12 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Stewartstown, Pennsylvania and its surrounding area feature a variety of campground options within driving distance, creating opportunities for outdoor recreation in southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby Maryland. Established campgrounds like Codorus State Park, Gifford Pinchot State Park, and Otter Creek Campground offer traditional developed camping with amenities. The region includes both public and private operations, with accommodations ranging from basic tent sites to full-service RV hookups, cabins, and even glamping options at places like Merry Meadows Recreation Farm and Tucquan Park Family Campground.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from early April through October or November, with specific opening dates varying by location. Codorus State Park, for instance, operates from the second Friday in April through November 1st, while Gifford Pinchot maintains a similar schedule ending October 31st. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially during summer weekends and holidays when facilities often reach capacity. Electric hookups are widely available, though amenities like showers, dump stations, and sewer connections differ between locations. A visitor to Otter Creek Campground noted, "This campground was great for a weekend trip. Staff is very nice, shower bathroom was clean. Our site was a bit cramped, but for a weekend away, it was just enough."
Campers report that the proximity to water features enhances many camping experiences in the region. Several campgrounds provide access to creeks, lakes, or the Susquehanna River, making water activities a common attraction. Otter Creek Campground receives consistently positive reviews for its location near both Otter Creek and the Susquehanna River, with one camper describing it as a "FANTASTIC Campground! Its close proximity to the Susquehanna River, Otter Creek, and the Mason Dixon Trail is absolutely ideal!" The region's developed campgrounds generally maintain clean facilities and family-friendly environments. While some sites offer significant privacy and natural settings, others are more open with less shade. Site size and spacing vary considerably between campgrounds, with some offering spacious, private sites while others place units closer together.
"It was a VERY dark walk to get to the bathhouse for showers. And the fire pit had no grill, so we ended up having to use the stoves of some RV camping friends for meals."
"Large campground with some good trails. Will definitely return!"
"You just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump."
"The trails from Campground are ok for a short walk, not much of a lake view but mostly shaded trail. The pool is conveniently located maybe even walking distance for some. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $195 / night
"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!"
"We have a small camper and there are some great sites on the lake side to park it where you can get AMAZING sunset views. "
"We had site 108 which is an electric site along the shore and close to the beach, and it was perfect for our needs. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $90 / night
"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."
"The wife & I stayed in site 22 for three nights and bicycled 14 miles, some along the Susquehanna, on nearby Enola Low Grade Trail . "
"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."
"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."
"I was a walk-up with no reservation and since it was a weekday the ranger gave me a great rundown of the best spots in the camp and let me drive through to check them out before going back with my decision"
"Has access to Susquehanna River, nice hiking trails. Can picnic on Deer Creek and go tubing. Close to Connowingo Damn for fishing and birdwatching. Havre de Grace sits near Chesapeake Bay."
from $21 - $50 / night
"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."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
GuideWe booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutThe advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
GuideThis pet friendly campground in Caledonia State Park is .8 miles from the larger Chinquapin campground (no pets), ranger station and swimming pool. Our site #171 was level, paved, full hook ups and next to modern clean bathrooms with flush toilets, warm showers and outside dish washing sinks. Many available sites with and without services on a Sunday in October. There were a good number of friendly, tidy, long term campers with large wall tents. (They allow 21 day stays after Labor Day)
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
Camping near Stewartstown, Pennsylvania offers access to both the rolling hills of southeastern Pennsylvania and the scenic Susquehanna River valley. The area sits at approximately 750 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 60-85°F and moderate rainfall. Campgrounds near Stewartstown feature diverse terrain options, from wooded hillsides to riverfront sites, with many locations operating from April through October.
Water activities on the Susquehanna River: At Otter Creek Campground, campers can kayak along the river and explore nearby islands. "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," notes Sean M.
Hiking nearby trails: The Mason Dixon Trail runs near several campgrounds in the region. "FANTASTIC Campground!! Its close proximity to the Susquehanna River, Otter Creek, and the Mason Dixon Trail is absolutely ideal!" writes Gerald B. about Otter Creek Campground.
Disc golf courses: Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground features two 18-hole disc golf courses. "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," reports Danielle V.
Halloween festivities: Several campgrounds offer special Halloween events. "Visited this campground a couple of years ago to run a 5k! Campsites were spacious and the water park was fantastic!" says Ella P. about Jellystone Park at Quarryville.
Privacy between sites: At Pequea Creek Campground, campers appreciate the spaciousness. "We really enjoyed this campground. We booked late and ended up being given the group camping site because it was all that was left. We had a ton of space and it was more secluded than other sites," mentions Olivia M.
Rustic camping options: For those seeking a more natural experience, Codorus State Park provides primitive options. "We typically stay in the primitive tent loop which is right on the lake. It can get a little busy on the weekends since there is a boat lauch at the end of the primitive lane, but some of the sites are secluded/set back enough to be private," notes Catherine H.
Clean facilities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Quarryville maintains high standards. "Super clean, beautiful campground. So many activities to entertain kids, we couldn't fit it all in!" says Karla R.
Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds provide access to fishing spots. "There is a nice little pond you can fish," mentions Dan A. about Tucquan Park Family Campground.
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds in the area have specific operating seasons. "Stayed here for Father's Day a few years ago. Nice camping experience had a fishing pond sites were level and no problems," says Heather H. about Otter Creek Campground, which is open April 1 to October 31.
Varied terrain and site conditions: Muddy Run Rec Park has some challenging sites. "Cons: 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. The lake area is COVERED in goose poop. Sites in the 20's are tiny and hanging off a cliff," warns Chris G.
Bring cash for some locations: Several campgrounds prefer cash payments. "One of the complaints was they work on cash. Yeah, I knows it's not popular because most of us live in a plastic dominated world. I read it in advance and I just made sure we had some with us," notes Sharon L. about Merry Meadows Recreation Farm.
Showers may require quarters: Be prepared with coins. "Showers good; cost 50¢ for 6 min, but that's fine...ensures enough hot water for everyone and no waste," mentions Gerald B. about Otter Creek Campground.
Playground access: Merry Meadows Recreation Farm offers multiple play areas. "The pool through RV sites are in the centerfield and kind of exposed to the elements but you are right across from the pool and right across from an amazing playground," says Brian S.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds have pools as alternatives to lake swimming. "The park has a lot that you can do or just relax by the fire. Perfect for families," writes Catherine H. about Codorus State Park, adding "There is no swimming allowed in the lake but there is a pool located at the park, there is no extra cost to use the pool if you are at the campground."
Holiday activities: Campgrounds often host special events. "We stayed here this past Easter and they had plenty of activities for kids and adults. Easter egg hunts for kids, adult scavenger hunts for alcohol. Wonderful experience for the whole family," shares Melissa E. about Merry Meadows.
Kid-friendly water features: Some parks offer splash areas. "We got site 114. It has water access and is right next to a small man made beach and playground," notes SkywaystoHighways.com about Gifford Pinchot State Park.
Site selection advice: At Thousand Trails Circle M, location matters. "While the top part of the campground seemed more communal, we chose the lower, Riverside sites and we're glad we did! The campground sits in the center of a horseshoe curve of the river, bring tubes and kayaks!" recommends Karla R.
Seasonal RV considerations: For longer stays, some campgrounds offer advantages. "I would consider parking our camper over the summer! There are occasional whiffs of McCormick spices in the air that is very soothing. Prices aren't horrible," explains Sharon L. about Merry Meadows.
Pad types vary significantly: Some campgrounds offer better RV sites than others. "We got pretty lucky and were assigned one of the concrete pads that was pretty level. It is absolutely beautiful out. The grounds are well-kept," notes Nick E. about Thousand Trails Circle M.
Hookup availability: Expect diverse electric and water options. "Nice campground. Very clean facilities. We typically stay in the primitive tent loop which is right on the lake," explains Catherine H. about Codorus State Park Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Stewartstown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Stewartstown, PA is Merry Meadows Recreation Farm with a 4-star rating from 19 reviews.
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