Jonestown AOK Campground

The Great Outdoors

When you camp in an RV near Jonestown, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for exciting outdoor recreation. The nearby Allegheny Mountains are home to the best hiking in the state (along with a section of the Appalachian Trail), and the Susquehanna River that flows through Harrisburg is a wonderful place to get out on the water in a kayak or canoe.Memorial Lake State Park outside Fort Indiantown Gap is one of the best places to enjoy nature when you choose an RV rental in Jonestown. Some short walking trails are encircling a large pond at its center, and they’re great for walking your dog or getting in a morning jog during your rental RV vacation. There’s even a boat rental shop on the pond’s northern shore where you can rent a kayak or canoe. If you feel like having a picnic with the family, there are several tables and grills set up for just such an occasion.The Cumberland Valley Overlook is one of the best day hikes in the area, with a well-shaded trail and expansive views of the surrounding valley. It’s only a few miles to the overlook, and the elevation gain is moderate, so this would make a great trip for family members who aren’t expert hikers.The Susquehanna Greenway is designated as a Pennsylvania Water Trail, which means there are dozens of put-in and take-out points near Harrisburg. A local favorite is the City Island, where the local baseball stadium is located, along with a playground, city park, and miniature golf course.

Exploring the City

Jonestown is a quiet community without too many major attractions. There’s a small grocery store so you can cook your own meals while RV camping, and a couple of Italian and Chinese restaurants to provide food on the days you feel like relaxing.If you’re a fan of military history, you’ll have to check out the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum a few miles outside Jonestown. Inside Fort Indiantown Gap, the museum showcases a wealth of military artifacts, including uniforms, insignia, weapons, and other gear carried in a variety of conflicts. Outside the museum and a short distance away are a few amphibious assault vehicles and planes that are a marvel to behold.Are you a chocolate fan, a lover of good old-fashioned Americana, or just someone who likes to see how the proverbial sausage is made? Then you have to visit Hershey Chocolate World. Some of the highlights include the Hershey Chocolate Tour, which takes visitors through the chocolate-making process Willy Wonka-style via a slow-moving tram. There’s also the Create-Your-Own Candy Bar exhibit, where families can put together custom confections using any Hershey ingredients.If melting chocolate isn’t for you, and the smell of motor oil is more your style, then you’re going to love Hershey’s AACA Museum. The Smithsonian affiliate is filled with cars, buses, and motorcycles from the past century, all of them in beautifully restored condition. Many of the vehicles are displayed in unique settings meant to invoke the nostalgia for a simpler time of cruising the drag and taking road trips on Route 66.One of the biggest reasons to visit this part of the state, though, is to see and understand the Amish way of life. Pennsylvania Dutch Country stretches throughout southern Pennsylvania, with small sections reaching into West Virginia and Maryland. The small Amish communities that populate the region are like a time capsule for the American way of life, where residents eschew modern conveniences like automobiles and electric appliances. You can often spot them riding classic horse and buggy setups on some of the old country roads.