Camping at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County

SUMMER ESCAPE, ANDOU Y DON’T NEED A TENT TO DO IT. BRIAN: WGAL NEWS 8’S MATT BARCARO CONTINUES OUR EXPLEOR OUTDOORS SERIES IN YORK COUNTY. MATT: THERE’S SO MUCH TO DO AT GIFFORD PINCHOT STATE PARK IN YORK COUNTY, FROM KAYAKING, EXPLORING THE PLAYGROUNDS, AND FISHING OFF THE SHORE OR IN THE LAKE, SO MUCH TO DO THAT TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL YOU MIGHT NEED TO STAY THE NIGHT. AND YOU CAN DO THAT AT THE PARK, TOO. YOU READY TO PITCH AENT? T >> LET’S DO IT. MATT: BETH KEPLEY-MCNUTT IS OUR CAMPING GUIDE AT THE PAR WHEREK, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR SLEEPING UNDER THE STA.RS >> THERE WE GO. MATT: FOR STTEARRS, TENT CAMPING. HUNDREDS OF SITES ARE AVAILABLE ABOUT GIFFORD PINCHOT, SOME NEAR THE TER.WA OTHERS, MORE SECDED.LU >> WE DON’T HAVE ELETRICITY ACCESS AT THIS SITE, SO I’' NICE FOR TENTS BECAUSE YOU CAN KIND OF BE TUCKED BACK IN A LITTLE MORE. MATT: AND IT’S FOAFRDABLE. THE NON-ELECTRIC SITES A AREBOUT $20 A NIGHT. ONES WITH ELECTRIC HOOKUP ARE 0.$3 YOU JUST HAVE TO BRING YOUR OWN TENT AND GEAR. >> YOU ALWAYS GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE FLY ON YOUR TENTF I -- YOUR TENT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WN HEA THUNDERSTORM OR RAINSHOWER WILL POP .UP MATT: CAMPING NO DOUBT CONNECTS YOU TO THE OUTDOORS BECAUSE YOU’RE IMMERSED INHE TM. >> THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN WAKING UP TO NATURE AND THEN, OF COURSE, HAVING A CAMPFIRE IN THE EVENINGS. MATT: BUT IF STAYING IN A TENT IS A BIT TOO RUSTIC FOR YOUR TASTE, YOU CAN STILL SPEND THE NIGHT HERE WITH SOME COMFORTS FROM HOME. THE PARK RENTS OUT THESE CAMPING COTTAGES THAT CAN FIT FIVE PEOPLE, AND CABINS, OPEN YREA ROUND, WITH FULL AMENITIES INCLUDING A BATHROOM AND KITCN.HE HAVE YOU SEEN ONE OF THESE? YOU COULD STAY IN A YU.RT IT’S A CIRCULAR HUT, WITH ELECTRICITY, RIGHT NEXT TO THE LA.KE ANY WAY YOU’D WANT TO STAY, MAKE SURE YOU BOOK A RESERVATION IN ADVANCE AND TRY STAYING DUNGRI THE WEEK AS OPPOSED TO WEEKENDS WHEN THE PARK IS MORE CROWD.DE TH AT’S A GOOD TIP, BECAUSE IF PEOPLE HAVE TIME DURING THE WEEK. THERE’S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES. >> PLENTY OF OPPORTUTIES.NI MATT: CAMPING IS THE PERFECT WAY TO UNWIND WITH YOUR FAMILYND A UNPLUG. >> IT DEFINITELY LESSENS THE DISTRACTIONS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. MATT: WAKE UP WITH THE BIRDSND A GO TO BED WITH THE CRICKETS, ALL BY CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS JUST FOR A NIGHT. THE THING ABOUT CAMPING -- ONCE YOU’RE DONE, EVERYTHING HAS TO FIT BACK IN THIS BAG SOMOW.EH >> YES, IT DOES. MATT: AND IT MAGICALLY DOES IF YOU DO IT E THRIGHT WAY. >> IF YOU DO IT THE RIGH

Camping is the ultimate summer escape, and you don't need a tent to do it. WGAL News 8's Matt Barcaro checked out the options at a state park in York County.There's so much to do at Gifford Pinchot State Park – from kayaking to exploring the playgrounds and fishing – that you might need to stay the night to experience it all.You can do that at the park, too.Beth Kepley-McNutt was our camping guide at the park, where there are plenty of options for sleeping under the stars.Hundreds of camping sites are available that can accommodate a variety of camping equipment, from RVs to tents. Some sites are near the water, while others are more secluded."We don't have electricity access at this site, so it's nice for tents because you can kind of be tucked back in a little bit more," Kepley-McNutt said.Camping at the park is affordable. The non-electric sites are about $20 per night. Sites with an electric hook-up are about $30. You just have to bring your own tent and gear."You've always got to make sure that you put the fly on your tent because you never know when a thunderstorm or rain shower might pop up," Kepley-McNutt said.Camping connects you to the outdoors because you're immersed in them."There's nothing better than waking up to nature and then, of course, having a campfire in the evenings," Kepley-McNutt said.If staying in a tent is a bit too rustic for your taste, you can still spend the night with some comforts from home.The park rents out camping cottages that fit five people.Ten modern cabins can be rented year-round. They have full amenities, including a bathroom and kitchen.You could also stay in a yurt. It's a circular hut with electricity and right next to the lake.No matter which way you want to stay, make sure you book a reservation in advance. You may want to consider staying during the week, as the park is more crowded during the weekends.Camping is the perfect way to unwind with your family and unplug."It definitely lessens the distractions of everyday life," Kepley-McNutt said.Wake up with the birds and go to bed with the crickets – all by changing your address for a night.To explore camping options at Gifford Pinchot State Park or book a reservation, go to the DCNR website.Send us your suggestionsIf there's a place in the Susquehanna Valley that Matt should check out or an activity he should try, email us at news8@wgal.com.

LEWISBERRY, Pa. —

Camping is the ultimate summer escape, and you don't need a tent to do it. WGAL News 8's Matt Barcaro checked out the options at a state park in York County.

There's so much to do at Gifford Pinchot State Park – from kayaking to exploring the playgrounds and fishing – that you might need to stay the night to experience it all.

You can do that at the park, too.

Beth Kepley-McNutt was our camping guide at the park, where there are plenty of options for sleeping under the stars.

Hundreds of camping sites are available that can accommodate a variety of camping equipment, from RVs to tents. Some sites are near the water, while others are more secluded.

"We don't have electricity access at this site, so it's nice for tents because you can kind of be tucked back in a little bit more," Kepley-McNutt said.

WGAL

Matt Barcaro and Beth Kepley-McNutt set up a tent.

Camping at the park is affordable. The non-electric sites are about $20 per night. Sites with an electric hook-up are about $30. You just have to bring your own tent and gear.

"You've always got to make sure that you put the fly on your tent because you never know when a thunderstorm or rain shower might pop up," Kepley-McNutt said.

Camping connects you to the outdoors because you're immersed in them.

"There's nothing better than waking up to nature and then, of course, having a campfire in the evenings," Kepley-McNutt said.

If staying in a tent is a bit too rustic for your taste, you can still spend the night with some comforts from home.

The park rents out camping cottages that fit five people.

WGAL

Camping cottage.

Ten modern cabins can be rented year-round. They have full amenities, including a bathroom and kitchen.

WGAL

Cabin.

You could also stay in a yurt. It's a circular hut with electricity and right next to the lake.

WGAL

Yurt.

No matter which way you want to stay, make sure you book a reservation in advance. You may want to consider staying during the week, as the park is more crowded during the weekends.

Camping is the perfect way to unwind with your family and unplug.

"It definitely lessens the distractions of everyday life," Kepley-McNutt said.

Wake up with the birds and go to bed with the crickets – all by changing your address for a night.

To explore camping options at Gifford Pinchot State Park or book a reservation, go to the DCNR website.

Send us your suggestions

If there's a place in the Susquehanna Valley that Matt should check out or an activity he should try, email us at news8@wgal.com.

Camping at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County

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