7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Camping near Silver Spring, Pennsylvania spans full-service RV resorts, family campgrounds, and more rustic state park campgrounds. Within a 30-mile radius, campers find Gifford Pinchot State Park with its 339 campsites, lakefront views, and multiple accommodation types including yurts and cabins. The area features several Thousand Trails properties, including Circle M in Lancaster and PA Dutch Country in Manheim, both offering extensive amenities for members. Private campgrounds like Pequea Creek Campground provide creek access and spacious wooded sites, while Pinch Pond Family Campground offers family-oriented facilities despite its proximity to highway noise.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October, with a few exceptions like Old Mill Stream Campground which remains open year-round. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when facilities reach capacity. The rolling terrain of central Pennsylvania creates varied camping experiences, with some sites featuring challenging slopes that can make RV leveling difficult. Weather conditions remain relatively mild through camping season, though summer thunderstorms can develop quickly. As one camper noted about Pequea Creek Campground, "Beautiful picturesque campground with large spots and a lot of trees. Very quiet and close enough to Lancaster for shopping."
State park campgrounds provide more natural settings with access to hiking trails and water recreation, though facilities vary in quality. "The restrooms at this park, while older, are clean and in good order," reported one visitor to Gifford Pinchot State Park. Private campgrounds typically offer more amenities but sometimes at the cost of privacy and space between sites. Several reviewers mentioned noise concerns at campgrounds near highways or train tracks, particularly at Hersheypark Camping Resort where one camper described sites as "the tightest I have ever seen." Waterfront sites at places like Gifford Pinchot State Park are particularly sought after, with campers praising the "amazing sunset views" from lakeside locations. The region's proximity to Amish country, Hershey attractions, and historical sites makes it a popular base for exploring central Pennsylvania, with top-rated campgrounds near Silver Spring serving both weekend campers and longer-stay visitors alike.
"Close to Lancaster for necessities and great proximity to Baltimore and Philadelphia for day trips."
"I used to stay here all the time with my grandparents when they were around. It was always some of the best times for me."
"Tent sites are lined up along the water which is great for fishing (especially when you need to stay close to the littles sleeping in the tent). Lots of benches lined up along the water."
"Not to noisy being next to a theme park. The bath house was just remodeled so it's excellent! Good price!"
"Set just off I-76 in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, Pinch Pond Family Campground& RV Park is a large, all-in-one, family-focused campground with a layout that feels more like a small neighborhood"
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"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. They don't reserve sites for you."
"This is a clean, nice looking campground in a location very close to Hershey park and the outlets. It’s a very nice area."
from $50 - $60 / night
"There was a bathhouse and dish sink nearby, as well as the entrance to a nice little nature trail a few sites down. "
"Large and easy to enter/exit sites. Wifi was pretty good. (It helped that the antenna was right beside our site!) Cable TV, too! Everyone we talked to was nice and friendly."
from $45 - $279 / night
"Covered bridges and road side shopping are close by. Enjoyed river tubing which is close by to this campground. Music bingo on Saturday night was so much fun. Owners are very nice and helpful."
"The wife & I stayed in site 22 for three nights and bicycled 14 miles, some along the Susquehanna, on nearby Enola Low Grade Trail . "
"Tucked into the rolling, wooded hills of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country RV Resort offers a unique blend of peaceful countryside and activity-packed camping, all just a stone"
"this campground is completely surrounded by a fairly dense forest, which likely is what blocks any irritable sound and most certainly blocks any highway or traffic visibility."
"This campground has a little something for everyone, from full hook up sites neatly stacked next to each other, to quiet patches of grass next to the river."
"They don’t sell alcohol but there is a shopping center within walking distance with restaurants and liquor stores! Even a supermarket. There is shuttle service to the park."
"We have a small camper and there are some great sites on the lake side to park it where you can get AMAZING sunset views. "
"We had site 108 which is an electric site along the shore and close to the beach, and it was perfect for our needs. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $90 / night
"Just down the road about a mile or so was the Indian Steps Museum which is owned by York Conservation Society."
"Its close proximity to the Susquehanna River, Otter Creek, and the Mason Dixon Trail is absolutely ideal! Sites are spacious and nice! Restrooms clean!"
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
GuideWe booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutThe advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
GuideWe only spent the night and didn't look at the amenities. The manager was very friendly and accommodating.
ScoutThe campground is in excellent condition. The facilities are top notch. The excellence and care of the campground is evident. The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire.
Campgrounds near Silver Spring, Pennsylvania offer diverse terrain and camping conditions throughout the 30-mile radius, with elevations ranging from 400 to 800 feet. The area sits at the transition zone between the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley regions, creating varied soil conditions that affect campsite drainage. Many campgrounds remain operational from April through October, though several locations close earlier in fall due to seasonal forest conditions.
Creek exploration: 10 miles from Silver Spring at Pequea Creek Campground, families find accessible water activities. "I went for an early morning run and the camping sites are terrific, too," notes a visitor who enjoyed the nearby trails. The creek offers opportunities for tubing during summer months.
Fishing: Year-round options at multiple locations with varied catch potential. "We put in at Otter Creek Picnic Area where there are private and public boat docks. You could easily fish from anywhere along the riverside," reports a camper who visited during high water conditions. Bass and panfish are common catches in local waterways.
Disc golf: 40-minute drive north to recreation areas with established courses. "Great location, decent amenities, large sites," mentions one visitor about a campground that provides access to multiple disc golf facilities. The courses range from beginner-friendly to challenging layouts with water hazards.
Hiking: Multiple trail systems connect throughout the region with varied difficulty levels. "The nearby Conewago Recreation Trail is a great multi-use trail for walking, biking, etc.," shares a camper who explored beyond their campground. Trail maps are available at most visitor centers.
Spacious wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the natural buffers between sites at several campgrounds. "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," notes a visitor to Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, contrasting with more crowded options.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse quality varies widely across the region. "Bathrooms are very clean and modern, but a decent walk from tent sites," explained one camper. Many locations offer dish washing stations outside shower buildings to reduce indoor congestion.
Creek access: Water features enhance campground experiences. "The grounds are well-kept, and aside from the 8pm Saturday night golf cart parade that was beyond loud, it's been really quiet and peaceful," observed a camper at Circle M RV & Camping Resort, highlighting the balance between organized activities and natural settings.
Proximity to attractions: Convenient locations for day trips appeal to many visitors. "Close enough to Lancaster for necessities and great proximity to Baltimore and Philadelphia for day trips," explains a camper who appreciated the strategic location between major cities while maintaining a countryside atmosphere.
Weather variability: Spring and fall camping requires preparation for temperature swings. "We went in October and did a cabin since it was colder and we had the baby," explains a visitor who found alternative accommodations useful during shoulder season at Thousand Trails Circle M.
Reservation timelines: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially for holiday weekends. "When we checked in we were not offered any information on 'Resort' activities or information on Hershey Park," noted a camper, suggesting early research beyond just securing a site.
Environmental concerns: Some locations present unexpected challenges. "My son got poison sumac behind our site, and the nearby shooting range is incredibly loud," reported a family at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, highlighting the importance of site selection research.
Highway noise: Campgrounds near major roads experience traffic sounds. "Our main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby," explained a visitor, though many noted that wooded sites provide better sound buffering than open field locations.
Activity planning: Schedule around peak times to avoid crowds at popular campground amenities. "Our kids love all the activities to do!" shared a visitor to Circle M, where organized programs keep children engaged throughout their stay.
Swimming options: Check water quality reports before planning water recreation. "The pool is nice, but being that it was the end of June, the water was freezing! I couldn't get in!" noted a visitor to Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, suggesting late summer offers better swimming conditions.
Playground access: Consider proximity to play areas when selecting sites. "There was a nice pavilion right aside of the playground which was only one road behind us. We could hear our son from our campsite," explained a parent at Otter Creek Campground, highlighting the convenience of keeping children within earshot.
Weekend planning: Prepare for different crowd levels between weekdays and weekends. "We first had a 2 point site near the river, but when it rains the sites get flooded with runoff from the campground," shared a camper who had to relocate during their stay, noting weekend availability limitations.
Leveling challenges: Bring additional blocks for sites throughout the region. "Not just the one we're on but others as well. The campground is pretty hilly and they don't seem to want to level out the sites," observed a visitor to Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, who needed extra equipment to stabilize their vehicle.
Site selection strategy: Research specific site numbers before arrival when possible. "We were in a back in site #4. The patio was concrete stone, very pretty. Nice chairs, fire pit, and picnic table," shared an RVer who found a particularly well-appointed site.
Water pressure variations: Prepare for inconsistent hookups at some locations. "Water pressure is pretty low and the sewer pipe is a little high but all around a really solid experience," noted a camper who brought additional equipment to compensate for utility limitations.
Entrance navigation: Plan arrival routes carefully as some campgrounds have challenging access points. "I would suggest sites #102–120, again, in the far rear or sites #308– 317 along Angler's Way," recommended an experienced visitor to Pinch Pond Family Campground, highlighting the importance of location within larger properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Silver Spring, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Silver Spring, PA is Thousand Trails Circle M with a 3.9-star rating from 19 reviews.
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