In the beautiful hills of York County, Pennsylvania is the stunning Codorus State Park. Featuring 3,500 acres of wetlands, forests, and fields that are full of wildlife, Codorus State Park is a great place for RV lovers to check out. The history of the park dates back to before European settlers when the Susquehannock Indians inhabited the area. Known initially as Codorus Creek State Park, the park was officially opened in 1970, and since then, it has played host to thousands of travelers wanting to have some fun in the great outdoors.
For those looking for water-based recreational activities, there are many options. The park is home to Codorus Creek and Lake Marburg, which takes up 1,275 acres and gives park visitors 26 miles of incredible shoreline to explore. You can bet that here at the lake there’s also lots of swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities during the summer when temperatures rise into the 80’s. Lake Marburg is also a popular spot for bird watching as well, and you’ll get to see all kinds of species, including the famous bald eagle and some migratory birds. Don’t be fooled though, summer isn’t the only great time to visit. There is an abundance of fun activities in the wintertime, too, from snowmobiling and skiing to ice skating and sledding.
There is one RV friendly campground within Codorus State Park that is perfect for the rookie as well as experienced travelers pulling rigs up to 53 feet in length. Here you will find around 190 campsites for you to choose from that are available for you to call home from April until the end of November.
Driving to and from Codorus State Park is relatively easy thanks to its location in southern Pennslyvania near the Maryland border. There are multiple entrances to the park that can be accessed from either Blooming Grove or Sinsheim Road.
If you need to get some supplies before your journey to the park, there are plenty of towns to stop at along the way. Parkville is five miles away, and McSherrystown is around seven miles away. There are also multiple cities within proximity, including Gettysburg, York, and Lancaster.
There are no driving restrictions for RVs or large vehicles in the park, but some roads do close in the wintertime from the end of October to mid-April. The roads that close are the ones leading to the campground and the pool.
Codorus State Park is RV friendly, so there are plenty of parking areas for even the largest RVs. If the park is crowded though and general parking availability is hard to find, there is overflow parking that is open for your RV as well. The chances are that even if you’re only visiting for the day, you should have no problems with parking.
Codorus Campground is a seasonally-operating campground that has 190 campsites that can accommodate both tents and any RVs under 50 feet in length. Many of these sites even have electric hookups that you can use, and several spaces are ADA compliant, so almost anyone should be able to enjoy camping here. At Codorus State Park, you’ll have the convenience of restrooms, warm showers, a dump station, and even a boat launch nearby. You can also bring your dog along with you to the campground as there is an entire loop of dog-friendly campsites. You’ll have access to a play area and recreational trails to keep the whole family happy. Everything you need is close by when you camp at Codorus State Park.
If you are looking for a different accommodation option during your stay, you’ll find three cottages and two yurts available for campers. Both the cabins and the yurts sleep up to five people in bunk beds. Inside these cottages and yurts, you’ll have electric heating and outlets available, along with many other useful amenities. The yurts even have a cooking stove, countertops, a refrigerator, and tables and chairs. Outside, you’ll find a fire ring and picnic table that are perfect for spending time outside at night. Both of these unique camping arrangements are ADA accessible. Choosing to stay in a cabin or a yurt can be a great camping experience and an excellent way to mix things up for a night. Reservations for these accommodations can be made online.
During the winter, all areas of the Marburg Lake are open for ice fishers, except for the area that’s set aside for ice skaters. If you do decide to hit the lake and do some ice fishing, you must bring your own equipment as none will be available to rent. Remember to check general conditions and thickness of the ice to ensure it's safe before you get your lure in the water and sit back and relax.
Located just off of PA-216 at the upper end of Chapel Cove, you’ll find the perfect place for adult sledding. This experienced-sledders' hill is 500 feet high and quite steep, so the conditions are prime to jump on a sled and have some fast-paced fun. If you’ve never been sledding before or if you are traveling with young kids, consider sledding at Pigeon Hill at the Marina Day-Use Area instead, where the slope is a bit tamer.
Ice skating can be an enjoyable winter activity at Codorus State Park once the weather drops down to freezing temperatures. Head to Chapel Cove to find the best ice skating. This area covers 10 acres and has bathrooms nearby. When weather conditions are at their best, lights illuminate the rink so that you can enjoy even more time out on the ice. There are no skate rentals available at Codorus State Park.
A great way to get out and enjoy the winter weather and get the adrenaline pumping is to go snowmobiling. If you happen to be traveling with your snowmobile, you can take it out to the 195-acres of multi-use trails. The trails share recreation space with cross-country skiers and snowshoers. If you don't have a snowmobile, you will have to rent one from outside of the park limits as there are none available at the park.
There are 6.5 miles of trails available only for cross-country skiers in the wintertime. You’ll find these trails on Bankert Road within the mountain biking area. If you’d like, you can also check out the fields all around the park and burst out the ski gear in this area. The best tracks are located at the campground, marina, and main boat launch section of the park. If you are skiing during the hunting season, the park staff members insist that you wear orange fluorescent clothing for your safety.
If you fancy a relaxing picnic during your visit to Codorus State Park, there are three designated areas where you can go picnicking. One is near the swimming area, another is at the Marina Day-Use Area, and last but not least is the Main Launch Day-Use Area. Each one of these picnic areas has picnic tables, grills, and restrooms nearby for your convenience. For those wanting to reserve a picnic pavilion, there are two located in the swimming area. These can be reserved up to 11 months in advance.
Lake Marburg is the perfect place to go fishing and is one of the lake's main attractions for visitors of all ages. There are many different species of fish that you can try and catch, including yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, and northern pike. If you find any bass and wish to keep them, they must be at least 15 inches long for you to legally take them out of the lake. Bow fishing is also allowed within the shallow coves area of the lake.
For visitors interested in getting out on the water to explore it, there are seven boat launch ramps located around Lake Marburg, and only registered campers can use them. If you didn’t bring your own boat, rentals are also available from the park. You can choose to rent a canoe, kayak, paddleboat, and even a motorboat to explore the area from the water. There is a 20 horsepower motor restriction, so don't be a speed demon out on the lake.
While swimming is not allowed within the lake, there is an option for you to get wet. Located on a bluff above Lake Marburg are a swimming pool and sprayground for you to enjoy. This area is a popular attraction in the park, and it can get pretty crowded during peak season. If you are feeling a little hungry, there is a snack bar that has both cold and hot food and drinks. You will have to pay a fee for using the swimming area, but if you are planning on visiting more than once, there are seasonal passes available that will help you save a little money.
Remember to pack your hiking boots before beginning your travels to Codorus State Park as there are 19 miles of trails that you can explore here during your visit. The majority of the trails are multi-use, but two trails are marked for hikers only. On the multi-use trails, you can take your bicycle out for a nice ride, or even bring your horse to go horseback riding. If you are heading out on the trails during the hunting season, you should wear fluorescent orange to make yourself visible.
