We rolled into the Elizabethtown / Hershey KOA Holiday on a same-day booking and took the only site left, which turned out to be one of the nicer patio sites in the park. Site 4 came with a concrete patio, a sturdy table, a pair of Adirondack chairs, a swinging bench, a firepit, and a gas grill. For a reservation we made the morning of, that was a good draw.
The park is clean, quiet, and easy to settle into. The two things that hold it back are the nightly rate and a location that is a real drive from Hershey itself, despite the Hershey in the name.
Getting In and Setting Up
The roads around this part of Pennsylvania include narrow lanes, tight turns, and a few low bridges, so follow the KOA's own arrival directions rather than trusting your GPS to pick the route. Do that and the drive in is straightforward. The entrance has good clearance, and check-in was friendly and quick. Staff escorted us to the site.
Inside the park, the roads are gravel and could use some attention. There are a few tight spots that take a little planning with a 44-foot coach, but nothing we could not manage, and the only real obstacle would be another guest parking somewhere they should not, which did not seem common while we were there. Site 4 itself was level, the pad is
gravel rather than paved, and it was long enough to park the GMC sideways in front of the coach. Spacing between sites is tight and there is not much landscaping between neighbors, which gives it the typical KOA feel rather than a private, wooded one.
Hookups and Connectivity
There is not much to report here, which is exactly what you want. Full hookups at the site with both 30 and 50 amp service, stable voltage, good water pressure, and sewer at the pad. Placement was easy to work with. Cell signal was strong and Starlink locked in quickly under a fairly open sky. We did not test the park Wi-Fi because between cell and Starlink we never needed it.
Amenities and Grounds
The KOA covers the basics well. There is a pool, a clubhouse, laundry, a camp store, several playgrounds, and more than one dog park. A fishing pond on the property had a steady group of anglers while we were there. The pool is basic, was not heated, and stayed busy.
Bathhouses are a mixed bag in a way that works out fine. Some of the buildings are older and show their age, but they were clean. The newer bathhouse is modern and nice. Across the grounds there wasn’t much litter, and the landscaping is more functional than lush. The lawns read more like mowed weeds than grass. They come by and collect trash from the site, and the dumpster is close by if you would rather drop it yourself.
If you like to walk or run laps around a campground, this is not the spot for it. The interior roads are rocky gravel, there is not much in the way of trails on the property, and nothing connects directly to sidewalks or paths off-site. We did not find a fitness center.
The Hershey Question
Here is the thing to know before you book. The park is the Elizabethtown / Hershey KOA, and it sits in Elizabethtown. The Hershey in the name can have you picturing the attractions close by, but they are a 25-30 minute drive away. Lancaster is another 35-40 minutes away. As a central base for working through several things in the area, the location makes sense. If your plan is to visit Hershey itself, and to go back more than once, the round trips add up. You end up committing to a full day in Hershey and driving back at night, rather than popping over and returning. It is worth setting expectations on if chocolate town is the main draw.
Quiet and Safety
Nights were silent. We did not hear anything after dark. The park had a gated exit, but not a gated entrance which seemed odd. While the gate may not do much in practice, the place felt safe and settled. Peacefulness lands about where you would expect for a KOA, with neighbors close on either side but no real disturbance.
Value
This is the sticking point. Two nights ran $272, which works out to $136 a night. For that price we would expect more: nicer landscaping, more paved surfaces, and a fuller slate of amenities. The park is good, but $136 a night asks a premium that the grounds and extras do not quite justify.
The Verdict
The Elizabethtown / Hershey KOA Holiday is a clean, quiet, well-run campground with excellent hookups, strong connectivity, and a good patio site even on a same-day booking. It is best suited to families settling in for a weekend or a few days who want a central base for day trips around the area. Just go in knowing two things. You are paying a premium rate, and the Hershey in the name is a half-hour drive.
Would we return? Maybe, if we were passing through.
Highlights:
- Quiet nights and a safe, settled feel
- A nice patio site with a firepit, grill, and seating, even on a same-day booking
What could be improved:
- Value at the price point
- Landscaping, more paved surfaces, and a better communicated activity schedule
Best suited for: Families looking to spend a weekend or a few days using the park as a central base for area day trips.
Gallery
