Granite Hill Campground in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is a wonderful place to spend the Memorial Day Weekend. However, you must get your reservations in early as they fill up really fast. There are more than 300 campsites here, accommodating from the smallest tent to the largest motor home. Group tenting sites start at $30 per night with no utility connections, and the price goes up to $42 per night for two people on the premium RV sites with water, sewer, 50 amp electric, and cable TV. Many campers renew their site reservation for the following year before they leave.
Most sites are shaded and grassy. Some pull through sites are available, and a few sites have cable TV. There are many sites suitable for pop-up tent campers with 30 amp electric and water connections. If you have a larger trailer or motor home, call very early for reservations as the larger sites go very quickly. Storage of you RV is available for a small monthly charge. If you have a travel trailer in storage, they will move it to your reserved site for a fee.
Once you get here, there is plenty to do. The swimming pool is one popular spot. There are also a tennis court, basketball court, baseball field, shuffleboard court, horseshoe pits, three playgrounds, and an 18 hole mini golf course. Kayaks and pedal boats are for rent in the large lake. Trout fishing is available in the trout pond. The unpaved roads inside the park provide lots of room for riding bikes. However, there are no skateboards, scooters, roller skates, or golf carts allowed at this park.
The activity director makes sure there are things to do for every age group, as well as activities for families to enjoy. Chose from making crafts, horse shoe tournaments, shuffleboard tournaments, scavenger hunts, and water sports games. On Friday nights there is a dance with a DJ spinning your favorite tunes from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. There might even be free s’mores at the community campfire on Saturday night.
In the snack bar, you can get a pancake breakfast or a hamburger, BLT, or chicken fingers for lunch. Or, try a milkshake or ice cream cone. There is a game room at the snack bar, too. Try your hand at skeeball or pool, or one of several other arcade games. These games give tickets for the points you earn, which can be redeemed for prizes at the camp store. The camp store also sells basic groceries, souviners, t-shirts, ice cream, candy, and toys.
If you still need something to do, you can purchase tickets to the Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tour, a Washington, D.C. Bus Tour, or a Ghost Walk Tour at the campground office. Prices for the bus tours start at $27 per person; the Ghost Walk tour is $7.00 per person over 7 years old. The bus tour company will come to pick you up at the campground. Or, you can buy or rent a CD or Taped guided tour and take a ride in your car around the battlefield area.
In Gettysburg, there are lots of unique shops and stores selling antiques, souvenirs, ice cream, candy, quilts, and hats, just to name a few. Restaurants in town include Dunlap’s, Gettysburg Family Restaurant, and The Pike, as well as fast food standbys such as
McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Visit the American Civil War Museum, Boyd’s Bears, or the Eisenhower Farm while you are in the area.
The best way to get to Granite Hill Campground is to take US 15 to the Emmitsburg, Maryland exit. Turn west, and go through town on Maryland 140. Maryland 140 changes to Pennsylvania 16 as soon as you cross the state line. At the junction with 116, turn right, and go about 10 miles. Granite Hill will be on the right. Call 717-642-TENT to make a reservation.
