Grassmere Park Campground, Benton, PA

Overview

Address

67 Grassmere Park Rd, Benton, PA 17814-7670, USA

Phone

(570) 220-8058

Operating Hours

Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM

About

Introduction / Overview

As Pennsylvanians, we appreciate a camping spot with a good story and direct access to nature.

Grassmere Park Campground

, located near Benton, PA, offers a truly unique local camping experience rooted in over a century of history. The site dates back to the 1800s, where it began as "Hess's Grove," a popular recreational destination that hosted large picnics and community events. It officially became

Grassmere Park

in the early 1900s and has been a family-owned and operated campground since 1923, celebrating a significant centennial milestone in 2023. This deep heritage as a community gathering space distinguishes it from many modern camping resorts, offering a rustic, time-honored connection to the local landscape.

Today,

Grassmere Park Campground

serves the modern camper while maintaining its classic, wooded setting. It provides a base camp for enjoying the natural beauty of the surrounding area, including the highly popular Ricketts Glen State Park. This is a destination for those who seek the atmosphere of traditional, wooded camping—a place where the focus is less on luxury amenities and more on reconnecting with the outdoors. It features a range of sites for both RVs and tents, all nestled amongst the trees, offering shade and a sense of being in nature's embrace. It's a convenient, local option for families and individuals looking to explore the Susquehanna River Valley and Upstate PA.

Location and Accessibility

The campground is comfortably situated at

67 Grassmere Park Rd, Benton, PA 17814, USA

, positioning it strategically for exploring some of Central Pennsylvania’s most impressive natural sites. Its location provides excellent access to two major local features: the proximity to the famous

Ricketts Glen State Park

, renowned for its 22 waterfalls and challenging hiking trails, and its immediate adjacency to

Fishing Creek

. This creek is a significant draw for local anglers, providing opportunities for stream fishing right near the campground.

Accessibility by car or RV is straightforward, taking you off the main roads and into a more secluded, wooded setting. It’s important to note, however, that the rustic nature of the park extends to its internal environment. As a classic, old-school campground, visitors should anticipate an environment that prioritizes natural growth and a lived-in feel, which may mean high overgrowth in some areas, contributing to a truly "back to basics" experience. This is part of the charm for some, though it's advised to take care when navigating and locating specific sites. Additionally, visitors should be prepared for

spotty cell reception

—an increasingly common and sometimes welcomed feature of a true escape into the Pennsylvania woods.

Services Offered

Grassmere Park Campground

focuses on providing the foundational necessities for an enjoyable outdoor stay, complemented by a few recreational offerings.

Campsite Varieties: The park offers approximately 70
wooded campsites
, accommodating both
RV sites (with electric hookups, and some with sewer hookups)
and
tent sites
.
Camp Store: A small on-site store provides essential camp necessities, including
ice and firewood
, as well as treats like a candy counter, soda, and bottled water.
Cottage Rental: For those preferring a roof over their head, a cottage rental option is also available.
Bath House: The campground features a central bath house facility with restrooms and showers, though it is noted by users to be limited in size.
Seasonal Sites: Options are available for longer-term seasonal campers looking to establish a recurring local getaway spot.
Activities and Events: The campground hosts various activities, including hayrides, picnics, and reunions, often featuring live music and social gatherings like pig roasts during the peak season.

Features / Highlights

The highlights of

Grassmere Park Campground

are intrinsically tied to its history, location, and commitment to a traditional camping feel.

Direct Access to
Fishing Creek
: The property borders the creek, making it an excellent spot for local fishermen and those who enjoy the soothing sounds of a stream near their site.
Proximity to Ricketts Glen: Being a short drive from Ricketts Glen State Park provides easy access to one of PA’s most incredible natural hiking destinations.
Historic Setting
: Operating for over a century under family ownership, the campground offers a palpable sense of history, far removed from sterile, modern resorts.
Wooded and Spacious Sites
: The majority of the 70 sites are situated in a wooded environment, providing shade and a degree of privacy, with many sites noted for being large.
Recreational Area: The property includes a
3-acre activity field
suitable for various games like baseball or frisbee, along with
horseshoe pits
and a
playground
.
Authentic Wildlife Experience: The heavily wooded, natural environment means a very real chance of encountering Pennsylvania's wildlife, including bears and their cubs, which frequent the grounds. While this may be concerning to some, it speaks to the property's deep immersion in the natural habitat, making it a true wilderness experience. Campers should be experienced in, and prepared for, strict bear-aware protocols.

Contact Information

To inquire about reservations, seasonal site availability, or current conditions, please use the following contact details:

Address:

67 Grassmere Park Rd, Benton, PA 17814, USA

Phone:

(570) 220-8058

Mobile Phone:

+1 570-220-8058

It is highly recommended that all guests call ahead and speak directly with the owners to confirm site specifics, amenity status (such as bathhouse functionality), and, most critically, to understand and prepare for the frequent presence of the

local bear family

—particularly a sow with cubs—in the campground area. As experienced local campers know, special care and preparation are mandatory in such environments.

Conclusion: Why This Place is Suitable for Locals

Grassmere Park Campground

is a distinctive option suitable for local Pennsylvania campers who value

authenticity, history, and a rustic, deeply natural setting

. For those who enjoy the classic, no-frills camping experience—the kind focused on firelight, streamside relaxation, and quiet woods—this spot delivers. It is especially ideal for the local adventurer seeking a nearby base for fishing on

Fishing Creek

or for spending a day hiking the falls at

Ricketts Glen

. However, suitability hinges entirely on a camper's experience and comfort level with a true wilderness environment. The highly frequent presence of a mother bear and her cubs across the entire property is a critical factor; this requires an advanced level of bear-aware camping knowledge and preparation. For the seasoned, respectful, and prepared local camper who understands the real Pennsylvania wild and appreciates a campground with generational history, Grassmere Park offers a memorable and truly local escape.

Reviews

Camped here for the first and last time Labor Day weekend 2025 I would give this place a Zero Star if there was that option. I've been camping all my life! It's my happy place. Well not this time around though. We set reservations to camp from Friday to Monday and we would be in a tent. All this was done over the phone and spoke to the owner. She was very friendly and cordial. When we got to the campground, we were absolutely surprised, and not in a good way. With weeds and brush. Not kept cut down to limit snakes and critters from getting close. Abandoned buildings, abandoned campers, and miscellaneous junk is throughout this campground. There is only one bathroom/bath house. Two toilets in both men and women's, however, only one of each works. *Unfortunately, this was not the biggest issue. After checking in at the office, we are told by the same person who took our reservation over the phone, that they have had a sighting of a bear and her Cubs. However, it's on occasion and only over near the dumpster area, which our site is nowhere close. As an experienced camper, this made me feel somewhat uneasy given the fact that it was a mom and her Cubs! However, since it was only on occasion, I know to take all garbage and trash to the dumpster each evening, and to stay alert. Had a hard time finding our site, due to such high overgrowth, it was challenging to find the roads and signs for each site. After setting up, we went back to the office to pick up some ice. This is where we were told by the owner's spouse that the mom and the Cubs roam the entire campground on a very regular basis. Including over where our site is located. Then was told that his wife, the person who checked us in and took our reservation, where's bear spray on her at all times. Sure wish we would have known that when we were making the reservation!! I've had other campgrounds inform us when a bear is frequently seen in the campground, and asking of us if we would still want to make the reservation. Leaving the choice up to us if we want to put ourselves in that kind of a situation. In this specific case, our answer would have been no, not dealing with a mom and her Cubs that roams frequently through your campground. Did not appreciate the dishonesty regarding the frequency of the bear family within the campground. While we were there, we felt very uneasy. We even backed our car up to our tent, leaving our doors unlocked as a so-called source of protection, which was more than what our tent was giving us. On Sunday morning we spoke to another camper that rides four-wheeler around the campground with his kids on it. He told us that he saw the mom bear and Cubs that morning while riding. They were right next to the river which was exactly where our campsite was. We ultimately left on Sunday and did not stay until Monday. Also, to note: while we were leaving, these owners put two more camping families that just came into the campground, and were going to be in tents, on sites that were on each side of where the dumpster /garbage was to be dropped off. YUP!!!! MOST Important: bears roaming the campground on a daily basis is bad enough, but we are talking about a momma bear with 2 cubs! The MOST dangerous and unpredictable time EVER to be anywhere near bears!!! Absolutely unacceptable!

Sep 03, 2025 · Laurie

Next to Fishing Creek! Large campsites. Good bathroom. Very spotty cell reception. Friendly staff!

Jul 29, 2025 · Paul Dexter

Had a great weekend here, the camp site has recently undergone a lot of really nice enhancements. Cleanest bathrooms I’ve ever had at a campsite, power and running water at each campsite. Really beautiful local nature attractions/hiking. Owners are super nice people. Will definitely return soon.

Aug 21, 2022 · D

Just finished our second year of camping to this location. The owner and their family have always been incredibly kind to myself and my group. The bathrooms are always clean, fully functional, with endless hot water. They clearly have great ambitions for the future, while still maintaining fantastic hospitality. The electric and water at each site is usually helpful even when just tent camping Highly recommend this location, and can till next year!

Oct 02, 2023 · Justin Moffatt

I Stayed at grassmere campground over the weekend. We had an awesome time! The staff were always around for assistance. Yes the park is a little aged but it's celebrating 100 years of service! It's undergoing upgrades and I enjoyed my stay! Only giving 4 stars do to the restrooms. Took a shower and the water was scolding hot even when switched to cold. Went to the other shower and it was cold. And 2 of the 3 toilets were out of service.

May 30, 2023 · Christopher Thomas

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