Campgrounds and RV parks near Jacobus, PA

Water recreation is the biggest draw. Lake Marburg at Codorus State Park covers 1,275 acres with 26 miles of shoreline and is a popular warm-water fishery, with room for motorboating, sailing, and kayaking. Lake Redman and Lake Williams, both operated by the York Water Company and accessed through William H. Kain County Park, offer shore fishing and lakeside trails within minutes of Jacobus. On land, Codorus State Park has hiking trails, a swimming pool, a mountain biking area, and a 54-hole disc golf course. The Richard M. Nixon County Park just outside the borough has foot-only trails and the Nixon Park Nature Center, a good rainy-day option for families. For day trips, York's factory tours, Hanover snack-food country, and the Gettysburg battlefield are all within a short drive.

The main camping season in this part of Pennsylvania runs from mid-April through late fall. Codorus State Park's campground opens from the second Friday in April through to November 1st, which sets the practical window for most public-land trips. Private parks near Jacobus tend to open earlier in spring and stay open later, but hookups and amenities vary by season. Late spring and early summer bring warm days, wildflowers, and full lake access, with the Codorus pool and boat rentals in service by Memorial Day. Midsummer weekends are the busiest stretch, and the maximum is 14 consecutive nights between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with equipment removed for 48 hours before returning. September and October are quieter, with cool nights, fall color across the rolling hills, and steady fishing on Lake Marburg. Winter is the off-season for most campgrounds in the area. The state park itself is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset, and most of the lake is open for ice fishing during the winter months, along with sledding, skiing, and ice skating, but overnight RV sites are limited.

Expect a mix of wooded and open sites, generally level, with electric hookups common and full hookups available at some private parks. Codorus State Park campground has 193 campsites next to Lake Marburg, with approximately 111 sites with electric hookups, 15 tent-only sites, plus 3 camping cottages and 2 yurts. Amenities include potable water, flush toilets, hot-water showers, a dump station, camp host, picnic pavilion, boat launch, amphitheater and pet walking area. Noise or conduct which could interfere with the sleep of other persons is prohibited between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all park locations except authorized unique houses and lodges. Pets are only permitted in designated pet-friendly areas. Mosquitoes and ticks are active from late spring through early fall, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so pack accordingly.