Palmyra's central position in Pennsylvania's limestone valley offers campers direct access to both the pastoral Amish farmlands and Appalachian foothills. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with higher humidity levels, while spring camping features moderate 50-70°F days with occasional rain showers. Most campgrounds near Palmyra sit at elevations between 400-600 feet, creating relatively level terrain that's accessible for all camping setups.
What to do
Hiking trails around Pinchot Lake: At Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, campers can explore 18 miles of wooded trails surrounding the lake. "I took an early morning hike on the 8.5 mile Lakeside Trail that goes around the lake and it was really awesome to see the lake from all different angles," notes one visitor. The park also offers trail connections to the Appalachian Trail system for more ambitious hikers.
Kayaking the Swatara Creek: Jonestown/Hershey KOA provides direct creek access for paddlers. "Love this place. Staff is helpful and friendly. They nice level sites with great atmosphere. Campground is connected to the Swatara Rail trial which is great for biking. The Swatara creek runs right next to it so it is great for kayaking, tubing, etc," reports a camper. Rentals available seasonally from May-September.
Explore Pennsylvania Dutch countryside: Located within 20 minutes of Palmyra's pet-friendly campgrounds, visitors can drive through picturesque Amish farmlands with roadside produce stands. "Not much for amenities, but I loved the surrounding dutch/Amish towns! It was pretty cool to seemingly step back in time," notes a visitor to Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
What campers like
Clean, modern facilities: The Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA earns consistent praise for its well-maintained amenities. "Clean bathrooms are very clean and modern, but a decent walk from tent sites. The facilities are all lovely, staff in the camp store are kind and helpful," reports one tent camper. Multiple reviewers note the campground's upgraded tent sites now feature mulch pads with water and electric hookups.
Family-oriented recreation: Twin Grove RV Resort stands out for its extensive activities. "At night they have a merry go round, train, giant slide and ferries wheel you can ride. The bathrooms are always clean and staff is friendly. They also have a restaurant if you want a break from cooking," shares one family camper. The resort features two pools with water slides and mini-golf.
Scenic waterfront camping: Private riverside camping provides a unique alternative to established campgrounds. "Staying right on the river was both fun and relaxing for us. We even booked a second trip for this July," reports a visitor at River Rock Recreation. Several campgrounds offer premium waterfront sites that fill quickly during summer months.
What you should know
Train noise impacts certain sites: Multiple campgrounds near Palmyra warn about railroad proximity. "Nice camp ground but super loud bc of the trains. Bath houses are nice and clean. I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!" advises a camper at Hersheypark Camping Resort. Request sites farthest from tracks when booking.
Variable site sizes and privacy: Site conditions vary significantly within the same campground. "Sites were a bit close where we were but they had other sites that were more spread out," notes one Hersheypark Camping Resort visitor. Another camper at Thousand Trails Hershey warns: "Sites are very close together. Fire rings are very close to campers."
Seasonal considerations: Summer weekends fill quickly at campgrounds near Hershey attractions. "We stay here once a year in September. Stone surface. Not to bad for leveling. Our site was spacious," reports a Hersheypark Camping Resort visitor. May and September offer more availability with comparable temperatures but fewer crowds.
Tips for camping with families
Book shuttle services to Hersheypark: Several campgrounds offer transportation savings. "They have Hershey's ice cream in the office and my kids enjoyed getting a treat. Their game room has tickets. This is the one and only campground we have ever visited that gave tickets for playing games and my kids LOVED IT!" shares a Pinch Pond Family Campground visitor. Shuttles typically run hourly during park hours.
Choose campgrounds with swimming options: During hot summer months, on-site water features keep children entertained. "They have a pool and fun activities though the day. At night they have a merry go round, train, giant slide and ferries wheel you can ride," notes a Twin Grove RV Resort camper. Gifford Pinchot State Park offers a large swimming beach with lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Look for pet-friendly playground areas: Many Palmyra-area campgrounds combine pet and child recreation zones. "Very quant, laundry onsite, splash pad, play grounds, very clean restrooms/showers, provides shuttle to Hersheypark, some creekside sites along with access to creek from your campite!" reports a Jonestown/Hershey KOA visitor. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours starting at 10pm.
Tips from RVers
Reserve full hookup sites early: The most desirable RV sites book 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends. "They have upgraded the tent sites since last year, no more primitive sites, all the tent sites are now mulch pad with water and electric. Bathrooms are very clean and modern," reports an Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA visitor. Sites with 50-amp service are limited at several campgrounds.
Request level sites where available: Many campgrounds feature sloped terrain requiring leveling equipment. "Depending on your rig size you're only available certain sites. They won't give you a 50 amp site unless your 50 amp or 40', they save them for larger campers," explains a Thousand Trails visitor. Bring extra leveling blocks as several campgrounds feature uneven sites.
Plan for variable water pressure: Some campground utilities experience fluctuations during peak usage. "Water pressure is pretty low and the sewer pipe is a little high but all around a really solid experience," notes a Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country camper. Additional water storage tanks prove useful during holiday weekends when systems experience heaviest demand.
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