Unearth The Voyage
Pennsylvania has a quiet way of surprising you. One moment you are driving through rolling farmland, and the next you are pulling into a campground perched above a gorge so deep it earned the nickname the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The state packs an impressive range of landscapes into its borders, from ancient old-growth forests that have barely changed in centuries to a small mountain park where you can count tens of thousands of stars on a clear night. These 13 campgrounds each sit in a corner of Pennsylvania worth slowing down for, whether you are after waterfall hikes, lake paddling, world-class fishing, or simply a quiet spot under tall trees.
Each one offers something distinct, and the descriptions below will help you figure out which scenery suits you best before you pack the car and head out.
1. Ricketts Glen State Park Campground, Benton, Pennsylvania
Twenty-two named waterfalls are waiting for you here, and the tallest one, Ganoga Falls, drops a dramatic 94 feet through an ancient forest. Ricketts Glen holds National Natural Landmark status, and that title is well earned. The campground sits near 245-acre Lake Jean, which anchors the park’s 13,050 acres.
Campers can choose from RV sites, tent sites, primitive spots, group areas, and cabins. Summer weekends fill up fast, so booking in advance is a smart move. A 600-foot swimming beach on Lake Jean opens in late May and stays busy through mid-September.
The Falls Trail is the main draw, featuring rocky and steep terrain that rewards hikers with one spectacular cascade after another. Boat rentals, fishing, and picnic pavilions round out the options. Starting in 2027, a campground renovation will temporarily affect some sections, so check ahead before planning your trip.
2. Hickory Run State Park Campground, White Haven, Pennsylvania
Boulder Field alone is worth the drive. This 16-acre National Natural Landmark, filled with boulders up to 26 feet long and shaped during the last Ice Age, is one of the most unusual natural features in the entire eastern United States. Hickory Run stretches nearly 16,000 acres across the western foothills of the Pocono Mountains.
The campground offers more than 300 sites, including electric, full-hookup RV, walk-in tent, and ADA-accessible options. Glamping tents introduced in 2026 add a modern twist to the rustic experience. Bear-proof lockers keep food secure overnight.
Over 40 miles of trails wind through forests bursting with rhododendron blooms each June. Hawk Falls and Sand Spring Lake provide additional destinations within the park. Fishing is available in trout streams and at an ADA-accessible pier, and a 19-hole disc golf course offers a fun break between hikes.
3. Kentuck Campground, Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
Whitewater rapids, natural waterslides, and 27 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage all converge at one of Pennsylvania’s most action-packed state parks. Kentuck Campground sits within Ohiopyle State Park, set above the Youghiogheny River Gorge in the heart of the Laurel Highlands. The scenery here is rugged in the best possible way.
The campground holds 200 sites ranging from walk-in tent spots to RV pads accommodating rigs up to 50 feet. Most sites include electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables. Some areas have uneven terrain, so leveling blocks are worth packing.
Hikers can tackle a 6.3-mile section of the strenuous Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, which passes scenic overlooks and rocky creek crossings. Backpackers can reserve overnight shelter areas spaced every 8 to 10 miles along the full 70-mile trail. The combination of river, trail, and forest makes this campground a genuine outdoor hub.
4. Leonard Harrison State Park Campground, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
Standing at the rim of Pine Creek Gorge, with the creek running more than 800 feet below, it becomes obvious why this place earned the nickname the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Leonard Harrison State Park sits on the eastern rim of the gorge, within Tioga County’s stunning Tioga State Forest. Bald eagles and river otters, reintroduced in the 1980s, now call this area home.
The campground runs from April to October and offers 28 sites total, with 24 RV spots and seven featuring 50-amp hookups. Six pet-friendly sites are available. Facilities include flush toilets, hot showers, and a playground.
The Turkey Path trail descends the canyon wall past waterfalls and exposed rock layers, eventually connecting to the 62-mile Pine Creek Rail Trail below. Autumn foliage from late September through mid-October draws visitors from across the region. Seasonal programs cover topics from lumber heritage to local geology.
5. Cook Forest State Park Campground, Cooksburg, Pennsylvania
Some of the trees here have been standing for nearly 450 years, and walking beneath them feels like entering a different era entirely. Cook Forest’s Forest Cathedral, a grove of towering white pines and eastern hemlocks, holds National Natural Landmark status and ranks among the tallest old-growth forests in the eastern United States. The park covers 8,500 acres in northwestern Pennsylvania.
The Ridge Campground sits about a mile west of the park office and features spacious sites in multiple configurations, including non-electric, electric, and full-hookup options. Some sites are nestled within a large pine stand. Facilities include bathhouses, laundry machines, an amphitheater, and a playground.
Forty-seven miles of trails explore four distinct old-growth forest areas. The Clarion River runs through the park and is popular for canoeing, kayaking, and tubing. Tom’s Run, stocked with trout, and a children’s fishing pond near the park office make this a well-rounded destination for families.
6. Cherry Springs State Park Campground, Coudersport, Pennsylvania
On a clear night at Cherry Springs, you can see up to 30,000 stars, along with the Milky Way, visible planets, and passing meteor showers. That is not a typo. This 82-acre park in Potter County holds Gold-tier International Dark Sky Park status and was only the second such park designated in the entire United States.
The rustic campground has 30 open-field sites that operate from mid-April through late October. Sites accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet, and hookups are intentionally absent to preserve darkness. Reservations are not accepted here, so it operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
The park sits atop the Allegheny Plateau at 2,300 feet elevation, surrounded by the 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest. Annual Star Parties in June and September draw astronomers and photography enthusiasts. The Susquehannock Trail, offering 85 miles of hiking and backpacking, passes nearby for daytime adventures.
7. Locust Lake State Park Campground, Barnesville, Pennsylvania
Locust Lake runs on a strict electric-motor-only policy, which keeps the water calm and the atmosphere genuinely peaceful throughout the camping season. The 52-acre lake sits within 1,772 acres of forested terrain on the side of Locust Mountain, and the surrounding habitat supports 16 species of migratory raptors along with deer, turkey, and screech owls.
The campground offers 282 wooded sites for tents, trailers, and RVs. Seventy-seven sites include 50-amp electric connections with water hookups, and 125 additional non-electric sites also provide water access. Each site comes with a parking pad, picnic table, and fire ring.
A sandy swimming beach opens in late May and stays active through mid-September. Seasonal rentals cover kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, pedal boats, and rowboats. A paved 1.3-mile loop around the lake is ADA-accessible, and nearly seven miles of hiking trails wind through the surrounding forest and along Locust Creek.
8. Promised Land State Park Campground, Greentown, Pennsylvania
Perched at 1,800 feet on the Pocono Plateau, Promised Land State Park surrounds two lakes with 12,464 acres of Delaware State Forest on all sides. The 422-acre Promised Land Lake and the smaller 173-acre Lower Lake anchor a landscape of beech, oak, maple, and hemlock, dotted with rocky glacial features and wetlands. Wildlife here includes deer and a wide variety of migratory birds.
Six campground areas offer everything from rustic tent sites to full-hookup RV spots. Historic Bear Wallow Cabin Colony, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, adds a layer of history to the overnight options. Safari-style glamping tents are also available through Timberline Glamping.
Roughly 50 miles of interconnected trails connect to the broader Delaware State Forest trail network. Five boat launches serve paddlers and anglers targeting trout, bass, muskellunge, and more. Two sandy beaches open for swimming each summer, making this one of northeastern Pennsylvania’s most complete camping destinations.
9. Worlds End State Park Campground, Forksville, Pennsylvania
Despite the dramatic name, nobody disappears here. Worlds End State Park takes its title from the S-shaped valley carved by Loyalsock Creek in Sullivan County, and the scenery lives up to the intrigue. Steep forested ridges, exposed rock cliffs, and a creek bottom of smooth water-polished stones create a landscape that rewards explorers at every turn.
The campground includes a family area arranged in two loops, a group tenting section, and cabins. Each loop has its own bathhouse with showers. Primitive sites are also available in the surrounding Loyalsock State Forest for those seeking extra solitude.
The 59.2-mile Loyalsock Trail is one of the park’s signature features, with strenuous sections including steep climbs and rock scrambles. The Canyon Vista Trail climbs over 900 feet to a sweeping overlook of the gorge. Fall foliage from late September through October is consistently spectacular, drawing photographers and hikers from across the region.
10. Kinzua Bridge State Park Campground Area Nearby at Kinzua East KOA, Bradford, Pennsylvania
A tornado in 2003 partially destroyed a 301-foot-tall railroad viaduct, and instead of removing the wreckage, engineers turned it into one of Pennsylvania’s most fascinating attractions. The Kinzua Sky Walk now extends 600 feet out over the gorge, ending at a partial glass platform where visitors look straight down at the fallen towers below. The park is open year-round from 8 AM to sunset.
Kinzua East KOA operates seasonally from mid-April through late November inside the Allegheny National Forest, which borders the campground on two sides. Full-hookup sites accommodate RVs up to 50 feet. Amenities include clean bathrooms, a camp store, WiFi, and an Olympic-sized pool.
The KOA sits roughly seven miles from Kinzua Wolf Run Marina and about 10 minutes from the 12,000-acre Allegheny Reservoir, where pike and walleye fishing is popular. Jake’s Rocks and Willow Bay are also close by for additional day trips into the national forest.
11. Raystown Lake Susquehannock Campground, Hesston, Pennsylvania
Raystown Lake stretches 32 miles and covers 8,300 acres, making it the largest lake located entirely within Pennsylvania. Built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1973, it reaches depths of around 200 feet near the dam and is fed by the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. The surrounding 21,000 acres of oak-hickory forest stay largely undeveloped, which keeps the shoreline wild and wide open.
Susquehannock Campground offers over 60 renovated sites near mile marker seven, including more than 20 tent-only spots. All sites are non-electric and feature level pads, fire rings with grills, and picnic tables. Many sites sit directly on the water, while others are a short walk from the lake.
Boating has no horsepower limit, so water skiing and wakeboarding are both fair game alongside paddling. Over 65 miles of trails cross the area, including the 32-mile Allegrippis Trail accessible directly from the campground. The campground closes after Labor Day each year.
12. Prince Gallitzin State Park Campground, Patton, Pennsylvania
Glendale Lake has 26 miles of shoreline tucked into the forested hills of the Allegheny Plateau, and Prince Gallitzin State Park wraps around nearly every inch of it. The 1,635-acre reservoir was completed between 1959 and 1960, and its numerous coves and wetlands now attract ospreys, herons, waterfowl, and migrating songbirds each spring and fall.
The campground is one of the largest in Pennsylvania’s state park system, with 430 to 437 total sites including tent, RV, primitive, and group options. Ten modern cabins operate year-round and include full kitchens and bathrooms. A camp store, laundromat, amphitheater, and multiple playgrounds add convenience to the experience.
Nine public boat launches serve anglers targeting bass, pike, muskellunge, and crappie on Glendale Lake. Muskrat Beach opens for swimming each summer. The park’s 24 hiking trails include the scenic Lakeshore Trail, and winter visitors can enjoy ice fishing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.
13. Parker Dam State Park Campground, Penfield, Pennsylvania
Elk sightings are genuinely possible here. Parker Dam State Park sits on the eastern edge of the Allegheny Plateau, surrounded by the Moshannon State Forest, which is known for Pennsylvania’s famous elk herd roaming nearby. The 968-acre park centers on a peaceful 20-acre lake within an almost entirely wooded landscape of second-growth hardwoods, conifers, and wetlands.
The campground provides 23 full-hookup sites, 56 electric sites, and 29 non-electric sites for tents and RVs. Rustic and modern cabins are available for rent as well. Shaded sites, hot showers, coin laundry, and a seasonal camp store from Memorial Day through Labor Day keep the stay comfortable.
Sixteen miles of trails extend into the surrounding Moshannon State Forest, ranging from easy to moderate. Mountain biking is permitted on several connector trails. The sandy beach opens for swimming in late May, and fishing in Parker Lake and its stocked trout streams keeps anglers busy through all four seasons.
