The Old Mill Stream Campground, out on Route 30 in the midst of the county's tourism strip, is taking summer reservations from folks in some unexpected places.
Leola. Mount Joy. Quarryville. Ephrata.
"Staying closer to home is the trend, I think," says Jim Breneman, the campground's general manager.
As gas prices approach or exceed $4 — and the cost to fill the tank for that trip to the Outer Banks starts to look like a budget-buster — the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau is noticing the phenomenon, too.
The people visiting its Web site are coming from awfully close to home these days. In May, Lancaster, Lititz, East Petersburg, Manheim, Smoketown and Mount Joy were among the top 25 hometowns of those who checked out the bureau's Web site. Several of those hometowns jumped 10, 20, even 30 spots from their May 2007 rankings, says spokesman Joel Cliff.
The pools are busy in Manheim Township, too. Memberships are up 25 percent this summer at Overlook and Skyline pools, says township recreation director Margie Lewis.
She says, "We get an awful lot of people saying, 'This is going to be our vacation.'"
Or "staycation," as some are calling the trend of taking off work, but staying close to home.
According to a recent survey by Rand McNally, two in three U.S adults who plan to take a road trip this summer say rising gas prices have changed their travel plans. About three in five, almost 60 percent, now plan to take a trip for a shorter amount of time and/or distance.
One in 10 have canceled or will cancel trips altogether.
The Visitors Bureau is noticing, and responding to, the trend in a number of ways.
A Lancaster couple recently came to the information desk at its Greenfield Road center, says Dan LaFauci, operations and human resources manager.
"They were getting brochures on things they could do together this summer, brochures from shops down Route 340, Bird-in-Hand, Kitchen Kettle Village, Strasburg Railroad," he says. "They thought they would stay close to home this summer."
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The Visitors Bureau will launch an advertising campaign this month targeting those kinds of visitors with a "Staycation" promotion.
Wal-Mart also is targeting the trend, with its advertisements for "Destination Backyard," touting patio furniture, grills and water toys; and "Summer Getaways," touting camping equipment.
Russ Colton, manager of the Ephrata Wal-Mart, says sales of those items are remaining strong, while sales of more high-end items, such as pricier electronic items, are a bit flatter.
He's not sure yet if that's due to people staying closer to home, or a sudden outbreak of summer weather.
At Lancaster County Park, pavilion rentals are strong, but that's not unusual. However, Frisbee golf is expected to be more popular this summer at Buchmiller Park, off Willow Street Pike, says spokeswoman Deb Werner.
The North Museum of Natural History and Science, near Franklin & Marshall College, also is gearing up for more local residents this summer.
To give stay-at-home families something to do mid-week, the museum will hold "What's Up Wednesdays," from July 9 through Aug. 13, which will feature anything from robots to bubbles to scavenger hunts, says Amanda Eckinger, museum spokeswoman.
Some folks, including officials at Dutch Wonderland and Hersheypark, say it's too early to tell if local people will stay closer to home this summer.
Linn Moedinger, president and chief mechanical officer of the Strasburg Railroad, has been at that attraction for 40 years this summer.
"To be perfectly honest with you, I've given up even guessing the things that affect what people do," he says.
It used to be the weather itself was a factor. Now it's the weather forecast, he says.
"It's kind of one of those deals that we'll know better at the end of the year," he says.
But he adds, "This would be a great time for locals to get acquainted with us. We hope they do that."
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR STAYCATION• Get your chores done early. Clean and ready your home ahead of time. Don't feel compelled to do fix-up projects. This is a vacation!• Take a picnic to a park or have a special theme barbecue at home. (Hamburgers with a toppings bar, s'mores around the chiminea.)• Make a day at a pool. Invest in dollar store toys and plan some water games.• Play tennis at a free court. Bike on a local trail. Take a hike. Spread out a blanket in the backyard and read.• Go out for breakfast or lunch. Splurge on a restaurant meal, since you won't be paying for hotels and gas.Staff writer Cindy Stauffer can be reached at cstauffer@LNPnews.com or 481-6024. 
