RV parks near New Kingstown, Pennsylvania provide convenient access to both the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 81, making them popular stopover points for travelers exploring the Cumberland Valley region. Located at approximately 450 feet above sea level, the area experiences four distinct seasons with humid summers reaching into the 80s and cold winters that can limit camping options. Most campgrounds in this region feature wooded settings with varying degrees of shade coverage affecting satellite reception.
What to do
Day trips to Amish country: Lancaster County's Amish settlements are approximately 45 minutes east of New Kingstown. Visitors can experience the unique cultural landscape through self-guided driving tours. "It was pretty cool to seemingly step back in time," notes a visitor to Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country in Manheim.
Explore Gettysburg National Military Park: Located about 35 miles southwest of New Kingstown, the historic battlefield offers audio tours and walking experiences. "We were there to relax but also to explore the town and battlefields. Again the drive into town was short and had enough road side visuals to keep you from dwelling on the drive," shares a camper at Round Top Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer on-site fishing ponds or river access. "There is a small fishing pond" at Pinch Pond Family Campground, while at Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm, campers note "great place to go fishing" as a primary attraction.
What campers like
Farm animal interactions: Some campgrounds feature working farms where guests can observe and interact with animals. At Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm, "The kids LOVED the animals and we fed them at the allotted time every morning and went to visit at other times," according to one family's experience.
Swimming pools: Most larger RV parks offer swimming facilities, with varying seasonal availability. "The pool was clean and quite good sized, had it to ourselves due to season," mentions a reviewer at Round Top Campground during off-peak months.
Halloween events: Fall camping includes special themed weekends at many campgrounds. "They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!" shares a camper at Thousand Trails Circle M in Lancaster.
Mini-golf and recreation: On-site activities provide entertainment when not exploring the region. "Putt putt is still open and fun, so is playground. Arcade was open," notes a family staying at Thousand Trails Circle M, while another camper mentioned "mini golf (which was in pretty sad shape)" at a different location.
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature sloping terrain requiring additional equipment. At Pinch Pond Family Campground, "Site was unlevel and poorly maintained," while at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, "The campground is pretty hilly and they don't seem to want to level out the sites. We had to go out and get more blocks and we're still not very level front to back."
Noise considerations: Some parks experience significant noise from nearby highways or other sources. "The main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby," reports a Pinch Pond visitor, though they add, "Fortunately our dog wasn't bothered by the sound of gunshots and it's only during the day."
Seasonal campground closures: Most campgrounds in the New Kingstown area operate on limited schedules. Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country runs "April 14 to October 29," Drummer Boy Camping Resort operates "Apr 1 to Oct 31," and only a few parks like Western Village RV Park and Ben Franklin RV Park remain open year-round.
Tips for camping with families
Playground quality varies: When camping with children, check playground conditions before booking. At Drummer Boy Camping Resort, a disappointed parent noted, "In my opinion as a mom of small kids maybe the worst part was that there was only 1 playground, it was all the way at the front of the campground (we had to drive to it) and it was very junky and run down."
Schedule around pool availability: Pool access can be limited by season or maintenance issues. "The pool was shut down do to the pump breaking," reported one camper during a summer heatwave, making alternative recreation plans important.
Consider bathroom proximity: Facility locations impact tent camping comfort. "Only downside is the walk to the bathrooms if you tent camp. A long walk if you really got to go," advises a tent camper at Western Village RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup sharing: At some parks, water connections serve multiple sites. At Western Village RV Park, "We shared 1 water source with 2 other campers. In order to hook anything up, you had to be in your neighbor's space," which created friction with seasonal residents.
Electrical capacity limitations: Be aware of power restrictions at older facilities. "The fuse on the (campsite) panel kept blowing every time we ran the air and microwave together," reports a Western Village RV Park visitor, suggesting staggered use of high-draw appliances.
Site selection for satellite users: For RVers relying on satellite services, tree coverage affects reception. At Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, one camper noted "Definitely got lucky with site F03 for Starlink. The rest of the campground has a lot of tree cover," highlighting the importance of requesting specific sites when booking.
