Little Buffalo State Park and surrounding campgrounds offer a mix of glamping and traditional camping experiences within central Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridges. The area sits at elevations ranging from 500-1,200 feet with a humid continental climate featuring warm summers and moderately cold winters. Camping conditions vary significantly by season with most facilities operating April through October, though Western Village RV Park maintains year-round operations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Little Buffalo State Park features accessible fishing areas along its 88-acre lake. "The lake is awesome to relax on, fishing, boating... never fails to be a great time!!" notes Lisa L. about Little Buffalo State Park Campground.
Historical exploration: Visit the restored mill within Little Buffalo State Park. "The historical mill was well worth the trip. By the far the highlight of ours as well. Especially since they engaged the wheel and actually ground corn!" reports Chelsea K.
Kayaking the Yellow Breeches: Lower Allen Community Park offers creek access for kayakers. "Cute site in a local township park that not many people know about. You can put in a few miles up and float down to your site," writes Joann from Lower Allen Community Park.
What campers like
Swimming options: The aquatic facilities at Little Buffalo receive consistent praise. "The pool here is top notch... We did have a nice bat spotting walk with a Ranger when we were there," says Christopher E.
Family-friendly layout: Paradise Stream's thoughtful design appeals to families. "So many great site options depending on your needs/preferences. The store is well stocked and also has a variety of sweet treats! My kids enjoyed the beautiful Mini golf course, splashing in the creek, the pool and the pedal carts," explains melissa from Paradise Stream Family Campground.
Evening entertainment: Twin Grove RV Resort provides unique nighttime activities. "At night they have a merry go round, train, giant slide and ferries wheel you can ride... They also have a restaurant if you want a break from cooking," says Dawn T. about Twin Grove RV Resort.
What you should know
Train noise: Some campgrounds in the area experience railroad disruption. "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 Kit from Hersheypark Camping Resort.
Varying site sizes: Space constraints affect some campgrounds more than others. "Only downfall is we have smaller children and we could not bike from the campground to the pool, it was too far and the hill to get back was too big for them to ride up," notes Paula R.
Seasonal variations: Weather impacts glamping experiences near Reed. "We camped here over Columbus Day weekend. We wanted a quiet escape. Very quiet and peaceful. Lots to do at the lake if you want or quiet enough to just kick back," says Shirley M. from Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Pet policies: Check campground-specific rules for visitors with pets. "Nice quiet campground. A little pricey and strict for vistors, they need to leave by 10 and can't bring their pets. We always camp over the holiday weeks or weekends depending on my where we stay and our out of state children come visit," explains Chris M. from Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA.
Activity planning: Consider themed weekend events when booking. "We come here once a year to take our grandkids on an annual camping trip with us. Lots to do! Playgrounds, special events, crafts. Very nice sites and shower houses are very clean," shares Shirley M. about Twin Grove RV Resort.
Temperature considerations: Pool temperatures vary greatly by season. "The pool was nice, but being that it was the end of June, the water was freezing! I couldn't get in!" warns Cat R.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain for larger rigs. "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," advises Mike J. from Hersheypark Camping Resort.
Hookup positioning: Evaluate utility access before committing to a site. "The sites are a good size and there is plenty to do (swimming, fishing, hiking, escape room, and weekend activities for everyone). The new owners are doing a lot of upgrades in the off season to make it even better," notes Tracey about Paradise Stream Family Campground.
Leveling requirements: Site grading varies across campgrounds. "Stone surface. Not to bad for leveling. Our site was spacious," reports Stephen W. about glamping accommodations in the Reed area.