Best Cabin Camping near Mount Joy, PA

The camping cabins and yurts are somewhat grouped together in the middle of the campground area. We chose to stay in a yurt, as we were on a business trip to Philly, but wanted a couple days outside before heading home. There looked to be some nice tent sites as well. Lots of hiking trails to explore!

This is a solid, inclusive campground. Good hookups. Playground, pool area with 2 pools, a water park, and 2 hot tubs. Mini golf was free. Everything else has a fee. Water hours are limited to 11am to 7pm even in 90 degree weather. Store has good hours open until 10. It’s large and their website states there are day passes, so it it very crowded in the water park. People were nice. I’m gluten free so no food options, but a place delivered as we forgot a food bag at home. My grandson got stung by a wasp or bee during laser tag which was a downer at the end of our trip.

This park is all for the kids. This will be our second year going. So much to do for the kids. Our first year we did a birthday package where they brought a cake to the camp with Booboo for my daughter. They have the pools and playgrounds and fishing. Also the bonus of the hot tub being dropped off for two days. We do not rent a golf cart as it’s dam dam expensive. So we make sure to get close spots so we can walk. You can bring pets but we choose not to as we are not at the camp much. We do go fishing while we are here and my daughter loves this place

We had stayed in this canpground about 5 years ago and we loved it. We returned this year with my 12 and 14 year olds and a 12 year old friend. The kids were bored. The only improvements in the 5 years is they took out tent sites and replaced them with cabin rentals. The go carts are old. The air pillow was flat. They took out the pool table. Hardly any games in the game room. We were very disappointed. They really need to ass something new to make it.more teen-friendly.

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).

West 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.

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.

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!

We have been coming to Jellystone in Quarryville since our son was 1. My best friend has been coming there longer which is how we heard about it. Neither of us will be coming back. We rent the cabins and every year the quality and cleanliness of the cabins, as well as the facilities and grounds have declined. We stayed this past week and had a skunk living under our cabin. One of the managers, Cindie stated this was a problem weeks ago also. The skunks were fighting all night under the cabin and spraying. The smell came through the AC vents all night. We contacting the front desk. It took hours for someone to come out. They literally handed my husband an AC filter to change himself and the old one was disgusting. We were offered a choice of 2 cabins far from our friends. One had broken air conditioning and the other only one bed which wasn’t sufficient because we have a child. We decided to stay at our cabin but to sleep in our friends cabin because of the smell. We asked for some compensation due to the fact that we could not use our cabin other than to hold our luggage. We were offered a credit but we explained that that was not sufficient enough. That we should receive it back in cash and honestly, we should receive three nights stay because we only stayed in our cabin one night out of the four. We continue to get the runaround from the GM Jerren and Cindie. Nobody gets back to us and they make up stories. After being promised we’d speak to Jerren by check out, One story was that Jerren wasn’t there and had family issues then it was that he was in meetings all day then that Cindie was on the late shift and she would get back to us yet didn’t. Nobody gets back to us, which I pretty much knew would be the case. This is extremely unprofessional! It is unacceptable that we are being lied to by management and that no one gives us a straight answer. Management has lied to us saying they would resolve this numerous times and yet they have not. The water park was broken for 2 days. The pools are dirty. The bathrooms are dirty or gross. The jumping pillow had a hole that was patched and letting out air. It has really gone downhill these past few years. I would not recommend staying here for the money you pay.

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.

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!

This State Park has 4 camping areas, plus group camp areas, primitive cabins & “modern” cabins. It is very spread out! Campsites range from FHU to dry camping. The FHU sites tend to be the nicest (level, grassy, larger). Some of the dry campsites are very rough, others have large areas to set up multiple tents. I can’t recommend the dry sites for RV’s, as they tend to be short & not very level.

Took the kids and had a wonderful time. Cabins are a little expensive but beautiful.

Very family friendly park. Cabins, RV, Tent - full amenities. Lots of things to do. A little pricy, but worth it especially with kids.

The 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.

This state park is close to Philly but has some wonderful tent sites. There are also cabins and yurts but they aren’t dog friendly. Lots of nice trails.

Live not far from here. Decent cabin and amenities. Trails are good for hiking and some mountain biking. The tent areas are a bit rough. Hopewell Furnace is a cool place to visit next door.

If 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!

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.