Central PA Outdoor Swimming Guide for Daytrippers

I don't know about you, but when it's hot and humid outside, I'm looking for water. Specifically, iced, cold drinking water by a nice, big swimming pool. Last year, we joined one of the community clubs, but with both my husband and me working, we hardly ever went. We decided not to fork over the cash for it this year. But, you see, my son is a fish out of water. He is never so happy as he is when he's wet (not the diaper-variety wet, but virtually any other kind of wet—hoses, sprinklers, baths, showers, pools, you name it).

So, last week, feeling like a bad mom for choosing to save $250 over his supreme happiness, I started conniving—whom I could impose upon who has a pool? My aunt and uncle—maybe. My friend three hours away in New Jersey—nah. The neighbor up the street who's friends with our friends—too desperate. Then it occurred to me that maybe some pools offer daily admission to non-members. I was on a mission. Lucky for you, I am generously sharing my findings below, and Justin has been kind enough to add all of these places as Spotobe locations.

We ended up checking out the pool at Little Buffalo last weekend and found it to be quite lovely with attentive lifeguards and very reasonable prices at the snack bar. This weekend...haven't decided yet. Have fun exploring your options! (Just in case you're wondering, I snapped this photo, so you won't find me in it, just the husband and my fish.)

OUTDOOR POOLS in DAUPHIN COUNTY

City Island Beach (City of Harrisburg)
FACILITY: Not exactly a pool, but a beautiful beach setting on the banks of the Susquehanna
HOURS: Open June 14 through Labor Day, 12 noon–7:30pm. Signs are posted for lifeguard hours.
DAILY RATES: Free

Halifax Area Swimming Pool
FACILITY: Baby pool plus large pool with shallow end for younger kids, lap lanes and deep well with diving board and two waterslides
HOURS: 12:30–8:00pm daily
DAILY RATES: $5 per person, $3 after 6:00pm

Hershey Recreation Center
FACILITY: 50-meter pool, shallow play area, wading pool, sprinkle pool and 149’ waterslide
HOURS: 12:30-8:00pm (summer, non-member hours)
DAILY RATES: Admission $9 (adult)

Jackson-Lick (Harrisburg City Pool No. 1)
FACILITY: Public pool
HOURS: June 14 through Labor Day, open daily 12 noon–6:00pm
DAILY RATES: Adults (13-59) $2.50 for city residents, non-resident adults $5.00; children and seniors $1.50 resident, $3.00 non-resident

Hummelstown Swim Club
FACILITY: Baby pool; leisure pool with diving area; and competition pool with lap lanes.
HOURS: Mon-Sat 10:00am–9:00pm; Sun 1:00-9:00pm
DAILY RATE: $1 for Senior Citizens only (others must join for season or come with member for $3/day)
NOTE: Thanks, Deb, for your comment and addition to the listings!

Koons Memorial Swim Club (Linglestown)
FACILITY: Baby pool; competition pool with lap lanes and diving area with small slide.
HOURS: Daily 12 noon–8:00pm
DAILY RATE: $7 per person
NOTE: Pool phone has been shut off and I cannot confirm if it’s open or not this season!

Middletown (Olmstead) Community Pool
NOTE: Pool is closed for 2008 season for renovations.

Palmyra Community Pool
FACILITY: Three pools—main pool with 2 diving boards and waterslide; competition pool with 2 lap lanes and general swimming; and baby pool
HOURS: 12 noon–8:00pm daily
DAILY RATES: $8 for 10 and older; $4 for ages 4-9; free for ages 3 and under

Penn National Insurance Pool (Harrisburg City Pool No. 2)
FACILITY: Public pool
HOURS: June 14 through Labor Day, open daily 12 noon – 6:00pm
DAILY RATES: Adults (13-59) $2.50 for city residents, non-resident adults $5.00; children and seniors $1.50 resident, $3.00 non-resident

OUTDOOR POOLS in CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Boiling Springs Pool
FACILITY: Four pools; a one-foot-deep wading pool for small children, two intermediate pools with varying depths, and a 150-foot-long pool with a 90’ waterslide. Also two other waterslides.
HOURS: Click here.
RATES: Click here.

Camp Hill Borough Pool
FACILITY: Four pools—main competition pool with 8 lanes; diving well with two waterslides; wading pool (2-3’ in depth); and baby pool (1 foot in depth)
HOURS: Open June 6–Sept. 1 (except for school days) Mon-Sat 12 noon–8:00pm and Sun 1:00-8:00pm
DAILY RATES: $5.00 fee for non-resident visitors (must be accompanied by a pass-carrying member) and residents without a membership pass

Carlisle Community Pool
FACILITY: 800-sq-ft, zero-depth entry wading pool with teacup water feature and shaded areas, main pool with stainless steel gutter system, entry steps and ladders, lifeguard stands and new decking.
HOURS: Open Memorial Day through Aug 24, Sun–Fri 12 noon–7:00pm, Sat 12 noon–6:00pm
DAILY RATES: Children 4 and under are free; Adults (18-55) $4.00 for Borough residents, non-residents $6.00; children (5-17) and seniors (56+) $2.50 Borough resident, $4.00 non-resident; Sunset rate (after 5:00pm) $2.00 per person

Hampden Township Pool
FACILITY: 550,000-gallon main pool, 15,000-gallon wade pool, 120’ waterslide, interactive sprayground
HOURS: Open daily May 31 through Aug 24 from 11:30am–8:00pm (except July 12, opening at 1:00pm after swim meet)
RATES: Click here.

Lemoyne Community Pool
FACILITY: Main pool and baby pool
HOURS: Mon-Fri 12 noon-8:00pm, Sat & Sun 12 noon-5:00pm
DAILY RATES: $10 adult (13+), $8 for ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under

Mechanicsburg Area Community Pool
FACILITY: Baby pool, sprayground waterpark, pool with 2 waterslides; competition pool with 2 lap lanes
HOURS: 11:30am-7:30pm from June 9 through Aug 24
RATES: Daily: $9.00/day, $5.00/day after 5:00 pm, 3 and under are free; also single memberships for $90; family passes for $160

YMCA West Shore Branch Outdoor Center (New Cumberland)
FACILITY: Full-acre-size pool with depth variations; 14’ and 17’ waterslides; lap lanes; handicapped access
HOURS: Open daily 12 noon–8:00pm
RATES: Click here.

OUTDOOR POOL IN PERRY COUNTY
New Bloomfield Swimming Pool
FACILITY: Two pools—baby pool (1’ depth) and pool with diving well and 6 lap lanes. Water aerobics offered Monday and Thursday evenings at 7:00pm for $5 per class.
HOURS: Open daily 12:30-8:00pm through Labor Day (in August closes at 7:00pm)
DAILY RATE: $4 per person (ages 3 and under are free). After 6:00pm, admission is $2.

OUTDOOR SWIMMING IN LANCASTER COUNTY
Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach
FACILITY: Family-owned and -operated swim and recreation facility open to the public with eight acres of beach, recreation lawn and picnic grove, adjacent to mountain-stream-fed Lake Conewago. Offers giant wet slide, over-water swing, diving docks and rentals of all kinds.
HOURS: May 24 through Labor Day from 11:30am-6:30pm daily
DAILY RATES: Click here. Get coupons here.

Ephrata Community Pool
FACILITY: Olympic-size lap pool, kiddie pool and recreation pool
HOURS: Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting, Mon-Sat 12:30–8:00pm and Sun 1:00–8:00pm
DAILY RATES: Before 5:30pm—$3/preschooler, $5/student, $8/adult, $5/senior; after 5:30pm—$1.50/preschooler, $2.50/student, $4/adult, $2.50/senior

NEARBY STATE PARKS WITH SWIMMING
Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Gardners, PA)
LOW-DOWN: Pine Grove Furnace State Park’s beaches operate under the “Open-Swim” policy. Lifeguards will NOT be on duty, however beaches are patrolled by park staff. Swimming is permitted at designated spots, within the buoy line. Visitors are urged to be vigilant when their children are swimming and always follow posted rules and regulations. Swimmers are advised to exercise caution because of the extreme depths and cold subsurface waters.
HOURS: Beaches at Fuller and Laurel Lakes are open from late-May to mid-Sept, 8:00am to sunset.
RATES: Click here.

Colonel Denning State Park (Newville, PA)
LOW-DOWN: Park’s 273 acres include 3.5-acre lake with a swimming beach. Swimming is at your own risk, and they ask that patrons please read and follow the posted rules for swimming.
HOURS: The sand beach is open from late-May to mid-Sept, 8:00am to sunset.
RATES: Click here.

Little Buffalo State Park (Newport, PA)
LOW-DOWN: State-of-the-art, zero-entry swimming pool with two waterslides and separate sprayground.
HOURS: Memorial Day to Labor Day from 11:00am–7:00pm, weather permitting
RATES: Click here.

Gifford Pinchot State Park (Lewisberry, PA)
LOW-DOWN: Large, accessible beach in the Quaker Race Day Use Area. Swimming is at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming.
HOURS: Open from late-May to mid-Sept, unless otherwise posted. Swimming is permitted at the designated beach, within the buoy line from 8:00am to sunset daily.
RATES: Click here.