Are you in need of a campground near Mount Gretna, PA? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Mount Gretna camping trip.
"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."
"The area up on the hill in the back is next to the CSX train track that runs 24/7. Lazy River Rest does flood when it rains and our relatives had to relocate their first night until it dried out."
"Friendly staff, clean bathhouses. Sites well maintained but ours wasn’t level. Gets packed on weekends. Lots of families enjoying their time together, campfires, kids playing."
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"That said, as the PA Dutch Country RV Resort rests at a slightly higher elevation than the turnpike, I have to admit, we really didn’t notice much of any noise coming from the highway and what’s more,"
"This is my 3rd stay with a Thousand Trails campground and haven't been too impressed and wasn't expecting too much when we drove in. I was pleasantly surprised when we did."
$45 - $279 / night
"They have upgraded the tent sites since last year, no more primitive sites, all the tent sites are now mulch pad with water and electric."
"Nice chairs, fire pit, and picnic table. The bath house was extremely clean and very nice. The pool was nice, but being that it was the end of June, the water was freezing! I couldn't get in!"
$20 - $89 / night
"The lake is large and gorgeous. There are a lot of lake side campsites which are amazing. The hosts are all very friendly."
"We stayed in July on site 235. When we arrived, our first thought was “Wow, these sites are narrow!” Fortunately, backing in was fairly easy. Some sites would’ve been more difficult."
"We first had a 2 point site near the river, but when it rains the sites get flooded with runoff from the campground.
We moved to a full hookup on the Delaware section."
"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."
"Starlite offers a wide variety of amenities such as a community pool, general store, snack bar, playground area, toilets, indoor shower stalls, daily activities, pets permitted, water/electric utilities"
"We had two sites this trip with water and electric, but they do have quite a few full hook-up sites. Overall the sites were large, with trees between, providing additional privacy."
"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."
"The entrance in off the main road turns you into the theme park. Fear not. Turn in and follow the road to the right and into the campground. We stayed on site 123 with a 40 ft Allegro Bus."
"The "pet loop" was clearly geared towards RVs etc. All of the sites are full electric and more than a few have very little space for a family size tent to be safely away from the fire ring."
"Site 365 at this time of year was very quiet and secluded. Cold it was, 15 degrees was a teeth chattering experience. However our A Liner Ranger kept me warm and cozy."
"Staff is excellent. Camp store is well stocked. Can’t beat this place!!"
"Nice ice cream shop and on-site restaurant. 2 very clean pools and water slides. 2 nice dog parks. Needs a pond and more shade but still is one of the nicer parks around."
LegendWe love this campground!! The area is absolutely beautiful. The lake is large and gorgeous. There are a lot of lake side campsites which are amazing. The hosts are all very friendly. We had a problem with our site and our weekend was saved thanks to the wonderful rangers. We are so thankful. My one and only reason for 4 out of 5 stars are the bathhouses. I wish they would update like Cowan's Gap. I have health issues and am always afraid I'll fall because the floors are so wet. Otherwise, they are kept cleaned up. Honestly, one of my favorite places to visit and we camp at as lot of parks. I hope they'll add more cottages too! There are lots of nice basic (non-electric) sites that are wooded, well shaded and private. There are nice, shaded electric sites. However, if you request electric and water you automatically get sewer too. This raises the price per site, per night by$13 and gives you a site with very little shade. We will return but we will choose an electric only site and fill our A-frame's water tank in order to get a wooded site. This campground is 100% reservable which means that you must select a site when you make your reservation. If you do not live in the area, that is difficult
TravelerStarlite offers a wide variety of amenities such as a community pool, general store, snack bar, playground area, toilets, indoor shower stalls, daily activities, pets permitted, water/electric utilities and laundry units. Staff was very friendly! Loved the cleanliness and atmosphere as well!
GuideWhat a wonderful place! The resort is spacious, scattered throughout the woods. The RV sites are comfortable with all the amenities. And the customer service is impeccable.
We stayed during a few weekdays in October and we almost had the whole place to ourselves. We stayed in one of the cabins, which had 2 beds and a bunk bed, sink and toilet, refrigerator, microwave, dining table and sofa. There was also a front porch with picnic table and fire pit.
Honestly, the beds were not very comfortable and way too small for a couple to sleep in one. It was a VERY dark walk to get to the bathhouse for showers. And the fire pit had no grill, so we ended up having to use the stoves of some RV camping friends for meals. Otherwise the stay was great.
I would strongly recommend camping there in the summer months or during weekends in the shoulder season if you have social kids like mine. There were tons of things to do there for adults and kids alike. The activities — such as putt-putt, jump zone and the playground ended up being kinda boring for them without others to share it with. Obviously that would change with crowds. And advance reservations are a must — this place books up fast!
I would highly recommend staying at Merry Meadows, especially if you have an RV and a group of friends to join you!
RangerNice, forested campground. Friendly staff, clean bathhouses. Sites well maintained but ours wasn’t level. Gets packed on weekends. Lots of families enjoying their time together, campfires, kids playing. Some long term RVs. Main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby. Fortunately our dog wasn’t bothered by the sound of gunshots and it’s only during the day. Otherwise great location - convenient to Lancaster, Hershey, and Mount Gretna.
LegendThis 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. After spending two nights up in the electrical hook-up area closest to the train tracks, we decided that we needed a better night’s sleep. Yes, the trains run all night long, and no, we don’t have air conditioning so couldn't just close the windows. So, we moved down to one of the primitive sites next to the river and enjoyed ourselves much more, plus all the solar we needed.
With all the options within this resort, I can understand why it is so popular. Plus, there’s the whole Hershey Park with shuttles running to and from the campground all day long. So, it’s got that going for it. As a campground resort this park aims to serve everyone. If you need your trash picked up, just leave the garbage bag in front of your site, and someone will be along soon enough to collect it. The bathrooms are immaculate, air conditioned, but many of the showers had wonky temperature controls so check it out before you commit. Each bathroom building also offers laundry machines to take care of those necessities as well. The campground has a large playground, game room, gift shop and a large outdoor pool.
Nearby, closer than you might even want, you can find food, groceries, gas, booze and traffic (at least during convention center event weekends). But there are also some really cool mom and pop restaurants, some craft beverage drinkeries, and places to walk, bike and get into some disc golf. This is close enough to be a bedroom community of Harrisburg, so the park is basically located in a tucked away corner of suburbia. If you have the time, go to the Grandview Winery nearby they have a lovely selection of vintages which really hold up to this wine snob’s approval.
The campsites are well spaces apart, unless within the central loop, and give the allure of being tucked away in the forest. Water is well spaced and is close by. The walk to the bathroom however, can be a stretch depending on where you park so plan according to your needs. But the woods provide an easy way to answer the call! : )
ScoutKnoebels campground is situated next to Knoebels amusement park and offers sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as cabins.
There is electricity at every site but not water. There are fill stations throughout the campgrounds. Most sites are level and shaded. There are nice sturdy wooden platforms for tent campers.
The bath houses are clean and well maintained. There are outside sinks with mirrors, laundry facilities, shower stalls, and toilet stalls. Or if you prefer there are also traditional bathrooms with showers.
Quiet hours are enforced between 10p and 8a.
Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Wood is available by the bucket near the check in building. Sites are inexpensive and are all a short walk, or free shuttle ride, to the park!.
LegendWest Chester KOA This is a really nice KOA not too far from downtown Philly. The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy. A bridge nearby the campground was washed out earlier by a hurricane so we had to take an alternative route going about thirty minutes out of our way. (Make sure you check their website for directions!) There is a lot to do in the surrounding area like visiting the historical sites in downtown Philadelphia, Valley Forge, or exploring Amish country.
This is a typical KOA with lots of amenities and activities for kids– swimming pool, jump pad, miniature golf, volleyball, butterfly garden, gem mining, playground, store, dog park, nature trail, etc. There is a large pool area with pavilion but it was closed during our stay since we were there early in the season. The campground is right on the Brandywine River which is a slow meandering pretty river that is great to get your feet wet or go for a paddle. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent if you have time and as there is very little current in the river you can paddle out and back without any trouble. There is a nice, short nature trail which was nice to walk our dog and she enjoyed getting wet in the river.
The campground is hilly which means that a fair number of sites are not level. Our site (#27) was level for our RV but the patio sloped downhill and we could not use our picnic table or find a level spot for our chairs. Some sites are “premiums” with paved patios, Adirondack chairs, fancy firepits, BBQ grill, and tables and chairs with an umbrella. These sites are really nice, but you pay a lot more for them. Some sites are located adjacent to the river with nice waterfront views, but beware some might be muddy. There are lots of camping cabins and a couple of glamping tents.
Overall, the campground is very clean with no trash lying around and the grass was mowed and trimmed. The 50-amp electric was good as was the water pressure. The sewer connection uphill from our site so it did not drain properly. There is basic cable but since you are so close to Philly there are plenty of over-the-air channels. The Wi-Fi at our site worked well. Garbage is picked up at your site. The surrounding area has plenty of restaurants, shopping, and interesting things to see and do.
LegendPROS
Reserved 328 days prior to arriving
$13.50 senior discount
Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful
Site C3 parking pad level asphalt
Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable
One hook lantern pole
Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival
Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites
Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center.
Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP
CONS
$6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation
Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching
Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together
Pitiful low water pressure in Loop C
Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level
Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking
Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday
Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable)
Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced
Lots of barking dogs
No wood sales in park
No WiFi
1 bar Verizon
GuideFirst time camping at this park and it was perfect. Even though it rained all weekend, we explored the area by car, even tried some fishing off the pier and we got to get some much needed rest and relaxation in. D Loop seemed like the best loop (for tent campers such as us). Pretty spacious between sites. No pets though. B and C loop felt like the spaces were very close to each other. A loop was closed at this point. Bathhouses can use an upgrade but has flush toilets and hot showers which is all you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Mount Gretna, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Mount Gretna, PA is Hersheypark Camping Resort with a 4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Mount Gretna, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 44 glamping camping locations near Mount Gretna, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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