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Campgrounds surrounding Dallastown, Pennsylvania offer diverse accommodation options ranging from state parks to private facilities, with many properties located within 30 miles of the town. Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground and Codorus State Park Campground provide established camping areas with a variety of amenities and are both managed by the Pennsylvania state park system. These developed campgrounds support multiple camping styles including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and even yurts or glamping options. Most established facilities in the region feature electric hookups, picnic tables, showers, and toilets, with many also offering water hookups and sanitary dump stations for recreational vehicles.
The camping season throughout the Dallastown area typically runs from April through October, with many campgrounds closing during winter months. Codorus State Park operates from the second Friday in April until November 1st, while Gifford Pinchot maintains a similar schedule ending October 31st. Indian Rock Campgrounds stands as an exception, remaining open year-round for campers seeking winter options. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays, particularly during summer months when facilities reach capacity. Mixed-use campgrounds like Otter Creek provide both primitive and developed sites with varying levels of access to amenities. According to one visitor, "We were surprised to find this nice little spot next to the creek right outside of town... The road noise is kind of annoying but the area is beautiful."
Campers consistently highlight water access as a major draw for several properties in the region. Otter Creek Campground receives particularly strong reviews for its location near the Susquehanna River, with one reviewer noting it's "perfect for all kinds of people from family, campers, boaters, fishers, someone who is seeking rest and relaxation, peace and quiet, adventure seekers on the river, history enthusiasts, trail seekers, nature lovers and more." The terrain varies across the region, with some campgrounds offering wooded, private sites while others feature more open layouts. Several facilities maintain a mix of permanent and transient sites, with seasonal campers often providing valuable local knowledge to visitors. Most developed campgrounds provide clean facilities with hot showers, though some may charge a small fee for shower use. Noise levels vary by property location, with sites near major roads experiencing more ambient sound than more secluded options.
"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. "
from $20 - $89 / night
Check Availability"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. "
"Older State Park just outside of Hanover, PA. Used it as a home base to explore Gettysburg and the surrounding area."
from $20 - $249 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"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!"
"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 . "
"There was a bathhouse and dish sink nearby, as well as the entrance to a nice little nature trail a few sites down. "
"Large and easy to enter/exit sites. Wifi was pretty good. (It helped that the antenna was right beside our site!) Cable TV, too! Everyone we talked to was nice and friendly."
from $45 - $279 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"We were surprised to find this nice little spot next to the creek right outside of town. There’s a spot right next to it but was unoccupied while we were there so we were all alone."
"The bathroom near the pool left a little something to be desired. It wasn’t filthy but also wasn’t sparking clean. It was great being close to the battlefield."
"We were there around Halloween and they had decorated the park so nicely. The sounds of the farm animals all around was fun and amusing for us."
LegendPros- 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.
GuideBASE 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.
ScoutWe 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.
ScoutFrome the moment you drive up the women at the gate is about as welcoming ( as my Pops would say ) "A fart in church.," Great way to start your vacation. Didn't get much better in the office. The one guy that worked there did at least smile at us....
ScoutWhere do I start?
We came to this campground to connect with family who was hiking the AT. We left after one miserable night. Here are some reasons:
A giant confederate flag near the entrance
Highway noise and not one but two train tracks
One Filthy “bathroom”
No shade at our campsite- despite other available sites with some shade
A trail of poison ivy on the narrow path to the river
Cigarette butts everywhere
And a creepy man on a bike who declared he was a local and wouldn’t leave our site while I was alone and insisted on talking to me about the strip club down the street, where to buy condoms and how my tent’s mesh shelf is perfect for drying out my wet panties.
ScoutWe called ahead of time to reserve two sites for two nights for a bunch of people from out of state and some hikers from the AT. They said it was $35 per site per night. When we arrived we were told that we had to pay for three nights because it was a holiday weekend AND that the price was per tent. The porta potties were gross and hadn’t been serviced in a while. It was difficult to use them. During a heat wave we were given a site with little shade when several sites further along with plenty of trees were empty. The plumbed bathroom was dirty and had no soap. The shop did not in fact sell love bait, which cramped our fishing style. There is a loud rail road with constant trains on one side and a very busy highway with loud trucks on the other. The river front was lovely, but with detritus from previous campers on the rocks. We left after one night.
ScoutWell maintained campgrounds with thoughtful touches. Staff very friendly and responsive.
ScoutIts such a beautiful campground and very quite and clean showers and bathrooms
ScoutGreat campsite, plenty of space. It rained a lot and our campsite was a little muddy (not bad) but nearby campsites had large puddles
Camping options near Dallastown, Pennsylvania extend throughout York County and into neighboring counties, with varied terrain including river valleys and rolling farmland. Located at approximately 600 feet elevation, the region experiences four distinct seasons with mild springs and falls ideal for outdoor recreation. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F while winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that regularly drop below freezing.
Water recreation: Explore the Susquehanna River at Otter Creek Campground, where visitors gain direct access to both the creek and river. "Its close proximity to the Susquehanna River, Otter Creek, and the Mason Dixon Trail is absolutely ideal," notes Gerald B. The boat launch accommodates private watercraft while multiple fishing spots line the shore.
Disc golf: Try two different 18-hole courses at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground. "Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy," advises one visitor. The course in Conewago day use area offers relatively flat terrain while the Quaker Race course provides more challenging wooded holes on hillier landscapes.
Hiking options: Walk the 8.5-mile Lakeside Trail circling Pinchot Lake for varied perspectives of the water. Nearby White Rocks Trail connects with the Appalachian Trail for extended hiking. "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," reports one camper.
Privacy levels: Find secluded woodsy sites at many campgrounds for a true forest experience. Pequea Creek Campground offers particularly spacious options. "We had a huge spot on the end and hardly saw the other campers," writes Danielle C. Sites backing up to trees or along the creek provide the most seclusion.
Mulch tent pads: Enjoy comfortable tent camping at Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, which has upgraded their tent sites. "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," explains Melissa C., making this a good option for those who prefer more comfort while tent camping.
Farm animal interaction: Experience a working farm setting at Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm. "We were in C103. If you love farm animals, that is the spot to be. Got a kick out of the children playing with the kids (baby goats) pigs, goats, chickens, horses and even lamas," shares Robert M. The animals provide unique entertainment, especially for families with children.
Seasonal flooding concerns: Check weather forecasts before visiting riverside campgrounds. At Pequea Creek Campground, some sites are more vulnerable to water issues. "We first had a 2 point site near the river, but when it rains the sites get flooded with runoff from the campground," reports one camper at Circle M.
Cash requirements: Bring paper money as some facilities don't accept cards. Several parks operate on cash-only systems for activities, store purchases, or showers. "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.
Varying shower setups: Expect different shower facilities across campgrounds. Some feature timed push-button systems that require quarters. "The shower is an annoying push button that only stays on for a few seconds," explains one visitor at Indian Rock Campgrounds. Other parks offer unlimited hot water included with your stay.
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas for convenience with children. Tucquan Park Family Campground receives praise for its facilities. "Our 3 young kids enjoyed the playground the most — there were lots of fun things for the kids on the playground," notes Melissa. Site selection near these amenities saves walking time with tired children.
Swimming options: Research water access restrictions before promising swimming to children. While many parks feature lakes, not all permit swimming. "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," explains Catherine H. at Codorus State Park.
Kid-friendly creek play: Seek shallow water options where children can safely splash. "We enjoyed the birds singing in the mornings and welcomed grandkids' visit for splashing and floating in Pequea Creek," shares J.W., noting that "site 24 had steps down the 'levee' affording easier access to the creek."
Site selection strategies: Request sites away from group areas to avoid noise at busier campgrounds. "Next time I will be getting a site away from the group area," advises Melissa F. at Gifford Pinchot, explaining, "Some of the groups can get rather loud especially when there are a bunch of teens."
Leveling challenges: Be prepared with leveling blocks as site terrain varies across the best places to camp near Dallastown. Even campgrounds with paved sites may require adjustment. "Our site was level, shaded and quite large," notes one RVer about Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, but experiences differ across facilities and specific site numbers.
Utility availability: Check hookup locations before setup as placement varies between campgrounds. Most campgrounds offer electric sites, but amperage varies between 30 and 50-amp service. "We had site 114. It has water access and is right next to a small man made beach and playground," shares Toshi about their experience at Gifford Pinchot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Dallastown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dallastown, PA is Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 57 reviews.
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