Camping near Narvon, Pennsylvania puts travelers within Lancaster County's hilly terrain where elevations range from 400 to 600 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer daytime temperatures typically reaching 80-85°F and winter lows often dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in this region stay open from April through October, though several close in early November as frost becomes more frequent.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake-In-Wood Campground offers a fishing pond where anglers can try their luck. "Nice fishing in the lake," notes Edward M., though another visitor mentioned the pond "could be nicer" but still provided a pleasant experience.
Mini golf courses: Several campgrounds feature mini golf, with Lake-In-Wood Campground providing free play. According to Olivia M., "This is one campground I'd definitely go back to... there are things for kids to do, some animals to go visit on our walks, obviously a lake, and it's close to stuff in Lancaster area."
Seasonal activities: Spring Gulch Resort Campground hosts special events throughout their operating season. "This campground was very nice. They had a live band one evening. Activities through the day were fun," explains Dawn T. Another visitor, Paulina B., adds, "This resort is a lot bigger than you would anticipate from the road/entryway. Tons of amenities for families including mini golf, an arcade, pools, fishing ponds, etc. Not to mention live music on the weekends!"
Explore Amish country: RV sites near Narvon, Pennsylvania provide easy access to authentic Amish experiences. Stuart K. shares that near Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, "You'll be engulfed by the incredibly rich, verdant countryside populated by incredibly rural residents who's ancestors settled this vast rich farmland a few hundred years ago."
What campers like
Indoor recreation options: Multiple campgrounds maintain indoor facilities for rainy days. At Thousand Trails Circle M, Kasey M. reports, "There is an indoor pool and spa. Putt putt is still open and fun, so is playground. Arcade was open."
Swimming pools: Most campgrounds feature swimming pools that extend operating hours during summer. "The pool was very nice and refreshing. I liked how the kid area wrapped around and connected to the deeper end," shares Jen R. about Robin Hill Campground.
Playground facilities: Family-friendly sites offer play areas for children. At Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park, Melissa Y. found that "the playgrounds are great and well-maintained with seemingly new equipment."
Wooded settings: Many camping areas near Narvon feature mature trees providing natural shade. Kathy L. describes Pinch Pond as a "nice, forested campground. Friendly staff, clean bathhouses. Sites well maintained but ours wasn't level." The shade proves valuable during hot summer months.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close for winter. Sun Valley Campground operates "from April 1 to November 1 with full hookup sites," and according to Lori, it's a "very large park" where they "showed up on Wednesday, and was assigned a spot in loop 700 up on a hill."
Site leveling challenges: Many reviews mention uneven terrain requiring blocks or leveling equipment. Justin B. notes at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, "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."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby highways or other facilities. At Pinch Pond, Kathy L. mentions "Main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby." Another visitor elaborates that "there's a shooting range near the property, so at all hours you will hear target practice going on."
Bathroom facilities: Cleanliness varies between locations. Many visitors specifically mentioned bathroom conditions in their reviews. "The bathhouse had individual bathrooms and showers. Each was pretty clean and spacious," notes Phinon W. about Spring Gulch.
Tips for camping with families
Halloween weekends: October brings special Halloween-themed activities to several campgrounds. Kasey M. shares, "They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!" These events often include decorating contests and trick-or-treating.
Recreation programs: Appalachian Camping Resort offers organized activities for various age groups. Melissa Y. notes, "The campground had numerous activities set up all throughout the day and there was something for everyone. I find that a lot of campground activities tend to be centered around small children and with my kids being 13 and 12, they're usually left out of the fun. There was bingo, crafts, a vendor craft show, hot dog eating contest for adults and kids, candy scramble in the dark for adults and kids."
Pool access: Swimming pools typically stay open later during summer months. "The pool is open until 10pm everyday," mentions one visitor, providing evening recreation options after day trips.
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds maintain small animal areas. Jen R. mentions "Goats to pet and watch" at Lake-In-Wood Campground, offering an additional activity for children.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When choosing RV sites near Narvon, Pennsylvania, arrive early for better options. Yamileth K. explains, "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."
Buddy sites: Some campgrounds feature paired sites that may not work well for all RVers. Melissa Y. cautions, "We were unaware that our site was a buddy site... The buddy site was very narrow and since our buddy arrived first we had no choice but to park farther down on the site to avoid our awnings touching and that left us very uneven."
Parking assistance: Many seasonal campers willingly help newcomers navigate tight spaces. At Sun Valley Campground, Becca U. found "By far, the friendliest campground we have visited! Most of the sites are seasonal and we were placed amongst the seasonals. We immediately had multiple people offer insight as to how best approach the site."
Off-season advantages: Visiting during weekdays or shoulder seasons provides more space. Stuart K. suggests at Lake-In-Wood, "If you are an RVer or 5th Wheeler, the best sites IMHO are those that back up to the periphery and are northernmost up the slight embankment as you'll have greater privacy and less noise being furthest away from all of the action."
