Pennsylvania offers an exceptional variety of camping destinations centered on lakes and reservoirs, from the sprawling waters of northwestern Pennsylvania to the glacially carved lakes of the Pocono Mountains. The state has more than 120 state parks, dozens of which include lakefront camping, swimming beaches, and boat launches. Whether you’re looking for a full-service RV resort or a state park tent site, the options below span the length of the state and represent some of its most popular and well-regarded campgrounds with lake access.
What is Pennsylvania’s largest state park?
Pymatuning State Park in Crawford County is among the largest state parks in the Commonwealth and the most visited. The park encompasses approximately 16,892 acres of Pennsylvania land (a portion of the reservoir extends into Ohio), and the 17,088-acre Pymatuning Reservoir at its center is the largest lake in Pennsylvania. The park has more campsites across its three campgrounds than any other state park in the system.
When does Pennsylvania’s camping season begin?
Pennsylvania’s state park camping season generally runs from late April through October, though certain parks including French Creek State Park and Ricketts Glen State Park offer year-round camping. Individual campground opening dates vary by park; check the DCNR’s Reserve America system or call 888-PA-PARKS for current availability.
1. Lake in Wood RV Resort
Located in Narvon, Lancaster County, about 90 minutes west of Philadelphia, Lake in Wood RV Resort is a gnome-themed private campground built around a six-acre lake. Fishing, boating, and swimming are available on the lake, and the resort has multiple accommodation types: RV sites, tent sites, yurts, tipis, covered wagons, and deluxe park model rentals. On-site amenities include a pool, spa waters, mini-golf, a playground, a kiddie pool, and a café. The property hosts live entertainment and themed events throughout the season.
2. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
This Yogi Bear-themed Camp-Resort in Mill Run, Fayette County, sits on 63 wooded acres along Stewart Run Creek in the southwestern Pennsylvania mountains. Activities include an aquatic play zone, mini golf, basketball and volleyball courts, gem mining, and laser tag. The campground operates seasonally, closed from early November to early April, with peak season in summer. Reservations are strongly recommended and are accepted up to six months in advance. Dogs are permitted only at RV sites, and Wi-Fi is limited to designated areas.
3. Hersheypark Camping Resort
Situated 3 miles from Hersheypark in Hershey, Dauphin County, this resort campground gives guests access to theme park perks including free parking and early-admission benefits. Discounts at the Hershey Story museum and Hershey Gardens are also available to resort guests. Weekend activities and events run from opening day in April through Labor Day. Prospective guests should note the campground is near an active railway line, and that RV sites are closely spaced. The campground itself does not have a lake but is included here for its proximity to other Hershey area water attractions.
4. Lake Raystown Resort
Lake Raystown Resort is a full-service private campground on Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County in central Pennsylvania. Raystown Lake, at approximately 8,300 acres, is the largest lake located entirely within Pennsylvania. The resort sits on three peninsulas with tent and trailer sites, yurts, and cottages directly on the water. Water activities include swimming at the beach, lake boating, stand-up paddleboarding, and a Wild River Waterpark. The Marina Café provides on-site dining, and the resort hosts weddings, family reunions, and retreats.
5. Allegheny River Campground
This private campground in Warren County sits along the upper Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania. The upper Allegheny is included in the National Wild and Scenic River system for a portion of its length through this region. The campground offers a mix of rustic tent sites and RV hook-ups, with cabins and a vintage RV rental also available. Fly fishing, tubing, kayaking, and canoeing are the primary activities. An on-site heated pool provides an additional option. The setting is remote and forested, suiting visitors looking for a quieter river experience.
6. Promised Land State Park
Promised Land State Park in Pike County sits in the heart of the Pocono Mountains and centers on two lakes: 422-acre Promised Land Lake and 173-acre Lower Lake, both available for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboating. The park’s 3,000 acres include a sandy swimming beach, more than 50 miles of hiking trails, and a diverse wildlife population including black bears, white-tailed deer, and numerous bird species. Accommodations include tent and trailer sites, modern cabins, and group camping facilities. The park is open year-round. A Pennsylvania fishing license is required; trout are stocked in season. Promised Land State Park is approximately two hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, making it one of the most accessible Pocono overnight destinations.
7. Buttonwood Campground
Buttonwood Campground is one of the larger private camping properties in central Pennsylvania, located in the Juniata River Valley in Mifflin County. It offers RV sites with hook-ups, tent sites, and cabin rentals, all pet-friendly. Guests can tube, kayak, or canoe on the Juniata River directly from the campground. On-site amenities include a pool, mini-golf, jumping pillow, and laser tag. The campground has a working winery on-site, and Hazard’s Distillery is nearby. Local attractions include golf courses, flea markets, a drive-in theater, and additional hiking and boating options.
8. Otter Lake Camp Resort
Otter Lake Camp Resort is a private campground in the Pocono Mountains in Monroe County, set on 300 forested acres surrounding a 60-acre lake. Canoeing, kayaking, fishing for bass, perch, and catfish, and swimming are the main lake activities. Modern amenities include tennis, racquetball, and basketball courts, four playgrounds, a splash park, and an arcade. Organized activities such as archery and crafts are scheduled through the season. Accommodation options include tent sites, RV sites, and cabin rentals.
9. Ricketts Glen State Park
Ricketts Glen State Park encompasses 13,193 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties in northeastern Pennsylvania — located about 30 miles northwest of Wilkes-Barre, well inland from the state’s eastern border. The park is best known for its Falls Trail, which passes 22 named waterfalls in the Glens Natural Area (a National Natural Landmark), with Ganoga Falls at 94 feet being the tallest. The surrounding old-growth hemlock and white pine forest includes trees estimated at over 500 years old.
The park’s lake, Lake Jean, covers 245 acres and offers swimming (at a designated beach), non-motorized boating, and fishing for brook and brown trout. Camping options include 120 tent and trailer sites and 10 modern furnished cabins (two of which are ADA-accessible). The park is open year-round, with camping available in all seasons. Hunting is permitted on approximately 10,000 acres of the park’s land.
10. Hickory Run State Park
Hickory Run State Park covers 15,990 acres in Carbon County in the western Pocono Mountains, in the area around White Haven. The park’s signature attraction is Boulder Field — a 16-acre expanse of sandstone and conglomerate boulders, some over 26 feet long, covering the flat floor of a small valley with virtually no vegetation. The field has remained largely unchanged for more than 20,000 years following the last glacial period and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1967. A self-guided interpretive brochure and trail plaques explain the periglacial processes that formed it.
Sand Spring Lake provides a sandy swimming beach open in summer (no lifeguards; swimming at your own risk). The park has more than 44 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, including the popular Hawk Falls Trail to a 25-foot waterfall. The campground offers approximately 127 tent and trailer sites in a forested setting with hot showers and flush toilets. Winter activities include snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The park’s active bear population means proper food storage is required for all campers.
For more on Pennsylvania outdoor recreation, see the guides to Pennsylvania fishing licenses, Pennsylvania counties, river fishing guides, and camping guides.
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