Top 12 Campgrounds Pennsylvania
A campground is an outdoor area or facility where people can set up temporary shelter and spend the night, typically in tents or recreational vehicles (RVs). Campgrounds are commonly found in natural settings such as forests, beaches, mountains, and other scenic areas.
More than 120 state parks dot Pennsylvania’s beautiful landscape, which is traversed by the Appalachian Mountains and home to picturesque recreation areas like the Laurel Highlands. Visitors can camp overnight in beautiful park areas such as Ohiopyle State Park, which is known for its waterfalls and incredible whitewater rafting opportunities.
These campgrounds provide overnight stays ranging from primitive backcountry and lakeshore campsites to modern rental cabins and cottages with full kitchens and modern luxuries. Some campgrounds also provide one-of-a-kind glamping experiences, such as Mongolian-style yurts and fully-equipped luxury RVs.
Prepare to pitch your tent, park your RV, or settle into a cabin or yurt for a stay in one of the country’s most beautiful states.
Best Campgrounds Pennsylvania
1. Black Moshannon State Park
Black Moshannon State Park in Rush Township is a lovely 3,481-acre Pennsylvania state park located along the banks of beautiful Black Moshannon Lake. The park, which is near the state’s beautiful Allegheny Front, is surrounded by the beautiful Moshannon State Forest and contains the state’s largest reconstituted bog and wetland complex. Throughout the park, rare carnivorous plants and cold-weather species not typically found as far south as the United States are on display.
Following forest fires in the early twentieth century, the Civilian Conservation Corps created the park, which includes a number of National Register of Historic Places-listed buildings. Throughout the year, swimming, boating, cold-water fishing, and hunting are popular outdoor recreational activities at the park.
Nearby Attractions:- Skytop Mountain Golf Club, Sxm Hillside Plantation And Eco Resort, The Painting Broad Studio, Buffalo Run Farm, RJ’s Pub and Grill.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 4216 Beaver Rd, Philipsburg, PA 16866
Phone no:- +1 814-342-5960
2. Caledonia State Park
Caledonia State Park is a charming 1,125-acre Pennsylvania state park named after the historic Caledonia Furnace, which was operated during the nineteenth century by noted abolitionist and state representative Thaddeus Stevens. During the American Civil War, Confederate forces destroyed the furnace, partly as a protest against his anti-slavery views. Today, the park built on the site of the furnace contains over 10 miles of hiking trails, as well as a summer stock amphitheater, a swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course.
Nearby Attractions:- Totem Pole Playhouse, Michaux State Forest, Norlo Park.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 101 Pine Grove Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222
Phone no:- +1 717-352-2161
3. Clear Creek State Park
Clear Creek State Park is a delightful 1,211-acre Pennsylvania state park in Jefferson County that opened to the public in 1922 and was developed during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lovely state park, just 12 miles from Brookville, sits at the confluence of the Clarion River and Clear Creek and is a popular year-round destination for hiking, fishing, and hunting.
A canoe launch is available on the Clarion River’s banks, which is home to trout, bass, and panfish populations. Between April and December, 22 lovely rustic cabins built by the CC are available for weekly rental, while two Mongolian-style yurts are available for nightly rental.
Nearby Attractions:- Double Diamond Deer Ranch.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 38 Clear Creek Park Rd, Sigel, PA 15860
Phone no:- +1 814-752-2368
4. French Creek State Park
French Creek State Park is a sprawling 7,526-acre Pennsylvania state park in Berks and Chester Counties that straddles the banks of lovely French Creek. The park contains two beautiful lakes: 68-acre warm-water Hopewell Lake and 22-acre cold-water Scotts Run Lake. The latter lake is best known as the location of the current state record smallmouth bass catch. Extensive forest lands dot the park’s terrain, which is home to over 40 miles of hiking, equestrian, and technical mountain biking trails.
Sixpenny Day Use Area and Group Camp, located near the city of Birdsboro, is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are 201 wooded and modern campsites available, as well as 10 modern rental cabins.
Nearby Attractions:- Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Crow’s Nest Preserve.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 843 Park Rd, Elverson, PA 19520
Phone no:- +1 610-582-9680
5. Ironwood Point Recreation Area
Ironwood Point Recreation Area is a delightful recreational area on the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack that offers a variety of watersports opportunities to visitors all year. Rental shops throughout the park’s region rent boats, kayaks, canoes, and jet skis for use on the lake’s shores, which are also a popular year-round destination for trout, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass fishing.
Hiking trails wind through the park’s lovely terrain, which also includes playgrounds and day-use picnic areas. Showers, restrooms, laundry rooms, a camp store, and free wireless internet are available at overnight campsites.
Nearby Attractions:- Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Crow’s Nest Preserve.
Website:- ironwoodpoint.com
Address:- 155 Burns Hill Rd, Greentown, PA 18426
Phone no:- +1 570-857-0880
6. Ricketts Glen State Park
Ricketts Glen State Park encompasses 13,050 acres in Pennsylvania’s Sullivan, Luzerne, and Columbia Counties and has been designated as a National Natural Landmark to protect its beautiful old-growth forest stretches. The lovely park, near Benton, is home to 24 beautiful waterfalls on picturesque Kitchen Creek, which flows from the Allegheny Plateau to the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachian range through the Allegheny Front escarpment.
Today, it provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking, as well as winter sports such as cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and ice rock climbing.
Nearby Attractions:- Brace’s Stables, Colonel Ricketts Hard Cider, Mill Race Golf Resort, Lopez Winery and Vineyard, The Bakery Complex.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 695 State Route 487, Benton 17814
Phone no:- +1 570-477-5675
7. Raccoon Creek State Park
Raccoon Creek State Park spans over 7,500 acres in Beaver County, just half an hour from Pittsburgh near the city of Hookstown. The charming state park is a top destination for year-round outdoor recreation in the greater Pittsburgh area, with opportunities for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing on its lovely trail system all year. It is on the grounds of the former Victorian-era Frankfort Mineral Springs site, which was run by Edward McGinnis in the mid-nineteenth century.
Overnight camping options include everything from modern tent and trailer campsites to luxurious rental cabins with full kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms.
Nearby Attractions:- Hillman State Park, McClurg Covered Bridge.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown, PA 15050
Phone no:- +1 724-899-2200
8. Promised Land State Park
Promised Land State Park, located in Pike County near Greentown, is a lovely 3,000-acre state park within Pennsylvania’s gorgeous Delaware State Forest. The park, which is located at an elevation of more than 1,800 feet above sea level, is one of the most diverse areas for outdoor recreation in the state, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has named it one of the state’s must-see state parks.
Native wildlife abounds, including American black bears and bald eagles, which can be seen from observation decks throughout the park. Overnight accommodations include four primitive and hookup site campgrounds, as well as beautiful rustic rental cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.
Nearby Attractions:- Lake Wallenpaupack.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 100 Lower Lake Rd, Greentown 18426
Phone no:- +1 570-676-3428
9. The Outflow Camping Area
The Outflow Camping Area is a charming campground area in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands, located along the state’s border with Maryland on the famous Mason-Dixon line. The camping area is located on the banks of beautiful Youghiogheny River Lake and features breathtaking natural scenery on all sides, including lushly forested mountainsides and steep valleys.
The beautiful lake, renowned for its trout fishing stock and public-access fishing pier, provides some of the best opportunities for watersports and power boating in southwestern Pennsylvania. Visitors can enjoy hiking, boating, and picnicking year-round at the site, which also has a full-service campground with tent and RV hookup campsites. Modern restrooms, showers, a dump station, and a children’s playground are among the amenities available to visitors of all ages.
Nearby Attractions:- Youghiogheny Lake, Ohiopyle State Park.
Website:- gaptrail.org
Address:- 1579 Mae West Rd, Confluence, PA 15424
Phone no:- +1 814-395-3944
10. Ole Bull State Park
Ole Bull State Park is located in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Black Forest region, which features stunning mountainous terrain and an abundance of native wildlife. The 132-acre park stretches across Potter County’s beautiful Kettle Creek Valley, providing visitors of all ages with year-round outdoor recreation opportunities. It is named after the famous Norwegian violinist Ole Bornemann Bull, who attempted to establish a Norwegian pioneer settlement in the area in the 1850s.
On Kettle Creek, there is a fishing dock for children and visitors with disabilities. Year-round camping is permitted at two campgrounds, which include electric hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, modern restrooms, and sanitary dump stations.
Nearby Attractions:- Kettle Creek State Park
Website:- gaptrail.org
Address:- 1579 Mae West Rd, Confluence, PA 15424
Phone no:- +1 814-395-3944
11. Gifford Pinchot State Park
Gifford Pinchot State Park encompasses 2,338 acres in northern York County, centered on the 340-acre Pinchot Lake, one of the best bass fishing spots in the state. Much of the park’s grounds are still undeveloped today, with several lovely nature trails, including the charming Mason-Dixon Trail, which provides opportunities for wildlife viewing. The park’s southern end features 289 visitor-use campsites, making it one of Pennsylvania’s largest public state park campgrounds.
Any type of camping equipment, from tents to large motor homes, can be accommodated at any of the sites. A children’s playground, a volleyball court, and horseshoe pits are available to visitors.
Nearby Attractions:- The Forum Auditorium, Naylor Observatory, H. A. Hartman & Son Storage.
Website:- www.dcnr.pa.gov
Address:- 2200 Rosstown Rd, Lewisberry, PA 17339
Phone no:- +1 717-432-5011
12. Rose Point Park Cabins & Camping
Rose Point Park Cabins & Camping is a well-known campground in New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA. The campground provides a variety of lodging options, such as cabins, RV sites, and tent camping areas.
Rose Point Park’s cabins are fully equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, heating, bathrooms, and kitchenettes.
Tent camping is available in a wooded area and provides a more rustic camping experience.
Rose Point Park has many amenities and activities to offer its guests in addition to the accommodations. A swimming pool, playground, volleyball court, basketball court, horseshoe pits, and a fishing pond are all available. Throughout the year, the campground also hosts a variety of events such as live music, festivals, and holiday celebrations.
Nearby Attractions:- Living Treasures Wild Animal Park, McConnells Mill State Park, Betsy’s Barn, Harlansburg Station.
Website:- rosepointpark.com
Address:- 8775 Old Rte 422, New Castle, PA 16101
Phone no:- +1 724-924-2415
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pennsylvania has a wealth of excellent campgrounds to suit all kinds of campers, from families to solo travelers. The Promised Land State Park offers a beautiful and tranquil setting in the Pocono Mountains, while Ricketts Glen State Park offers some of the most stunning waterfalls in the state. For those looking for a more adventurous experience, Ohiopyle State Park offers a range of outdoor activities, including white-water rafting and rock climbing. Meanwhile, Hersheypark Camping Resort provides fun for the whole family with its proximity to Hersheypark amusement park.
Finally, if you’re looking for a place to escape the crowds and enjoy some peace and quiet, try Cook Forest State Park, which offers plenty of hiking trails and natural beauty. Whatever your preferences and interests, Pennsylvania’s campgrounds have something for everyone.
