Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to over 120 state parks, each of which provide visitors with spectacular places of natural beauty to explore?
Featuring beautiful landscapes of jagged mountains, raging waterfalls, dense woodland, flowing rivers and glistening lakes, they are a pleasing reminder of how beautiful the world remains in places.
From Lancaster PA there are a number of wonderful state parks that all reside within straightforward driving distance.
Giving you the opportunity to indulge in a range of activities like swimming, hiking, biking, boating and camping, they are great places to go for a day trip, weekend or a longer stay.
Map of State Parks Near Lancaster PA
Here is a map of the Pennsylvania state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Lancaster
Outlined below is an overview of 10 excellent state parks near Lancaster you should really try and visit. All of them are located within a three-hour drive of the city.
1. Samuel S. Lewis State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 13 miles west of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 6000 Mt Pisgah Rd, York, PA 17406
Samuel S. Lewis State Park covers 85 acres in York County, Pennsylvania. Established 1954.
See our full Samuel S. Lewis State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Blue Marsh Lake
Distance from Lancaster: about 28 miles northeast of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 1268 Pallisades Drive, Leesport, Pennsylvania 19533 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers visitor center)
Blue Marsh is not a state park: the recreation areas around Blue Marsh Lake in Berks County are a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project.
See our full Blue Marsh Lake guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Rocks State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 28 miles south of Lancaster (straight-line).
Rocks State Park is a Maryland state park located in and around Deer Creek Valley near Pylesville, Harford County, Maryland.
See our full Rocks State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. French Creek State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 29 miles northeast of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 843 Park Rd, Elverson, PA 19520
If these parks involve too much of a drive for you then the French Creek State Park might suit you better.
Located within the imposing Hopewell Big Woods, which is the largest contiguous forest in southeastern Pennsylvania, the park is only a 50 minute drive from Lancaster.
Boasting two lakes, and over 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, the 7,916-acre park straddles the Schuylkill Highlands.
The park is notable for its leafy forests, sparkling lakes and lush wetlands which make it a great place to hike, camp, fish and bike.
It’s also a great area to observe flora and fauna as the terrain is home to a host of plants and animals, especially birdlife, that are rare in this southeastern region.
The camping facilities are good here, with over 200 wooded and modern sites available, of which 60 have electric hookups and 16 are full service with sewer. There are also shower and flush toilet facilities here too.
See our full French Creek State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Memorial Lake State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 31 miles northwest of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 18 Boundary Rd
Grantville, PA 17028
Memorial Lake State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 230 acres (93 ha) in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania in the United States.
See our full Memorial Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Gifford Pinchot State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 31 miles west of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 2200 Rosstown Rd, Lewisberry, PA 17339
Gifford Pinchot State Park is a 2,338-acre (946 ha) Pennsylvania state park in northern York County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
See our full Gifford Pinchot State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Susquehanna State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 31 miles south of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 4122 Wilkinson Road, Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Susquehanna State Park is a Maryland state park located on the banks of the lower Susquehanna River north of the city of Havre de Grace, Maryland.
See our full Susquehanna State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Marsh Creek State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 31 miles east of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 580 Park Road, Downingtown, Pennsylvania 19335
Marsh Creek State Park is a 1,705 acres (690 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Upper Uwchlan and Wallace Townships, Chester County, Pennsylvania in the United States.
See our full Marsh Creek State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Big Elk Creek State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 32 miles southeast of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 344 Strickersville Road, Landenberg, PA 19350
Big Elk Creek State Park is a state park in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Established 2022.
See our full Big Elk Creek State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Swatara State Park
Distance from Lancaster: about 33 miles north of Lancaster (straight-line).
Location: 1450 Suedberg Rd
Pine Grove, PA 17963
Swatara State Park is a 3,520-acre (1,420 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Bethel, Swatara and Union townships, Lebanon County and Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania in the United States.
See our full Swatara State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
