Glamping options close to Steelton, Pennsylvania occupy a unique geographic area where the Appalachian foothills meet the Susquehanna River valley at approximately 370 feet of elevation. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. The terrain varies from riverside flatlands to wooded hills, creating diverse microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the year.
What to do
Kayaking on the Susquehanna: River Rock Recreation offers direct water access with boat launch facilities adjacent to tent platforms. "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 to River Rock Recreation.
Hiking nearby trail systems: The area features multiple interconnected trail networks suitable for various skill levels. A guest at Little Buffalo State Park Campground noted, "Lots of easy hiking trails and tons of fishing. Super clean." Another camper mentioned, "There are trails with some neat little obstacles to work out on and the historical mill was well worth the trip."
Disc golf courses: Some parks maintain professionally designed disc golf layouts. At Gifford Pinchot State Park, both the Conewago and Quaker Race day use areas have 18-hole courses. A visitor observed about the course terrain: "The course in the Conewago area is relatively flat, whereas the Quaker Race course is built into the side of the hill leading into the QR day use area, so it is a lot more wooded and hillier."
Nighttime astronomy: During clear weather conditions, several parks host astronomy nights away from city light pollution. The open fields at Cedar Lake provide excellent sky viewing areas. Cedar Lake Family Campground's activities program regularly includes guided night sky events during summer months.
What campers like
Private waterfront camping: At River Rock Recreation, the entire campsite is exclusively yours. "This is a single campsite that you rent, no other campers on site unless you are bringing them with you! You can camp with up to 10 people and there is certainly plenty of room for everyone to spread out," explains one visitor to River Rock Recreation.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses. One camper at Pinch Pond noted, "Super-clean and well-kept restrooms with showers, there's also WiFi throughout the campground." Another guest at Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA remarked, "Bathrooms are very clean and modern, but a decent walk from tent sites. The facilities are all lovely, staff in the camp store are kind and helpful."
Glamping variety: The area offers diverse upscale outdoor accommodations. A visitor to PA Dutch Country RV Resort commented, "They have 3 fairly massive restroom & shower facilities, Wi-Fi service, swimming pool, walking paths, clubhouse/office, playing card room, mini golf course, basketball court, and pet friendly."
Family-friendly atmospheres: Cedar Lake Family Campground receives consistent praise for its programming. "This campground has it all, friendly staff, activities galore, cleanliness, & fun, fun, fun," wrote one satisfied guest at Cedar Lake Family Campground.
What you should know
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience noise from nearby infrastructure. According to a Hersheypark Camping Resort visitor, "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!"
Seasonal closures: Many facilities operate on limited schedules. One camper noted that River Rock Recreation is only open "May through September," so advance planning is essential during shoulder seasons.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require extra equipment for RV setup. As one PA Dutch Country RV Resort guest explained, "Campground loses a star because the sites are pretty uneven. Not just the one we're on but others as well. The campground is pretty hilly and they don't seem to want to level out the sites."
Reservation requirements: Many glamping accommodations near Steelton require advance booking. For River Rock Recreation, "We immediately got confirmation our reservation request was received. We received a followup email a week before our trip." During peak summer weekends and holidays, most glamping options fill weeks in advance.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options beyond lakes: Some parks prohibit lake swimming but offer alternative water recreation. At Codorus State Park Campground, "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." Little Buffalo State Park also features "a large area that is only 1 foot deep, great for little ones! There is also a splash pad!"
First-time camping sites: For families new to outdoor recreation, certain campgrounds offer ideal introductory experiences. One camper described Codorus as "Very nice, easy going campground. Definitely family oriented and a good place to start camping if you're a novice."
Kid-friendly amenities: Several locations provide specific children's facilities. Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA offers "Playground was open and great for the kids, so was mini golf." Cedar Lake Family Campground runs a game room with an unusual feature: "This is the one and only campground we have ever visited that gave tickets for playing games and my kids LOVED IT!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: Choose camping locations based on specific needs. At Pinch Pond Family Campground & RV Park, "the best campsite locations are actually the ones designated for primitive tents as they are all located in the rear of the property and therefore quieter and more removed from the rest of the somewhat crowded campground."
Utility considerations: Prepare for variations in hookup reliability. At PA Dutch Country RV Resort, "Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay." Another visitor noted, "Water pressure is pretty low and the sewer pipe is a little high but all around a really solid experience."
Leveling requirements: Pack additional blocks for challenging terrain. One visitor to PA Dutch Country RV Resort explained, "We had to go out and get more blocks and we're still not very level front to back. We also had to come in on an angle to make the slope less drastic."
