Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

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.

Fun Camping and Lake Activities

This is one of the larger state parks we have been to.  If you don't like a crowd may want to stay somewhere else. (339 sites, that's a lot of campers) There are a ton of sites!!!!  They offer electric sites and traditional camping sites.  There are dog sites available!  You can camp near the playground and are able to watch your kids play (around site 247)  Not all of the sites are spacious but you do have more room than private parks!  The great thing about this park are the trails!  You can take lakeside trail around the lake (I forget the distance to complete the loop)  Trails are good for trail runs or hiking (some single track though so yield to bikers)  They offer a Lake for fishing and there is a boat launch!  The great thing is you are close enough to many area attractions, including Hershey PA!  Happy Camping!

Hike the trails, close to major attractions!

[Gifford Pinchot](http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/GiffordPinchotStatePark/Pages/default.aspx) is one of the largest state park campgrounds (339 campsites) in PA with a lot of different types of camping available: tent sites, RV sites, group camping, yurts / camping cottages / cabins, and everything in between. We had site 108 which is an electric site along the shore and close to the beach, and it was perfect for our needs. It has a small beach area within the campground loop that we camped in, but the main beach is on the other side of the large Pinchot Lake. The bathhouses / restrooms are clean (about average for PA state park system) and the campground has a very friendly atmosphere - we really enjoyed our stay.

The state park itself has a LOT to offer, especially in the two main day use areas: the [Conewago day use area](http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004651.pdf) on the south side of the lake and the [Quaker Race day use area](http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004651.pdf) on the north side of the lake. Both areas have great access for fishing (bring your license! the rangers in this park check), and we caught a handful of bass and an absurd amount of bluegill from shore. Both areas also have their own [18 hole disc golf course](http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004652.pdf), 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. 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. I took an early morning hike on the [8.5 mile Lakeside Trail](http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004652.pdf) that goes around the lake and it was really awesome to see the lake from all different angles. I also hiked / jogged the Quaker Race Trail and that was nice, too, but obviously much less maintained - it was a little confusing at times as it actually crossed the disc golf course in that area multiple times and it was not well blazed. The [LARGE beach area](http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004652.pdf) 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. There is also a nice concession area to grab some food, ice cream, and drinks that the kids appreciated.

We also did some hiking and fishing nearby in the [Boiling Springs](http://www.boilingsprings.org/) / Dillsburg area, and I would recommend checking that area out if you like either. [Yellow Breeches](http://www.orvis.com/fishing_report.aspx?locationid=6015) is well known among flyfisherman (bring your waders), and [TCO Outdoors](https://www.tcoflyfishing.com/pages/about-us) on the main drag in Boiling Springs has all the fly patterns and knowledge you could want for the area. Before fishing, we hiked the [White Rocks Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/pennsylvania/white-rocks-trail) a few miles outside of town, and it was a ton of fun with some cool rock scrambles. It hooks up with the AT going through the area if you want to extend the hike. This area (central PA in general) tends to have a lot of rattlesnakes, and we spotted one about 20 feet off the trail in a downed wood pile - cool, but a little terrifying!

Overall, we really loved the campground and this area and will definitely be back.

Large PA state park with tons of activities and a huge beach

Overall: 3.5

Bathrooms: 1

This state park offered campsites with full amenities (water, electric, sewer), water &amp; electric, water, or primitive. Also had designated areas for camping with or without pets. We had a water site that was an end spot with the lake directly behind us- #316. We have a teardrop trailer (T@G XL). Spot was a quick walk to the bathrooms. 

Campground offers hiking trails, kayaking, boat launches, playground, cabins, and yurts. Lake was beautiful and grounds offered many trails of different distances for both hiking and biking. 

Bathrooms: Had automatic lights that went on at dark. Problem is that it was dark in the bathrooms and there was no way to turn the lights on. Bathrooms were extremely run down. Paint peeling off the ceiling, showers so stained - not sure if dirt or permanent mold. Showers were scary - I am no princess but did not take a shower in there. They received a 1 because it was a flushable toilet. 

Would go back to enjoy the campground but would bring the solar shower. beautiful birds were everywhere and if it wasn’t so cold when we were there (38’ in evening) I am sure we would have seen more wildlife.

Lakeview camping

Large campground with electric RV/camper sites as well as non-electric tent sites. Several bathroom and shower facilities. Lake-side sites are available and each site comes equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and parking spot. Friendly staff, decently maintained. There were several planks missing from our picnic table and the parking spot was a mud hole. Some pet friendly sites are available as well. A snapping turtle stopped by for a visit at our campsite and ended up laying eggs! Quite a sight to see, there is plenty of wildlife around to enjoy during your stay.

Basic amenities and activities for the average camper 

We took our 3 yo camping for the first time here. He had so much fun. It was clean campground located in a State Park. Easy walk to the lake with a small beach. There was also a beach location on the state park side vs campground side of the lake. Boat rentals available. Good sized lake for canoeing or kayaking. We’ve already planned our next camping trip here for next month. I like that it wasn’t a commercialized camping experience. We plan to check out the hiking trails our next visit

Great time camping. 

Our trip was slightly let down due to constant rain the entire first day and night. 

The camp sites are fairly nice. they do very much range in quality, so picking out a site on the PA DCNR website is strongly recommended. You can get photos of every site before booking. 

Our site was in the pet loop and was set back off the road a good amount which kept a lot of the road noise down. It was very large and Iffered gIId trees fIr strIngIng up tarps and hammocks. We could just make out the campsite next to us and had no noise issues. 

We did have a fair amount of trash and broken glass at the camp site that we had to clean up. 

Nice Camping in a downpour

Camping on the peninsula (site 116). Absolutely perfect site. Songle car parking spot on the road then a short walk down a hill onto the site. two tent areas and plenty of prime hammock trees. there’s a small deer trail that runs between all of the sites on the water that makes it easy if you have multiple sites with friends next to each other. there is also a little beach area at the site that makes it perfect for landing kayaks or canoes. there’s also a small dock made out of boulders. 

There are a few shops a short drive from the park for firewood and camping supplies. exit the park and make a right. Ther intersection with the gas station. 

Late season camping on the lake

I really enjoyed camping and fishing at this campground with my family. The only negative to our campsite was that people would walk through it instead of on the road to get to other sites and to the beach.

Awesome place to camp!

Site Details: We stayed in the Dragonfly camping cottage (quick weekend trip without the husband, and I’m not quite up for towing and setting up the popup by myself with 3 kids!). It was a standard rustic-type state park cabin, with one double bed, one single twin bunk, and one regular set of bunk beds, so it sleeps 5-6 comfortably. There was also a sturdy dining room table with chairs and an oscillating fan inside. Electricity/lights and heat, but no AC. Very clean inside. The cabin also had a really nice front porch, picnic table, and fire ring, and was situated with a beautiful lake view. The area we were in contained both rustic cabins and yurts (which looked really neat).

Facilities/Overall Park: Multiple bath houses were scattered among various loops, and each one we visited was very old, dim and drab, but they were also spacious and reasonably clean. Showers all had old rust and water stains. However, it was nice that there were so many of them, because this is a very large state park with multiple camping loops. Most tent and basic RV sites were shaded and private, while the newer FHU sites were more open (but still nicely spaced). Hosts and rangers were nice, but not very helpful or proactive when they needed to correct a reservation mistake they made (but it worked out in the end). There is a beautiful lake with a really nice day area in the center of the park, with a great playground and concession stand. The lake is popular for fishing and swimming, although there is oddly no sand beach; swimmers just entered the water straight from the grass.

Surrounding Area/Attractions: Not much going on in the immediate vicinity, but Harrisburg, Amish country, and Hershey are all doable day trips from the park. We were here just for the Hershey RV show, and it was an easy 40-minute drive.

Overall, this was a very pretty park with site options for every type of camper, but certain elements are in need of updating. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to make this park a destination, but it’s a nice option as a base camp for visiting the RV show or other attractions (with a much cheaper price tag than the private CGs closer to the action).

Large, pretty park in a very convenient location

Nice park. Some of our "neighbors" were too loud late into the evening. Could have sworn that the website said our site had water and electric. But, it only had electric. We made the best of the weekend despite it raining for most of it and having no water. (We didn't fill our fresh water tank because we thought the site had water.) Bath house facilities were clean.

Rainy but waterless

If tenting, be sure to check tent on reservation request. Some spots are too narrow for tenting. Cabins are mainly across lake from campground. Only 2 yurts. Two day use areas. Two swimming areas- one for day use, one just for campers!

Beautiful park next to a lake, camping, boating, swimming, fishing...great 

We love this campground!! The area is absolutely beautiful. The lake is large and gorgeous. There are a lot of lake side campsites which are amazing. The hosts are all very friendly. We had a problem with our site and our weekend was saved thanks to the wonderful rangers. We are so thankful. My one and only reason for 4 out of 5 stars are the bathhouses. I wish they would update like Cowan's Gap. I have health issues and am always afraid I'll fall because the floors are so wet. Otherwise, they are kept cleaned up. Honestly, one of my favorite places to visit and we camp at as lot of parks. I hope they'll add more cottages too! There are lots of nice basic (non-electric) sites that are wooded, well shaded and private. There are nice, shaded electric sites. However, if you request electric and water you automatically get sewer too. This raises the price per site, per night by$13 and gives you a site with very little shade. We will return but we will choose an electric only site and fill our A-frame's water tank in order to get a wooded site. This campground is 100% reservable which means that you must select a site when you make your reservation. If you do not live in the area, that is difficult

Something for everyone! 

Definitely not as spread out as we had originally thought BUT it’s a really nice site if you’re looking to get your kids into camping there’s plenty for them to do and see. Now if you’re looking for more of a private place to camp this probably isn’t the place for you as the sites are pretty much on top of each other! That being said definitely worth the money especially if you’re really only there for a night 

A nice family site 

My friends and I booked a spot at this campground after visiting Harrisburg, PA. When we arrived, our expectations were let down by the quality of the campsite simply because of its proximity to its neighbors, the site setup and the limited space for our tents. 
I give it 4 stars because I am sure all of the problems we experienced would not been a huge deal if we were in an RV. Seemed like a great spot for kids/families especially because it had access to a swimming spot. 

More of an RV camping spot

This campground is always a great place to stay. I've been coming almost annually for years and I always recommend it to anyone local. They offer reasonable prices for cabins and campground spots, and the local town of Dillsburg is perfect for getting late supplies or going to a drive in movie!

I go back every year

Nice sized spots,wooded,paved roads beautiful lake. Not a garbage can to be found park wide! Dumpster at either end that's it. Camp sink says to not leave food in sink, where exactly are you supposed to throw it away?!?! 

1 stop of the season

The campground and park are ok. Nothing to write home about. A lake for kayaking and a beach in the summer. 

Crowded and just ok

We got there and it was amazing the location is great the only downside of our experience was that it rained the entire weekend. But everything else was great! 

Bad weekend great location 

We stayed in July on site 235. When we arrived, our first thought was “Wow, these sites are narrow!” Fortunately, backing in was fairly easy. Some sites would’ve been more difficult. Site pads are 25’-55’. Most sites had room for just one vehicle. Overflow parking was in the front of the campground. We had an electric site. The entire campground has non-electric, electric, and full hookup mixed throughout the campground. There are ADA sites in B loop that were a bit close to neighbors and directly across from bathhouse but in direct sunshine. There are designated dog sites in B loop/area. Some sites do have a lake view and possible access, it was hard to tell. The non electric sites had a parking pad and then for many you walked into the woods to the tent and fire pit area. There were cabins and yurts available too.  The dump station had 2 dumps and was wide open when we left on a Sunday at 12:00. Surprisingly! Check out time is 3:00pm. 
Bathhouses had 3-4 shower stalls and 2-3 stalls. Good water pressure and temperature and clean. There are several spread around the loops. 
There was a Sunday service that was packed full. Check in was easy, there was none. Just drive to your site. 
Swimming was prohibited due to low water level but kayaks and canoes were allowed. No fishing also due to low water level in the lake. The beach area was very nice with a concession building and large bathhouse. It wasn’t open due to no swimming right now. There was another beach area at a boat launch in one of the loops. There are a lot of boat launches around the lake, which is large. There are several hiking trails; Lakeside, Oak, and Old Farm Trails go through the camp area. They are multi-use (ski, hike, &amp; bike). There is a playground and volleyball pit area. You can also find group camping areas. This campground is open mid-April to late October. 
We had a great short trip here but are planning to return in the fall months. 

Perfect setting to relax

We have been to GP state park many times.  It's one of our favorites as it's nearer home and has lots to do.  

  

We usually stay in the B loop at non electric sites.  Most recently site 161 which was great.  Large and private.

  

There are several play grounds, a beach and hiking trails.  It's a great campground for kids.

Flat, large with lots to do

Lots to do, nice wooded sites.  A lot to do within walking distance of your site. When we went the swimming beach was kind of gross but they’ve done some repairs over the past year.  Lots of fishing spots.  Our friends stayed at a modern cabin and they were really nice too.  Enjoyed the outdoor church service that they offer Memorial Day thru Labor Day.  And for any homeschoolers there’s a great used bookstore a couple miles away (pa curriculum exchange)

Family friendly 

The campground was okay, but I wouldn't go out of my way to stay again. The sites were packed too closely together to get any feeling of seclusion or privacy, which to me as a tent or hammock camper is really important. 

On one side, my neighboring campers were shielded by some vegetation. Thankfully the site on the other side was not occupied, or it would have been seriously awkward. Our picnic tables were maybe 6 feet apart, with absolutely no vegetation between us.

I got a site right on the water, so the view was nice and at least I had one direction where I could look out and see nobody except some quiet boaters. My favorite thing was being able to put my kayak in the water without having to leave my site. I paddled for hours there, and saw several herons (green and great blue), lots of redwing blackbirds, plus about 100 ducklings.

I don't know what the "quiet hours" are supposed to be, but I was woken at 6 AM not by birds but rather by 5 kids having a grand ol' time chasing each other around and yelling at the tops of their lungs.

In the women's restroom, at least 2 stalls had no toilet paper. I didn't try the showers.

Nice water view, but a little cramped and noisy

I liked our site but I didn’t liked the bathrooms ( outdated and not very clean). 
We had phone signal &amp; internet connection ( Tmobil-2or3bars)
The campground beach is small with cloudy water and a lot of aquatic plants. Crowded in weekends. The trails are not very well maintained. We tried to access the beach on the other side using Lakeside trail , but we gave up. The part that starts close to entrance/park office, was inaccessible with overgrown shrubs and very tall plants. During the week was a lot better,nice and quiet. I’ve seen a lot of bunnies in this campground 🐰

Outdated bathrooms 

Well maintained.  A great weekend gateway to camp. 

Nice State park

So we went with friends of ours and we all have kids. We had to write in large letter with chalk on the road for people to slow down. Everyone was driving way over posted speed limits and the kids could hardly play. 

Sites were close together, some more level than others. Swimming/beach area was very nice to have but water was a bit stagnant.  

Lot of traffic

This was our second trip to Gifford Pinchot. This time we stayed in full hook up. Our site was long and narrow but backed up to a field. It’s a quiet campground. The bathhouse was fairly close and clean. Though it was rainy and chilly, we had fun hanging out at our site and our relatives site next to us. There is privacy at the sites because you sit at the back of a long campsite away from the road. Sites were gravel and some weren’t level front to back so adjustments needed to be made to level camper. 

Great place to get away

We love this park….it's one of our favorites!  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.  The restrooms at this park, while they are older, they are clean and pretty much in good order.  The lake is very nice and it's a very family park!  There are some neat places around and markets are close by.  Forry's drive in is great for an evening ice cream!