Tent camping near Narvon, Pennsylvania features several options in the gently rolling farmland of eastern Lancaster County. Most campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 600-800 feet, creating mild temperature conditions with cool evening breezes even in summer months. Seasonal availability typically spans April through October, with most tent sites requiring advanced reservations during peak summer weekends when temperatures average 75-85°F.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer fishing access with varying regulations. Mill Creek Camping Area provides streamside tent sites where you can fish directly from camp. One camper noted the "creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."
Trail exploration: Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to larger trail systems. Susquehannock State Park Campground features "lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River" with "two amazing specimen trees" along one particular path.
Disc golf: Several parks within 30 minutes of Narvon offer disc golf courses for campers seeking recreational activities. One visitor to Green Lane Park mentioned their "phenomenal disc golf course, hiking, and fishing" making it a "great little getaway" for tent campers.
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: Some camping areas offer more private setups than others. At Rolling Hills Retreats, campers appreciate the privacy, with one reviewer stating they were "completely over having no privacy, worrying about my reactive dog, feeling like we had to follow ridiculous rules when going camping" before finding this spot that allowed them to "ground our energy from the earth."
Water features: Streams and lakes enhance the camping experience. Hibernia County Park campers appreciate that "the lake is about a 3 minute hike down the clearly marked trails" and that the "children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing."
Woodsy campsites: Tree cover provides shade and hammock options. One camper described Hibernia County Park as "heavily wooded which means plenty of hammock hanging opportunities" while noting it's "tiny, quiet, heavily wooded" with "NOTHING to do except walk or bike the beautiful trails."
What you should know
Site privacy varies: Campground layouts differ significantly in terms of privacy. At Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park, campers report "the sites are way too close together and there is not any privacy" with sites "lined up next to each other along the campground driveway and there are absolutely no trees or shrubs between them."
Water access limitations: Water availability varies between campgrounds. At Hibernia County Park, "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. There is one spigot at the bathroom."
Public trail access: Some campsites sit alongside public trails. At Mill Creek Camping Area, one camper reported "hikers take any trail instead of marked trails regardless of families camping in private areas" and "the site is public access and there are lots of hikers, joggers, and people expecting you not to be camping."
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly fishing: Designated fishing areas for children exist at select parks. Hibernia County Park offers a "children's pond for 12 and under" with "well stocked fishing" opportunities specifically designed for younger anglers.
Playground access: Some campgrounds include playground facilities. Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park features hiking trails and playgrounds with one visitor noting they "had the best time here hiking up and down the mini mountains. The water was clear and beautiful."
Trail difficulty considerations: When camping with children, assess trail difficulty. Susquehannock State Park includes varying trail difficulties with one camper mentioning it's "a great spot for a day hike with the family. It's look out over the Susquehanna River is fantastic and puts you up with the birds."
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: Many tent-focused campgrounds have limited RV access. At Hibernia County Park, a camper with a "28ft 5th wheel" noted that "at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper."
Leveling requirements: RV sites often need adjustments for comfort. The same Hibernia camper mentioned sites "aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Dump station limitations: Plan for waste management when tent camping near Narvon. Hibernia County Park has "NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home."
