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Manheim, Pennsylvania serves as a hub for family-friendly camping experiences with several established campgrounds in the surrounding Lancaster County area. Pinch Pond Family Campground and Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country offer varied accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. These campgrounds provide access to Pennsylvania Dutch Country and are strategically positioned near attractions like Hershey Park and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, making them popular bases for regional exploration. Most campgrounds in this area maintain well-developed facilities with full hookup options, swimming pools, and recreational amenities.
Camping seasons in the Manheim region typically run from April through October, with most campgrounds closing for winter. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly during summer weekends and special events. A camper noted, "Stayed here 3x each time in October as they are very close to the PA Renaissance Fair. Easy to get to and beautiful setting, gorgeous trees and feels very woodsy." Road access is generally straightforward with good proximity to major highways including I-76 and I-78, though some campground sites may present leveling challenges due to the rolling terrain characteristic of Lancaster County. Weather conditions remain favorable for camping throughout the season, with occasional summer thunderstorms and cooler nights in spring and fall.
The camping experience around Manheim includes notable characteristics that visitors frequently mention in reviews. Many campgrounds in the area feature wooded surroundings that provide shade and privacy while maintaining proximity to attractions. Campers consistently mention noise considerations in their reviews, with several campgrounds being situated near highways or, in some cases, shooting ranges. According to one visitor, "The only thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner." Family-oriented amenities are plentiful in most established campgrounds, including playgrounds, game rooms, and organized activities. The region's cultural significance as Pennsylvania Dutch Country adds a unique dimension to the camping experience, with opportunities to explore Amish communities, covered bridges, and rural landscapes that characterize this distinctive part of Pennsylvania.
"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
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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!"
"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
Check Availability"Starlight is a nice campground to relax or explore central Pennsylvania."
"The campground is in a great location with easy access to Lancaster, Hershey and many other places to explore."
"Great, convenient location. Cost friendly considering the location. Clean grounds & maintained sites. Mix of open & shaded sites, all appear to be pretty level, our site was next to stream."
"The site was right next to the creek. Shade is perfect for our dogs. Office personnel were so very helpful. Office does close at 4 but that is due to staff shortages."
"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. "
from $24 - $89 / night
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ScoutPicked the nicest days of the week. Got here and the carousel, Ferris wheel, restaurant, and ice cream shoppe are closed. They are apparently only open 2 days a week, maybe 3. I would have just went down the road to the KOA had I not known this.
GuideWe used to camp here 30+ years ago. Nice that it hasn't changed much. Still has a game room with pool table, driving games, skeet ball, etc. No more pinball games like in the past. Apparently in the 1930 there was a working train around the campground, a restaurant and horse shoes - none of which are at present.
Sites are quite small. I thought our neighbor's awning was going to hit our RV, and that ours might hit the next neighbor's RV. In some parts the campers are also back to back, luckily ours is not.
They have wi-fi but you must pay for it, no free service. No cable TV (which is the norm these days). Good cell reception so you will need that or a Starlink to stream shows.
Staff are friendly. Sites are pretty level. The campground itself is rather pretty with trees, grassy areas, playgrounds for kids, etc. Lots of lightning bugs at night, and birds during the day.
At night it's interesting to walk around as so many seasonal and permanent campers have lights around their campers, trees, etc. Almost like walking around one of those light up parks they do around Christmas.
RangerCheck in was a Doozy. I have never treated like that....and my friend that checked in an hour earlier got the same attitude. I have also never been to a state Park that wanted me to check in every time I drive past the station. And to top it off, anyone could park at the visitors parking lot and come through at any time. Second night, I swear drone or someone was on our site in the middle of the night. Flashed Twice. Scared at that point. Only one car at a site. Never actually saw a ranger drive through
LegendPros- Pool is sparkling clear and new. Mini golf is awesome. Nice people, nice store.
Cons- further from Hershey Park than ideal, lots of seasonal campers leaving for work before dawn in loud trucks, not much privacy, some road noise.
GuideBASE ACCESS REQUIRED!
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. Weekly and monthly pricing available as well.
The sites are neat, well maintained, level, and sunny with concrete pads and paved campground roads. Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance. Other base amenities include: commissary, gas station, bowling, BBQ, Dunkin', and Greek restaurants, and golf. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)
Note: in July it is very buggy - the biting flies are the worst. So bring bug spray or a screened in tent to eat in.
The downside: the reservation system is a major PITA. You have to download a PDF packet, fill it out, and EMAIL it in. When you get your confirmation, it doesn't include a specific site number. You get assigned one when they call you the week of your scheduled check-in for payment completion.
Don't miss out on: the water! My advice would be to reserve one of their boats at the same time you reserve your campsite. The water in this area is great - no jellyfish, low waves. You can SUP, kayak, pontoon boat. Whatever your preference. There are large flats of grasses - which you'd want to avoid with a motor but are so much fun to paddle over. Also check out the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge island. You can't go inland, but you can anchor off shore, jump in and wade around the shallows.
Also very driveable to an off-base movie theater, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace.
ScoutWe stayed only one night in primitive tent site which was massive with a turnaround. It was great. There are fire pits and picnic tables and level ground. Very serene. We walked down to the river, breathtaking. Not sure of other amenities as we didn’t use them.
ScoutWhere do I start?
We came to this campground to connect with family who was hiking the AT. We left after one miserable night. Here are some reasons:
A giant confederate flag near the entrance
Highway noise and not one but two train tracks
One Filthy “bathroom”
No shade at our campsite- despite other available sites with some shade
A trail of poison ivy on the narrow path to the river
Cigarette butts everywhere
And a creepy man on a bike who declared he was a local and wouldn’t leave our site while I was alone and insisted on talking to me about the strip club down the street, where to buy condoms and how my tent’s mesh shelf is perfect for drying out my wet panties.
ScoutWe called ahead of time to reserve two sites for two nights for a bunch of people from out of state and some hikers from the AT. They said it was $35 per site per night. When we arrived we were told that we had to pay for three nights because it was a holiday weekend AND that the price was per tent. The porta potties were gross and hadn’t been serviced in a while. It was difficult to use them. During a heat wave we were given a site with little shade when several sites further along with plenty of trees were empty. The plumbed bathroom was dirty and had no soap. The shop did not in fact sell love bait, which cramped our fishing style. There is a loud rail road with constant trains on one side and a very busy highway with loud trucks on the other. The river front was lovely, but with detritus from previous campers on the rocks. We left after one night.
ScoutWell maintained campgrounds with thoughtful touches. Staff very friendly and responsive.
Camping sites near Manheim, Pennsylvania offer access to recreational water features that complement the region's rolling terrain. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 400-600 feet above sea level, creating natural drainage that helps sites recover quickly after rain. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, with occasional thunderstorms that move through quickly due to the region's open valleys.
Fishing opportunities: Thousand Trails Circle M sits on a horseshoe curve of a river where fishing is popular. As one camper noted, "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!"
Shooting range visits: Some campgrounds are located near shooting ranges, offering target practice opportunities. A visitor to Pinch Pond mentioned, "The only thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner. If your out and about, it won't be an issue."
Water recreation: Gifford Pinchot State Park, located 32 miles from Manheim, offers extensive water activities on Pinchot Lake. A camper described the amenities: "The LARGE beach area in the QR day use area is one of the nicest I've ever seen at a PA state park, with tons of picnic tables with grills, a playground, a volleyball court, and a special fence solution to keep the stupid geese out of the water in the swimming area."
Mini golf: Many campgrounds in the area maintain mini golf courses as on-site recreation. At Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, mini golf is just one of several family-friendly amenities available. According to a reviewer, "Nice, clean family-friendly place with a lot of RV and tent spots. Nice pool and playgrounds. Not a lot of traffic. Quiet. Friendly."
Privacy and spacing: Campers frequently mention appreciating sites that offer some separation from neighbors. At Starlite Camping Resort, a visitor noted, "Overall the sites were large, with trees between, providing additional privacy. Except for the Plateau sites, which have the amazing view, the rest of the campground had a great tree cover! Too often private campgrounds attempt to squeeze as many sites as possible and end up with campers on top of their neighbors, but at Starlight, the sites felt very secluded."
Clean facilities: Many reviews specifically mention the cleanliness of bathhouses and other facilities. A visitor to Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA observed, "Bathrooms are very clean and modern, but a decent walk from tent sites. The facilities are all lovely, staff in the camp store are kind and helpful."
Riverside sites: Camping spots along waterways are particularly valued. At Mill Bridge Village & Camp Resort, a camper shared, "We had a nice site that backed up to a small creek. Very scenic and laid back campground."
Special events: Seasonal activities enhance the camping experience, especially for families. A Circle M visitor mentioned, "We spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it! They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the area require attention to leveling due to the region's natural topography. A camper at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country reported, "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."
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Manheim are situated close to active rail lines. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, one visitor warned, "Nice camp ground but super loud bc of the trains. Bath houses are nice and clean. I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!"
Seasonal crowds: Campgrounds get particularly busy during peak seasons and special events. A visitor to Pinch Pond noted, "Gets packed on weekends. Lots of families enjoying their time together, campfires, kids playing."
Reservation timing: The popularity of the region means advance planning is essential. For Thousand Trails locations, a camper advised, "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."
Indoor options for rainy days: Several campgrounds offer indoor recreation facilities that prove valuable during inclement weather. At Circle M, a camper mentioned, "There is an indoor pool and spa. They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!"
Playground proximity: When booking sites with children, consider proximity to play areas. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, a visitor recommended, "Near Hershey Park. Shuttle bus to the park. Nice sites in the shade. Has pool and playground."
Beach access for kids: Water features designed for children provide entertainment without leaving the campground. A Gifford Pinchot visitor shared, "Easy walk to the lake with a small beach. There was also a beach location on the state park side vs campground side of the lake. Boat rentals available."
Game rooms: Several campgrounds maintain indoor gaming facilities. A visitor to Pinch Pond mentioned, "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."
Arrival timing: For the best site selection at Thousand Trails locations, timing is critical. A camper advised, "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 selection strategies: When choosing a site, consider factors beyond just size. At Old Mill Stream Campground, one RVer appreciated the online booking system: "If you reserve online you can see the availability and pick your site which is always a nice feature. They also have pictures of each campsite on the website so you really know what you are getting."
Water quality considerations: Some campgrounds may have water quality issues worth planning for. A PA Dutch Country visitor warned, "Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay."
Services and connections: Always verify what hookups are available. At Hershey RV and Camping Resort, a camper noted, "This is a basic campground with a swimming pool, a store and laundry. The sites are gravel and most are not level."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Manheim, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Manheim, PA is Thousand Trails Hershey with a 3.9-star rating from 23 reviews.
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