3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV parks near Lincoln University provide full-hookup sites for various rig sizes. Spring Gulch Resort Campground in New Holland offers RV sites with electric, water, and sewer connections, operating from March 21 to December 1. Thousand Trails Circle M in Lancaster features both pull-through and back-in sites with 30/50-amp service, though navigation can be challenging for larger motorhomes. "The campground is part of Hershey and as such offers good discounts to Hersheypark. While it offers nice amenities and a shuttle to Hersheypark, the campground itself is very tight, cramped, and hard to navigate," noted one RV owner about Thousand Trails Hershey. Appalachian Camping Resort in Shartlesville accommodates big rigs with 50-amp hookups and level gravel pads, remaining open from April through October.
Advance reservations are essential during peak seasons, particularly for premium riverside sites at Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina. Most parks in the region provide dump stations, though French Creek State Park has received criticism for its "pitiful low water pressure" and "high sewer connections." Cell service varies considerably—Verizon users report only 1-2 bars at several campgrounds, while AT&T coverage can be spotty. Many parks charge additional fees for WiFi access, with Pinch Pond Family Campground offering both WiFi and ethernet connections for a fee. Pet restrictions differ between facilities; pets are only permitted in Loop C at French Creek State Park. Several campgrounds provide on-site propane refill stations, including Pinch Pond and Bar Harbor. When navigating to these destinations, be aware that some parks have confusing entrance signage or require driving through residential areas.
"There was a craft show in the barn which was nice. Only two dump stations for a pretty large park. We would camp here again but not over a holiday."
"The campsites available are primitive or have water and electric and bathhouses / restrooms are located in a few spots around the park. Fire rings are at each site, but appear to get moved a lot."
"Well wooded campground with friendly staff and guests. The only minor complaint is that the camp store was sparsely supplied. B+ little gem of a campground."
"Showed up on Wednesday, and was assigned a spot in loop 700 up on a hill in the center of a ring of trailers, past a lot of full-timers. Cable does not work. No internet. 2 bars LTE on T-Mobile."
"My family and I stayed at Lake In Wood for 4 days. The campground is very well maintained , and the staff is very nice."
"From the spotlessly clean grounds to the nice facilities this is a favorite of ours. There are lots of seasonal sites but there also lots of visitors too."
from $40 - $60 / night
"I got an amazingly large site with a nice fire pit and picnic table. The site was very level so that was great! Nice indoor and outdoor pools! Cable TV isn't free, but I never use it anyway."
"We got pretty lucky and were assigned one of the concrete pads that was pretty level. It is absolutely beautiful out."
"The biggest downside to this particular campground is its very close proximity to the PA Turnpike, which while convenient, might detract a bit from the peace & quiet you might be expecting when here"
"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"
"We stayed at Appalachian to visit a friend who has a seasonal site. Our site was full hook up."
"Family friendly. Lots for the kids to do."
"Our first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice."
"Some of the trailer sites are a tough back in but worth the trouble. WiFi is good washrooms are modern and adequate. A lot of long term residents but the transient sites are pretty separate."
from $75 - $115 / night
"While it offers nice amenities and a shuttle to Hersheypark, the campground itself is very tight, cramped, and hard to navigate."
"I stayed at HersheyPark Camping Resort with my family over the extended Easter weekend this year. "
from $50 - $60 / night
"While its proximity to the highway makes access easy, the property itself is gated, organized into distinct camping zones and packed with amenities that clearly cater to longer stays and families looking"
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"Electric/Water/Sewer hookup sites for $56 a night! (2 night minimum) Which is a great full hookup price, even though it's gone up $6 since last year."
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!
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.
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.
TravelerOMG! Next to busy interstate, railroad tracks and shooting range. Way to much for me!
ScoutFirst time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
GuideMary & her crew run a great campground. Full hookup. Slow schedule during the week-camp store & pool mainly. Saturdays always have activities planned from bingo to quarter auctions, picnics & music. Each Saturday is different. Clean grounds. Nice playgrounds. Kiddie pool & nice size pool from 3-5’ deep. 2 cabins also available.
TravelerThe owner is kind and knowledgeable a lot of live in / snowbirds . Some are very kind but some of the live in’s are crude .
GuideA beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
Many RV campgrounds near Lincoln University, Pennsylvania are situated within the rolling Brandywine Valley at elevations ranging from 300-500 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes, with warm, humid summers and moderate winters that affect camping availability. Fall camping is particularly popular as tree canopies throughout Lancaster and Chester counties transform with vibrant autumn colors, creating ideal conditions for seasonal weekend getaways.
Fishing opportunities: 2 miles from Lake-In-Wood Campground offers a stocked pond for campers. "Huge pond for fishing, miniature gold, nice indoor and outdoor pool and a kiddie pool. Goats to pet and watch," notes Jen R., who enjoyed the diverse activities despite mentioning "a quarry close by so you could hear the trucks beeping."
Golfing: 5-minute walk at Thousand Trails Circle M provides a par-3 course for casual players. "There is a par 3 golf course, indoor pool, mini golf, basketball, and that is in the fall. They also do canoeing in the warmer months and will shuttle you," shares Norm F., highlighting the year-round recreation options.
Target practice: 10-minute drive from Pinch Pond connects to local shooting ranges. "The only thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner," explains Tara N., offering a practical warning about noise levels during daylight hours.
Modern cabin accommodations: Spring Gulch Resort Campground offers recently renovated options. "Some of the cabins were recently added and are super clean inside. The one we stayed in had a set of bunk beds, a queen bed, and a fold out couch. It also had a bathroom with shower/tub and everything you would need except linens," reports Phinon W., describing the upscale lodging options.
Entertainment schedules: Weekend activities at Appalachian Camping Resort keep families engaged. "The campground had numerous activities set up all throughout the day and there was something for everyone. There was bingo, crafts, a vendor craft show, hot dog eating contest for adults and kids, candy scramble in the dark for adults and kids, a dj Saturday night and a live band Sunday night," shares Melissa Y., highlighting the diverse programming.
Amish countryside access: Sun Valley Campground provides cultural exploration opportunities. "The minute you walk into the office you get that 'aha' moment. The office greets you with a smile and 'Welcome to Sun Valley, how can I help you,'" according to Scott J., who appreciates the welcoming atmosphere in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country.
Site levelness issues: Across several campgrounds, uneven terrain presents challenges. "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 Justin B. about Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, suggesting bringing extra leveling blocks.
Seasonal fluctuations: Most RV parks operate from April through October. "We went for Halloween, they had plenty for kids to do and was a pretty nice park," notes Jwalker about Spring Gulch, which remains open until December 1, longer than most facilities in the area.
Noise considerations: Highway and activity noise affects several locations. "There is a quarry close by so you could hear the trucks beeping and the noise from there but that was the only negative thing," explains Jen R. about Lake-In-Wood Campground, highlighting the importance of site selection.
Pool access timing: Many campground pools have limited hours on weekdays. "Staff was nice but not enough staffing to keep amenities like pool open after 5 during the week," notes Beth B. about Spring Gulch, suggesting planning afternoon activities accordingly.
Age-appropriate activities: Look for campgrounds with diverse programming. "I find that a lot of campground activities tend to be centered around small children and with my kids being 13 and 12, they're usually left out of the fun. There was bingo, crafts, a vendor craft show, hot dog eating contest for adults and kids," shares Melissa Y., who found Appalachian Camping Resort particularly accommodating for tweens.
Free recreation options: Several campgrounds offer no-cost entertainment. "Some sports gear available for free to use within park, has to be returned by 5 when main office closes," explains Beth B., noting that equipment borrowing can reduce packing needs.
Navigation challenges: Some parks have complex layouts that can be difficult to navigate. "This campground is huge but you're not stacked on top of your neighbor like the others. They have 4 different sections to stay in, we were in D," explains Sammii D. about Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, recommending careful site selection when checking in.
Big rig considerations: Site dimensions vary significantly. "Many sites seemed tight and while ours wasn't, it was the smallest we've had in a while," reports Luis B. about Appalachian Camping Resort, suggesting calling ahead to confirm accommodations for larger vehicles.
Utility connections: Placement and quality of hookups varies by park. "The water hookup access was on the ground. It was raining and the area was saturated with no where to drain," explains Elvira A. about Bar Harbor RV Park, highlighting the importance of bringing extension hoses and connector protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Lincoln University, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Lincoln University, PA is Spring Gulch Resort Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Lincoln University, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 89 RV camping locations near Lincoln University, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
