Lincoln Highway (HWY 30) in Pennsylvania?

[BMW442]

Anybody have any tips for good places to camp along this route?

We drove it from York to Gettysburg last year and it seemed real cool, smaller towns, lots of junk shops, etc. Looking to stay for a night en route from Mass to Shenandoah.

Would be willing to stay in Gettysburg if necessary but honestly we're not that interested in the Civil War stuff & it seems like most of the CGs around there are of the more expensive kid-friendly "resort" types (which is great for most people but we don't have kids, don't need hook-ups, and are on a tight budget)

Mostly we are interested in avoiding big traffic, checking out weird roadside attractions, old school eateries, and camping on the cheap.

Any advice is much appreciated!

[RGar974417]

Heavey Metal,it's been years since we were to Codorus and at that time we were tent camping so I really don't remember.We are now camping with a 24ft TT so we pay a little more attention to that stuff.

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

RG reminded me -- we did weekend in Codorus last spring. It was nice but getting in and out through town was a little tight with 35 feet of TT behind me.

[RGar974417]

There are several state parks in the area of the old Lincoln Hiway.
Near Gettysburg we like Pine Grove Furnace state park.Electric hookups,new bath houses.There is an old POW Camp nearby and you can get a map at the office which shows locations of old buildings.There are still foundations,a fountain,swimming pool etc.There are 2 other state parks Gifford Pinchot and Codorus,one near Lancaster and one near York.http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/where/index.htm#south

Near Lancaster is the Pennsylvania Train Museum which is pretty neat.Near Reading is Hopewell Village National Historic site.Also in the Reading area is the Gruber Wagon Works and Harold Hiester Canal Museum.Near Boyertown is the Boyertown Museum of Antique Vehicles.

[Doug33]

Drbolasky wrote:
Gettysburg is immensely popular with tourists & history buffs so inexpensive CG's in that area don't exist. I don't have any experience with state parks in the area but there are a number of folks on this forum that like them.

Also - I don't know what your travel plans are but avoid Rt. 30 west of Carlisle. Not fun.

Also avoid the section of Route 30 just east of Lancaster.

Cabelas is a destination in itself. You can spend half a day there shopping and eating.

[ryegatevt]

Lancaster is at its best in April! Everything is getting green, almost everything is open, and there will be very little traffic and not many folks around. No problem finding a campsite. Get off the Lincoln Highway and explore! We always go to the Lancaster/Gettysburg area in April -even the Battleground is uncrowded.

[mikhen]

mikhen wrote:

BMW442 wrote:
Thanks for the help guys!

That RoadSide America miniature place looks great, I've never heard of it but that is exactly the kind of stuff we're into.

We may or may not do Lancaster, hopefully when we got (early April mid-week) it won't be too crazy

Right across the highway from Roadside America is Appalachian Campground, and about a mile from there is Mountain Springs Campground.

I should add....this area is north wast of the rt 30 area you asked about. Shartlesville has a few antique shops. It is about 1 1/2 from York. Maybe an overnight stop on the way or way home instead of staying in York. Cabelas is only 6 miles from Roadside America, too.

[mikhen]

BMW442 wrote:
Thanks for the help guys!

That RoadSide America miniature place looks great, I've never heard of it but that is exactly the kind of stuff we're into.

We may or may not do Lancaster, hopefully when we got (early April mid-week) it won't be too crazy

Right across the highway from Roadside America is Appalachian Campground, and about a mile from there is Mountain Springs Campground.

[bobsallyh]

Caledonia State Park about 10-12 miles east of I-81 and Chambersburg just off US 30 between Gettysburg and Chambersburg.

[BMW442]

Thanks for the help guys!

That RoadSide America miniature place looks great, I've never heard of it but that is exactly the kind of stuff we're into.

We may or may not do Lancaster, hopefully when we got (early April mid-week) it won't be too crazy

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

All I can add is for the Gettysburg area, Artillery Ridge CG is pretty nice and not really expensive IMO. Not on RT30, but within a couple of miles. Nice area away from heavy traffic. Just watch the trees in the entrance check-in parking area (a buddy gouged a hole in his roof with one).

[ford_truck_guy]

Well , if your NOT looking for expensive campgrounds... And you ARE looking to avoid heavy traffic...then it's best to stay clear of route 30 in and around Lancaster.... Especially close to the weekends.. It can be a nut house......

[Drbolasky]

Gettysburg is immensely popular with tourists & history buffs so inexpensive CG's in that area don't exist. I don't have any experience with state parks in the area but there are a number of folks on this forum that like them.

Also - I don't know what your travel plans are but avoid Rt. 30 west of Carlisle. Not fun.

[bhall]

Prices at Campgrounds here in Gettysburg are hideous.
Here's a neat campground about 2 miles north of U.S. 30 just west of Chambersburg and the U.S. 30/I-81 interchange.
http://www.twinbridgecampground.com/

[gbopp]

I like to use Roadside America when traveling.
Maybe you can find something of interest.

And, there's always the original RoadSide America, it's located on US22/I78 between Harrisburg PA and Allentown PA.

Enjoy your trip.