OUR HONEST REVIEW OF KOA, NEW HOLLAND IN LANCASTER, PA AKA “THE QUIET ONE”.
My friend Stacey recommended that we check out this campground. She and her husband recently stayed there and said we would love it. So we booked it!
The Lancaster / New Holland KOA is located in the heart of Lancaster County’s famous Amish Country in Pennsylvania.
THE CHECK-IN PROCESS:
The check-in process was smooth. Even though we had two vehicles and a trailer, we could park everything on the site. However, we received no car tags or instructions, which seemed odd. We tried contacting the staff to see if we could check in early, but we never received a callback. It’s worth noting that their website explicitly mentions that early check-ins are not encouraged.
From their website: Check-in Time is 2:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m. (Cabin Check-In is at 4:00 p.m.). Early arrivals are not encouraged. If you arrive after 6 p.m., look for YOUR site map on the office porch.
CAMPSITE DESCRIPTION:
We selected a site with a panoramic view of the countryside. It was a back-in site, nice and flat, and included an immaculate table and a Breeo fire pit. The sites are very spacious, too. We could park our 32-foot trailer, full-size pickup truck, and my MINI Cooper.
They also have spacious pull-thru, level terraced, and wooded sites. When we return, we will mostly choose one of the wooded sites. All the sites are full hookups. There is also no tent camping.
Scroll through our images!
FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
Although not very modern, the bathrooms and bathhouses were impeccably clean. They have a store.
ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT
There is no pool, but there is a small playground. No organized activities or entertainment exist, so this location is perfect for couples, empty nesters, or people who want to come and check out Lancaster.
Nearby attractions include the village of Intercourse, American Music Theatre, Sight & Sound Theatres, Lancaster Central Market, Shady Maple Smorgasbord, Yoder’s Restaurant & Buffet, and the Rockvale Outlets. There’s a bakery right across the street that sells amazing homemade donuts. I believe they are only open on Friday and Saturday mornings. As most people know, most businesses in the area are closed on Sundays.
PROS AND CONS
As empty nesters, this campground was perfect for us. It was so quiet, and we could relax, take in the view, and then do some sightseeing. There are a few excellent trails nearby where we could walk our pup. That is a pro for us but maybe a con for others. I also assume that no pool would be a con, as well as no structured activities. Some sites have shade; however, there is not a lot of shade. The sites are a little close, but we have seen worse. You are not allowed to put your camping mat on the grass.
We were a little disappointed that we couldn’t check in early. We have had the experience of being able to do so at other KOA campgrounds. We never received a call back to let us know when we had left a message, and we could never talk to a live person when we called to inquire.
There also appeared to be no gate, so we were concerned about security.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
We will definitely come back. We want to try some restaurants and find more trails to walk on. We love Amish Country. It is just so incredibly peaceful there. We look forward to relaxing and escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.
TIPS FOR FUTURE CAMPERS
Remember that if you have children, there is no pool or structured activities, so checking in early is not really an option.
CONCLUSION
Thank you for reading my review of beautiful KOA New Holland in Lancaster, PA, also know as “The Quiet One”.
I hope it helps you plan your next camping adventure!
