Pennsylvania is one of the most forested states in the US, home to forests like the Allegheny National Forest and the Pocono Mountains. Spanning over 16.8 million acres, it’s no wonder that many campers want to set up camp here.
From small regional campgrounds to large private campsites with amenities for RV travelers, Pennsylvania has a wide variety of camping options.
In this article, you can find out about the best ones around based on our experiences and research. We hope this helps you plan your RV trip!
1. The Poconos RV Park Campground
The owners and staff at the Poconos RV Park Campground make RVing easy and fun for RVers with their convenient location in the northern part of the Poconos. They have lots of activities like petting zoos, shopping, swimming, hiking, bowling, and tennis.
There’s a nice large campground, with 51 sites nestled away in a secluded wooded area. Each site features a 20′ x 40′ grassy spot for your RV and full hookups.
The park is clean and organized, which is great for RVers that are planning to camp for a long period of time. There are also bathrooms and showers, as well as a laundry room for laundry.
Nearby attractions range from golf and fishing to fine dining and wineries.
2. Gettysburg National Military Park Campground
Perhaps the most famous and historic park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is Gettysburg National Military Park. The Civil War battlefield was the site of the bloodiest single day in American history with over 20,000 soldiers killed.
Many believe this to be the site of the “ Gettysburg Address” given by President Abraham Lincoln to the army. It’s not just the history and battlefield that makes the Gettysburg area a great spot to camp.
It’s the friendly people, beautiful scenery, quiet surroundings, and abundant wildlife that make this a great place to explore. It’s also the only National Park that’s part of the National Park Service, making it a nationally protected area. Gettysburg has a variety of campsites surrounding the area. But camping is not permitted on the site itself except for youth groups.
Camping is strictly by reservation only on a first come first serve basis. There are only 10 campsites and they have heavy restrictions such as no pets allowed.
There are other private campgrounds in the surrounding area which make the trip worth it, such as the massive Gettysburg Battlefield Resort, which offers every amenity for RVers you can think of.
3. Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground
As a family-run campground, Pine Cradle Lake is pretty off the beaten path, but not far away from the U.S. & Stateline Road. If you’re looking for a family friendly campground with plenty of room to spread out, this is the place for you.
The owners have also worked to improve the campground’s amenities, making it the perfect place to bring the entire family. In addition to the canoe and kayak rentals, the campground also offers a heated swimming pool and a children’s playground.
Some other amenities include flush toilets, four-person cottages, fire pits, picnic tables, and more. Of course, the big draws are the campground’s seven lakefront sites, lakefront showers, a full-service laundry, a playground, a library, and WiFi.
4. West Haven RV Park and Campground
West Haven RV Park and Campground, located in Fairview, Pennsylvania, provides 3 campsites and one large RV site for RVs. Unlike many campgrounds, this is considered a true family campground.
They also have laundry, power hookups and extremely clean restrooms. West Haven RV Park is a very well kept campground with friendly staff and a nice rate for RV owners.
It’s located right next to Lake Erie. There’s a fully stocked fishing area along with lots of other activities where you can fish for trout and other fish. Kids will love West Haven due to all of the family fun activity available.
We really liked the super friendly staff who are always there to help with anything you might need. We suggest you try out their absolutely beautiful and recently renovated pool.
5. Sara’s Campground
Sara’s campground is often called a “perfect little hidden gem” by many travelers. The Erie, Pennsylvania campground offers RV sites but most people seem to go for the tent camping directly on the beach, since the campground is located right at the edge of Lake Erie.
Tent camping is on a first come first serve basis only, while RVers can of course make reservations. There are around 100 sites at the campground.
There are open and wooded areas for the campsites which is really nice. Amenities include full hookups, showers, gamerooms, playgrounds and much more.
Nearby attractions are plentiful. They include Waldameer Amusement Park, Splash Lagoon Water Park, Erie Zoo and many more areas to check out.
6. Leonard Harrison State Park Campground
If you’re interested in camping in Pennsylvania, you should check out Leonard Harrison State Park. This campground is located in the Pennsylvania Wilds (Pennsylvania has more than its fair share of natural beauty), and is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It covers around 585 acres in total.
The campground features a variety of man-made activities, like hiking trails, canoeing and picnicking, and swimming. The campground is also well maintained, with plenty of space and close proximity to the main campground.
Anything from bicycle riding to cross country skiing is allowed. Fishing is a popular activity here.The camp sites are offered both with and without electricity, so be sure to call ahead if you need to guarantee power at your park site.
7. Twin Grove RV Resort & Cottages Campground
Twin Grove is one of the best campgrounds you could ever visit. It has everything for beautiful cottages that you can rent, to full hookup RV sites. The resort offers daily all the way through monthly rates.
The RV sites all offer full 50 amp service. Free satellite TV and WiFi are on tap, as well as picnic tables with fire rings. There is a general store onsite for convenience as well as many other features.
Kids have plenty of activities to keep them busy, and there’s also a fantastic swimming pool area as well. Twin Grove is on of Pennsylvania’s best kept secrets.
8. Hersheypark Camping Resort Campground
Pennsylvania’s Hersheypark Campground is located right on the banks of Lake Hershey. This campground has over 200 sites with electric hookups and water available.
Their amenities include water spigots, full hookups for the RV and the pet friendly Hershey RV Resort. The pet friendly resorts come with many amenities for your furry friend including large dog runs, pet waste stations, water bowls, chew toys, and even dog dishes.
There is also a spot for RVers to “drop-in”. This gives people the chance to explore the park without feeling like they have to go back to their RV and hook it up. There are also many grassy areas in the campground where people like to camp in tents.
Kids (and adults) can go crazy at the amusement park connected to the massive property. There is something for everyone who heads out to Hersheypark (Yes, it’s the chocolate maker’s theme park) so be ready to have some extra fun when you visit.
9. Rose Point Park Campground
With 40 RV sites and 10 tent sites, Rose Point is a quiet getaway within easy driving distance from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Besides the amenities that a campground offers like electricity, water, and a dump station, there are a number of outdoor activities. The lake is a 25-acre park with many family-friendly activities, such as fishing and hiking. There is even a boat ramp.
The Park is a mile away from the Park Road that is lined with old growth forests, right beside the Pine Creek Gorge. There are a number of hiking trails that take you past old stone ruins.
Rose Point Park Campground is well established and well maintained.
10. Leonard Harrison State Park Campground
Though Leonard Harrison State Park isn’t near any cities, it offers a variety of activities like hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching. We made the trip there a few times, and it was our favorite state park in Pennsylvania.
The park is a decent size at around 585 acres in total. It offers all the modern amenities you would expect, such as a bathhouse, showers, playground and dumping stations. There are no onsite laundry facilities, but they can be found within a 10-mile radius of the campground.
Fishing, beautiful hiking trails (both moderate and difficult) hunting and more are offered at Leonard Harrison.
If you’re in a full-sized camper, it might be the perfect place for you. We were able to see some great wildlife in the area, like birds, deer, and turtles, and the lush landscape made the trip even better. We spent a few days at the state park, but you can camp there for as long as you need.
11. Lake-In-Wood Campground
Advertised by many RVers as one of the best campgrounds in Pennsylvania, Lake-In-Wood State Park may surprise you with its name. Located in Adams County near Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, it’s closer to the New York City area than the deep woods of northern Pennsylvania.
It offers RV camping and full hookups are available. It’s also a site where you can fish for trout in the summer and ice fish for trout in the winter.
However, you won’t find trout in the rivers and streams at Lake-In-Wood — only in other streams and lakes throughout the Poconos. A few other campsites in the park offer primitive camping.
If you’re not interested in hooking up and don’t mind sleeping in a tent or hammock, it’s an option to explore.
12. Fox Den Acres
Fox Den Acres Campground is a free-form campground with ample room for full-on campers to enjoy the view of the lake built onto the RV park. Located in New Stanton, Pennsylvania, the campground has easy access to many campgrounds on the shores of the lake, which provides an excellent place for RVers to visit.
Whether you are looking to camp in your Class A, big rig or in a tent, you will have easy access to the park’s three heated bathhouses, two laundry facilities, swimming pool and more.
Fox Den offers easy access to attractions such as Laurel Caverns, Living Treasures Animal Park, Hidden Valley Resort and many other locations. The Parks is also kid friendly and pet friendly too!
Wrapping Up
And there you have it. Thanks for checking out our review article of the Best RV campgrounds in Pennsylvania. As you can now tell, Pennsylvania has so much to offer Rvers looking to try something different. We hope to see you there soon. Happy RVing!
