Hershey Park Campground Hefty Price Incease

[KDHfan]

I was booking some 2016 trips this morning and went to the Hershey Park Campground site to book our annual, 7-day summer trip. Site fees were a little on the high side for the sites they offer, but ok, i get it. It's the "Sweetest Place On Earth," right?
That sweet taste in my mouth soured a bit as i found the 2016 fees.
Full hook-up sites during the week went up $19/night... to $89/night.
Weekend fees went up $24/night... to $99/night!
They have also now added a holiday rate... only $109/night.
Hershey Park is nice, but it ain't Disney.
For those who haven't been to the campground, these are tight pull-through sites. If you're not in the pull-through section, you will be on the hill, and/or next to an active train that runs every 45-minutes or so, all day, all night.

The story i heard last summer (from a campground employee) is that the previous owners (when it was Hershey Highmeadow Campground) sold to Hershey Corp. many years ago, with the stipulation that they continued to manage the campground until they decided to retire. From what i gather, that happened in late 2014/early 2015, and site fees went up slightly last year. So, this would be the first year Hershey Corp. had complete control over price increases.
We used to love this campground... clean, friendly, a little pricey, but still affordable. Now, i would recommend finding one of the other 3 or 4 nice campgrounds in the area at about half the price.

[Eagles609]

We also were taken back at the price increases for next year, if it wasn't for the free transport from CG I would camp somewhere else and visit the parks, but then they get you with a hefty parking fee. And you are 100% correct on tight pull thru sites

[Jerry Dixon]

Who in their right mind would pay $100 camping fee?

[wana65stang]

Originally Posted by Jerry Dixon

Who in their right mind would pay $100 camping fee?

Guess somebody is or it wouldn't be open,

[rockfordroo]

As the economy has improved (somewhat), RV's are selling like hotcakes. All those people have to camp somewhere. Supply and demand. Charge what the market will bear.

[Crusadernoob]

I'll pay top dollar for Disney and then it's back to the $25 a night state parks.

[Oaklevel]

Wow you have state parks that are only $25 a night????????

& I thought Myrtle Beach Campgrounds were high in the mid $70 price range.

[doc73]

Seems like more and more campgrounds are getting to the $100 a day price. But the campgrounds are still the same old stuff they were when they were $35 a night.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Terier]

I'm noticing price increases in my area too which is bad enough. Aside from the higher holiday price they are also requiring a certain number of days stay with select dates during holidays too. For example: the day before holiday, day of holiday, and day after holiday.

[asquared]

I would skip right past theatres and stay at twin grove campground. Not the prettiest campground but it's got somewhat of a mountain view, a pool, rides (ie carousel), playground, minigolf, disc golf, and dog park for half that price. They are about 30 min from Hershey.

[asquared]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Wow you have state parks that are only $25 a night????????

& I thought Myrtle Beach Campgrounds were high in the mid $70 price range.

NC state parks are $25/night.

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by asquared

NC state parks are $25/night.

Wow Virginia state parks are all $30-35 for water & electric plus add on fees like a $5 reservation fee and after much outcry the $5 per dog fee was lifted...... It would cost us $45 for the first night at a Virginia State Park but it is down to $40 for the first night now ......... NC sounds like a bargain but we can still stay at Mayberry for $30 a night with the GoodSam discount & have full hookups and level sites. So we drive right by the local outdated local Virginia State Park. where they finally updated the 50 plus year old bathhouse..... their horse sites are nice though but not at all level.......

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by doc73

Seems like more and more campgrounds are getting to the $100 a day price. But the campgrounds are still the same old stuff they were when they were $35 a night.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

The Campground s we go to are continuously upgrading ..... Ocean Lakes at Myrtle Beach is adding a $5 million dollar water park afraid to see how the rates may change next year ..........

[irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

..... Ocean Lakes at Myrtle Beach is adding a $5 million dollar water park...

Odd, one might think the ocean attraction enough.

[PSUFan1]

Originally Posted by irishtom29

Odd, one might think the ocean attraction enough.

The big 3 myrtle beach campgrounds have water parks and now all three will have lazy rivers. Can you believe it was one of the reasons we didn't stay there last year. My wife loves floating on a lazy river. We stayed at Lakewood and had a blast. Going back again this year.

Speaking of $100/night, just booked lake George rv park at $98 plus $9 for every child over 12. I got one of those so I'm at $107/night.


2012 Ford F-150 EB Crew FX4 3.73 gears
2012 Micro Lite 23lb

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[KDHfan]

Originally Posted by asquared

I would skip right past theatres and stay at twin grove campground. Not the prettiest campground but it's got somewhat of a mountain view, a pool, rides (ie carousel), playground, minigolf, disc golf, and dog park for half that price. They are about 30 min from Hershey.

Hey now... That will be enough of giving out the secret. Stayed there for the first time over Halloween, and promptly added a week next summer. Love the new dog parks they added.
Another option is the Jonestown KOA that you pass to get to Twin Grove. Very small campground but very friendly owners and the creek sites are great.


2015 Coachmen Apex 288BHS
2014 Tundra 5.7 CrewMax

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Jerry Dixon

Who in their right mind would pay $100 camping fee?

Location, location, location.

[stantyszka]

Originally Posted by KDHfan

I was booking some 2016 trips this morning and went to the Hershey Park Campground site to book our annual, 7-day summer trip. Site fees were a little on the high side for the sites they offer, but ok, i get it. It's the "Sweetest Place On Earth," right?
That sweet taste in my mouth soured a bit as i found the 2016 fees.
Full hook-up sites during the week went up $19/night... to $89/night.
Weekend fees went up $24/night... to $99/night!
They have also now added a holiday rate... only $109/night.
Hershey Park is nice, but it ain't Disney.
For those who haven't been to the campground, these are tight pull-through sites. If you're not in the pull-through section, you will be on the hill, and/or next to an active train that runs every 45-minutes or so, all day, all night.

The story i heard last summer (from a campground employee) is that the previous owners (when it was Hershey Highmeadow Campground) sold to Hershey Corp. many years ago, with the stipulation that they continued to manage the campground until they decided to retire. From what i gather, that happened in late 2014/early 2015, and site fees went up slightly last year. So, this would be the first year Hershey Corp. had complete control over price increases.
We used to love this campground... clean, friendly, a little pricey, but still affordable. Now, i would recommend finding one of the other 3 or 4 nice campgrounds in the area at about half the price.

Hershey KOA is right down the road, quieter and cheaper...10 minutes from the park. A much better option for my family.

[5er_tom]

Myrtle Beach campgrounds are a very reasonable


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[5er_tom]

Whoops! Fat thumbs. Myrtle Beach campgrounds are very reasonably priced but you need to go Jan-Mar. We were ocean front at Ocean Lakes for a week in Jan this year for $33/night.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums