We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Mechanicsburg. The Dyrt is the ultimate place to find cabins for your next outdoor adventure near Mechanicsburg. From secluded to easy-to-reach, these Pennsylvania cabin rentals are perfect for any adventurer.
$15 - $130 / night
From campfires to coasters, Hershey campground combines the fun of camping with the convenience and benefits of staying at an Official Resort of Hersheypark. Bring your tent or RV, or rent a cabin, and enjoy the year-round natural beauty of Hershey The Sweetest Place On Earth!
Flush toilets, warm showers, some electric hook-ups
This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
Seventy tent and trailer sites are available from late March to mid-December.
Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. A sanitary dump station is near the campground entrance.
A seasonal camp store is one quarter-mile from the campground.
Pets are permitted on designated campsites for a fee.
$28 / night
The 3,500-acre Codorus State Park is in the rolling hills of southern York County.
The 1,275-acre Lake Marburg has 26 miles of shoreline and is a rest stop for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. The lake is also popular with sail and motor boaters.
Anglers love the lake for warmwater fishing and can also fish Codorus Creek for trout.
Picnicking, swimming in the pool, and camping are popular activities.
$4 - $19 / night
$52 / night
The 1,125-acre Caledonia State Park is in Adams and Franklin counties, midway between Chambersburg and Gettysburg along the Lincoln Highway, US 30.
The park is nestled within South Mountain, the northern terminus of the well-known Blue Ridge Mountain of Maryland and Virginia. Within South Mountain there are four state parks and 84,000 acres of state forest land waiting to be explored and enjoyed. The soils on either side of South Mountain are ideal for fruit production, proven by the abundance of orchards in the surrounding area.
Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA is a favorite getaway. The Campground is located in the middle of all the wonderful things to do in south central Pennsylvania, just 20 minutes from Hershey “The Chocolate Town” and the thrills of HersheyPark. Hershey KOA is only a short drive to the Amish Country, the factory tours of York County & Historic Gettysburg. Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA is the perfect home base for all your adventures and fun Activities for the Whole Family Wander around on this 50 acre tree filled campground offering a stocked catch n’ release fishing pond, sand volleyball, basketball and 2 playground areas. Try your luck with minigolf or a game of horseshoes. Take a dip in our sparkling swimming pool area with two pools to accommodate children of all ages! Join in with many of our planned summer activities and themed weekends and, of course, don’t to forget to hop on the wagon ride around the campground. Plenty of things for to do here for you and your family, and most importantly, don’t forget to sit back and relax!
$45 - $279 / night
Set on 200 acres of rolling farmland in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Hershey RV Camping preserve is enclosed in a natural valley of grassy fields, sloping down to a small fishing lake. Six miles away is Hershey's Chocolate World (rides and live entertainment), ZooAmerica, plus many golf courses and 3 major outlet centers. Nearby our Thousand Trails Pennsylvania Dutch Country RV campground are also Amish settlements and the Indian Echo Caverns. Hershey RV Camping has something for everyone, from the amusement park enthusiast to the history buff! Hershey RV campground near Chocolate World Whether you're planning a retreat for the whole family, a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Hershey RV & Camping Resort. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.
$50 - $60 / night
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.
$10 / night
If you are looking for a fun way to spend time with your family and friends outdoors, you will love everything the Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA has to offer. When you choose to go camping in Gettysburg, you get to enjoy a tranquil nature retreat while learning about one of the most important historical events of the nation's Civil War era. Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA is a campground near downtown Gettysburg that is built for campers of all types and experience levels. Situated just five miles from downtown Gettysburg, Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA gives you access to all the local attractions while ensuring you have a peaceful camping experience.
You can secure a site for rugged tent camping, luxurious RV glamping or even cabin camping, depending on your party's preferences. Regardless of what type of camping experience you choose, you will have access to many modern amenities and conveniences, including essentials such as Wi-Fi and a laundry room. You can even participate in planned activities at our campground or rent bicycles for a unique way to tour the Gettysburg area.
Guide
Olive Green cabin, owned/operated by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is a two floor primitive cabin near Frederick, Maryland. It's a log cabin that was built around the mid-1860's. The last private owner, Olive Green lived in it until the 1980's (I think) when she was still living primitively without electricity or water. She grew her own food and had livestock on her property. The cabin itself is stocked with various cookware (including cast iron), bed frames, tables, chairs, books and games. We went in December after a storm and needed to shovel our way to the outhouse. Manual labor is not a bad thing! The opportunity to stay here and live primitively for a weekend was nice. The only downside is that the cabin is not effectively insulated, with numerous holes between the logging that lets a good amount of cold air in at night. There is also a wood burning stove on the first floor that's great for cooking on, but doesn't produce a lot of heat that needs to make its way to the sleeping quarters in the loft.
Legend
Site Details: We stayed in the Dragonfly camping cottage (quick weekend trip without the husband, and I’m not quite up for towing and setting up the popup by myself with 3 kids!). It was a standard rustic-type state park cabin, with one double bed, one single twin bunk, and one regular set of bunk beds, so it sleeps 5-6 comfortably. There was also a sturdy dining room table with chairs and an oscillating fan inside. Electricity/lights and heat, but no AC. Very clean inside. The cabin also had a really nice front porch, picnic table, and fire ring, and was situated with a beautiful lake view. The area we were in contained both rustic cabins and yurts (which looked really neat).
Facilities/Overall Park: Multiple bath houses were scattered among various loops, and each one we visited was very old, dim and drab, but they were also spacious and reasonably clean. Showers all had old rust and water stains. However, it was nice that there were so many of them, because this is a very large state park with multiple camping loops. Most tent and basic RV sites were shaded and private, while the newer FHU sites were more open (but still nicely spaced). Hosts and rangers were nice, but not very helpful or proactive when they needed to correct a reservation mistake they made (but it worked out in the end). There is a beautiful lake with a really nice day area in the center of the park, with a great playground and concession stand. The lake is popular for fishing and swimming, although there is oddly no sand beach; swimmers just entered the water straight from the grass.
Surrounding Area/Attractions: Not much going on in the immediate vicinity, but Harrisburg, Amish country, and Hershey are all doable day trips from the park. We were here just for the Hershey RV show, and it was an easy 40-minute drive.
Overall, this was a very pretty park with site options for every type of camper, but certain elements are in need of updating. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to make this park a destination, but it’s a nice option as a base camp for visiting the RV show or other attractions (with a much cheaper price tag than the private CGs closer to the action).
Guide
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. For everyone complaining about driving around and not finding spots, if you get there early enough aroung 1 pm, you wont' have a problem.
This campground is located behind two farms and behind some woods, so you won't be able to see it from the main road. That is great because there was no traffic noise around. When we arrived to the gate house, the woman there was very helpful in recommending sites area for us. We chose a pull through site for our 30 ft TT since we are newbies (our 4th trip). There is ample space between you and your rv neighbor and no real obstructions to park. The trees are not in the way of the parking space. Each site had a lamp post so that at night, you could easily see where you are parked but they place them low to the ground so as not to add to light polution. The roads are a mix of gravelled area and asphalt. They have an overflow area for those with extra cars and those with tow dollies. This keeps the campground from looking like a junk yard.
As for the entertainment, we arrived too early for the pool to be open but they do have an indoor hot tub for those 16 years and older that is open. The store hours are a bit strange, with some days being open until 2pm on some weekdays. Their store has a good supply (just the essentials) but their best selling item is Hershey ice cream (so good!) They have a tennis court, mini golf, basketball court, and you saw many kids out witth their bicycles. There is even an arcade center for the kids and a rec center with a pool table.
The campground is very safe at night, no noise disturbances at night and we had no problems having our kids wander around by themselves. The batthrooms are nice and are designated shelters in case of severe weather. The pond is not suitable for swimming and has no swimming signs around. Nature decided to reclaim the area and the fish have an abuncance of kel to live in. It is a wonderful fishing and boating area.
All in all, it was a lovely campground.
Guide
We stayed in a lovely cabin here while I was in town for work. My husband enjoyed the pool with the kids during the day and when I was there we enjoyed shuffleboard, mini golf and hiking together. The cabin was clean and well maintained and the cabins are at the top of the hill but that made for a beautiful view and we felt like we were away from everyone else. I wasn't as fond of the camper sites they seemed kind of close together but the cabins were amazing.
Traveler
We camped in on of the cabins overnight on a recent road trip. Cabins are nice and spacious, bath facilities are some of the best I've seen. We didn't;t get to explore since we were traveling, but there's plenty to do in the area.
Guide
I camped near Chimney rocks and Hermitage cabin and the place is truly magnificent. If you want to stay at the cabin, it looks super cute. If not, there’s a few campsites just a little bit down, close to the river and large enough for 4 double tents. There’s a lot to do near by with a town not too far away. I definitely recommend paying this place a visit!
Traveler
Nice campground with good camper spots. Large spots. Nice cabins as well!
Scout
I took my grandkids to Buttonwood on August 1st. Thru 4th. 2022. We stayed in their rustic cabin. The cabin was nice and clean. Bathrooms were really clean and had really nice showers. Lots for the kids to do. My grandkids had a blast. My granddaughter said Buttonwood is the best campground. They have, nice pool , miniature golf, laser tag, places to fish, it’s just a friendly and beautiful atmosphere.Would go back. I would recommend Buttonwood to anyone who’s looking for a nice place to camp.
Scout
Took the kids and had a wonderful time. Cabins are a little expensive but beautiful.
Traveler
We decided to camp in the fall and did a cabin since it was colder and we had the baby. We loved it! 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. We want to come to back and do that. The cabin was cute, clean, and warm. It snowed a bit but we had an outdoor fire. We cooked inside and my parents had their t.v. next door. I went for an early morning run and the camping sites are terrific, too.
GuideThe town really does smell like chocolate. This is a resort style park that we went to with scouts to ease them into tent camping. The sites are packed in like sardines and it’s pretty chaotic. Pros: close to the amusement park, cabin options, various park extras (early entry, coupons, package deals), pool, extensive store & gift shop, sports fields, etc. easy to remember loop names. Cons: very packed, lots of kids, not too quiet, train tracks right next to many of the sites and cabins, no park shuttle, not for nature experience. If you are ok with this kind of “resort” as a cheap place to stay while in Hershey, it’s ok.
TravelerPerfect rustic cabin in the woods. It gives the illusion of being secluded even though the road is just on the other side of some trees. You'll get some car sounds for sure, but mostly quiet after dark.
The loft really only slept 2 unless you are ok sleeping on the floor. No running water or electricity. You'll need to bring plenty of flashlights and lanterns as well as water. Everything was clean and nice, including the outhouse.
The porch of the cabin was our main hangout and cooking station as it does get very dark inside. There were still a few nice, late-season pears left under the tree that we very much enjoyed.
TravelerIf tenting, be sure to check tent on reservation request. Some spots are too narrow for tenting. Cabins are mainly across lake from campground. Only 2 yurts. Two day use areas. Two swimming areas- one for day use, one just for campers!
Scout
Went up last year around October got a cabin for a week with my family we enjoyed it alot there's alot to do mini golf along with fishing plus movie night who wouldn't want to go well be going next year and doing seasonal
Guide
Deer Spring Loop is near the top of the mountain.
This is not a pet friendly loop.
Site 112 is level, mostly shaded, backs up to the woods and has electric.
The site is between two cabins. Not a problem except the cabins were empty and the ac was running. Noisy and kind of wasteful.
There are lots of good hiking trails in the park. It’s a nice walk to the lake. Note that the hike back is 2/3 uphill.
They sell ice at the camp entrance, which is nice.
The bathrooms were moderately clean and had plenty of hot water.
I was not aware that there was a camp host until the third morning as I was readying to leave. I approached another camp to ask a question and they said they were the “camp hosts”.
GuideWe stayed for 10 days in a rustic cabin. Campground is well organized and clean. Tons of activities and even a hiking path. Pet friendly with small dog park. We had civil war soldiers drilling and staying the weekend we were there. Bathrooms are super clean.
Guide
Family cabins available, tent sites are small. Clean parks with a small stream. Next to Dutch Wonderland, showers are nice, laundry facilities available. Enjoyed our time but only because we were going to the park, not a campground to visit if your looking for quiet and isolation.
ScoutThis campground is always a great place to stay. I've been coming almost annually for years and I always recommend it to anyone local. They offer reasonable prices for cabins and campground spots, and the local town of Dillsburg is perfect for getting late supplies or going to a drive in movie!
Legend
This is a great campground right at Hershey Park. It had a free shuttle to the park and Chocolate World! Nice sites, but some are pretty close together. Right on a small creek. Most sites are in the shade. Cabins look nice. The arcade barn is a must see for the kids!
Legend
Campground Review
This weekend we camped at Shady Grove Campground which is located at 65 Poplar Drive in Denver, Pennsylvania. This is approximately 20 miles outside of Reading in Lancaster County. The staff was friendly upon check in however we did not receive a list of events for the weekend. The camp store looks brand new and had a very small grocery section along with a few merchandise items. There was also ice cream bars available for purchase. Included in the office was a small game room which consisted of a pool table, foosball table and an arcade game. Located in the rear of the office was a very large pond for fishing and kayak, canoe or paddle boat rentals.
The campground itself was not overly large. There were seven sections for camping. One downfall is that every campsite is gravel. There was no grass at any site. This made it difficult for us to have our infant daughter crawl around all weekend. The campsites were also pretty close together. We were on a corner, site #57, directly across from the pool and playground area so there was a lot of traffic. Plus there was a light pole that was on all night so sitting by the fire you had to turn a certain way or you were staring at the light the whole time. You could purchase firewood here for $5 a bundle. However, the bundle only had five to six pieces of wood in them. This came out to about $1 a piece of wood. Luckily, the gentleman aside of us was leaving and he left us his firewood saving us a ton of money that literally would have just gone up in flames.
Our son did have a good time playing at the playground which was completely fenced in behind the pool. It had four slides, a rock wall, swings, seesaw, rocking horses and other ladders to climb up and over. There was also a nice open grassy area to play frisbee or catch in the playground area as well. Aside of the playground there was also a macadam basketball court. There was a pool also in the same area as the playground and basketball court. There was about a dozen lounge chairs and another dozen regular chairs to sit by the pool. There was also a small pavilion area to get out of the shade. There were no tables or umbrellas to sit by though which would have been nice. The pool was nice and clean however it was only 5 feet deep which is nice for children who would be able to stand. There was no lifeguard on duty and you had to be 16 to be there without supervision.
There was a pavilion near the back of the campground as well. According to the website there was supposed to be a family carnival however we didn’t know where to go since we didn’t receive any information about the event and nothing was posted in the office. I’m not actually sure if they had it or not. In case you don’t want to stay at the campground there are plenty of area attractions within a few minutes to an hour or two away. Stoudt’s Brewery is right down the road along with Maple Grove Raceway nearby, Site & Sound, Outlet Shopping and Antiquing as well. For a further drive you can also visit Hershey Park, Gettysburg and Dorney Park.
We had a full hook up at our campsite which consisted of water, sewer, trash, cable and wifi for $55/night which is a great price! Due to the full hook up we really didn’t use the bathrooms too much. They were pretty far away in the back corner of the campground. There were only four bathrooms that were a combination of a sink, toilet and shower with bench for clothing. My husband used the restroom on Friday night and he said on Sunday morning he could still see his sandal prints on the floor which meant no one had cleaned them all weekend. The campground was full too as there were alot of workers staying there full time due to the pipeline construction nearby. Everyone we met was very friendly and it was nice to meet people from different parts of the country.
This campground was also pet friendly. There was a very nice grassy area for dog walking. They were allowed in most areas except the office, pool, in the pond and the Deluxe Cabin #2 available for rent year round.
There are tent sites available for rent and also a rustic cabin and two deluxe cabins. Tent sites are $35/night and the cabins range from $90/night to $125/night. There is a $25 charge for pets in the rustic cabin and the Deluxe Cabin #1 on top of the rental fee. There are also seasonal sites available as well.
Our son was very excited to find his first painted rock as well at the campground. We posted it on Facebook to RVing Rocks and Sams Rocks as per the instructions on the back. It was a kitty and he just loves cats so he was pretty happy to show us his awesome find!
We had a great time camping with our family as usual however due to the gravel sites I would most likely look for another campground the next time we decide to camp nearby. Some people may like the gravel however due to having pets and young children it was definitely a downfall for us.
Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At Shady Grove, I tested the Trekz Titanium wireless stereo headphones by Aftershokz (I give the headphone 4.5 stars even though the campground only gets 3)
What I loved about camping with my Trekz:
I will be definitely wearing my Trekz for walking my dogs, camping, driving, hiking, at work and traveling as much as I can in the future!
Scout
Cedar Creek was amazing and clean. Staff was friendly and courteous. Price is affordable. The only complaint is the neighbor outdoors man sports out door range less than a mile away. Not bothersome or concerned for safety. Just takes away from the rural feel. Cabin was clean and perfect. Grounds were very clean. Toilet and showers clean. Golf carts a little dated but overall good. Night time was serene and quite. Perfect for relaxing.
TravelerLots to do, nice wooded sites. A lot to do within walking distance of your site. When we went the swimming beach was kind of gross but they’ve done some repairs over the past year. Lots of fishing spots. Our friends stayed at a modern cabin and they were really nice too. Enjoyed the outdoor church service that they offer Memorial Day thru Labor Day. And for any homeschoolers there’s a great used bookstore a couple miles away (pa curriculum exchange)
Ranger
We stayed here beginning of June and their pool was open, they have pretty good water pressure and heat at the showers. Bathrooms were kinda dirty but far from the worst we’ve seen. The tent sites are just along the tree line in the grassy field, they have water and power at them. Looks like they have cabins and they have rv spots as well. They also have a fishing pond. Bugs weren’t too bad for being right next to the woods. I think we paid $35. Camp hosts were super nice, they don’t leave the picnic tables out so they bring one out to you.
Legend
Very nice family oriented campground nestled against the base of the mountains. I wish there was a better view of the beautiful mountain. Our site was a premium site that included a gas grill. Luckily, no one booked the cabins behind us that weekend or it would have been rather loud as the sites were close together even for a premium site. We were visiting friends in the area and they were able to visit for a small fee. They were then able to utilize the facilities so the kids could swim and play together. Nice playground with a small basketball court. We enjoy staying at state parks more because of the difference in site size but this was a nice change of pace.
Guide
Two loops. One has a few sites with electric and some cabins. Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites. There are lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River. There’s a great bike trail to the Conowingo dam which is a nice place to visit, and a great place to see lots of eagles. 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. One trail has two amazing specimen trees. There’s a working, renovated mill and home at the river also.
Guide
I went to Cordous State Park, outside of Hanover PA, with my 5 year old grandson. One night and two days, and we had a ball. I included lots of pictures in this review.
The lake has lots of game fish, as you can see by some of my pictures. There’s lots of places to fish from the shore, and boat rentals if you want to fish it deeper. The lake is overrun by white perch and shad. When you catch either, they want you to take them to eat, and not release them. We caught a stringer full, along with a nice small mouth bass that we released for another little angler to snag. I don’t think my grandson cared what kind of fish he caught. He had as much fun with the perch as the bass. He did say the bass was a real fighter, but he’s never caught a pike or walleye🙄.
Campgrounds are very nice. Not a lot of spaces for tents, but the ones they do have seem to be well shaded and quiet. Looks to me like 90% of their sites are set up for RV, and larger vehicles. They also have a few cabins, but I was told you have to reserve them far in advance. Showers and men’s rooms are nice. I can’t talk to the fairer sex side, since it was a trip for the boys.
Very kid friendly. They have playgrounds and other fun things for kids, including a huge pool with slide. You can’t swim in the lake. The pool opens when it gets warmer. Everything you need to fish or camp can be gotten in the park, but I brought everything we needed to save some money. They also have hiking trails, but I couldn’t do them since I’m ADA material. They do have lots of parking, with plenty of spaces for me and others that don’t walk so well.
If you want to eat a meal out, there’re a few places within 15 minutes, and a great family style place, called Friendly Farm, about 20 minutes south. Just in case you don’t want to cook👍.
It was my grandson’s first camping trip, and he’s hooked😁. I plan to take him up for a longer stay, and maybe do some day trip fishing there. I highly recommend this site. I’ll let you know if my rating changes when everyone else invades later this summer😖. For me it’s a short trip, so Tom and I can go there anytime. It’s open year round, but you got to leave at dusk.
Scout
The campground itself is nice but the sites are really close together with little between them to separate so I wasn’t sure if I set up at the right site or not. They were booked for Saturday and Sunday so I only camped during the week for $30/night with no discount. Get ready for buses of kids, literally, to show up at the campground in the late morning and stay and be loud all day long. Camp Hebron employees “had no clue about a Dryt app discount” and were unwilling to really do anything to help point me in the right direction. I have a pro account and am camping in leu if the rent hikes so every penny counts. It was a nice enough camp with your normal bugs in the wash house for example but the water was hot and stayed on the whole time which is nice. Altogether well maintained place with lots to do. My boyfriend proposed to me while here at the lake! Wonderful memories were made despite the kids and the discount issue. I will likely rent a cabin next time I stay here though.
Discover the charm of cabin camping near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where nature meets comfort in a variety of scenic settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Mechanicsburg, PA is Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 56 reviews.
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