And, we’re off! We haven’t been able to do much camping so far this summer because of work, but we decided to make up for that with a two-week RV trip to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut. Our first stop is Hershey Road Campground in Elizabethtown, PA. Vince is bowling in a tournament at bowling alleys in nearby Palmyra and Mount Joy, and Hershey Road Campground is a quick drive to both of them. Plus it’s close to lots of other things to do so Parker and I can have some fun while Vince bowls.
We pulled in at about 5pm on Friday. The campground was pretty full with the weekend crowd, but check-in was quick and easy. The staff gave us a schedule of events for the weekend and a map to direct us to our site. Unfortunately, the map pointed us in the wrong direction for our site, but after we unhooked the Jeep, Vince was able to back up and go the right way to the site.
Site Quality & Amenities
We snagged a back-in site, and boy, was it spacious! Long enough for our 35-foot RV and our Jeep with room to spare. While there were other campers in the sites behind ours, we didn’t have neighbors on either side of our site, so it felt extra-roomy.
The campground boasts full hook-ups, including electrical, water, sewer, and cable TV, all functioning seamlessly. That cable TV is essential as far as Vince is concerned! Every site also has a fire ring, picnic table, and the charcoal grill. We didn’t use the grill because we have a propane-powered Blackstone, but it’s nice to have if you’re not a grill (or rather, griddle) snob like me.
The only hitch? The Wi-Fi. Parker had a challenging time with its speed, and said he couldn’t connect to a Minecraft server because he kept lagging out. First world problems, right? I tried connecting to the Wi-Fi myself a couple of times, but gave up when I couldn’t get online.
Facilities
Both Vince and Parker visited the bathrooms and reported back that the men’s room was spotless. Even though we have a shower in the RV, Parker prefers to use the on-site facilities, and he reported that the showers were clean, spacious, and had great water pressure. I didn’t visit the women’s room because we have a perfectly good bathroom in the RV, as I reminded Parker and Vince a few times during our stay. Though we skipped the laundry facilities this round because we still had plenty of clean clothes after only three nights on the road, a visit is on the cards for our next trip.
For the kids, the playground and stocked catch-and-release pond are perfect. The highlight? A swimming pool with a splash pad! The weekends bustle with activities, from crafts for the kids to a DJ at the pool. And, if you’re in the mood for some mini-golf, they’ve got a free 18-hole course.
The campground store stocks essentials, including food, ice cream, fishing gear, and souvenirs. There’s also a great selection of camping and RV necessities like sewer hoses and toilet additives, but if you need more than what they have, there’s a General RV about 10 minutes away. The campground store also sells firewood, but if you can’t get it when the store is open, they have a “Firewood Vending Machine” that sells bundles of firewood for $8 each.
While the food selection at the campground store is a bit limited, they make up for it by inviting food trucks on Fridays and Saturdays. There was a very cool Taco RV there on Saturday during our visit. It was cash-only so we didn’t have a chance to try it.
Surrounding Area & Activities
If you plan to explore, the campground is strategically located. As I previously mentioned, Vince participated in a bowling tournament in nearby Mount Joy and Palmyra, which were both a short drive from the campground. Other attractions include Elizabethtown College, the Masonic Village farm market, and several local breweries. We also drove through downtown Elizabethtown and made a stop at Groff’s Meats, a local butcher shop where we got some amazing fresh bacon and burgers.
And of course, Hershey’s delights are just a 15-20 minute drive away. While we didn’t go to Hersheypark for this trip, we did visit Hershey’s Chocolate World. According to Parker, that is a required part of every trip to the Hershey area. We also did some shopping at the Tanger Outlets next to Hersheypark. I managed to buy all of Parker’s clothes for the fall in one trip!
Kid & Pet Friendliness
Hershey Road Campground is a paradise for kids, with dozens of them around. Seriously. They were everywhere! If you don’t like kids, this campground is not going to be a good fit for you! While the FAQ mandates adult supervision for kids under 12 outside their campsites, this rule seems loosely enforced.
For pet lovers, the campground has a dedicated off-leash area near the pool. RV campers are welcome to bring pets, and cabin campers may also bring them for an added cost. However, keep in mind the 2-pet maximum per site (though this too seems lenient).
Accessibility & Convenience
Navigation inside the campground is smooth. The gravel roads are more than wide enough for an RV, but most are one-way, so try to make sure you’re going the right way. Though the main roads outside of the campground are well-kept, be cautious when exiting the campground due to the 50mph speed limit and the traffic. It wasn’t too bad in the Jeep, but it was a little scary when we were in the RV towing the Jeep.
Price & Value
The cost leans towards the pricier side at just over $100 per night. However, considering the amenities and its proximity to attractions like Hersheypark, this campground offers decent value for the money. It is priced comparably to other local campgrounds. We have stayed at two of the other local campgrounds (Hersheypark Camping Resort and Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA) and this one is our favorite.
Breweries Nearby
There are several breweries near Hershey Road Campground. We visited a few!
Conclusion & Recommendations
Hershey Road Campground is a family-friendly campground with a great location and excellent amenities. We’ve been there multiple times and eagerly await our next trip.
If you want to stay at Hershey Road Campground, you can book a site on their website or give them a call at 844-4SMORES. Hershey Road Campground is located at 1688 Hershey Rd, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.
