Shady Oaks Family Campground

The Great Outdoors

When you're RV camping at Shady Oaks Family Campground, you'll find there are lots of great parks to visit in the surrounding area. Start off at Memorial Lake State Park, situated a little over half an hour's drive away. This 230-acre park is situated at the foot of Blue Mountain near East Hanover Township. The park is mainly flat, easy-walking land, making it a great place to visit with young children. There are two miles of trails, all rated easy. Take a stroll for scenic views of the park's 85-acre Memorial Lake. Seasonal boat rentals provide a fun way to spend a summer's day on the water. The lake is also a popular warm-water fishery; you can fish from the shoreline, wade, or go by boat. In the winter, ice fishing is a popular pastime, or you can take advantage of the one-acre area reserved for ice skating. The park is a great place to go picnicking with tables and charcoal grills along the shoreline and in areas with scenic vistas. There are also fields and two play areas to keep the kids entertained.Swatara State Park is another popular place to visit while camping near Shady Oaks Family Campground. Around 45 minutes' drive away near Pine Grove, the park extends over approximately 3,500 acres of woodland and rolling hills. The Swatara Creek runs through the park and is a great destination for kayaking as well as catching brook trout and panfish. The park has just over 18 miles of hiking trails, which range in distance and difficulty. The flat grade Swatara Rail Trail stretches for 11 miles, while the Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses two miles of parkland. Bicycling is permitted on the majority of the park's trails. The park is also an interesting place to go fossil hunting, with a significant exposed marine fossil bed along Bear Hole Trail.Make the most of your RV rental near Shady Oaks Family Campground and take the one-hour drive down to French Creek State Park, one of the largest blocks of contiguous woodland between New York City and Washington D.C. Extending over more than 7,500 acres, the park offers a wide range of recreational activities. It is also a great place to just get away from it all. Designated both an Important Bird Area, as well as an Important Mammal Area, the park is also home to some rare and endangered species. With 35 miles of hiking trails on offer, there are some challenging hikes that provide an excellent way to experience all of the park's attractions. Spend the day fishing or boating on the park's two lakes, or cool off at the swimming pool located near to Hopewell Lake, complete with a seasonal food concession and boat rentals for the lake.

Exploring the Area

There's plenty to see and do in the surrounding area when you rent a camper near Shady Oaks Family Campground. Under 15 minutes' drive away in neighboring Womelsdorf, the Conrad Weiser Homestead is well worth a visit while you're at the RV park. This state historic site is located on 26 acres of land with three buildings and the grounds open to the public. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the site interprets the life of Conrad Weiser, an 18th-century German immigrant. Weiser played an important role in Pennsylvanian history, especially through his role as an Indian interpreter. The Weiser House has been restored to represent a typical middle-class migrant settler way of life. Visit the Education Center and the Visitor Center to learn more about the importance of Weiser's work to both the state and nation as a whole, while taking in various educational exhibits. The grounds are also a popular place for a stroll or picnic, with tables and restroom facilities available.If you're an animal lover, then a trip to the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania is an absolute must, just a 20-minute drive away. On an 80-acre wooded site, the sanctuary provides guided tours with information about its residents, many of whom have been rescued. The sanctuary is home to a large number of wolves and wolf dogs, having grown from a private rescue center to an educational facility and popular attraction. Take a standard daytime tour, a private one, or even a special full moon nighttime tour. There is a gift shop on the premises, and sponsorship programs are available.Another popular attraction to visit when RV camping at Shady Oaks Family Campground is Cornwall Iron Furnace, under half an hour's drive away. Renowned as America's most complete iron-making complex still fueled by charcoal, the site makes up part of a National Historic Landmark District. Stop by the visitor center before going on to visit the individual buildings such as the furnace building, roasting oven, and the blacksmith shop. There is a vast amount of educational and historical information on site with both guided and self-guided tours available. Finish up your visit with a stroll around the five-acre grounds complete with picnic area and gift shop.Stock up your camper rental at the various farm and meat markets in neighboring towns and villages. There are also a handful of local grocery stores situated a few miles from the campground, with plenty of gas stations nearby along Route 422. You'll find a handful of local eateries in Newmanstown and Womelsdorf for a meal out without having to drive too far from the campground.