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Best Tent Camping near Mount Gretna, PA

840 Reviews

Tent camping options near Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania include several established campgrounds set in wooded landscapes within an hour's drive. Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area and Hibernia County Park offer primitive tent camping with basic amenities. These public sites provide access to natural water features and trails while maintaining a rustic experience for tent campers seeking places close to town.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or grassy sites with minimal improvements. At Hibernia County Park, campers will find sites under tree cover with fire rings and picnic tables but limited facilities. A review mentioned that "the sites are farther from the lake than expected and there are no running water bathrooms." Lancaster County's Mill Creek sites are positioned along a stream, offering natural cooling during warmer months. Both locations provide vault toilets or portable facilities, with some locations having access to flush toilets during daylight hours. Campers should plan to bring water or use designated spigots at centralized locations.

Tent camping experiences vary across seasons at these primitive tent campgrounds. The wooded settings provide shade during summer months while allowing for pleasant fall camping when temperatures cool. A visitor commented that "the stream is refreshing and the site stays fairly cool" at Mill Creek, highlighting the natural advantages of streamside tent sites. Most locations require reservations, with fees ranging from $15-25 per night for tent sites. Walk-in tent sites are available at several locations, including Mill Creek Camping Area, where hiking trails connect to camping areas. Privacy between sites varies significantly, with some locations offering more seclusion than others. Hibernia County Park operates seasonally from May through October, while other tent campgrounds in the region may have different operating schedules.

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Best Tent Sites Near Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania (15)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Mount Gretna, PA

840 Reviews of 15 Mount Gretna Campgrounds

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Locust Lake State Park Campground

    Serenity on the lakes

    Pretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Campsites Jammed Closely Together

    PROS 

    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

  • 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...

  • 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.

  • V
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Knoebels Campground

    Clean, quiet, inexpensive, fun place to camp!

    Knoebels 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!.

  • Jim N.
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Hibernia County Park

    Hidden gem

    A nice primitive campground - good for a quick trip away. The campground is a county run one that works on a first come first serve basis, which is fine if there are others close by. They are wooded sites and have 2 loops. There is no store, but there a places close to get supplies. The park is dry, no alcohol. No hook ups either. There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2024

    Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park

    Roadside Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Campground Near Highway

    While I suppose there’s no shortage of reasons as to why one would stop for a night or a week here at Pinch Pond Family Campground, we just so happened to stop by on our way to Harrisburg / Hershey and found this roadside campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76. Whether you’re hauling a 5th wheel, driving an RV or looking to pitch a tent, Pinch Pond has you covered, figuratively – as they offer virtually any type of camping, from RV and 5th Wheel to tent / primitive as well as cottage rentals – as there’s no shortage of trees and shrubbery everywhere around the perimeter (although not within) this particular campground.

    Whether or not it’s true that this is the only family fun campground located between Hershey & Lancaster, what I will attest to is that this is one very all-inclusive campground that offers no shortage of outstanding amenities. Even before you arrive to the main office, you will appreciate the gated surroundings that ensure drive-by traffic doesn’t ruin your experience here. Once you park in front of the main office, you’ll spot the community pool right in front and once inside the office, you’ll be immediately greeted by two of the most hospitable desk staff. Here, you’ll check-in, get directions and may return to purchase any of the sundries, treats, ice cream and souvenirs that this place has ... or make your way back to the game room where you’ll find arcade games.

    In addition to offering up laundry, super-clean and well-kept restrooms with showers, there’s also WiFi throughout the campground as well as select ethernet ports (both for a fee, which is a bummer), designated dump stations and dumpsters, soccer field, propane refill tank, kid’s playground and even a barn. Clear in the back of the property, you’ll find a small fishing pond. Scattered throughout the grounds are picnic tables and in-ground fire rings with grills. Should you be driving an RV, the slots are level and feature small stone surface with all of the typical hook-ups (30 / 50 electric amp, water, sewage and Cable TV). Oh, and if you don’t have an RV, 5th Wheeler or even a tent, no worries, as there are also 7 or so cottages that you can rent.

    Downsides? Well, let’s come back to that ‘inconvenient’ proximity to interstate 76. For starters, while it is RIGHT NEXT to the highway, it’s not a simple or EZ path to navigate as you’ll have to basically get off the turnpike and essentially drive around a 5 square mile bit of PA Dutch countryside just to arrive back right next to the highway, but on the other side where Pinch Pond Family Campground is at. Maybe driving completely out of the way to arrive here encourages transient passerbys to stay away, but one thing is for certain – you’re not going to get away from all of that highway traffic noise. Second, you’ll note that while most of Pinch Pond is divided into little neighborhoods, for the most part, the entire campground is completely wide open so there is very little privacy apart from a few select locations (where I make recommendations in the Insider’s Tips section). Next, and I really wished someone had let us know this before we agreed to stay, but there’s a shooting range near the property, so at all hours you will hear target practice going on, especially in the wee early hours. Lastly, while the pricing feels pretty affordable for full hook-up (30 / 50 amp) @$57-$67 / night and 20-amp+ water hook-up@ $54-$64 / night, I thought the pricing for primitive (read: no electric or water hook-ups) @$52-$62/ night to be akin to highway (yes, pun intended because you’re right next to one here!) robbery.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While it irked me a bit that Pinch Pond likes to ‘pinch pennies’ by offering early arrivals / late departures for $3/ hour, in a crunch, providing that accommodations are available, it’s not the worst option to take advantage of if you need some extra time; (2) If you’ve never visited an Amish community, you should definitely take advantage of this very unique location by exploring Lancaster County where you can find a number of horse & buggies to take a trip in to take in the absolutely gorgeous Pennsylvania Dutch countryside in a very unique way; (3) From a foodie standpoint, take my word for it, there is VERY little around these parts and what you can find nearby are local joints, which we loved BTW, including: Mount Gretna Hideaway, Gus’ Keystone Family Restaurant, Kountry Kitchen Family Restaurant, Forklift & Palate Restaurant as well as Mount Joy Family Restaurant; (4) If you are traveling in these parts with kids, there’s a handful of really great places to check out like the most obvious nearby location being Hershey Park, Chocolate Factory, Gardens & Museum, but there’s also Laserdome located just due south of Pinch Pond Family Campground by about 20 minutes or just due east is a really cool Wolf Sanctuary that is a refuge for these four-legged friends complete with guided tours; (5) IMHO the best campsite locations are actually the ones designated for primitive tents as they are all located in the rear of the property and therefore quieter and more removed from the rest of the somewhat crowded campground – for RVers, I would recommend sites #102–120, again, in the far rear or sites #308– 317 along Angler’s Way; and (6) If you are thinking about staying here during the Renaissance Faire, which apparently is a VERY BIG thing in these parts, you are going to want to book your spot as soon as possible.

    Happy Camping!

  • Max C.
    Oct. 14, 2019

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Gorgeous in the fall

    Stayed in B-08 on mid October and had a great trip. The site was non-electric and it seems most of the outer side of this loop is basic camping with the inside of the loop having power. The other loops offer full hookups but opting for this area kept us from being surrounded by massive RV's. Easy back in spot for our car, partially shaded, decent brush cover between sites and able to keep tent about 20 yards from the road on a crushed rock pad. I will say this site has a little bit of slope but nothing that affected our sleep. The fire ring is very high sided and if you're not sitting on a higher camp chairs you kind of miss the fire. Picnic table was sturdy but easy enough to move lnto place to fit our needs. Tons of hike mg within the park including some historic sites at Hopewell Furnace like the blacksmith shop and old residences. Checked in a. It before the stated 3pm time without issues. Very few rangers seen during stay but it is after labor day and most of the seasonal attractions like the pool etc were closed for the season. Very clean bathrooms with easy to use dish sinks on the outside. Overall for a trip that within 75 minutes of Philly you can't go wrong for a quick jaunt out of town.

  • 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…!

Guide to Mount Gretna

Tent campsite options surrounding Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania extend beyond basic established sites to include creek-side camping and county parks with distinctive features. Within an hour's drive, campers can find sites along streams that provide natural cooling during summer months, while fall brings changing foliage and cooler temperatures ideal for campfires. Local campgrounds operate on different seasonal schedules, with several sites closing between late October and early May.

What to do

Fishing access: At Lower Allen Community Park, campers can enjoy fishing along Yellow Breeches Creek. "The sites sit right along the Yellow Breeches creek so you can put in a few miles up and float down to your site," notes Joann from The Dyrt.

Trail exploration: Susquehannock State Park offers multiple hiking trails with river views. "There are lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River," explains David G. "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."

Historic sites: Visit the renovated mill near Susquehannock State Park Campground. "There's a working, renovated mill and home at the river also," reports David G. The park features scenic overlooks and trails with historical significance approximately 45 minutes from Mount Gretna.

What campers like

Creek sounds: Campers appreciate sites positioned near moving water. "Campsite for where we stayed is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night," writes Meagan J. about Mill Creek Camping Area.

Shaded sites: Tree coverage provides comfort during summer months. "Camp sites are under trees," notes John H. about Hibernia County Park, while another camper mentioned appreciating the "heavily wooded" sites that offer "plenty of hammock hanging opportunities."

Children's activities: Special fishing areas for younger visitors enhance family experiences. "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground," writes John Z. about Hibernia County Park.

What you should know

Bathroom facilities: Toilets vary significantly between campgrounds. "There are only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop, however there is a bathroom with running water, flush toilets and electric outlets (no shower) within walking distance of the loop," explains Jennifer S.

Site privacy: Campground layout affects solitude. "There is absolutely no privacy. The campsites are right next to each other with hardly any trees. The more dense woods is on the other side of the trail," notes Abi D.

Public access: Some campgrounds experience non-camper foot traffic. "The campground is ON the hiking trail so everyone doing the loop walks along the sites," warns one reviewer about Hibernia, while at Shambala at Mystic Hollow, campers can find more secluded creek-side sites.

Tips for camping with families

Weather planning: Pack for temperature variations, especially in transitional seasons. "It rained the weekend we went but it didn't ruin our time what so ever, somehow the fire was still roaring in down pouring rain," reports Jillian P. about her stay at Rolling Hills Retreats.

Campsite selection: Request sites away from high-traffic areas. "The sites are large spaces for multiple tents," notes Meagan J. about Mill Creek, making them suitable for family groups with children.

Hiking preparation: Trails near camping areas vary in difficulty and length. "There are a half dozen, easy trails, the longest is around 2 miles," mentions one camper about local trail systems, making them manageable for families with younger children.

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: Many campgrounds near Mount Gretna have restrictions for larger vehicles. "I wouldn't attempt to park an RV up there," notes Jennifer S. about Lake Loop at Hibernia, though "Fiddler's loop has a few sites that will fit an RV, including #3, #17 & #18."

Water access: RV campers should arrive prepared. "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank," advises Jennifer S.

Leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks for uneven terrain. "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," explains an experienced RVer about navigating the natural terrain at tent campsites near Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best season for tent camping at Mount Gretna?

The best season for tent camping at Mount Gretna is late spring through early fall (May to October), with summer being particularly popular. Similar to Susquehannock State Park Campground, the area offers pleasant temperatures and lush greenery during these months. Fall brings spectacular foliage, making September and early October excellent for scenic camping experiences. Rolling Hills Retreats in the region confirms that weekend bookings fill quickly during peak summer months. Be prepared for occasional summer thunderstorms and cooler nights in spring and fall. The camping season typically winds down by late October as temperatures drop across Pennsylvania.

Where is Mount Gretna campground located in Pennsylvania?

Mount Gretna is located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, approximately 25 miles east of Harrisburg. The area is known for its natural beauty with wooded surroundings similar to Hibernia County Park, which features wooded campsites organized in two distinct loops. For those looking to camp near Mount Gretna, Mill Creek Camping Area offers another option in the region, with spacious sites that can accommodate multiple tents. The Mount Gretna area is accessible via Route 117 and is situated near Conewago Lake, making it a convenient destination for campers from Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Harrisburg areas.

What amenities are available at Mount Gretna tent camping sites?

Tent camping sites at Mount Gretna typically include basic amenities similar to other Pennsylvania campgrounds. You can expect picnic tables and fire rings at each site, with potable water available at communal stations. Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers comparable creekside tent sites in the region with water access. Restroom facilities include clean portable toilets or bathhouses depending on the specific camping area. Most sites in the area are unpowered, focusing on a more natural camping experience. Lower Allen Community Park similarly provides access to natural water features. While on-site stores may be limited, nearby towns offer supplies. Parking is typically available close to the camping areas, with some sites providing direct vehicle access.

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