L
Laurel D.
Traveler
TravelerCamp Swatara
Very family oriented
The sites ard nice, it's run by Mennonites, I believe. Lots of recreation for kids, quiet time respected and a service on Sunday morning. Full hookups for a very reasonable price.
Camping near Pequea, PA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Pequea, Pennsylvania offers established campgrounds along the scenic Susquehanna River valley with options ranging from full-hookup RV sites to primitive tent camping. Pequea Creek Campground provides shaded, spacious sites adjacent to the creek, while nearby Muddy Run Recreation Park features waterfront camping and boat access opportunities. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several properties like Tucquan Park Family Campground and Circle M RV & Camping Resort also offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort.
Camping seasons in the region typically run from early spring through late fall, with most facilities operating from March or April through October or November. The majority of campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. Accessibility varies throughout the area, with some locations featuring steep terrain that affects site levelness and bathroom access. Weather conditions can significantly impact the camping experience, as heavy rains may cause creeks to rise and create muddy conditions in some areas. As one camper noted, "When it rains it really flushes through the grounds. Our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down."
Proximity to water is a defining feature of camping in this region, with many sites offering creek or river access. Campers frequently highlight fishing, tubing, and swimming opportunities along the Pequea Creek and Susquehanna River. Several visitors specifically praise the family-friendly water activities, with one reviewer mentioning they "welcomed grandkids' visit for splashing and floating in Pequea Creek." The area provides a balance of natural scenery and convenience, with Lancaster County attractions like Amish country within easy driving distance. Despite the relatively developed nature of the region, many campgrounds maintain wooded settings that provide shade and a sense of seclusion. Campground amenities typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and clean bathroom facilities, though quality and maintenance standards vary between properties.
Best Campgrounds near Pequea (131)
1. Pequea Creek Campground
"The wife & I stayed in site 22 for three nights and bicycled 14 miles, some along the Susquehanna, on nearby Enola Low Grade Trail . "
"Covered bridges and road side shopping are close by. Enjoyed river tubing which is close by to this campground. Music bingo on Saturday night was so much fun. Owners are very nice and helpful."
2. Thousand Trails Circle M
"Close to Lancaster for necessities and great proximity to Baltimore and Philadelphia for day trips."
"I used to stay here all the time with my grandparents when they were around. It was always some of the best times for me."
3. Tucquan Park Family Campground
"Highly recommend staying here with lots of close hiking trails within driving distance."
"There was a lot of space so walking our dogs was great. The smaller bathroom stalls are pretty small but got the job done. Playground and pool were both nice and clean. Wonderful place for a family."
4. Otter Creek Campground
"Just down the road about a mile or so was the Indian Steps Museum which is owned by York Conservation Society."
"Its close proximity to the Susquehanna River, Otter Creek, and the Mason Dixon Trail is absolutely ideal! Sites are spacious and nice! Restrooms clean!"
5. Jellystone Park™ Quarryville
"We stayed here in November with beautiful weather which meant the large farm behind the campground was spraying manure over their fields. We could smell it."
"The site was covered and it was cool around 4:30pm when the sun went behind the trees. It didn’t look like all sites had that much cover so be careful."
6. Muddy Run Rec Park - PPL
"The large lake is great for a day of kayaking and fishing with supplies readily available for rent at the boat dock store."
"The observatory is open to public once a month, we recommend you plan your trip around this."
7. Old Mill Stream Campground
"Tent sites are lined up along the water which is great for fishing (especially when you need to stay close to the littles sleeping in the tent). Lots of benches lined up along the water."
"Not to noisy being next to a theme park. The bath house was just remodeled so it's excellent! Good price!"
8. Mill Bridge Village & Camp Resort
"Great, convenient location. Cost friendly considering the location. Clean grounds & maintained sites. Mix of open & shaded sites, all appear to be pretty level, our site was next to stream."
"The site was right next to the creek. Shade is perfect for our dogs. Office personnel were so very helpful. Office does close at 4 but that is due to staff shortages."
9. Country Acres Campground
"This is a great spot for visiting Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County and about a one-hour drive to Hersheypark. Our site(# 837) was a good size for our motor home+ toad."
"We stayed at one of the primitive tent sites with no hookups adjacent to the farm field. Watching a horse drawn equipment cutting grass while we cooked dinner was a joy."
10. Susquehannock State Park Campground
"The camping area is small but worth it. a short walk from the scenic overlooks and other hiking trails."
"Some walk in tent sites. There are lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River."
from $28 - $72 / night
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Drive Time
- 31 min from York, PA
- 39 min from Lancaster, PA
- 59 min from Harrisburg, PA
- 1 hr 8 min from Lebanon, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Pequea, PA
357 Photos of 131 Pequea Campgrounds
Danielle C.
Pequea Creek Campground
Jen R.
Otter Creek Campground
christine L.
Tucquan Park Family Campground
Nate & Erika L.
Muddy Run Rec Park - PPL
Heather H.
Thousand Trails Circle M
Meagan J.
Mill Creek Camping Area
Joshua W.
Old Mill Stream Campground
Chrystal L.
White Oak Campground
Stephen W.
Mill Bridge Village & Camp Resort
Megan T.
Country Acres Campground
Leslie
Spring-Fed Stream, Creek and Pond
Gene T.
The Loose Caboose Campground
Recent Reviews near Pequea, PA
1023 Reviews of 131 Pequea Campgrounds
B
GuideSusquehanna State Park Campground
A little noisy - park stuff, not campers
A beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
- Patrick Z.
ScoutTwin Grove RV Resort
Nothing open
Picked the nicest days of the week. Got here and the carousel, Ferris wheel, restaurant, and ice cream shoppe are closed. They are apparently only open 2 days a week, maybe 3. I would have just went down the road to the KOA had I not known this.
Isabel Z.ScoutElk Neck State Park Campground
Great for families
This campsite was amazing for our first tent camping experience. The park was a godsend for keeping our toddler occupied and we felt very safe overall. While the beach is pretty, be careful about the water condition. We were warned before entering and informed of the risks. They were very clear on the condition of the water that day which was a yellow, slight risk. But normally it should be okay. We would definitely camp here again.
- JJohn B.Scout
Artillery Ridge Campground
One of the nicer campgrounds in the area
Staff is friendly and everything is kept up well, newly renovated pool and pavilion area.
- MMark M.Guide
Western Village RV Park
Pretty campground, friendly staff, but RVs are packed in like sardines
We used to camp here 30+ years ago. Nice that it hasn't changed much. Still has a game room with pool table, driving games, skeet ball, etc. No more pinball games like in the past. Apparently in the 1930 there was a working train around the campground, a restaurant and horse shoes - none of which are at present.
Sites are quite small. I thought our neighbor's awning was going to hit our RV, and that ours might hit the next neighbor's RV. In some parts the campers are also back to back, luckily ours is not.
They have wi-fi but you must pay for it, no free service. No cable TV (which is the norm these days). Good cell reception so you will need that or a Starlink to stream shows.
Staff are friendly. Sites are pretty level. The campground itself is rather pretty with trees, grassy areas, playgrounds for kids, etc. Lots of lightning bugs at night, and birds during the day.
At night it's interesting to walk around as so many seasonal and permanent campers have lights around their campers, trees, etc. Almost like walking around one of those light up parks they do around Christmas.
Greg S.
LegendHershey Road Campground
4.5 stars
Pros- Pool is sparkling clear and new. Mini golf is awesome. Nice people, nice store.
Cons- further from Hershey Park than ideal, lots of seasonal campers leaving for work before dawn in loud trucks, not much privacy, some road noise.- TTroli R.Guide
Aberdeen Proving Ground RV Park
Bougie sites; AWFUL reservation system
BASE ACCESS REQUIRED!
Electric/Water/Sewer hookup sites for $56 a night! (2 night minimum) Which is a great full hookup price, even though it's gone up $6 since last year. Weekly and monthly pricing available as well.
The sites are neat, well maintained, level, and sunny with concrete pads and paved campground roads. Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance. Other base amenities include: commissary, gas station, bowling, BBQ, Dunkin', and Greek restaurants, and golf. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)
Note: in July it is very buggy - the biting flies are the worst. So bring bug spray or a screened in tent to eat in.
The downside: the reservation system is a major PITA. You have to download a PDF packet, fill it out, and EMAIL it in. When you get your confirmation, it doesn't include a specific site number. You get assigned one when they call you the week of your scheduled check-in for payment completion.
Don't miss out on: the water! My advice would be to reserve one of their boats at the same time you reserve your campsite. The water in this area is great - no jellyfish, low waves. You can SUP, kayak, pontoon boat. Whatever your preference. There are large flats of grasses - which you'd want to avoid with a motor but are so much fun to paddle over. Also check out the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge island. You can't go inland, but you can anchor off shore, jump in and wade around the shallows.
Also very driveable to an off-base movie theater, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace.
Carol C.ScoutOtter Creek Campground
Lovely tranquil campsites next to river
We stayed only one night in primitive tent site which was massive with a turnaround. It was great. There are fire pits and picnic tables and level ground. Very serene. We walked down to the river, breathtaking. Not sure of other amenities as we didn’t use them.
Guide to Pequea
Camping near Pequea, Pennsylvania sits at the convergence of two water systems—the Susquehanna River and smaller tributaries like Pequea Creek—creating a unique riparian camping environment at approximately 250 feet elevation. The local weather patterns create distinct seasonal camping experiences, with spring offering wildflower blooms along waterways and fall bringing spectacular foliage colors to the wooded campsites. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from April through October, though a few offer year-round accommodations.
What to do
Hiking opportunities: Tucquan Park Family Campground features a hiking trail system that connects directly to the campground. As one visitor noted, "There's a wonderful hiking trail, with plenty of close hiking trails within driving distance."
Kayaking and boating: Muddy Run Recreation Park provides affordable boat rentals and lake access for water activities. "The boat launch is in great shape and with the close islands makes it great to put the kayaks in this huge gorgeous river! Then throw in Otter Creek... it's a great adventure paddling up the creek," explains one camper.
Disc golf course: Several parks in the area offer disc golf, with Muddy Run Recreation Park featuring a complete course with varied terrain. A visitor mentioned, "There are plenty of events and the disc golf course is fun to play. They have a nice little pond you can fish."
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Pequea Creek Campground receives high marks for site layout and privacy. "We got an amazingly large site with a nice fire pit and picnic table. The site was very level so that was great!" shared one reviewer.
Proximity to local attractions: Old Mill Stream Campground offers convenient access to Lancaster County activities. "Super close to some really great hiking trails. We'll be back!" explains a camper who appreciated the location's balance of natural surroundings and proximity to tourist areas.
Water recreation options: The creeks and river access points receive consistent praise from visitors. "We enjoyed the birds singing in the mornings and welcomed grandkids' visit for splashing and floating in Pequea Creek," noted one Pequea Creek Campground visitor.
What you should know
Site drainage issues: Several campgrounds experience water management challenges during rain events. At Circle M RV & Camping Resort, "We first had a 2 point site near the river, but when it rains the sites get flooded with runoff from the campground."
Seasonal crowds: Weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day see significantly higher occupancy rates. "It gets very full on the weekends here," noted a Circle M visitor who camped during Halloween weekend.
Utilities positioning: Water and electric hookups may require extra equipment. At Muddy Run Recreation Park, a camper advised, "Bring 50 ft of hose for water hook up and an extension cord with a converter. The water hook ups are randomly placed, ours was 2 sites away."
Tips for camping with families
Water features for kids: Otter Creek Campground offers creek access that's particularly appealing for families with children. "There was a small parking lot which would accommodate up to 10 to 15 cars. The parking lot is located on a series of corners so be careful when pulling into the lot," a visitor noted about accessing the water play areas.
Playground facilities: Many area campgrounds feature play areas for various age groups. "The kids enjoyed the park, they offer a small paddle boat to take any time you want on their little lake on site, the area is beautiful, coworkers are friendly," shared a Tucquan Park Family Campground visitor.
Organized activities: Look for campgrounds with scheduled family-friendly programming. "Lots of events to keep the kids busy. We happened to be there on the weekend a magician came, my kids loved it. They have an indoor and outdoor pool. Nice playground," explained a Circle M visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When booking, consider tree cover and site positioning for comfort in summer heat. "We chose site 302 which was at the far end of the campground away from the amusement park. Our campsite was perfectly level and had a large gravel patio area and a large shade tree behind us," noted an Old Mill Stream Campground visitor.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring additional equipment. "We were originally supposed to be in the woods — which FYI is far out of the way of the main activities, and also has a pretty steep incline. But the site was too uneven for our taste so we moved down in the main area," explained a Tucquan Park Family Campground visitor.
Seasonal amenities: Facilities and services vary significantly by season. "We got pretty lucky and were assigned one of the concrete pads that was pretty level. Excellent cell and gateway service. Cell is AT&T and our gateway is T-Mobile. Close to Lancaster for necessities and great proximity to Baltimore and Philadelphia for day trips," shared a Circle M RV & Camping Resort reviewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pequea Campground located and how do I get there?
Where is Pequea Campground located and how do I get there?
Pequea Creek Campground is situated along the picturesque Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The campground is conveniently located near Lancaster, making it accessible for shopping trips and exploring local attractions. To get there, follow routes to the southeastern Pennsylvania countryside. The location offers easy access to the Enola Low Grade Trail for cycling enthusiasts, with parts of the trail running along the Susquehanna River. The area features beautiful scenery including covered bridges and is within driving distance of roadside shops typical of the region.
What amenities and facilities are available at Pequea Creek Campground?
What amenities and facilities are available at Pequea Creek Campground?
Pequea Creek Campground offers spacious, tree-covered sites with plenty of shade. The campground features access to Pequea Creek, perfect for splashing, floating, and water recreation. Some sites (like site 24) have steps leading down to the water. The grounds are quiet and peaceful, ideal for relaxation. On Saturdays, they host social activities like music bingo for campers to enjoy. The owners are friendly and attentive. For those seeking additional amenities nearby, Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country in the same region offers more resort-style facilities while maintaining the charm of Amish country surroundings.
Which is the most popular campground near Pequea, PA?
Which is the most popular campground near Pequea, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pequea, PA is Pequea Creek Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 14 reviews.
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