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The Susquehanna River valley around Windsor, Pennsylvania supports several established campgrounds with varying levels of amenities. Campers can find sites at popular areas like Otter Creek Campground in Airville and Pequea Creek Campground in nearby Pequea, both offering tent and RV accommodations with electric hookups. Most campgrounds in the region provide fire rings, picnic tables, and basic facilities. Several properties also offer cabin camping options, particularly at Gifford Pinchot State Park and Codorus State Park, which maintain year-round programs and seasonal water recreation opportunities.
Camping season typically runs from April through October, with most facilities closed during winter months. Reservation requirements vary by campground, though most developed sites can be booked in advance, especially for summer weekends when waterfront locations fill quickly. Many campgrounds maintain shower facilities with pay options, typically costing $0.50 for 6-7 minutes of hot water. Road access to campgrounds is generally good with occasional steep terrain near creek and riverside locations. Weather conditions along the Susquehanna can fluctuate dramatically, particularly after heavy rainfall when river levels rise and trails become saturated. A visitor to Otter Creek noted, "With all of the rain we have had here in Pennsylvania this summer, the river was brown with mud and tree debris. The ground aside of the river was also so saturated from flooding it was difficult to walk though without sinking."
Riverside camping represents a significant draw in this region, with sites along Otter Creek and the Susquehanna River receiving consistently positive reviews. Campers frequently mention easy water access for kayaking and fishing as highlights of their stays. Sites vary from secluded wooded spots to more open areas with minimal privacy between neighbors. According to one camper at Pequea Creek, "We loved our time staying creek-side here in the summer. The creek is gorgeous and crystal-clear in places." Family-friendly amenities appear at several campgrounds, including playgrounds and open fields for recreation. Visitors should note that many campgrounds in the area host a mix of weekend campers and seasonal residents, which can affect the overall atmosphere and availability of prime sites during peak summer months.
"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"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 . "
"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."
"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!"
"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!"
"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."
"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."
"This campground has a little something for everyone, from full hook up sites neatly stacked next to each other, to quiet patches of grass next to the river."
"They don’t sell alcohol but there is a shopping center within walking distance with restaurants and liquor stores! Even a supermarket. There is shuttle service to the park."
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 sites near Windsor, Pennsylvania range from basic tent camping to developed cabins across the surrounding limestone-rich ridges and valleys. The region receives significant rainfall, averaging 42 inches annually, creating occasional challenges for campers during spring and fall seasons. Most Windsor area campgrounds operate at elevations between 400-800 feet, offering moderate temperatures even during summer camping periods.
Disc golf adventures: Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground offers two complete 18-hole disc golf courses, each with distinctive terrain. "The Conewago day use area on the south side of the lake and the Quaker Race day use area on the north side of the lake. Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course. 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."
Paddle creek excursions: Rent kayaks or canoes at Otter Creek Campground for direct river access. "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."
Amish country day trips: Several campgrounds including Old Mill Stream Campground serve as convenient bases for exploring nearby Amish communities. "The campground is in a good location to Lancaster and other quaint Amish towns like Bird-In-Hand, Paradise, and Intercourse. Just a little bit north of the campground is the beautiful town of Lititz which is definitely worth a visit."
Waterfront camping options: Pequea Creek Campground offers creek-side sites popular with summer campers. "We got site 24 which had steps down the 'levee' affording easier access to the creek. We enjoyed the birds singing in the mornings and welcomed grandkids' visit for splashing and floating in Pequea Creek."
Family-oriented activities: Most Windsor area campgrounds schedule regular weekend activities. "The campground had a lot of events that people participated in like candy bar and regular bingo, corn hole and horse shoe tournaments and a dj. There was a lot of space so walking our dogs was great."
Privacy at select sites: Despite being developed campgrounds, several offer secluded options. "The primitive tent sites are back in the woods which kept us nice and cool on hot July nights. The location also kept us fairly bug free. The campground hiking trail was wonderful and being between Lancaster and Gettysburg makes both places easy to access."
Seasonal operation limitations: Most campgrounds close completely between November and April. At Codorus State Park Campground, "You can bring your own boat (gas allowed) or rent one from their marina. 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."
River conditions fluctuate: Water activities depend heavily on recent rainfall amounts. "Unfortunately, with all the rain we have had here in Pennsylvania this summer the river was brown with mud and tree debris. The ground aside of the river was also so saturated from flooding it was difficult to walk though without sinking into the ground."
Hot shower costs: Pay showers remain common at state parks and private campgrounds. "There was one main bathhouse with flushing toilets, running water and pay showers. It was $0.50 for 6 minutes as per the sign however when I put my quarters in I got 7 minutes on the clock!"
Playground proximity: Select sites near play areas for convenience. "We had site 114. It has water access and is right next to a small man made beach and playground. Bathrooms were in good shape. Sites were of ample size and well spaced."
Water recreation options: Tucquan Park Family Campground features both swimming and fishing opportunities. "The playground and pool were both nice and clean. Wonderful place for a family. They also have a nice little pond you can fish. They offer a small paddle boat to take any time you want on their little lake on site."
Group sites availability: Several campgrounds offer dedicated group camping areas. "We always book their group site, it's huge! The sleeping area and cooking/hanging out area are way spread out so if you have kids you don't have to worry about noise at night. It's tucked back in a corner, you don't even see a neighbor!"
Site selection guidance: Look for pull-through sites or recently upgraded areas when traveling with larger RVs. "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. Excellent cell and gateway service. Cell is AT&T and our gateway is T-Mobile."
Hookup placement challenges: Water and electric connections may require extended hoses or cords. "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."
Leveling requirements: Many Windsor area RV sites require substantial leveling blocks. "We chose site 302 which was at the far end of the campground away from the amusement park. Our campsite was perfectly level and had a large gravel patio area and a large shade tree behind us. The site was plenty long for our 45' RV and tow car."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Windsor, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Windsor, PA is Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 57 reviews.
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