Best Tent Camping near Austin, PA

Looking for an adventure where you can explore Austin and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Austin. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Austin, Pennsylvania (8)

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Showing results 1-8 of 8 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews near Austin, PA

445 Reviews of 8 Austin Campgrounds


  • J
    JoJo S.'s photo of tent camping at Riverhurst Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Jun. 24, 2023

    Riverhurst Park Campground

    Peaceful

    My family and I had a wonderful stay tent camping here. The grounds are huge and very well maintained, including the grass being mowed. There are large, beautiful trees to tent camp in the shade. There’s lots of amenities like volleyball, basketball, playground, swings, all in a safe area away from roads. There’s entrance spots to kayak/ play in the river. Other than a few mosquito bites, we left with a peaceful, wonderful time and memories. Including seeing an eagle fly over the river!

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Chuck M.'s photo of tent camping at S.B. Elliott State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Aug. 14, 2024

    S.B. Elliott State Park Campground

    Old and worn out

    A dingy place. The ground was swampy the only dry places are the gravel pads in the sites. I wouldn't tent camp here.

    On the plus side, strong AT&T and T-Mobile cell signals. (I don't have a verizon device)

  • K
    emma's photo of tent camping at Willow Bay Recreation Area near Austin, PA
    Apr. 9, 2021

    Willow Bay Recreation Area

    Beautiful

    Most beautiful and peaceful place to tent camp! Definitely a long drive for us but it was beautiful before we got the snow and even during (what we could see). One thing I didnt like was we have to drive to the hiking trails.

  • Travis S.
    Lesley J.'s photo of tent camping at Black Moshannon State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Jul. 27, 2017

    Black Moshannon State Park Campground

    Red Mo

    Nice campground, wooded sites and most were okay for tent camping however some required your tent to be set up a small distance from the fire ring. Clean showerhouses and bathrooms. Big Lake and a few miles of hiking and biking trails right from the campground.

    The Iron Ore mines from the past have left the creek water stained red which is why its called the Red Mo with the locals.

  • Chelsea H.
    Casey L.'s photo of tent camping at Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park near Austin, PA
    Sep. 8, 2020

    Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park

    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.

  • Robyn B.
    Tara's photo of tent camping at Little Pine State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    May. 26, 2021

    Little Pine State Park Campground

    Close to rails to trails, quiet and peaceful

    We go here every year. Electric hook up, and very nice tent sites along creek. Does get crowded on nice weekends but mostly families. A short drive down to pine creek rails to trails. Beautiful ride through creek canyon. Nice little store at entrance, and several hikes from park.

  • Denise D.
    Lesley J.'s photo of tent camping at Black Moshannon State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Jun. 19, 2018

    Black Moshannon State Park Campground

    Super place for the family and everyone.

    Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early. It has sites to accommodate any R.V. and lot of tent sites. The lake has lots to offer. Swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife watching and a big sky view for star gazing.

  • M
    Amanda K.'s photo of tent camping at Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park near Austin, PA
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    Largest State Park in NYS

    This campground has something for everyone-camper and RV sites with and without electric, tent sites, single cabins, group cabins, etc. It has two beaches, several hiking trails that range in difficulty, points of interest (ex-thunder rocks is a must see), two camp stores, a museum, gift shop and restaurants. It truly has something for every kind of camper.

  • Gina M.
    Michelle L.'s photo of tent camping at Lyman Run State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Aug. 6, 2018

    Lyman Run State Park Campground

    Sites were a little too close together

    We booked a tent site, and there was only one small patch of grass where we could set up our tent. But the people next to us were in a big group and already had their tents set up very close to our grass, and we didn't feel comfortable camping that close to people. My brother had an RV site, so we went down to his and set up our tent there and it was much nicer. The fire pits are very nice, and the hiking trails in the park are great.

  • Matthew H.
    Casey L.'s photo of tent camping at Parker Dam State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Parker Dam State Park Campground

    Nice park, Surprisingly Nice Swimming Beach, and the Dam is pretty impressive.

    Stayed at one of the two "Tent Only" sites in the campground. These two sites are shaded, surrounded by trees and pretty much private to the rest of the "Modern" campground. When staying in these sites, you can see from tent site to tent site, noise was not an issue though. You can quickly walk down to the Dam from these sites (like a 5 min easy walk, down a stepped hill).

    Bathrooms are really nice and clean, with showers. Bathrooms have lights, heat, and exhaust fans. Everything was kept really clean on a packed July weekend.

    I ventured around the "Cabin" area, cabins look really nice (comfortably primative with an external bathhouse, with cabin key only access, containing a potty and shower) some cabins were more.private than others.

    Swimming at the beach was surprisingly nice. Water depth is very suitable for young kids. There roped off "Swimming Area" only reached maybe 4-5ft. Row Boats, Kayaks, Peddleboats, Canoes can be rented cheaply to explore the lake. The concession stand at the swimming beach has a very large menu, from fried foods to ice cream.

    Hiking trails are really nice, the one that my family did was a few miles of easy hiking, mostly graveled thru nice lush forrested and marshy areas. My young kids had no issues.

    Will definitely visit this park again.

  • Zack B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Zack B.'s photo of tent camping at Moshannon State Forest near Austin, PA
    Apr. 11, 2024

    Moshannon State Forest

    Generic positive title

    Great tent site with lots of room. Have your own little driveway to park your car right next to the site. Comes with a picnic table and fire pit. Need lots of rope for setting up tarps as trees are far apart. Cute little stream in the back with a log crossing. No cell service, near town with free wifi. No toilets or garbage. Good amount of traffic coming down the road but isn't an issue at night time.

  • Amber A.
    Camper-submitted photo at Hyner Run State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Jul. 1, 2016

    Hyner Run State Park Campground

    Susquehanna River views, dense forest

    Great place to stay, lots to do in the area including other state parks and forests. Hiking, swimming, taking in the views. Small streams mean tons of bugs, but not much worse than the rest of PA. We stayed in the cabin in winter but we've also done a day visit in the summer. Really pretty tall pine trees in a lot of the campgrounds. Didn't stay in tent sites but they seemed rather spread out for a state park campground. Everything clean and well cared for.

  • S
    emma's photo of tent camping at Willow Bay Recreation Area near Austin, PA
    May. 27, 2020

    Willow Bay Recreation Area

    Willow Bay

    The camp grounds were great. Staff was very helpful and nice. Camp sites were decently spaced out. Fire wood was priced fairly well but they don’t usually deliver($).and they sell worms at the gate along with ice.

    The RVs had their own loop and tents and cabins were on the water down a wooded trail.

    The reason this was 4/5 is because you have to unload the car then walk everything to the camp. There is no drive up access for tent camping. A wagon is highly encouraged

    Additionally, vault toilets on the tent side and plumbing and showers on the RV side. Bathrooms were very clean and didn’t smell, the showers were hot.

    I saw some boats anchored at sites which I thought was nice. I also got to peek into a cabin and it was pretty cozy.

  • Casey L.
    Jessica's photo of tent camping at DuBois / Treasure Lake KOA near Austin, PA
    Apr. 13, 2022

    DuBois / Treasure Lake KOA

    Large Open Campground

    This campground has a ton of sites and a lot of permanent camper trailers. The tent sites were open and close together so there wouldn't be much privacy during the busy season. We went in the beginning of May so luckily, we mostly had the vicinity to ourselves. There wasn't an established tent pad but it was pretty level. The bathroom was clean. You can get firewood delivered to your site which is nice. I wouldn't stay there during the summer but it was the only place we could find open with availability. It was also fairly expensive in my opinion but that could just be me. I think it would be nice for a family stay but not if you're looking for peace and quiet.

  • Christopher E.
    Carmie's photo of tent camping at Happy Acres Resort near Austin, PA
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Happy Acres Resort

    Nice Camp in the Mountains

    We tent camped and they had openings on Memorial Day weekend. The weather turned out to be bad for camping but management was very accommodating with our requests to change dates and spots. Unlike many campgrounds that cater primarily to campers/RVs, they have nice spots in wooded areas for tenters. Some even have water and electric hookups. There was a decent playground area but the bathrooms could use a remodel. Our spot had a nice soft, flat spot for our tent but was a little cramped (they did have larger spots) and it would be nice to have a grill attached to the fire pit. The camp ground fire wood was kiln dried but cost $15 for a bag that lasted less than a day (and we used it pretty sparingly) so I would suggest buying wood nearby where it can be found much cheaper (please don't transport wood from far away as this contributes to the spread of invasive species like the spotted lanternfly). The proximity to Little Pine State Park was nice.

  • A
    Lori's photo of tent camping at Pettecote Junction Campground near Austin, PA
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Pettecote Junction Campground

    Quiet, no service, on creek campground and glamping

    I don’t understand how anyone can say the owners are rude! I just don’t get it…they have been outstanding since they took over and have made some great improvements! That aside, I love this campground! It is my escape away from technology and my time to be one with nature. We tent camp and love the sites as they are right on the creek, a few have direct access to the creek if you have kayaks which is awesome! The views to be had are amazing and lots of hiking in the area, well known for trout fishing, and kayaking! 

    The campground is clean, organized, has rules, and is quiet! The rules are enforced, which makes it better for everyone! 

    We try to make a trip up there annually, weather permitting, sometimes twice a year. Never had a bad experience and am grateful for the time we get to spend up there!

  • T
    Lori's photo of tent camping at Pettecote Junction Campground near Austin, PA
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Pettecote Junction Campground

    Meh

    This place is not really a campground, it seems to mainly be a seasonal RV resort...in any event, most of the spots were occupied by RVs with things like wooden decks, yard lights, cute little signs, etc. 

    The tent sites are large enough, but have zero privacy between them--see photo.

    What saved this place from total mediocrity is its location right on the river...while I couldn't see the river from my campsite due to brush, it was clearly audible, which was nice.  In September the river was flowing nicely, and was mainly a bit above my ankles, although there were some pools that looked like they would go up to about mid-thigh (although I didn't go in the find out).  

    Firewood sold on-site, and there is a little campstore, although pickings are fairly slim.

  • Christine J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sheila P.'s photo of tent camping at Red Bridge Recreation Area - Allegheny National Forest near Austin, PA
    Jun. 9, 2021

    Red Bridge Recreation Area - Allegheny National Forest

    Campground in Allegheny National Forest

    Nice location near the water. Campground has three sections to it. Once you come in the main enterance, off to your right are nice walk in tent sites. Off to the left are two loops for tent and RV camping. There are two bath houses, one near each loop. They each have three hot water showers, flush toilets and sinks. All sites have a fire ring. Some sites offer more shade than others. (We were at site #31 and it didn't have much shade.) Ice and firewood is avaliable. You are better off getting firewood down the road as you will get more wood for the money. Current price is $10 a bundle. Ice is only $2 a bag. Closest grocery store is in Kane. There are hiking trails nearby. The only thing that I didn't like was that it seemed that many of the sites were quite muddy because all of the grass was worn out. Not much grassy area for tents. Other than that it was great.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Michelle L.'s photo of tent camping at Lyman Run State Park Campground near Austin, PA
    Jun. 21, 2020

    Lyman Run State Park Campground

    Dark Sky home

    Lyman Run holds a special place for me. It’s nestled within the gold level dark sky area. This means on a clear night and with a waning or new moon, one could see the arm of the Milky Way with millions of stars- more than most people see in a lifetime. The camp sites are a bit rough- there are two loops, with one loop catering to the mostly RV crowds and the remaining one for tents. There are a few really good and shaded tent sites in the RV loop. The location of the park is near Cherry Springs SP, which gets all the attention for the night sky viewing. We were able to use Lyman Run as a way station as we visited Kinzua, the PA Grand Canyon, and other sites in the PA Woods area. There’s even a chance to watch elk nearby. Each site has a fire ring, with wood available nearby. Amenities include a beach at a nearby lake, warm showers, and good hiking trails. There is a general store nearby, but the nearest town is almost 45+ minutes away. But hey, there’s a Fox’s Pizza there, so ... win? Since Cherry Springs (at the time of this writing) does not take reservations, we opted for the sure thing. Tent pads are well taken care of and the bathrooms are clean. This park is worth the time and view- you will not be disappointed.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    emma's photo of tent camping at Willow Bay Recreation Area near Austin, PA
    Sep. 26, 2020

    Willow Bay Recreation Area

    Quiet nights, Easy days

    Willow bay campground is run by the National Forest Service. The reservable lots are wide and numerous for a out of the way sight. The campground services tent sites, RV sites as well as small cabins with electricity. There is a central bathhouse near the oak loop. Closer to the boat ramp sites- most of which are tent ready, there are vault toilets. These sites are less than a mile from the North Country Trail. Other, smaller trails are here as well. The New York State lone is less than five miles away- providing access to Allegheny State Park. The closest town of note is Bradford, which is about 18 miles away. It has all you need to get your necessities. The cabins were small- one twin bed and a set of single bunks. You need to bring your own sheets. There is a small heater imbedded in the wall. It keeps things from getting too cold, as it was when I was there. Fire ring and picnic table provided. Charcoal grill as well. The only problem I had was with the wildlife. A mouse or something kep crawling in the space between the roof and ceiling. There is no cel service here, and you shouldn’t need it either. Places to visit are too numerous to mention, but I will give a shout out to the zippo case museum, absolutely a must.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Diane B.'s photo of tent camping at Hanging Bog Big Bass Serenity Camp near Austin, PA
    Jun. 19, 2024

    Hanging Bog Big Bass Serenity Camp

    Hanging out at the Hanging Bog

    This is a gem of a campground, located on a private homestead adjacent to the Hanging Bog Unique Area, a special state forest preserve maintained by the DEC. Because you are off the beaten path, it feels like you are in the wilderness, although you are in driving distance of a hamlet where you can get supplies. I was there in October, at the peak of fall colors, so the camping and hiking trails and on the forest road to the bog was exquisite. The host has created a wonderful haven here, with tent sites, a few places where camper vans can park, and a glamping cabin option. Each site has a nice fire pit supplied with firewood, and you can drive up right to your site or get there by a short walk. The campground has a central cabin with a sitting room where you can hang out in the evening or if it is raining; a great retreat spit for writing or reading or journaling! There is potable water and a privy, and also a shelter where you can wash up dishes etc after campfire cooking. This is an amazing place for a retreat; I only stayed one night with my dog, but would live to come back for a week to fully enjoy camping here!

  • Cam N.
    Casey L.'s photo of tent camping at Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park near Austin, PA
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park

    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!

  • Joe F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo at Tracy Ridge near Austin, PA
    Aug. 25, 2020

    Tracy Ridge

    My favorite primitive Camp!

    This review will be based on tent camping not w an rv. I 1st came here in late 90’s w friends from school. If you like The feeling of being in the middle of nowhere and extreme fresh air this is the place for you! Lots are huge and never crowed. I think there’s 3 loops still open , 1 closed. Last time we went it was a honor system - put $ in envelope at box near entrance . Ranger might come by to check people and payment - and he/ she may not. There are no hook up electric /water ... just you and nature . Kinzua dam is about 40-45 min drive . Rim rock is a great hiking trail/park you ll pass on way to dam. Before that and much closer to Tracy ridge is boat launch or fishing area . Whether you’re going w a group to get a little crazy or you have young children that will enjoy just being in the woods and learning primitive style camping methods there’s enough space that all will enjoy. We have a camper now and will Definitely visit this place after we get a inverter/ generator .. ya spoiled now hahaha I can’t think of better camp spot for your dogs either ... as long as they listen they ll be able to stretch their legs a little too. Oh and the trail system for hiking is great too, one trail head takes to to the reservoir due East . There a also a campground out on main rd to the north just past a lil camp/country store that lets you pay couple bucks to shower there . Plenty of dead wood around to not even worry about bringing firewood and plenty of options for hanging multiple hammocks 😎 I’ve camped here maybe 15x over the yrs and still my favorite primitive get away.

  • Mary H.
    John V.'s photo of tent camping at Upper Campground — Kettle Creek State Park near Austin, PA
    Jun. 13, 2019

    Upper Campground — Kettle Creek State Park

    Upper campground: Rustic, remote, restful

    The upper campground has a rustic feel, beautiful views and is a great location for wildlife encounters. While it has some amenities (electric on a few RV sites; scullery area near the pit toilets; showers available at lower campground), these grounds are away from the bustle of the outside world. We are tent campers, and without the need for hookup and never having been there, we reserved site 45--but do not recommend it for its challenging slope. When a loud, disrespectful family set up nearby that first night for a long weekend, we spoke with the camp host (helpful, amenable Jim), who suggested we ask about site 71, the most removed of all the sites. Went to the camp office and obtained it for the rest of our week-long stay--and it was perfect. (While it had a hookup that we didn't need/use, we did pay extra for it--but well worth the seclusion.) Super quiet back there and totally private. Some of the rustic tent sites looked lovely, too (did not note best site numbers; sorry), but we cannot recommend #71 enough. If you're an RV camper, however, the sites with the vista views overlooking the reservoir are amazing, if not somewhat close together. 

    We wanted to encounter wildlife; went looking for it and found it! Everything seemed to be about an hour or more away on winding roads, but that was okay; love the meandering. We went to:  

    • Hyner View (gorgeous vistas -- and also came across a mama rattlesnake sunning on a back road and took photos from the safety of our car!); 
    • Pine Creek Gorge (Leonard Harrison State Park) more amazing views; 
    • Benezette to find elk (wild herd at dusk on Winslow Hill, complete with mama and baby--then three buck sauntering through town!); and 
    • lovely nearby Kettle Creek Vista. We also saw a few elk and lots of deer as we drove along the river's edge over the Leidy Bridge. 

    Pennsylvania is gorgeous!

    We also enjoyed meeting Julie at the Lock Haven Visitors' Center and had our only meal out at Deb's in Cross Fork. For ice cream treats (a weakness): Ice Shack near Lock Haven; Old Bull Cafe in Benezette; the kiosk at the top of Pine Creek Gorge. 

    A very restful, quiet week in early June was just what we needed, and Kettle Creek State Park Upper Campground was wonderful.


Guide to Austin

Tent camping near Austin, Pennsylvania offers a blend of rustic charm and natural beauty, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape into nature.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Austin, PA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Austin, PA is Parker Dam State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 18 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find tent camping near Austin, PA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Austin, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.