Hersheypark Camping Resort: Camping, Comfort, Community (and Chocolate!)

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts has provided me with an expense paid trip to Hershey, PA to explore all their amazing town has to offer in exchange for my review of the events of the trip.  No other compensation is given. The opinions and experiences in my posts are 100% mine.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

I’m so excited to share some of Hershey, PA with all of you! I recently spent the most amazing and FUN weekend checking out some of the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts properties and even living so close to this historic town, I wasn’t fully aware of all it has to offer for families. Let’s start with this gem, the Hersheypark Camping Resort. I had never even heard of it, probably because I’m not much of a camper. It’s the snakes, guys. And the lack of showers. I just can’t. BUT, Hersheypark Camping Resort literally changed my view of camping in a matter of an hour. I am dying to take my family back here to ‘rough it’ Hershey style!

The hub of activity is this barn, the original real deal, built in 1843. Gorgeous and rustic. I am in the camping mood just looking at it!

This white ‘screen’ on the side of the barn is one of my favorite little perks here. Movie night! Campers can hang out on the lawn four nights a week during summer and fall months to watch movies under the stars. My kids would absolutely flip for this!

Inside the barn you’ll find registration, an indoor game room, and an awesome country store. If you forgot anything at home, you’re covered. They have everything in this store plus great Hersheypark sweatshirts for those chilly nights. I bought them for the entire family! (And I can’t seem to get my son to take his off so I can wash it once in a while.)

Just outside the barn are the pools. They weren’t open for the season just yet when I visited, but there are two main swimming pools plus a kiddie pool. This fun sign lets kids know where they can swim and outlines the pool rules. You might recognize this height chart from Hersheypark. As a Hersheypark Camping Resort guest you’re able to get a great discount on Hersheypark tickets and you can take advantage of the free shuttle that runs every 30-40 minutes to and from the park.

Now let’s get on with the camping bit, shall we? Hersheypark Camping Resort is home to over 300 sites including 46 cabins. Some of these are more basic and some are deluxe and include indoor plumbing, showers, heat and air conditioning, a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, etc. Yes, this is the part where I changed my mind about camping, right at the ‘showers and coffee makers’ part. Here’s a better look at the amenities offered in the different cabins.

For the cabins that are a little more traditional camping – no showers – there is easy access to bathroom and shower facilities in a building that’s centrally located. These cabins are a little less to rent, so you can decide how rough you want to rough it! For the RV campers, sites feature partial to full hook up (electric, water, sewer, cable TV).  And yes, you can pitch a tent too! There’s even electric hookups at the tent camping sites because we all have a cell phone to charge. So camp however you’d like without giving up the basic comforts of home!

In the midst of all the campsites is this fire pit which the campers pretty much tend to on their own. I love this sense of community here, yet each family has their own space. It’s the perfect set up.

The grounds are beautiful, on 55 acres of wooded land and right next to the Swatara Creek which provides for some beautiful picnic space. Try to imagine it in the summertime with all the leaves on the trees. My kids would play right here for hours.

Bring your soccer ball or frisbee and just enjoy some family time outside. Doesn’t it look so relaxing?

On top of the hill is the original farmhouse built in 1838, now the administrative and recreation offices. This gorgeous sycamore tree out front is one of the oldest in all of Hershey and a stunning centerpiece of the campgrounds. I took about 50 pictures of it!

Inside the office building they hold some fun activities for kids. You can see what’s planned for the summer at the Hersheypark Camping Resort on this calendar. It’s such a family-oriented place. ZooAmerica brings over animals, some of the Hershey characters visit. All kids of fun stuff for children!

On the other side of the campground you can get a good look at the playground and swings and the volleyball courts. There’s no shortage of stuff to do if you want to stay active and busy.And if you want to chill out in your tent or cabin, or have a picnic by the creek, you can do that too. That’s what I love about this place. It’s comfortable and fun for everyone, no matter their level of familiarity with traditional camping.

This is a brand new section of the campground, brand new cabins and you guys, these are insanely awesome!

These deluxe cabins are 2-bedroom and comfortably sleep seven. Each one has its own deck and a fire pit. They’re arranged in a circle with a large grassy area in the middle so the kids can go play while you sit on the deck with a glass of wine. I’m just sayin’. It’s a good idea friends.  😉

Getting inside the cabin is like WOW. Beautiful rustic design and all of the comfort you’d need if you’re not a tent camper. There’s a sofa and on the opposite wall, a TV. The door to the left of the sofa leads to one bedroom with dresser and queen size bed.

Facing with that sofa at my back, this is the view. A little eat-in area in the kitchen, and the hallway includes the door to the bathroom and the second bedroom at the end.

The kitchen is fantastic! I love all the storage and your dishes and pots and pans are all provided. (You need to bring your own linens and towels.) There’s a fridge, range, microwave, and coffee maker!

This is the second bedroom, just one side of it. The bed on the bottom of this bunk is a double and the top bed is a single. On the right side of the room (not pictured) is another bunk bed, two single mattresses. So this room can sleep five. And what kid wouldn’t love to camp in a cabin in a bunk bed? Heaven!

Here’s the bathroom and facing the mirror is the shower. So yay for indoor plumbing!

As I mentioned if you forget anything, including chocolate because let’s just keep it real here, you’ll find it in the Country Store. Sunblock, paper towels, toothbrushes, whatever you forgot, they have it.

Whatever you do, while you’re there you need to make s’mores. It’s the law. There’s nothing better than the perfectly roasted marshmallow, melting a piece of Hershey’s chocolate on a graham cracker. Mmm… The best.

The speed limit signs made you do a double take, don’t they? 5 1/2 miles per hour. They want to remind you to slow down, both in your car and in your life. Slow down, enjoy your family. This is the perfect place to do that.

Get all your Hersheypark Camping Resort questions answered on their website that’s jam packed with info and beautiful pictures. You can even book a stay right online. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest camping news!

 

Want more of Hershey, PA? Check back often. I’ll be adding to this list of posts:

• Hershey Gardens
• Hershey Theatre