I know how to use all of the various online sites to locate campgrounds, and that is what I have been doing for the last two years. I have had some good luck finding suitable places, but I've had some bad luck, too. I thought I would post this question here and get some real-life suggestions. We have a 33' travel trailer. We prefer full hookups. We love the mountains and woods, but that's not critical. We don't need for there to be much to do in the area. We just like to get away and relax at the campgrounds. We bring our 13 year-old son and two English Setters with us, wherever we go. Our son is easily entertained and our dogs love the outdoors.Thank you,Bruce

We stayed at Pinch Pond in Manheim Pa a couple years ago. Nice quiet campground yet plenty of things for the kids, and within easy drive to Lancaster Pa and Hershey Park. The campground has undergone a renovation since we were there, but would not hesitate to go there again. Very friendly workers and let us pick the site we wanted. Sited range from full shade to full sun.

For the Lancaster area there is Spring Gulch,,, and Lake in the Woods , both nice and in an area that offers a lot...For the Poconos area there is Otter Lake .never been there but a lot of people I know have and they all like it.

Pinch Pond looks great. That's exactly the type of place we like.We have been to Lake In Wood and Otter Lake. Lake In Wood is a little too sterile for us, but Otter Lake is a little more up our alley. Otter Lake is more wooded and natural than Lake In Wood, where there seems to be a surveillance camera everywhere you look (and don't look), like inside of some of the gnomes to keep tabs on who puts what into the dumpsters -- a little creepy if you ask me.Please keep the suggestions coming.Bruce

Spring Gulch looks like a fun place, too. That place is huge! Thanks for that one ford truck guy.Bruce

Our family stayed at Pinch Pond MANY years ago so have no idea about it now. Otter Lake was our "home base" for at least 5 years! Love it! We camped there year round and our sons (about your son's age) had a blast! It's big for the area and can seem crowded in the summer, but there's plenty of room for everyone and as much or as little to do as you may like. Not sure about now, but they did have a 1 week minimum during the summer months. Check it out!!

Pennsylvania Campgrounds Suggestions -- Eastern Half

ependydad
Explorer
Apr 23, 2014
Pine Grove Furnace in Gardeners, PA is my most favorite campground ever.

My write-up on Pine Grove Furnace

On edit- reading is fundamental, "We prefer full hookups." - Pine Grove Furnace doesn't have full hookups. No water at any site and electric hookups at some. None with sewer.

Ok, never mind me. :(
kknowlton
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2014
x2 (at least) on Driftstone on the Delaware. Some of the sites (back-in, water & electric) are enormous!! Our 34' TT was dwarfed by our site, which backed up to the river. Plenty of shade but the trees were way out of the way of the camper, awning & slideout. Our site was #8, in case this interests you.

We have also been to the Allentown KOA and it's likely the best (by far) in the area. Lots of shade in many sites (especially the electric-water ones), it's in a pleasant little valley, has a pool, etc. Far enough off the main roads to have little road noise. Deep enough in the valley that cellphone service can be tricky.

Another we liked in eastern PA was the Gettysburg KOA. Again, shady (can you tell we were traveling in the summer?). Clean grounds, covered with river rock (about 2-3" diameter) so the footing is a little interesting. Off a country road, rather than a main road, which has its definite advantages as well.
mikhen
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Lots of great suggestions here, but I did not see Starlite mentioned. Twin Grove is one of our favorites. Eastern Pa has tons of great choices. Happy Camping.
nomad297
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
I am now at Oak Creek. This is a great place with huge sites and lots of trees. The place is really busy with so many people, like us, out for their first trip of the season.

The staff is great and I will certainly come back here when I want to be in the Lancaster area.

Thanks for all of the tips.

Bruce
nomad297
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
Well, we have our five day reservation for the end of July at Keen Lake. I can't wait to check this place out.

Thank you so much, everybody, for your suggestions so far -- I have really found some nice places, thanks to you. I am still open to more suggestions, so please keep them coming.

Bruce
ljr
Nomad
Feb 11, 2014
Raymon wrote:
ljr wrote:
RGar974417 wrote:
ljr wrote:
In east central PA almost to NY, Ives Run and Cowanesque. Both COE.

While they are both nice campgrounds,I don't remember them having full hookups.The OP seems to want full hookups.I would much prefer great parks like you mentioned over full hookups but that's me.

Yes, they do. Cowanesque only has a few but Ives Run now has 2 loops of FHU.

I am sorry. If Cowanesque has full hookups, we never saw any. Most, if not all, the sites have a 4 inch PVC pipe extending from the ground near the water hookup, but there are signs stating the pipe is not a sewer hookup.

No problem. Its easy to be misled by ReserveAmerica. They don't show the sewer hookup on the campsite list. You have to look at the individual campsites unless you've actually been in one.
Raymon
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
ljr wrote:
RGar974417 wrote:
ljr wrote:
In east central PA almost to NY, Ives Run and Cowanesque. Both COE.

While they are both nice campgrounds,I don't remember them having full hookups.The OP seems to want full hookups.I would much prefer great parks like you mentioned over full hookups but that's me.

Yes, they do. Cowanesque only has a few but Ives Run now has 2 loops of FHU.

I am sorry. If Cowanesque has full hookups, we never saw any. Most, if not all, the sites have a 4 inch PVC pipe extending from the ground near the water hookup, but there are signs stating the pipe is not a sewer hookup.
Drbolasky
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
Our picks:

Allentown KOA

Pine Grove/Twin Grove (no longer a KOA)

Eagles Peak (haven't been there since it changed hands)

Gettysburg CG

Warwick Woods

There are many PA folks on this Forum that like Rosemont (near Tamaqua). Interior roads & sites seemed cramped to us. We checked out (but never stayed at) Blue Rocks CG near Lenhartsville. Robin Hill and Drummer Boy were removed from our list when the corporate zombies took over. JMHO on that last statement.

A colleague I work with loves it at Promised Land State Park.
nomad297
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
Wow! Keen Lake looks amazing! Thanks for that one, spadoctor.

Bruce
spadoctor
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
Keen Lake in NE PA. Beautiful place. All full hookup and even lakefront sites. Been there many times over the years and keeps getting better.