RV campgrounds near York Springs, Pennsylvania offer camping options in the Appalachian foothills at elevations ranging from 500 to 800 feet. The area experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures typically reaching 80-85°F, while spring and fall bring milder 60-70°F weather. Most campgrounds in the region remain open from April through October, with a few offering year-round access.
What to do
Visit Gettysburg battlefield sites: 10 minutes from Drummer Boy Camping Resort Located just "a mile from downtown Gettysburg," this campground provides convenient access to historical sites. As David G. notes, "It's literally like a mile from downtown Gettysburg, which also has a lot of different things to do."
Fishing opportunities: Available at Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm The property includes fishing access. According to Anna H., it's a "Great place to go fishing!" Another camper mentions walking "through the cornfield, you get a great view of the farms nearby and the river."
Mini golf and recreation: Multiple campgrounds offer activities Round Top Campground features a "Golf course setup for spooky time of year" according to Alice G. At Pinch Pond Family Campground, "They have Hershey's ice cream in the office and my kids enjoyed getting a treat. Their game room has tickets. This is the one and only campground we have ever visited that gave tickets for playing games."
What campers like
Farm animal interactions: Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm offers unique animal experiences Campers consistently mention the animals as a highlight. One reviewer explains, "The main attraction is the animals, but there is also a cute playground for the kids." Another notes, "We came amidst COVID-19, so the many activities and events this location usually holds are down, BUT there is still fun to be had here! We've enjoyed mini-golf, feeding the animals, 'hiking' through the cornfield, fishing, and campfires."
Swimming options: Several parks maintain pools At Pinch Pond Family Campground, "The pool was clean and quite good sized, had it to ourselves due to season." Another camper adds, "Their game room has tickets. This is the one and only campground we have ever visited that gave tickets for playing games and my kids LOVED IT!"
Creekside camping: Natural water features enhance some sites At Gettysburg Campground, "The tenting area is calm and has a creek right next to it to listen to in the evening and morning." Another camper recommends to "Recommend a site by the creek" and notes "Clean bathrooms nice playground for kids."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close in winter Only Western Village RV Park and Ben Franklin RV Park operate year-round. At Drummer Boy Camping Resort, a camper noted "It's a nice campground with a lot of amenities for all. Everyone whom I had contact with that had season sites were very friendly and provided some good info."
Site leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks At Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, campers report "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. We had to go out and get more blocks and we're still not very level front to back."
Noise considerations: Highways and shooting ranges Several campgrounds have noise factors. At Pinch Pond, "there is a shooting range near the property, so at all hours you will hear target practice going on." One camper noted, "The only thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner."
Tips for camping with families
Choose Halloween weekends for extra activities: October offers themed events At Thousand Trails Circle M, "They had Halloween ever at every weekend of October and we spent Halloween weekend here. The kids loved it!!" Another camper mentioned, "We came in early fall with 3 kids. They LOVED the animals and we fed them at the allotted time every morning and went to visit at other times."
Look for indoor amenities: Weather backup options Several campgrounds offer indoor facilities. One visitor to Thousand Trails Circle M mentioned, "There is an indoor pool and spa (spa closed due to Covid)." Another noted, "We decided to camp in the fall and did a cabin since it was colder and we had the baby. We loved it!"
Book non-holiday weekends if possible: Less crowded experience Many campgrounds get busy on holidays. A camper at Drummer Boy noted, "We camped here in May for Memorial Day weekend. We usually avoid holidays but gave this campground a try. It was pretty full and everyone seemed to have a golf cart."
Tips from RVers
Golf cart considerations: Rental or bring your own At Drummer Boy Camping Resort, "Everyone here pretty much has golf carts & drives them everywhere. For some places within the campground, it's hard to find regular car/truck parking." Another notes, "It was a bit noisy. The site was pretty level and an okay side."
Full hookup locations: Pay attention to sewer placement At Western Village RV Park, "The sewer is in odd locations all around our campsite I'm excited as well as sharing the water source with or source with up to 5 other R v's." Another camper notes, "We shared 1 water source with 2 other campers. In order to hook anything up, you had to be in your neighbor's space."
Arrival timing matters: Earlier is better for site selection Many campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis for site selection. For Thousand Trails properties, one camper advises, "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. For everyone complaining about driving around and not finding spots, if you get there early enough around 1 pm, you won't have a problem."
