Camping sites near Highspire, Pennsylvania feature diverse terrain with elevations ranging from 300 to 450 feet above sea level, creating natural drainage that helps campsites dry quickly after rain. The area sits at the junction of the Susquehanna River Valley and Appalachian foothills, offering a mix of riverside and wooded camping options within a 30-mile radius. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with higher humidity from June through August.
What to do
Kayaking the Susquehanna River: Riverside camping at River Rock Recreation offers direct water access with private launch points. "We spent our time fishing the river banks right outside our tents and kayaking on the Susquehanna to fish the warm waters. We caught a ton of catfish and carp using live bait," reports one visitor who found the $20 per person rate reasonable for the exclusive riverside access.
Disc golf courses: Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground maintains two 18-hole disc golf courses within 20 miles of Highspire. "Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy!! We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge all over the prime walking areas through the course."
Northwest Lancaster Trail exploration: Located near camping options, this trail system offers hiking and biking opportunities. "As I mentioned there is the Northwest Lancaster Trail to walk along, ride your bike, geocache or check out the Edible Forest. We found some raccoon tracks in the mud down by the river and checked out the scenery of the York Haven Catwalk."
Farm animal interactions: Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm offers a unique camping experience where kids can interact with farm animals. "We came amidst COVID-19, so the many activities and events this location usually holds are down, BUT there is still fun to be had here! We've enjoyed mini-golf, feeding the animals, 'hiking' through the cornfield, fishing, and campfires."
What campers like
Waterfront tent platforms: River Rock Recreation provides dedicated wooden platforms for tents right at the water's edge. "They have 3 wood tent platforms. 2 small ones are right near the river and one very large one is set back in the trees. We used the large platform for our REI Kingdom 8 tent. This gave us more than enough space to set up the tent garage and we even set up cornhole in front of the tent."
Well-designed outdoor kitchens: Campers appreciate thoughtful amenities that enhance meal preparation. "One of my favorite features other than staying right on the river was the kitchen area. There is a stone floor, covered roof, and wrap around wood countertop space complete with an outdoor sink. You can refill the water supply for the sink very easily."
Less crowded weekday camping: Midweek stays offer a quieter experience at most campgrounds near Highspire. "Close to Hershey World, nice campground mid week nice and few campers. Nice staff, trash pickup at site, friendly escort. Site was spacious, clean and trees between sites so you don't feel crowded in."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple locations offer fishing access within a short drive of Highspire. At Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park, visitors can fish in the stocked pond, though one visitor notes: "Pond is okay, could be nicer. It can be noisy near the highway so we always try to get furthest campsite away."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience noise from nearby roads or railways. At Hersheypark Camping Resort, "Basic RV's park 95 night is way to much you pay for location" and "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!"
Shooting range proximity: Some campgrounds are located near shooting ranges, which affects daytime noise levels. "This campground has nice large sites, shade and sunny, full hookups, clean pool, playground, super clean laundry room and bathrooms. The only thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner."
Seasonal insects: Certain areas experience significant insect activity, particularly in warmer months. "I came for a hike and quick one night tent escape. I had never been and reserved a tent site online. When I arrived, someone was in my spot. After working it out and came back I noticed just how crowded it was. Lots literally right on top of each other. Felt like everyone there was in the same group but we obviously weren't. Went to front gate and got a much more isolated tent spot. After we pitched in the new spot, all was good. Then I left and woke up with a serious case of chigger bites."
Varying site leveling: Many campgrounds in the area require significant leveling equipment for RVs. 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. The walk to pool and all other amenities was not pleasant due to hills."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Request sites near play areas for easy supervision. "We took our 3 yo camping for the first time here. He had so much fun. It was clean campground located in a State Park. Easy walk to the lake with a small beach. There was also a beach location on the state park side vs campground side of the lake."
Kid-friendly hiking trails: Lower Allen Community Park offers easy hiking options along Yellow Breeches Creek. "Cute site in a local township park that not many people know about. There actually three total. You just need to call the township to reserve. The sites sit right along the Yellow Breeches creak so you can put in a few miles up and float down to your site."
Game room considerations: Some campgrounds offer indoor recreation options for rainy days. "It was like camping and going to chuckie cheese at the same time. If I have one and only complaint it's the pool, it could use an upgrade and I wish they had actual lounge chairs rather than just plastic chairs to sit. However, unlike most campgrounds, the pool stayed open pretty late so that was a huge bonus for me."
Scavenger hunts: Look for campgrounds that provide organized activities. "They provided us with tons of information to include maps of the local trails. There was 2 scavenger hunts that you could do. One where they list things to do and objects to find and take pictures of. The other was for local land marks."
Tips from RVers
Early arrival importance: Many campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis for site selection. "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. For everyone complaining about driving around and not finding spots, if you get there early enough around 1 pm, you won't have a problem."
Leveling challenges: Bring extra leveling blocks for uneven terrain. "Sites are very close together. Fire rings are very close to campers. Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay. The site on either side was the same rusty. Unlevel is an understatement."
Satellite and cell reception: Tree cover affects connectivity at many campgrounds. "Definitely got lucky with site F03 for Starlink. The rest of the campground has a lot of tree cover. Beautiful grounds and clean. Site is gravel and pretty level. Water pressure is pretty low and the sewer pipe is a little high but all around a really solid experience."
Pull-through access: Choose campsites carefully based on your RV size and access needs. "It is a nice camp ground but the lower drive threw spots are packed together. Our 32' with slides just fit the sight and we had zero room for the truck. They have other spots up on the hill but would have been more of a challenge with our rig."
