Gettysburg has 56 oversized spaces at the visitor center, but no overnight parking in any lot. Camp in a private park, then add Hershey and Lancaster County.
South-central Pennsylvania packs three very different trips into a short drive: the Gettysburg battlefield, Hershey’s chocolate attractions and Lancaster County’s farmland and Amish communities. Most RVers base in a private campground and make day trips with a tow vehicle.
At Gettysburg National Military Park, the Museum and Visitor Center Lot C has 56 spaces reserved for oversized vehicles and 16 EV charging spaces. Other lots have a handful of oversized spaces at Little Round Top, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and the observation towers. Parking is free, but overnight parking is not permitted in any lot.
Artillery Ridge Campground has 188 full-hookup sites on the Union Artillery Reserve, about a mile from the visitor center. Gettysburg KOA and several Lancaster County parks also offer 30/50-amp hookups.
| Visitor center Lot C | 56 oversized spaces, 16 EV spaces; main bus tour departure |
|---|---|
| Battlefield parking | Free; lots open 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset |
| Overnight parking | Not permitted in any lot |
| Artillery Ridge | 188 sites, 30/50 amp, full hookups; about $90–$100 per night reported |
| Gettysburg KOA | 30/50 amp, sewer, pull-through; about $56–$97 reported |
| Elizabethtown / Hershey KOA | Full hookups; open April 17 to November 1; 717-367-7718 |
The battlefield’s oversized spaces are limited, so plan your parking before you drive in.
Spring through fall is camping season. The battlefield is busiest around the early July anniversary.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (April–May) | Mild weather, smaller crowds and open campgrounds. |
| Summer | Hot, with the heaviest crowds. Bus tour tickets are sold at some campgrounds from June to August. |
| Fall (September–October) | Cooler days and good color. Book early for weekends. |
| Winter | Many private campgrounds close. Check each park’s season. |
Battlefield parking rules come from the National Park Service. Camping details come from campground listings and the Elizabethtown KOA.
Best for: Walking distance to battlefield trails, with a pool, laundry, dump station and store.
Watch out: Gravel sites that are often unlevel; hookups at the rear.
Best for: Store, pool, dump station and bus tour tickets in summer.
Watch out: Tight, wooded sites with gravel and no grass.
Best for: Base for Hershey and Lancaster County.
Watch out: Check-in 1 p.m., check-out 11 a.m.
Best for: Level sites in Amish country.
Watch out: No Wi-Fi or cable in one area.
Best for: Easy site for a large motorhome.
Watch out: Confirm current rates.
Best for: Close to Amish farms and markets.
Watch out: Check lengths.
Thousand Trails parks in the area need a membership. Spring Gulch Resort in New Holland has large sites, but some are uneven. Check each park’s own site for rules.
Plans keep the RV in one base and use the tow vehicle for day trips.
History fans.
Families.
Slow travelers.
Start here for the museum and the Gettysburg Cyclorama. Oversized parking is in Lot C.
A key hill in the 1863 battle, with a small number of oversized and bus spaces.
Where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Oversized parking is limited.
Chocolate World, Hersheypark, ZooAmerica and Hershey Gardens.
Scenic farm roads, markets and handmade crafts. Share the road with horse-drawn buggies.
A kid-focused amusement park near Lancaster, a good family add-on.
Plan oversized parking first. Lot C is the best bet for a large vehicle. Other oversized spaces are only a few each.
Don’t park on shoulders. The park prohibits it. Use designated pull-offs on two-way roads.
Share the road. Horse-drawn carriages in Gettysburg and buggies in Lancaster County are common. Pass with care.
Gettysburg and Lancaster have full services for fuel, groceries and repairs. Artillery Ridge and Gettysburg KOA have stores, laundry and dump stations.
Use a map app for the Elizabethtown KOA. The campground’s directions come from PA Turnpike Exit 247, from York via US 30 East and PA 441 North, and from Lancaster via US 30 West and PA 283.
Rates are from visitor reports and listings. Confirm current amounts before you book.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Battlefield parking | Free | Lots open 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. |
| Artillery Ridge | About $90–$100 per night | Reported 2025. |
| Gettysburg KOA | About $56–$97 per night | Reported 2023. |
| Thousand Trails Hershey | $50–$60 per night | Membership required. |
| Hersheypark / attractions | Varies | Check each attraction’s rates. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
Gettysburg Campground advertises full-hookup RV sites near the battlefield. In Lancaster County, Old Mill Stream by Dutch Wonderland separates full and partial hookup sites and does not guarantee water from November 1 to April 1. Confirm directly with each park.
Museum and Visitor Center Lot C has 56 oversized spaces. A few other lots have between 1 and 7. Overnight parking is not permitted in any lot.
The National Park Service page we read did not describe camping in the park. Plan on a private campground near town.
The listing says up to 60 ft. The longest vehicle reported is 44 ft. Sites are gravel and often unlevel.
Visitors report sites are close together and tight. A 37 ft Class A fit a pull-through, but check before you book anything longer.
Yes. They are easy day trips from a central base, or you can move to a second campground near Hershey.
Spring and fall for comfortable weather. July is the busiest.
Rules were checked October 21, 2026. Camping rates and maximum lengths come largely from visitor reports and listings, so confirm them with each campground.