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Best Tent Camping near Wrightsville, PA

889 Reviews

Several primitive tent campsites are available within 30 miles of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, including Mill Creek Camping Area in Lancaster and Susquehannock State Park in Drumore. Tent camping locations range from creekside sites with basic amenities to more developed campgrounds with dedicated walk-in tent areas. Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area offers stream-adjacent tent sites that are accessible via walking trails from parking areas.

Tent sites at Mill Creek Camping Area feature picnic tables and fire rings, with drinking water available on-site. Most tent-focused campgrounds near Wrightsville operate seasonally, with Lancaster County Mill Creek open from March 15 to November 15. Vault toilets are available at several locations, though shower facilities are limited. One camper noted that "the stream is refreshing and the site stays fairly cool. When it hits high temperatures a quick dip in the water is amazing." Sites often cost around $15-25 per night, with some locations operating on a first-come, first-served basis while others require reservations.

The primitive tent camping experience near Wrightsville offers varying levels of privacy and seclusion. Susquehannock State Park provides tent campers with access to hiking trails and scenic views of the Susquehanna River. A visitor described the park as having "lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer Creek and to the Susquehanna River." Tree cover varies by location, with some campgrounds offering heavily wooded sites that provide natural shade and others featuring more open settings. Walk-in tent sites typically offer more seclusion than drive-in areas but require campers to carry gear short distances from parking areas. Many tent sites are situated near water features, creating opportunities for fishing, wading, and scenic views.

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Best Tent Sites Near Wrightsville, Pennsylvania (15)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wrightsville, PA

13 Photos of 15 Wrightsville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Wrightsville, PA

889 Reviews of 15 Wrightsville Campgrounds

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Campsites Jammed Closely Together

    PROS 

    Reserved 328 days prior to arriving

    $13.50 senior discount 

    Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful 

    Site C3 parking pad level asphalt 

    Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable 

    One hook lantern pole 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival 

    Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites 

    Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center. 

    Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP 

    CONS

    $6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation 

    Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching 

    Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together

    Pitiful low water pressure  in Loop C

    Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level 

    Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking 

    Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday 

    Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable) 

    Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced

    Lots of barking dogs 

    No wood sales in park 

    No WiFi 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Nate & Erika L.
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Susquehanna State Park Campground

    Great State Park Camping

    We decided to stay a weekend at Susquehanna based on the reviews on the Dyrt and it’s closer proximity to home. We arrived and were greeted by super friendly rangers who gave us the lay of the land. We found the rangers to be very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife, plants, and trees in the park. They had two display tables full of flora and fauna by the check-in station set up for kids and adults alike to glean some knowledge. On one night while we were there, there was a program run by the rangers where kids could learn about some common native and invasive species.

    We hiked the Green Trail, which had a sign saying it was ‘very difficult’, but we found it to be no problem for our crew of seven kids aged 3-10 and four adults. We only passed one other hiker. We saw some champion trees, lots of deer, and had some run ins with more than a few spotted lantern flies. One ranger told us they have nine champion trees in the park, we’d love to go back and hike to find the others.

    With only two loops, the sites were fairly spaced out with lots of trees between them. We had a spacious electric site for our pop up and camped with friends who had a nice level, secluded tent site. We hardly ever heard any neighbors and all was quiet at night. Each loop shares a bathhouse, and there are some portable toilets spaced around the loop, too. The facilities were cleaned every morning. They even have a large laundry utility sink in the bathhouse should you need it. The only downside we found was that showering at prime time (around 8 or 9 pm) led to very little hot water. A small price to pay for good camping and hiking!

  • Craig F.
    Jul. 1, 2019

    Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    Fun Camping and Lake Activities

    We had a wonderful stay at Gifford Pinchot State Park! 

    The camping area at GP is separated into A loop and B loops with approximately 300 sites. All sites had a paved pad, varying in size depending on the location, with tent site being smaller. Most sites have electric and there are 22 full hookup sites in the camping area. Both loops are peninsulas into the lake, which is convenient to launching boats directly from many sites. Loop A is closer to the designated swimming area with a sandy beach and playground. B loop is closer to many of the hiking trails and also several boat launch areas. It is nice that the camping area and amenities are separated from the public day use area. At the entrance to the camping area there are three dump stations. 

    During our stay we were at a full hookup site which was very spacious and often hard to find in PA State Parks. Our site was#299 and for some reason the entire site was paved/blacktop, which was different than all the other sites where the pad was paved and the picnic table area was gravel/grass. While this site made it easy to level our camper, it became quite hot in the afternoon/evening after the sun had baked it all day.

    Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed GP and couldn’t believe we hadn’t visited before because it is a great state park. Wood is available for purchase at the campground hosts’ sites and ice at the park office. As with most PA state parks, quiet hours are at 9:00PM, which is a bit early, and there is no alcohol allowed in the park. We look forward to returning to GP in the future.

  • Jim N.
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Hibernia County Park

    Hidden gem

    A nice primitive campground - good for a quick trip away. The campground is a county run one that works on a first come first serve basis, which is fine if there are others close by. They are wooded sites and have 2 loops. There is no store, but there a places close to get supplies. The park is dry, no alcohol. No hook ups either. There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends.

  • Max C.
    Oct. 14, 2019

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Gorgeous in the fall

    Stayed in B-08 on mid October and had a great trip. The site was non-electric and it seems most of the outer side of this loop is basic camping with the inside of the loop having power. The other loops offer full hookups but opting for this area kept us from being surrounded by massive RV's. Easy back in spot for our car, partially shaded, decent brush cover between sites and able to keep tent about 20 yards from the road on a crushed rock pad. I will say this site has a little bit of slope but nothing that affected our sleep. The fire ring is very high sided and if you're not sitting on a higher camp chairs you kind of miss the fire. Picnic table was sturdy but easy enough to move lnto place to fit our needs. Tons of hike mg within the park including some historic sites at Hopewell Furnace like the blacksmith shop and old residences. Checked in a. It before the stated 3pm time without issues. Very few rangers seen during stay but it is after labor day and most of the seasonal attractions like the pool etc were closed for the season. Very clean bathrooms with easy to use dish sinks on the outside. Overall for a trip that within 75 minutes of Philly you can't go wrong for a quick jaunt out of town.

  • K
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Nice campground for primitive tenting

    Large campground but only 15 sites dedicated to“roughin’ it” tent camping. However, those sites are isolated from the others. The tent sites were in very good condition, spaced well, and fairly private. Most sites have plenty of shade and grassy, though a few are dirt only. Many sites within walking distance from the lake(no swimming) and set up for you to store and launch your kayak or other boat. Water, bathrooms, and showers a little distant but everything clean and in excellent condition. Ice and firewood available on the grounds. There is also a small store but I didn’t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutes’ drive. Definitely going back…!

  • E
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Elk Neck State Park Campground

    Good Intro to Camping

    I booked a tent site as my first introduction to the park. Setting up a reservation was incredibly user friendly, park staff was fantastic at getting us checked in, and the camp store was well stocked and priced. 

    Our site, however, left something to be desired. The sites were all very close together, and the tent pad areas were fairly small. You can drive right up to your site and park there, which is incredibly convenient in terms of unpacking and set up. Around our site was pretty loud with neighbors at all hours, regardless of quiet hours, and balls being kicked into our tent pad area from surrounding visitors. There were some bottle caps and garbage on our tent pad upon arrival.

    I think if you had kids and were looking for a "not so quiet" get away into nature, this would be a fantastic spot. There were larger and more private sites on our loop, and if I returned I would prioritize getting one of those. There are also more loops than the one we were on. 

    The firepit had an adjustable height grill grate, and there was a picnic table at each site. Firewood ran $5 a bundle at the camp store.  Ice and potable water was also available. 

    There was a nearby dumpster that was easy to use. Disappointed that there did not seem to be a recycling receptacle. Bathrooms were nice, the handicapped shower was very spacious. No shortage of hot water. 

    We hiked all available trails from the trail map, though it seems there were more than listed, and a portion of the park is closed following previous tornado damage. We saw an abundance of herps, gorged ourselves on pawpaws, and generally foraged and tracked a ton of interesting wildlife. The trails themselves were pretty, but the rankings somewhat misleading. The "hard" trails would be hard in comparison to a flat gravel path, but in terms of general hiking, were comfortable with only a couple mildly steep or narrow points. I am unsure if the ranking system is for general hiking or in terms of ADA accessibility, however. If accessibility, it makes a lot of sense. For hiking? Less so; I'd rank the trails as a normal difficulty for their 'hard' trails. 

    The beaches were lovely! We did not get the opportunity to kayak, swim, or fish, but are hoping to do that sometime in the future. Was still relaxing to sit out with a book and watch the water.

    I do feel like we explored most of what the park had to offer, so while I would be happy to return it feels less urgent to do so. I think I would be better equipped to pick a site (or explore a cabin!) the next time which would resolve my minimal issues. Given the relaxed atmosphere of the trails, close amenities, etc. I think this would be a good choice to bring friends who are new to the camping scene, or for families.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 15, 2023

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Convenient to Philadelphia

    General: Four loops with a total of 200 campsites. Two of the loops allow pets (A, C) and two do not. Loop D offers no hookups while Loops A-C offer a mix of no hookups, water/Electric, and full hookups. We had no problem securing a site on a weekday in October with no reservation. There are also two yurts and three cottages. 

    Site Quality: We chose a non-electric site in the B Loop, so this review focuses on this loop. There are abundant trees separating the sites. The pads were paved and B12 was very long. A picnic table and fire ring complete the site. Because the loops are on a slight slope, not all of the sites are completely level, something that would be difficult to determine if making reservations ahead of time. 

    Bathhouse: Pennsylvania state parks get high marks for their modern, clean restrooms and this park (at least the B Loop) was no exception. Hot showers were no additional charge and generous in size. 

    Activities: 35 miles of hiking trails. Be aware that the Hopewell Lake Loop is not very well marked (it appears to be a work in progress) although blazes on trees are abundant for most trails. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent during the summer season, and there is a boat dock for your own boat for fishing (either from a fishing pier or on your boat). There is a huge pool available from Memorial Day through Labor Day (there is an additional fee for this). Some of the trails allow horseback riding. Nearby Hopewell Furnace is accessible via hiking trails, or you can drive there. Other activities include orienteering and disc golf. Make sure you wear blaze orange during the fall hunting season as you will hear hunters! 

    In general, it is obvious Pennsylvania invests in its state park campgrounds and the price is reasonable ($27 for a non-electric site during the week with a $4.50 senior discount). My only complaint is that the dumpsters are a hike from the loops, but this is a minor complaint.

  • E
    Sep. 25, 2020

    Susquehanna State Park Campground

    Somewhat quiet, clean and friendly

    Staff is very friendly. Bathhouse is clean but ran out of toilet paper often; they supposedly clean 3 times a day since COVID but we didn’t see that happening on a regular schedule while we were there.

    We loved that our site had a path directly to the bathhouse. This meant there wasn’t any foot traffic from people wanting to shower or use the restrooms. Easy access to the utility sink for dishes, too!

    There seemed to be a lot of campers in the surrounding lots and still, everyone was quiet between the quiet hours.

    Our specific site was supposed to have a tent pad but there wasnt a spot cleared for our tent and we had to move the heavy picnic table so we weren’t putting up our tent on top of the fire ring. We also had to use a paper plate to rake as many rocks and gravel from the site so we could put up our tent without ripping it.

    We bought their firewood for $5/crate and it was really wet. It was challenging to get a fire going, which was frustrating. Ended up not being able to have a fire the last morning there and gave away our leftover firewood.

    Probably my biggest complaint is that several times, the park maintenance truck drove down the loop where we camped. Our kids are running around and playing and the only vehicle that sped past every time was the park crew vehicle. All other vehicles (belonging to visitors) were respectful and drove slowly. It surprises me that with families camping here, they wouldn’t be more cautious.

    All in all: for our first time camping here, it was a decent experience. I don’t know that we’d go there again, but it was a fun one-and-done trip.

Guide to Wrightsville

Primitive tent campsites near Wrightsville, Pennsylvania offer rustic camping opportunities at several county parks and natural areas within 30 miles. The region features lowland creekside sites along the Susquehanna River watershed with elevations ranging from 250-500 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with occasional humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons bring cooler evenings requiring additional layers.

What to do

Kayak camping opportunities: At Lower Allen Community Park, campers can access the Yellow Breeches Creek directly. "You can put in a few miles up and float down to your site. The sites sit right along the Yellow Breeches creek," notes camper Joann.

Fishing access: The children's pond at Hibernia County Park is specially designated for young anglers. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," reports Anna, while another visitor mentions Chambers Lake is also available for fishing without gas-powered motors.

Hiking trail networks: Multiple parks offer walking trails of varying difficulty. At Hibernia County Park, "There are a half dozen easy trails, the longest is around 2 miles," according to a reviewer. The trails connect camping areas to water features and recreational facilities throughout the parks.

What campers like

Creekside cooling: During summer heat, water proximity is valuable at tent sites. A camper at Mill Creek Camping Area shares that "Campsite for where we stayed is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."

Wooded isolation: Many tent campsites feature significant tree cover. "Most sites are heavily wooded which means plenty of hammock hanging opportunities," notes Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park, providing natural shade and separation from neighboring sites.

Budget-friendly options: Primitive tent camping remains affordable in the region. Hibernia County Park offers sites at "$15/night" according to Anna, while Mill Creek Camping Area charges a "flat rate of $25 a night" as noted by Meagan J.

What you should know

Seasonal availability: Operating seasons vary significantly between campgrounds. Hibernia County Park operates "May to October" and is "only open on the weekends, in season," according to reviewers. Check reservation systems for current availability.

Facility limitations: Expect minimal amenities at most primitive tent sites. One camper notes Hibernia has "NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by," and another mentions "There are only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop" though flush toilets are available within walking distance.

Privacy considerations: Some campgrounds have unexpected foot traffic. At Susquehannock State Park Campground, a visitor explains "The camping area is small but worth it. a short walk from the scenic overlooks and other hiking trails."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Hibernia County Park offers facilities beyond camping. "Great playground," notes John Z., providing activity options for children between water-based recreation.

Bathroom considerations: Facility access varies widely. "There is a bathroom with running water, flush toilets and electric outlets (no shower) within walking distance of the loop," explains a Hibernia County Park visitor, while other sites only offer vault toilets.

Trail difficulty ratings: Look for family-appropriate hiking options. Shambala at Mystic Hollow and other creekside locations offer easier terrain for children while maintaining water access, with one visitor noting "great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water."

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most primitive tent areas have limited RV capability. At Hibernia County Park, "at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18," according to Jennifer S.

Water planning: No hookups means preparation is essential. "If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank," advises a camper at Hibernia, as water access points are limited to central spigots in common areas.

Dump station alternatives: Plan for waste management. "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee," explains a visitor to Hibernia County Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wrightsville, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wrightsville, PA is Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.

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