Best Tent Camping near Lewisberry, PA

Tent camping near Lewisberry, Pennsylvania offers several rustic options for outdoor enthusiasts seeking natural settings. Lower Allen Community Park provides tent sites situated along Yellow Breeches Creek, while Mill Creek Camping Area in Lancaster County offers primitive tent camping with basic amenities. Both locations accommodate walk-in tent camping, with Lower Allen requiring township reservations for its three creek-side sites.

Most tent sites in the Lewisberry area feature dirt or grass surfaces with minimal development. Fire pits and picnic tables are common at established campgrounds like Lower Allen Community Park, though facilities remain basic. Mill Creek Camping Area provides drinking water, toilets, and trash disposal, but lacks shower facilities. Campers should note that many parks lock gates at dusk, limiting late arrivals. For primitive tent camping, Lower Allen Community Park requires advance reservations through the township office, while access to other sites varies seasonally, particularly after heavy rainfall when creek-side locations may experience flooding.

The region's tent campgrounds offer distinctive natural experiences for backcountry tent camping enthusiasts. Sites along Yellow Breeches Creek provide opportunities for kayakers to float directly to their campsites. Tree cover at most locations creates natural shade during summer months. Proximity to water features enhances the camping experience but may increase insect activity. Hikers occasionally pass through some camping areas, creating occasional privacy concerns. According to one visitor at Mill Creek, "The campgrounds are spaced out with large spaces for multiple tents, and camping by the creek makes for a cooler experience with the pleasant sound of flowing water at night." Weekday camping typically offers greater solitude than weekend visits when local parks see increased day-use traffic.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lewisberry, Pennsylvania (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lewisberry, PA

9 Photos of 12 Lewisberry Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Lewisberry, PA

849 Reviews of 12 Lewisberry Campgrounds


  • Rick W.
    Aug. 15, 2022

    Colonel Denning State Park Campground

    Tent camping sites

    Walk in sites have picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are level and smooth. Showers and restrooms are close to sites. Strongly recommend...

  • Nick C.
    Jun. 19, 2022

    Owens Creek Campground — Catoctin Mountain Park

    Cozy and Clean - Lots of Firewood

    The sites are very clean but close to each Other. You can hear the kids and families and all that. The sites have a nice mulched tent pad, fire ring / grill grate, lantern pole and picnic table. There is a firewood hut at the entrance and you can take what you need - just leAve a donation. The bathrooms are very clean and there’s some trails around the creek (dry creek/ nothing impressive)

  • 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! 

    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. 

    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 couldn’t believe we hadn’t visited before because it is a great state park. Wood is available for purchase at the campground hosts’ 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.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2023

    Owens Creek Campground — Catoctin Mountain Park

    Peaceful w filtered sun

    Owens Creek Campground : (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4.5 Price: $15/night w senior pass Usage during visit: very low including Fri night Site Privacy: understory trees, filter l e of site in many sites. Site Spacing: most very nicely spaced Site surface: blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Very quiet Road Noise: Only a bit in first few campsites Through Traffic: no problem Electricity: No Water: Spigots at bathhouses Sewer: No Dump: No Generators: 6 AM to 10 PM Bathroom: Old but very clean.
    Showers: Yes. Double curtains Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (Verizon): Very good Setting: A thick deciduous forest Weather: nice. Cooler because of shade Bugs: A few. Will probably increase as month moves on Solar: Too much shade for fixed solar panels Host: Yes Rig size: Not all sites will accommodate a 22’ trailing. Sites: Pictures are of some of the best sites. My favs: 14 nice woods view , (28 & 29 hear creek,)37. 45, 46

  • K
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Nice campground for primitive tenting

    Large campground but only 15 sites dedicated to“roughin’ it” 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 didn’t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutes’ drive. Definitely going back…!

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2023

    Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground

    Camping at the AT Halfway Point

    Great small campground in South-central PA.  Sites are nicely spaced except for a few that are tucked into a few odd-shaped places.  I stayed in site 21, which was on an outside loop with a lot of space.  Campground seems very well maintained and the hosts were very friendly and active.  I wasn't there on a busy night, but nice to know it is a place where the hosts are trying to keep a relaxing atmosphere.  Nearly everything is in the woods so there's lots of shade during the warm seasons.  There's a fire ring, picnic table, lantern hanger and generous tent pad.  There's also room in many outside loop sites to set up in the woods.  Very quiet and relaxing evening.

    Bathrooms feel very modern and there is a combination of a traditional shower/bathroom center and a separate bathroom only area with 4 private bathrooms (though now showers).  Showers were clean and had hot water, though when you press the button for water, it only runs for about 10 seconds.  So you really have to just hold the water on while you shower one-handed.  I think there was a 1-car per site rule while I was there.

    Firewood is on-site for $5 for a six-piece bundle, with kindling available.  Wood lit right up for me.  The park has a general store, swimming lake, Appalachian Trail Museum, Park office and a few other historic buildings so there's a lot to do.  Just take note that everything closes at 4 PM.  The park is just north of the halfway point of the AT and is a popular place for hikers to stop and take a slow or zero day.  The museum is interesting if you have any interest in the AT and very knowledgeable host.

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2021

    Muddy Run Recreation Park

    Older but great day use area

    We visited the day use area but drove through the campground for future reference. The campground offers a lot of sites (189 sites). 148 sites have electric and water. Some sites are monthly rental only. They also offer seasonal sites. There are 38 tent only sites as well. There are 3 primitive group sites. There are paved parking pads, picnic tables, charcoal grills, and of course a fire ring in each. No sewer hookups but we saw 2 dump stations. There are laundry facilities and bathhouses. $35 a night or $185 a week. Use of the day use area included is awesome. Plenty of playgrounds, disc golf, boat rentals, an observatory (closed due to covid for now), snack bar that is open 8-5 or 6 daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks, and a splash pad (free!) for water fun open 10-7 daily but shuts down Sept 6. All this is all nestled around a 100 acre lake. You can fish, or rent boats (kayak, paddle boats, canoes, or rowboats with electric motors) on the lake. Tons of fun here!

  • PhiladelphiaKaley R.
    Jun. 1, 2018

    Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    Basic amenities and activities for the average camper

    Large campground with electric RV/camper sites as well as non-electric tent sites. Several bathroom and shower facilities. Lake-side sites are available and each site comes equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and parking spot. Friendly staff, decently maintained. There were several planks missing from our picnic table and the parking spot was a mud hole. Some pet friendly sites are available as well. A snapping turtle stopped by for a visit at our campsite and ended up laying eggs! Quite a sight to see, there is plenty of wildlife around to enjoy during your stay.

  • C
    Sep. 8, 2021

    Deer Run Campgrounds

    No COVID-19 Precautions in 2020 and Tight Spaces

    We took a chance in September 2020 and decided to make plans to camp for two nights so we could get some hiking in nearby at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park. You're greeted by a sign on the front office door that says "Masks are optional," so that tells you all you need to know about camping here during the COVID-19 crisis. Check-in is easy enough and you are given a card to hang on your mirror that has a barcode to scan to get access to the campground. Then you drive to your site. The signs/directions posted are...not very helpful, and you can easily find yourself face-to-face with someone driving a golf cart from the opposite direction or kids running around through the road, so be very careful. We picked a tent site (218 or 219) as far away from everyone else as we could get. A bunch of the tent sites border the woods, and I definitely recommend snagging one of those if you're able. The tent and RV sites are absolutely crammed together. We started setting up our tent and were somewhat pleased with the amount of space we had from a big family in the next site because we could all enjoy our respective spaces without getting in each other's way. Then another car pulled up and signaled that there was ANOTHER site between us. There wasn't even 10ft between our tents; you could hear everything. The RV/camper sites looked even more snug, so I can't imagine trying to maneuver there. Our tent site was one of the flatter and less rocky ones that I could see. Each site is provided with a fire ring (more like a fire pit/contained cauldron) and picnic table, which was great. I will say that from what we saw, the grounds are kept very clean. The bath house near the tent site is cleaned daily, however not always at the posted hours so I would say to assume it is half an hour before the posted time. There are 2 showers and toilet stalls in each bathroom. Here is where we were the most unhappy about masks being optional: not a single other person that we saw over 3 days was wearing a mask while in the enclosed bathrooms. There are hand dryers, so particles are flying all over the place. There was a concert that ended while I was showering and it was a line of people to get in and the dryers were constantly blasting; I basically held my breath while I was in there. The campgrounds are clean and easy to find off of the main roads. However, if you're looking for a place to stay outside during the COVID-19 situation, look elsewhere.


Guide to Lewisberry

Tent campsites near Lewisberry, Pennsylvania range from streamside locations to wooded areas with varying levels of privacy and access. The region sits at the northern edge of the Piedmont Plateau where it transitions into the Ridge and Valley province, creating a diverse landscape for primitive camping. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing while summer humidity can make shade essential at exposed sites.

What to do

Hiking trails access: Mill Creek Camping Area connects to several public hiking trails, with some campers noting unexpected trail traffic. According to Sakina P., "Hikers take any trail instead of marked trails regardless of families camping in private areas... They should post this info for the people on the trails."

Creek exploration: Campsites along waterways offer natural cooling during summer months. At Mill Creek Camping Area, Meagan J. notes, "Camping down by the creek makes for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."

Floating to campsites: Yellow Breeches Creek provides unusual campsite access options at Lower Allen Community Park. As reviewer Joann&WellsThePup explains, "You can put in a few miles up and float down to your site. There is parking right there."

What campers like

Natural sounds: Water features create auditory experiences valued by campers. One visitor to Mill Creek noted the campsite location "down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."

Spacious sites: Multiple tents can be accommodated at certain locations, offering flexibility for group camping. A Mill Creek camper observed, "Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents."

Tree cover: Natural shade from established trees provides cooling at Susquehannock State Park Campground, where David G. reports, "Two loops. One has a few sites with electric and some cabins... There are lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River."

What you should know

Weather contingencies: Some campgrounds offer flexibility for weather disruptions. At Mill Creek, "Campground will refund you if rain prevents your stay or allow you to rebook."

Park hour restrictions: Evening access may be limited at certain locations. At Lower Allen, the reviewer notes, "They do lock the park at dusk though."

Location awareness: Some primitive sites in this region are situated in developed areas. Philip B. observed at Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area, "The site is public access and there are lots of hikes, joggers, and people expecting you not to be camping. I was woke up every morning by people walking through the site."

Insect considerations: Low-lying sites near water can experience increased bug activity. One camper at Lancaster County Mill Creek noted, "Lots of creepy crawlers."

Tips for camping with families

Reservation procedures: Township-managed sites require specific booking methods. For Lower Allen Community Park, "You just need to call the township to reserve."

Water recreation access: Stream proximity provides natural play areas during hot weather. Philip B. shares from Lancaster County Mill Creek, "When it hits the high temperatures a quick dip in the water is amazing."

Privacy expectations: Understand that some camping areas have mixed recreational use. As one camper reported, "I was woke up every morning by people walking through the site but the conversations were friendly and pleasant."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lewisberry, PA is Lower Allen Community Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lewisberry, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Lewisberry, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.