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Big Run State Park Campground offers primitive camping sites with pet-friendly accommodations near Swanton, Maryland. Campsites are widely spaced with ample room for setting up camp and accommodating pets. The campground features picnic tables and fire rings at each site, with fires permitted throughout the camping season. Pit toilets are available but the facility does not provide electric hookups, water hookups, or shower facilities. The sites positioned along the stream are particularly desirable, providing natural sounds and access to water. The park maintains hiking and walking trails accessible from the campground.
Shawnee State Park Campground, located approximately 90 minutes from Bittinger in Schellsburg, Pennsylvania, provides more developed camping facilities with electric hookups, water hookups, and sewer connections for RVs. The campground accommodates tents, RVs, cabins, yurts, and offers glamping options. Restroom facilities include flush toilets and hot showers. The park features a lake with fishing opportunities and a swimming beach, plus hiking trails surrounding the water. Campsites are situated within wooded areas though some sites may be positioned on sloped terrain. While the Pennsylvania Turnpike proximity creates some ambient noise, the natural setting and recreational amenities make this a popular option for visitors seeking more amenities than primitive camping provides.
"This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
from $10 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."
"It's close to some really great hiking--just outside the park--and that's how I ended up there."
from $24 - $122 / night
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TravelerCampground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private. Has wood vending machine at entrance for firewood. Hiking loop around lake is beautiful. Jean bonnet tavern nearby recommended for a great meal in a historic setting.
ScoutThis is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals
GuideShawnee State Park is about 2.5 hours east of Pittsburgh, and it has pretty much everything: swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and fairly decent hiking. It's close to some really great hiking--just outside the park--and that's how I ended up there. I was trekking on the very wild Mid-State Trail, nearby, when I opted for a night at the conventional campground in Shawnee. No regrets. I usually avoid car-camping because I don't want to listen to other people's classic rock in the woods. But this place was great. I came midweek, so I had the campground mostly to myself. The showers are hot and clean. The lake is beautiful with a nice swimming beach. The area around the park has all the scenic and historic attractions of central PA: covered bridges, big stone farmhouses, quaint towns. My only complaint is that the PA Turnpike screams a little too close by. Also, the sites are pretty close together, so be sure to look at a campground map beforehand to reserve one of the more isolated ones.
RangerWe stayed at Shawnee for 2 nights Memorial Day weekend just after Covid19 restrictions had been partially lifted. Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site. The fire ring is at an angle so cooking on it proved to be a challenge (we bring a grill grate with us just in case, and had to use it). Bathroom and showers were clean, bright, and there is a dish washing sink outside. Showers were push button but pressure was great and the water was hot (make sure you push the button once before you get in so its warm if no one else is showering at that time). Bring shower shoes. We were able to hear a small bit of traffic from the highway, but nothing that disturbed us. There are several stores within a 20 minute drive (Walmart, etc) and a mall an hour away. Camp wood at the entrance is $5 and is tiny; our biggest piece was a foot long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick! It was okay to start a fire, but we went into the woods and picked up dead wood that we cut into manageable logs. There weren't any roadside stacks of seasoned wood, so be prepared if it rains. The picnic table was saturated and too heavy to move, so we ate sitting in camp chairs. We would stay again.
LegendWe absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35’ TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.
TravelerYou have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. Frankly, the bare campsites are nicer - they are more spread out, wooded, and some of them are located right along the stream. Mosquitos are something of an issue, but by no means awful; and it is a pleasure to sleep in nature with nothing but birdsong and the sound of the rushing creek. It is close to the Savage River reservoir, which is great for kayaking.
ScoutThis is a nice park, close to home with a lake. We like to picnic and go fishing. There are nice trails, volleyball areas, and playgrounds.
GuideLanded here after a road trip and it was great after sleeping in the car for a few nights. There was a lot of space between each site and it was very peaceful, but the mosquitos sucked. The pit toilets were a nice long walk or a short drive away and not the worst I’ve seen. Definitely Would come back for a short stay - probably not for a whole camping trip.
GuideShawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Big Run State Park near Swanton offers campers basic amenities with sites positioned along a creek where water sounds provide natural white noise throughout the night. The sites are widely spaced in wooded areas that provide shade and privacy for primitive camping. Most sites can accommodate tent camping, though some visitors have successfully used smaller campers and hybrids up to 26 feet in length on certain sites. The nearby Savage River reservoir provides additional recreational opportunities for visitors looking to extend their stay.
Trout fishing access: Big Run State Park Campground features a stream that runs through the camping area where anglers can find trout and crayfish. "Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish. So quiet and very little traffic. Tons of space between sites," notes Nathan S. in his review of Big Run State Park Campground.
Kayaking and boating: The nearby Savage River reservoir provides opportunities for water activities within a short distance from camping areas. "The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks," shares Katie H. about her experience at Big Run State Park.
Trail exploration: Hike the loop trail around Shawnee Lake for excellent views and moderate exercise that's suitable for most skill levels. "The trail around the lake was incredible for biking - highly recommend! Everything in this park and campground are extremely well marked and maintained," writes Philadelphia Kaley R. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Creek-side sites: Campers consistently praise the sites positioned along the stream at Big Run State Park. "Beautiful campsite and loved the sound of the river as white noise!" explains Zoe H. who gave the campground a 5-star rating.
Spacious campsites: The distance between sites allows for privacy and a true nature experience. "Used lot 73 for a 26ft hybrid camper. Fit perfectly! It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. The kids loved playing in the water. Very quiet and relaxing!" shares Andy C. about his experience at Big Run State Park Campground.
Swimming access: Many visitors appreciate the sandy beach areas available at some nearby parks. "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating. The campground was nice, quiet and clean," notes Casey S. about Shawnee State Park.
Site selection matters: Not all sites are created equal, and many reviewers recommend checking site specifications before booking. "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked," warns Brittany V. about Shawnee State Park Campground.
Limited amenities: Be prepared for primitive camping conditions at some locations. "Pit toilets were pretty clean. Water and dump station is 10 minutes up the road at New Germany State Park," explains Nathan S. about Big Run State Park.
Insects can be problematic: Prepare for mosquitos, especially during warmer months. "It was great after sleeping in the car for a few nights. There was a lot of space between each site and it was very peaceful, but the mosquitos sucked," notes Aakansha J.
Ambient noise considerations: Despite natural settings, some campgrounds have proximity to highways. "As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise," mentions Lee D. about his Shawnee State Park experience.
Water play options: Families with children appreciate stream access at Big Run State Park. "Fit perfectly! It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. The kids loved playing in the water," shares Andy C. about Big Run State Park Campground.
Picnic facilities: Plan for outdoor meals at designated areas. "You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities," advises Mark K.
Playground access: Some parks offer play equipment for children. "A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground," notes Lee D. about the facilities available.
Check site leveling: RVers consistently mention the importance of selecting level sites. "My wife and I stayed for two nights at this campground and enjoyed it greatly. We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up," shares Gerard about Shawnee State Park Campground. He continues, "However, as we drove through the rest of the RV park area we noted that many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches."
Plan for hook-up availability: Some parks offer full hookups while others provide limited or no services. For horse campgrounds near Bittinger, Maryland and surrounding areas, check in advance about equestrian facilities and hook-up options.
Site spacing considerations: RV sites vary greatly in terms of privacy and space. "We stayed at Shawnee for 2 nights Memorial Day weekend. Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site," reports Danielle S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bittinger, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bittinger, MD is Big Run State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
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