about some common native and invasive species.

    We hiked the Green Trail, which had a sign saying it was ā€˜very difficultā€™, but we found it to be no problem for our crew of seven kids aged 3-10 and four adults. We only passed one other hiker. We saw some champion trees, lots of deer, and had some run ins with more than a few spotted lantern flies. One ranger told us they have nine champion trees in the park, weā€™d love to go back and hike to find the others.

    With only two loops, the sites were fairly spaced out with lots of trees between them. We had a spacious electric site for our pop up and camped with friends who had a nice level, secluded tent site. We hardly ever heard any neighbors and all was quiet at night. Each loop shares a bathhouse, and there are some portable toilets spaced around the loop, too. The facilities were cleaned every morning. They even have a large laundry utility sink in the bathhouse should you need it. The only downside we found was that showering at prime time (around 8 or 9 pm) led to very little hot water. A small price to pay for good camping and hiking!

  • 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!Ā 

    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.Ā 

    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 couldnā€™t believe we hadnā€™t visited before because it is a great state park. Wood is available for purchase at the campground hostsā€™ 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.

  • A
    Sep. 24, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Nice Small Campsite Close to DC

    Nice small campsite in MD not too far from DC. One negative was that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down. Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby. Where we were hiking. šŸ˜¬ The positives are as others have pointed out there is a huge park for kids- itā€™s not within walking distance for little kids but itā€™s a very short drive by the entrance to the park. Thereā€™s also another small park on the loop. The restrooms were central and well maintained. We found a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park. All sites had a picnic table and fire ring. Firewood available from camp host. Hiking poles would have been good for the trails when we had a kid in a pack on our back. Overall a nice close small campground.

  • Sean M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Great Small Campground - Cool Cabinso

    This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two is the massive Patapsco Valley State Park. Itā€™s a bit odd getting here through a suburban neighborhood, but the Hilton area is great. It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes.

    The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table. The crushed stone at the sites isnā€™t comfortable for tents, and they wonā€™t let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground. There are helpful and friendly camp hosts always on duty. The bathhouse is nothing special, but itā€™s well maintained and clean. The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely ā€œrough it.ā€ We found everything reasonably priced.

    Remember: no alcohol or firewood can be brought into the park. Firewood can only be purchased on site due to harmful insects. But the money goes toward the parks volunteer program.

    This is a very nice small campground that is great for kids!

  • 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 toā€œroughinā€™ itā€ 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 didnā€™t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutesā€™ drive. Definitely going backā€¦!

  • 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.Ā 

    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.Ā 

    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.Ā  Ice and potable water was also available.Ā 

    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.Ā 

    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.Ā 

    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 Holtwood

Tent camping near Holtwood, Pennsylvania takes place in the Lower Susquehanna River basin, an area characterized by rocky outcrops and forested hillsides at elevations ranging between 250-500 feet. The region's climate features hot, humid summers with average July temperatures around 85Ā°F and cold winters with January averages near 30Ā°F. Many campsites sit on uneven terrain requiring campers to position tents strategically on the predominantly clay and shale soils.

What to do

Hiking river trails: Susquehannock State Park Campground offers several scenic trails down to Deer Creek and the Susquehanna River. "There are amazing wildflowers on that trail. You can bike to the trail from the campground. All downhill. So be ready for the climb back up," notes camper David G.

Wildlife viewing: At Patapsco Valley State Park, just over an hour from Holtwood, campers can explore diverse ecosystems. "The small crabs were skittering around the campsite and birds perched in the marsh. The beach was nice and clean," reports Caleb S.

Fishing opportunities: Hibernia County Park provides a dedicated children's fishing pond. "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too," mentions John Z. The pond is stocked regularly and requires no special permits for youth anglers.

What campers like

Natural cooling: Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area offers walk-in tent sites near moving water that provide relief during summer heat. "The stream is refreshing and the site stays fairly cool. When it hits the high temperatures a quick dip in the water is amazing," shares Philip B.

Well-maintained facilities: Hibernia County Park earns praise for its clean amenities. "The porta potties are very clean and don't smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night. The park ranger this weekend was the nicest and very helpful with directions," notes Anna.

Spacious sites: Mill Creek Camping Area provides generous camping spaces. "Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents, camping cost $25 a night flat rate, for up to 6 days," reports Meagan J., making it suitable for group camping trips.

What you should know

Variable site quality: While Hibernia County Park offers pleasant surroundings, site quality varies. "The more dense woods is on the other side of the trail. You can see everything other campers do and they can see everything you're doing," explains Abi D.

Limited privacy: Many campgrounds in the area share space with day-use visitors. At Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area, "The site is public access and there are lots of hikers, joggers, and people expecting you not to be camping. I was woke up every morning by people walking through the site," shares Philip B.

Reservation policies: Mill Creek Camping Area has flexible booking terms. "Campground will refund you if rain prevents your stay or allow you to rebook," notes Meagan J., providing peace of mind during unpredictable weather conditions.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Patapsco Valley State Park offers excellent facilities for children. "There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," states Angel G., though she cautions, "Be aware that neither the hiking trails or playground are stroller friendly."

Tent positioning: At Hibernia County Park, careful site selection matters. "The sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites," notes Chelsea. Parents should plan accordingly for bathroom breaks with young children.

Budget-friendly option: Hibernia County Park provides affordable family camping. "Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under," mentions John Z., making it among the best tent camping near Holtwood, Pennsylvania for families on a budget.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Susquehannock State Park Campground offers some RV amenities. "Two loops. One has a few sites with electric and some cabins. Potable water is available in several places on each loop," explains David G., noting the bathhouses were recently rebuilt.

Water tank preparation: Hibernia County Park requires self-sufficiency. 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."

Size restrictions: Not all sites accommodate larger RVs. At Hibernia County Park, Jennifer S. notes, "Though at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper. They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Holtwood, PA is Susquehannock State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.

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