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Established Camping

Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park

About

Primitive Camping Area at Bald Eagle State Park is a gem tucked away near Howard, PA. This spot is perfect for those who want to get back to basics without completely roughing it. The campground is open from May to the third Sunday in October, giving you a good chunk of the year to enjoy its offerings.

The sites here are spacious and private, with many nestled back into the woods. Each site comes with a picnic table and a fire ring, making it easy to set up camp and get a fire going. There's no electricity or sewer hookups, but potable water spigots are scattered throughout the area, and there's a sanitary dump station available. Pets are welcome, so feel free to bring your furry friends along.

One of the standout features is the peaceful atmosphere. Midweek stays are particularly quiet, with only a few sites occupied. The campground is a mix of tent and RV sites, but the tent sites are more secluded, giving you that true camping feel. Some reviewers mentioned that the walk-to sites are especially private, with their own paths leading into the woods.

For activities, you've got a few trails to hike right on-site, and the lake nearby is great for kayaking and swimming. There's even a nice beach on the other side of the lake if you want to take a dip. Firewood is easily accessible, with some available for purchase right at the beginning of the loop.

The bathrooms are basic but functional, with vault toilets that are cleaned regularly. Just be prepared for the typical vault toilet smell. If you're looking for a rustic, peaceful camping experience with the convenience of a few amenities, Primitive Camping Area at Bald Eagle State Park is a solid choice.

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Location

Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park is located in Pennsylvania

Detail location of campground

Directions

Located along PA 150 between Milesburg and Lock Haven. From I-80 west, take Exit 158 to PA 150 north for about 10 miles. From I-80 east, take Exit 178 to US 220 north, to PA 150 south for about 13 miles. From I-99 take Exit 61 to Port Matilda, then US 220-ALT, continue onto 150 north to park.

Address

1 Rustic Loop
Howard, PA 16841

Coordinates

41.01860062 N
77.64004082 W

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Access

  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

18 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 9, 2021

2 night stop over

Primitive campsite on south side of lake. Very helpful and friendly site personnel. Midweek was very quiet with maybe only 2 or 3 sites taken and no one on our stretch (perfect). Damp this time of year due to mist etc. but ok. We were on lower part of site closer to rail line but no big deal ie. 4 trained in 2 days, latest one at 9:20PM and not a long one (plus trainers are cool so all good) hiked two of the three trails at the site, both nice. Used one of the drive through sites just because everything was open hence liked how it worked out for us.

Site043
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Stuart E., October 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Stuart E., October 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Stuart E., October 9, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2021

Private Walk-to Sites

I really loved these private walk-to sites. Each site had a spot along the road and then their own path back into the woods. The site itself was very roomy and level with a picnic table, fire ring, and big spot for a tent. The bathroom had a dishwashing sink around the back and there were potable water spigots throughout the campground.

SiteR019
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Casey L., September 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Casey L., September 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Casey L., September 29, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2021

Neat campground but sketchy bathrooms

The sites are very cool at this campground. They are very spacious and help you feel closer to nature. The bathrooms are very bad though

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Nick D., July 26, 2021
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Nick D., July 26, 2021
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Nick D., July 26, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 8, 2020

A Relaxing Getaway is

We stayed at a tent site, T35 and it was wonderfully secluded. The site itself was fairly uneven and rocky so we had to always use caution when walking around the site but it added to the rugged experience. There are 3 sets of vault toilets around the one way loop and they seemed clean but definitely smelled like vault toilets do. There are usually a lot of spigots around the campsite to get water but right before we left for our trip I got a notification that there was a waterline issue and there would be centrally located water. It ended up being a big portable water truck near the first set of vault toilets on the loop. The primitive campsite is a mix of RV and tent sites and has a good mix of both. The tent sites are definitely more secluded and situated back in the woods, you do have to walk a small path to get to your site and the parking is on the road. We really enjoyed our long weekend kayaking, swimming in the lake (there is a really nice beach on the other side of the lake) and just generally relaxing at our campsite. The rest of the park is situated about a 10 minute drive across the lake. Firewood is very accessible and some right at the beginning of the loop (cash only). Overall we really enjoyed the campsite as well at the State Park, it has a lot to offer.

  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Chelsea H., September 8, 2020
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Chelsea H., September 8, 2020
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Chelsea H., September 8, 2020
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2020

Amazing

We stayed at the campground while visiting the State Forest in early September 2019. We enjoyed our stay. We camped very close to the shower houses which was a plus.

Reviewed Jul. 11, 2020

Sleep here. You'll be back.

Bald Eagle camp ground is set in the center of a beautiful state park. There are ~60+ camping sites-- some close to the road and others set back into the woods. We slept so well, hiked and relaxed on the beach. Attn LOVE BIRDS there is also a hotel/ wedding venue within this state park.

  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Kamri J., July 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Kamri J., July 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Kamri J., July 11, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 12, 2019

Quiet, Clean & Convenient

We needed a break from the rest area sleeping. We found this site on here and on iOverlander.

The sites are clean, flat and spread out. You can see everyone but you don’t feel like you are on top of one another.

The bathrooms were clean and the shower was hot and much needed. The fireflies were in rare form and the wildflowers that outline the camping were beautiful.

I would stay here again when passing through Pennsylvania.

  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Tiff H., July 12, 2019
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Tiff H., July 12, 2019
Reviewed Jul. 7, 2019

Beautiful area, sparse trees

The area is beautiful, but the campground is not wooded. It was cleared, some landscaped trees but not enough, grassy areas and paved areas. The campground is surround by woods. The beach is not easily walkable from the campground, 3 mile walk on a muddy overgrown path, then on the street with no sidewalk. Beach is beautiful, very calm, warm water for early July, soft sand and nice large trees for shade.

Reviewed Jun. 18, 2019

Rustic Campground: Cozy and Private

The rustic campground has some parking sites, but we are most fond of the sites with a short walk in. Usually they’re very private. Some clusters allow dogs. Nearby lake access through a tunnel under the tracks near the bathrooms. Two points for trail access along the campground road.

  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Sean Y., June 18, 2019
Reviewed Aug. 16, 2018

Watch for trains

I throughly enjoyed my time at Bald Eagle State Park. We stayed at a tent site, I believe 58 in the rustic camping section. The rustic section was located around a large loop with each site ranging in a few feet from the car-friendly loop to about the 50 foot walk where our site was located. While this is a primitive site, planning ahead you can place yourself near the vault toilets. If there was running water in the bathrooms– we didn’t find it! There are several water pumps located around the loop and we used that for washing dishes. Our site had space for two tents with a nice fire ring and picnic table. The fire ring was actually one of the best I have experienced– featuring a grill grate with adjustable levels for exposure to heat. The site also had a hook for keeping food or garage elevated from critters. Hammock lovers: we had plenty of trees to easily string our hammock near the picnic table/fire ring. Now the trains. An active railroad sits about 75 feet away from several of the rustic sites. We noticed the 7 p.m. train on Saturday evening. What we didn’t expect was being awoken at 5 a.m. to a freight train blowing through full steam– really gets your heart pumping– did not need coffee that morning. The rustic area also has access to a trail that loops about two miles near the lake and rustic campground. It was a fun place!

  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Cam N., August 16, 2018
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2018

Great Getaway

Clean facilities, nice little beach with playground, warm showers available— all-around good place!

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Karie Anne P., July 29, 2018
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Reviewed Jul. 25, 2018

Mostly A place to Stay while boating

A small campground on the large Bald Eagle Lake. the campground is actually a short drive down the road from the bulk of the park, but still has a boat launch area.

Campaites vary from nice large sites set back from the road up some stone stairs or pathway, to small grassy pull offs on the side of the road. We stayed at one of the set back sites.

There is not much in the area in terms of supplies or stores. there was an old Unimart Gas station on Howard PA that is now closed. There is a pizza place that sells bags of ice as well as a small outdoors store we didn’t visit.

There is are a few vault toilets in the loop as well as a plethora of water pumps.

Other campers were very loud and didn’t follow much in terms of usual campground etiquette.

  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Kevin D., July 25, 2018
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Kevin D., July 25, 2018
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Kevin D., July 25, 2018
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2018

We loved it!

Well maintained, sites are spacious, lots to do in the park, clean bathrooms and friendly staff. We will be back for sure!

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Greg A., July 20, 2018
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Greg A., July 20, 2018
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Greg A., July 20, 2018
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jul. 16, 2018

Perfect for Family Camping, Kayaking, & Fishing

Bald Eagle State Park is a great place to camp, fish, kayak, boat, bike and hike. We camped here in the off season. The two commercial camping areas are great and provide all of the comforts of commercial camping, complete with yurts and cabins. We drove around the lake to check out the primitive camping locations also. They are very well maintained with an outhouse toilet facility. I was impressed at how clean every site was

The lake is huge with a beautiful beach to spread out on and play in the sand! We kayaked and biked all over the park. We also fished a lot. Due to the large size of the lake we didn’t feel like we were on top of other people fishing.

Our kids loved the freedom of riding their bike and exploring the park with other kids who were camping. We are glad we camped here!!

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Jamie M., July 16, 2018
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Jamie M., July 16, 2018
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Jamie M., July 16, 2018
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jun. 15, 2018

my 1st pick every time!

this is my favorite campground been coming here for the past 4 years. some of the sites are a little hard to get into because of the loop. I have camped at a few campground, but this is a campground I can’t wait to come back too! there isn’t a bad site, the water is a good water, but once you get there you will love the beach! we love to camp here over the 4 of July, there are spots that if it rains we can still have our cook out with our group. we go back in August this year and I can’t wait!

Reviewed Aug. 10, 2017

Not bad

Stayed in Primitive Area with RV which is MUCH QUIETER & MUCH MORE PRIVATE with many trees than the full hookups down in the main park area. The developed Campground is very "exposed" - not private, sites close to each other, no trees. Yuk. But closer to the water. It's a bit of a drive to Primitive Campground on not so good road, but worth it, I think.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Rebecca E., August 10, 2017
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Rebecca E., August 10, 2017
  • Review photo of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park by Rebecca E., August 10, 2017
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 15, 2016

Fine campground

The campground was primitive and the area is very nice. We had a great time here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the elevation of Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park?

Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park is located at 717 feet.

Are fires allowed at Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park does not have wifi.