Campgrounds and RV parks near Pleasureville, PA

Water and trail activities anchor the area. At Gifford Pinchot State Park, the park offers boating, fishing, disc golfing, hiking, picnicking, and swimming. The park has over 18 miles of hiking trails marked with both yellow and blue blazes, with blue blazes representing a segment of the 200-mile Mason Dixon Trail. Pinchot Lake permits electric motors only, and anglers can fish the 340-acre lake for largemouth bass, catfish, and panfish. Off-park attractions include Hersheypark, downtown York's museums and breweries, and the Amish country of eastern Lancaster County. In winter, ice fishing, ice boating, cross-country skiing, and ice skating are popular at the state park when conditions allow.

The main camping season runs mid-spring through late fall. The Gifford Pinchot campground opens in mid-April and closes in late October. Private parks such as Indian Rock Campgrounds and Ben Franklin RV Park generally follow a similar seasonal window, though some sites remain accessible on shoulder dates. Summer is peak. Weekends near Independence Day and Labor Day fill first, and lakefront sites at Pinchot go earliest. Campers may stay in a state park campground up to 14 consecutive nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and up to 21 consecutive nights during the remainder of the camping season. Campers must vacate the campground for a minimum of 48 hours after a stay of 14 or 21 consecutive days. Fall brings cooler nights, foliage, and fewer crowds. From late autumn through winter, hunting is permitted in designated areas and hikers are advised to wear fluorescent colors. Winter access continues for day use, cabins, and ice activities when conditions allow, though tent and RV camping at the state park closes for the season.

Site standards at Gifford Pinchot are RV-friendly. All 289 campsites have macadam pads that can accommodate most RVs, and while many sites have electric hookups, full-hookup sites are limited. The campground features restroom bathhouses with wash sinks within walking distance, communal water hydrants throughout the campground, and a dump station. Beginning in 2027, the campground at Gifford Pinchot State Park is undergoing a major shower house renovation project. Portions of the campground will be temporarily closed while other areas remain open, with work completed in phases as DCNR replaces outdated shower and restroom facilities with new, modern, accessible amenities. Private parks in the area generally offer full hookups, Wi-Fi, laundry, and family amenities such as pools and playgrounds. To help protect the forest from invasive insects, campers should not transport firewood over long distances and should use local firewood instead, burning all firewood prior to departure.