Campgrounds and RV parks near Paxtang, PA

Hersheypark is the region's biggest draw, with roller coasters, ZooAmerica, and Hershey's Chocolate World all within a short drive. ZooAmerica, adjacent to Hersheypark, is an 11-acre wildlife park featuring animals native to North America such as bears, wolves, big cats, otters, and snakes. Downtown Harrisburg adds the State Capitol complex, the Farm Show Complex, and riverfront trails along the Susquehanna. On the water, 340-acre Pinchot Lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park allows boating, fishing, and swimming, with kayaks, canoes, electric motorboats, and sailboats permitted. The park also offers hiking, disc golf, picnicking, and winter activities including ice fishing, ice boating, and cross-country skiing. Day trips reach Lancaster County's Amish farmland, the Gettysburg battlefield, and the Appalachian Trail, which passes near Camp Hebron north of Harrisburg.

Peak RV season in south-central Pennsylvania runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, when Hersheypark is in full operation and lake swimming is open. The Gifford Pinchot State Park campground opens in mid-April and closes in late October, and Camp Hebron's campground is also open from mid-April to mid-October. Weekends near the amusement park book out well in advance during summer. Spring and fall bring cooler nights and thinner crowds. Fall foliage typically peaks in mid to late October across the ridges north and west of Harrisburg, and Hersheypark's Christmas Candylane season extends resort activity into late fall and December. Hersheypark Camping Resort operates year-round, with more than 300 sites including cabins, tiny homes, and full or partial hook-up RV sites. Winter camping is possible but limited. Water at Hersheypark Camping Resort is available seasonally from mid-April through late October, while restrooms and showers in the Historic Landis Barn remain functional year-round. Harrisburg East Campground also stays open through the winter for travelers passing through.

Sites in the immediate Harrisburg-Hershey corridor tend to be developed rather than remote. Expect paved or gravel pads, water and electric at most RV sites, and full hookups at the resort-style parks. Sites at Gifford Pinchot have macadam pads that can accommodate any piece of camping equipment from a large motor home to the smallest tent, and many sites have electric hook-ups, with a limited number of full-service sites. At the family-oriented resorts, expect pools, camp stores, and organized activities. The trade-off is density: campers regularly cite the shuttle service to Hersheypark and clean facilities as highlights, though some report tight site spacing. Pennsylvania has a spotted lanternfly quarantine and asks visitors not to transport firewood over long distances; use local firewood and burn it before departure. Bring bug spray in summer and wear fluorescent colors if hiking state-park trails from late autumn through winter, when hunting is permitted in designated areas.