Camping near Tower City, Pennsylvania
Tower City sits in western Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the anthracite coal region between the Mahantango and Blue Mountain ridges. The borough takes its name from Charlemagne Tower, a lawyer who came to the county in 1846 to work on coal-land claims. Its position along Route 209 puts RV travelers within a short drive of Interstate 81, Hersheypark, and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country loop.
The surrounding countryside is dominated by the 3,520-acre Swatara State Park, which consists of rolling fields and woodlands in the Swatara Valley between Second and Blue mountains. Weiser State Forest, Rausch Creek, and the Appalachian Trail all cross this stretch of the ridge-and-valley province, giving RV travelers a mix of state land for day trips and private full-hookup parks for overnight bases.
Most travelers use nearby private campgrounds because Swatara State Park currently has no reservable facilities and offers only limited primitive camping. Twin Grove RV Resort and Cottages, Echo Valley Campground, Camp-A-While, Camp Swatara, and the Jonestown / Hershey NE KOA Journey cover the main options within a reasonable drive.
Things to do near Tower City
Swatara State Park is the anchor attraction. The park has miles of trails across multiple routes, most of them wide and relatively flat, and open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Family-friendly routes with modest elevation gain make good day hikes from a nearby campground.
Paddlers and anglers use Swatara Creek, a popular non-powered boating and canoeing water with several designated access points along its length through the park. Backpackers can pick up the Appalachian Trail at Swatara Gap and hike north into Weiser State Forest.
Off-park draws include Hersheypark, the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville, and Rausch Creek Off-Road Park for jeeps and ATVs, all within about an hour of Tower City.
Seasonal patterns and what to plan around
March - May
59° / 39°F 95 mm
Mud season early; high water on Swatara Creek
June - August
81° / 61°F 125 mm
Peak bookings; afternoon thunderstorms common
September - November
61° / 43°F 105 mm
Best hiking weather; ridge color peaks in October
December - February
37° / 23°F 95 mm
Cold and snowy; most private parks reduce services
The camping season in this part of Pennsylvania runs mainly from April through October, with peak demand tied to summer weekends and Hersheypark traffic. Twin Grove is busy on weekends in season, so advance reservations are advisable. Holiday weekends and themed weekends fill first at the family-focused resorts.
Spring brings mud, high water on Swatara Creek, and blooming wildflowers along the ridge trails. Summer is warm and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and pool amenities at the larger parks are generally open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fall delivers the strongest hiking weather and ridge-top color on Blue Mountain in mid to late October.
Winter is cold and snowy, and many private campgrounds reduce services or close. Echo Valley is one of the few in the area that markets itself as a year-round campground, which makes it an option for cold-weather RVers, though winter hookup availability should be confirmed by phone before arrival.
What to expect on the ground
Twin Grove is the largest option in the immediate area. The roughly 105-acre resort offers over 200 RV sites plus cottages, cabins, and family lodges, a resort center with a restaurant and arcade, an on-site amusement area with a Ferris wheel and a carousel, two pools with spiral slides, and a disc golf course. The campground is big rig friendly, with many large full-hookup pull-through sites.
Echo Valley Campground is smaller and more traditional. Located in Tremont just one mile off Interstate 81 between the Mahantango and Appalachian ranges, it offers RV, tent, and cabin accommodations, large level pull-through RV sites, clean restrooms, Wi-Fi, a camp store, a swimming pool, playground, hiking trails, and access to Black Creek.
Camp Swatara, Camp-A-While, and the Jonestown / Hershey NE KOA Journey round out the options. Camp Swatara sits at the foot of Blue Mountain on 700-plus acres with rustic cabins, tent, and RV sites, over 5 miles of hiking trails, a splash pad, swimming pools, and a 4-acre lake for boating or fishing.