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Pennsylvania camping near Washington Woods includes several established campgrounds offering various accommodations. The area features destinations like Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, which provides tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts around a scenic lake. Thousand Trails Circle M in Lancaster offers similar diversity with RV hookups and cabin options. Most campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations, typically running from April through October or November, with a few locations like Old Mill Stream Campground remaining open year-round.
Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer months and holiday weekends. Gifford Pinchot State Park operates from the second Friday in April through October 31, while most private campgrounds have slightly longer seasons. "Beautiful picturesque campground with large spots and a lot of trees. Very quiet and close enough to Lancaster for shopping," noted one visitor about Pequea Creek Campground. Road access throughout the region is generally good with paved routes to most established campgrounds, though some tent sites may require short walks from parking areas. Weather considerations include occasional thunderstorms during summer months and cool temperatures in spring and fall.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the region, with several campgrounds featuring lake or creek access. At Gifford Pinchot State Park, campers particularly value the peninsula sites that offer water views and easy kayak launching. A review highlighted one location as having "a nice path between the two lakes" with "lots of great hikes." Family-friendly amenities appear consistently throughout area campgrounds, with swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities common at private establishments. Most campgrounds provide fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathroom facilities with showers, though cleanliness and maintenance quality varies across locations. Proximity to local attractions like Hershey Park, Lancaster's Amish country, and various historical sites adds to the appeal of camping in this region of Pennsylvania.
"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."
"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 . "
"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!"
"Tent sites are lined up along the water which is great for fishing (especially when you need to stay close to the littles sleeping in the tent). Lots of benches lined up along the water."
"Not to noisy being next to a theme park. The bath house was just remodeled so it's excellent! Good price!"
"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"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"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."
"Set just off I-76 in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, Pinch Pond Family Campground& RV Park is a large, all-in-one, family-focused campground with a layout that feels more like a small neighborhood"
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"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."
"This is a clean, nice looking campground in a location very close to Hershey park and the outlets. It’s a very nice area."
from $50 - $60 / night
Check Availability"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."
ScoutThe campground is in excellent condition. The facilities are top notch. The excellence and care of the campground is evident. The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire.
ScoutThe area is very nice and so are the people. The sites are clean and the livestock are a cool sight to see
RangerWe stayed at Redemption Springs to get relatively close to Baltimore without bringing our 30ft travel trailer into the city. Seth and the other gentlemen I spoke with were all extremely accommodating. Enjoyed learning about their approach to restorative farming and purchasing a variety of treats at the farm store. Beef, pork, chicken, seasonings, baked goods, and more. We booked on Hipcamp and recommend following his driving instructions. Our rig fit fine by tuhe main barn and they kept an eye on us going in and out to make sure we didn't have issues making any of the turns. Lots of farm life!
TravelerThere was no hot water in the showers. There are no dog poo stations. There is a dumpster marked “STAFF ONLY”. It’s nice they have a place to stuff the staff!
TravelerOMG! Next to busy interstate, railroad tracks and shooting range. Way to much for me!
TravelerThis campground is a great place to bring kids. The spots are a little tight but we were able to get our 46’ toy hauler in the spot with very little effort. Because the sites are back-in, we can’t use our rear patio but that is ok. The pool is very nice and the farm atmosphere makes it very fun for kids.
GuideMary & her crew run a great campground. Full hookup. Slow schedule during the week-camp store & pool mainly. Saturdays always have activities planned from bingo to quarter auctions, picnics & music. Each Saturday is different. Clean grounds. Nice playgrounds. Kiddie pool & nice size pool from 3-5’ deep. 2 cabins also available.
TravelerThe owner is kind and knowledgeable a lot of live in / snowbirds . Some are very kind but some of the live in’s are crude .
TravelerThe sites ard nice, it's run by Mennonites, I believe. Lots of recreation for kids, quiet time respected and a service on Sunday morning. Full hookups for a very reasonable price.
Camping spots near Washington Woods, Pennsylvania sit within York County where the land rises to approximately 400-800 feet above sea level in the rolling Piedmont region. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F and winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in this region operate within 30 miles of the Susquehanna River, providing access to both highland forests and river valley landscapes.
Kayaking on the Susquehanna: The Susquehanna River offers paddling opportunities with convenient access from several campgrounds. At Otter Creek Campground in Airville, one camper noted, "The river is only a short walk from the campground which is directly across the street at Otter Creek Picnic Area where there are private and public boat docks." Another visitor appreciated that "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."
Disc golf courses: Several parks offer disc golf as a low-cost activity. Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground features two full 18-hole courses with varied terrain. A visitor described, "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."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds provide fishing access with varying conditions. At Muddy Run Rec Park, the 144-acre park contains a large lake ideal for fishing. A regular visitor mentioned, "The large lake is great for a day of kayaking and fishing with supplies readily available for rent at the boat dock store." Seasonal campers recommend early morning or evening fishing during summer months when water temperatures rise.
Spacious, private sites: Many campers value the site spacing at certain campgrounds. At Pequea Creek Campground, a visitor appreciated the "large spots and a lot of trees." Another camper specified that "sites have plenty of room and give you options to be along the creek or tucked back in the trees. We had a huge spot on the end and hardly saw the other campers."
Family-friendly activities: Activities for children rank high on camper satisfaction. Thousand Trails Circle M in Lancaster stands out with its recreational options. One reviewer mentioned, "They have an indoor and outdoor pool. Nice playground. We were down by the river and had a lot of room on our site." Another family noted their kids "enjoyed the indoor pool. Looking forward to coming back in the summer."
Clean facilities: Bathhouse quality significantly impacts camping experiences. A visitor to Tucquan Park Family Campground specifically praised the "Clean bathhouses! Fun activities planned through the season." Another camper elaborated on their experience: "The bathhouses / restrooms are clean... and the campground has a very friendly atmosphere."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds operate within specific date ranges. Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground runs "from 2nd Friday in April to October 31," while Thousand Trails Circle M has a slightly longer season from "April 7 to November 26." Some private campgrounds like Old Mill Stream Campground remain open year-round.
Reservation requirements: During peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), campgrounds fill quickly. Weekend reservations often require booking 3-6 months in advance, particularly for sites with hookups or waterfront locations. Holiday weekends typically book 6-12 months ahead.
Environmental conditions: Weather and terrain can affect camping comfort. At Otter Creek Campground, campers noted river conditions vary with rainfall: "Unfortunately, with all of the rain we have had here in Pennsylvania this summer the river was brown with mud and tree debris." Local campgrounds also experience agricultural impacts. One camper at Old Mill Stream noted the "overwhelming impression of this campground was the smell of cow manure from the nearby dairy farm feedlot."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds provide water recreation beyond just pools. Pinch Pond Family Campground features "a community pool right in front" according to visitors, while Gifford Pinchot has "a LARGE beach area in the QR day use area is one of the nicest I've ever seen at a PA state park, with tons of picnic tables with grills, a playground, a volleyball court, and a special fence solution to keep the stupid geese out of the water in the swimming area."
Playground accessibility: For families with younger children, proximity to play areas matters. At Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA, a visitor mentioned, "Nice playground. We were down by the river and had a lot of room on our site." Another camper specified that this campground has "several pet parks for your own pets, several pet trails, there are people trails, mini golf, playground activities."
Cabin options: For families new to camping or traveling without gear, cabin rentals provide convenience. At Tucquan Park Family Campground, a visitor recalled, "We decided to camp in the fall and did a cabin since it was colder and we had the baby. We loved it! There is a par 3 golf course, indoor pool, mini golf, basketball, and that is in the fall."
Site leveling challenges: RVers report varying site conditions across campgrounds. At Muddy Run Rec Park, campers noted, "Sites in the 20's are tiny and hanging off a cliff," while others recommended: "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."
Maneuvering considerations: Larger rigs face challenges at some campgrounds. Old Mill Stream Campground received this specific feedback: "We stayed on site 123 with a 40 ft Allegro Bus. Plenty of room to maneuver a big rig. All gravel sites and we had full hookup with 50 Amp."
Utility connections: Hookup placement varies significantly between campgrounds. At Pinch Pond Family Campground, RVers appreciate that "the slots are level and feature small stone surface with all of the typical hook-ups (30/50 electric amp, water, sewage and Cable TV)." However, at other locations, campers note limited access to 50-amp service during peak season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Washington Woods, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Washington Woods, PA is Thousand Trails Circle M with a 3.9-star rating from 19 reviews.
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