Nearby Attractions to Memorial Lake State Park

Information about Memorial Lake State Park’s nearby attractions is available from the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau.

Explore the Area

Memorial Lake State Park is located 12.5 miles northeast of Hershey, which provides a myriad of opportunities to eat, shop, and play. Closer to the park is a casino and the Army Reserve Base at Fort Indiantown Gap.

Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from the Hershey Partnership and the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.

Nearby State Parks and Forests

Memorial Lake State Park is close to several state parks, where visitors can enjoy recreation, education, and other activities.

Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area

The 1,025-acre Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area straddles Blue Mountain and is the habitat of large trees of numerous species, which are homes for deep forest birds, especially warblers.

Popular recreational activities include hiking, hunting, cross-country skiing, and wildlife watching.

Swatara State Park

The 3,520-acre Swatara State Park consists of rolling fields and woodlands situated in the Swatara Valley, between Second and Blue mountains. The scenic Swatara Creek meanders the length of the park and is surrounded by forests and wetlands that support a diversity of wildlife.

Recreational activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, and hunting.

Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area

The 803-acre Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area is dominated by large hardwood trees and is surrounded by Peters Mountain. This large block of nearly unbroken forest is a haven for wildlife.

The main attraction to the conservation area is the elaborate trail system which connects to the Appalachian Trail on the northern slope of Peters Mountain.

Little Buffalo State Park

Little Buffalo State Park is located in Perry County. Thousands of people meet at Little Buffalo every year to picnic, swim, fish, hike, and experience nature and history. The park has eight miles of trails for a wide range of physical abilities.

The main picnic area near the swimming pool features showers, first-aid station, play field, seasonal food concession, playground equipment, boat rental, two picnic pavilions that each seat 80 people, horseshoe pits, restrooms, and many picnic tables.

Other Nearby Outdoor Spaces and Natural Places

State Game Land 80 is to the northeast of the park and offers additional recreational opportunities.

Swatara Creek is located nearby and is good for kayaking and bird watching.