Best Tent Camping near Avella, PA

Recent Tent Reviews near Avella, Pennsylvania

281 Reviews of 9 Avella Campgrounds

• 

  Britt B.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 27, 2020

  Breakneck Campground

  Perfect Spot to Explore McConnell's Mill

  Breakneck is a private campground on the edge of the McConnell’s Mill State Park. They offer RV sites, tent camping and cabins. The tent camping is either grassy, flat sites or on an elevated timber platform overlooking a gorge. They also offer walk-in tent sites down by the creek which are beautiful. 

  We were lucky enough to be able to to camp down by the stream. There are designated fireplaces. It is quite a walk up the hill to the campground amenities, but worth it to feel secluded down by the creek. From our campsite we walked along the creek into McConnells Mill State Park and joined the covered bridge trail. Approx. 30min walk along the creek down into McConnells Mill State Park. 

  The campground sells firewood and has great amenities. Note: there is no phone reception at the tent sites by the creek. They welcome fury friends!

• S

  Scott H.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 29, 2020

  Pride Valley Campground

  OK Campground

  Friendly staff.  Definitely insanely overpriced for low-impact tent-campers.  (They charge based on the assumption you'll be using their electric and water hook-ups at tent sites, for example.  For the record, I consider $25 to pitch a tent, have a campfire you fund, and get a hot shower they fund to be absurd.)

  Bathroom facilities are poor and not well-maintained, but count as (barely) serviceable.  Make sure to bring sandals so as not to step in the animal shit that covers the floors of the restrooms.  Large campground.  Could be worth it for tent campers if you plan to make use of other amenities they offer, such as their swimming pond with diving board.

  Would I go again?  Maybe, maybe not.  Probably not, but your mileage may vary.  Their primary audience is clearly the RV crowd.  Every single one of their tent sites has water and electric hookups, and no serious tent campers (car campers, glampers) want or need that, but are expected to pay for it anyway.

  If you're going to this place, you're probably in the RV crowd.  Look for reviews from those folks.  For mostly primitive tent camping (i.e, a place to pitch a tent plus a hot shower), I rate this place as a C+.  This rating is based almost entirely on value (D) and quality of the bathroom/shower amenities (C).  The well-maintained land and the additional amenities many will not care for give it a boost to the C+ range.

• S

  Steven L.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 18, 2022

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Good for a relaxing weekend

  Went tent camping with my fiancée. Had a great time other than the loud neighbors. Bathrooms were also a bit dirty.

• 

  Thomas R.

  Scout

  

  May. 5, 2024

  Valley View Campground

  A winner

  Was a relaxing 4 days at a tent site. Would absolutely recommend this campground!

• 

  Joanne H.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 9, 2020

  Fox Den Acres Campground

  Awesome

  Awesome owners,quiet place to relax. Tent site was nice and conveniently located next to the bathhouse

• 

  Alan F.

  Scout

  

  May. 11, 2018

  Atwood Lake Park Campground

  Clean, many weekend activities

  Wwhile the campground is designed for mostly RV. camping, we have never had a problem finding a tent site. Has so many things to do.

• 

  Alice M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 3, 2018

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Very beautiful, secluded area!

  I enjoyed my stay at this park. We had a tent site for the weekend. It was a beautiful area and I really enjoyed exploring. Looking forward to going back soon!

• 

  Dena L.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 26, 2022

  Fox Den Acres Campground

  Review for tent campers

  Mostly an RV campground, but several tent sites. Each site was very spacious and well shaded. Fire ring and table at each sight. Restroom were a short walk away. Firewood available for purchase. I would stay again.

• 

  Mariana N.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 3, 2018

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  First time camping on a tent

  I had the most wonderful time on my first tent camping at Racoon Creek. We made a fire, hiked by the moonlight and swam at the warm lake at night. There were other campers around but we rarely noticed them and only when walking to restrooms at the daylight. I will be back soon

• K

  Kaitlyn H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 31, 2021

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Nice Stay with Lots of Animals!

  We stayed here overnight on a trip to Pittsburgh. Tent sites were nicely spaced apart, but were often on inclines, like ours. We saw deer and turkeys, so be on the lookout for lots of animals! Bathrooms were fairly clean! Fun hiking to mineral springs!

• 

  Justin T.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 30, 2020

  Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

  Relaxing camping

  It is a very well maintenance campsite most have fire pits a lot of level ground for tent camping pull in parking spots for RVs and campers a bathroom on site and two different trails to hike fishing minutes away the gun rage is also near (the gunshots don’t bother me) must register when you arrive at the box attached to the bathroom building can’t beat it for FREE

• 

  David A.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 20, 2020

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Nice campground

  Older type bathhouses but very clean, stainless steel fixtures. The campground is in two areas but split into about 5 loops. A lot are paved with electric sites, a couple loops are I paved roads and mostly tent sites but very nice! Pretty peaceful place, well patrolled by park rangers!water access in all loops. Outside of camping area are picnic areas and a lovely swimming beach, nice electric only fishing lake!

• 

  Ian B.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 21, 2023

  Camp Sherwin

  Great for small family or camper

  Plenty to do with it’s ups and downs. Has a pool but it isn’t the cleanest and with small children you have to be within arms reach of them. Fine for one not so much with two. For 37 dollars a night you have check in at 3 and have to be checked out by 12. 5 dollars per hour before or after those times. The saving grace to this place is the back primitive tent site and the private beach.

• 

  David D.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 4, 2019

  Grand Vue Park

  Right next to town with big fun and wide views

  I did not stay in the cabins. I tent camped. The tent areas are out past the Vue Bar and Grill. They are spread out and each has a fire ring, picnic table and fire wood is free! The people there are great, easy check in. The tent areas are spread out and there isn’t an actual road to each of the sites. I actually thought this was cool but not if its raining and you have a small car. 

  The best part is the Vue Bar and Grill, the food is surprisingly good. Cooked well and is large portions. There is many other things to do there as well. They have an adventure park but we didn’t make it there. Planing to go back.

• 

  Dusty R.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 22, 2019

  Tomlinson Run State Park Campground

  Quiet Campground with Private Tentsites

  My girlfriend and I stayed at tent site 40 Friday August 9th and Saturday August 10th. Most of the sites were pretty private and ours was probably the most private and had a lot of space since we were on the very end of the road / cul-de-sac. I would definitely recommend this site if you like privacy but it is a longer walk to the bath house but we didn't mind that at all. The only thing I didn't like about the campground is that there is no wash tub / sink to wash your dishes which made clean up a little more of a chore. Other than that the staff were very friendly and it is overall a great campground.

• M

  Matthew D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 3, 2020

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Let a Local Give You The Scoop!

  In the past 5 years, I've made 13 trips to Raccoon Creek State Park and spent 16 nights in a tent there. It is my local state park and I can tell you lots about it.

  The D loop is really great tent camping at Raccoon Creek State Park. It's tents only, no RVs. So it gets a really fun, party vibe on Saturday nights during the summer. There's a trail right to the beach near the D loop, so it's a great place for families to go with pets. The sites are big, wooded, and all close to the bathroom.

  The C loop, however, doesn't take pets (which stinks). When we have our dogs with us, we gravitate towards the C loop. It's fine, but it's not as fun as the D loop.

  When we don't make a reservation and we have our dog, we end up in the F loop. It's not our preference (but--let's be clear--even the worst site in the F loop is better than NO trip!).

• M

  Matthew D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 3, 2020

  Bear Run Campground

  Not Ideal Tent Camping

  I've only camped in state parks before. We went to Bear Run during the pandemic, when the state parks weren't open yet.

  We were tent car-camping. We felt as if Bear Run really catered to RVers.

  The tent sites were small and crammed together. There was no bathroom (only a porta-potty). There was no place to wash dishes (the closest thing we could find was a hose that was FAR away). There were no grates on the fire-pits for cooking (as there are at DNCR facilities).

  Now that said, you CAN drink alcohol there (which IS a plus).

  And the staff was awesome ... we could CALL them on our phone and they would bring us stuff (more fire wood, a grate for cooking). THAT was nice.

  But without a closer bathroom and a place to wash dishes, we would just as soon go back to state parks.

• R

  Renee R.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 14, 2019

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Have to find the right camp spot

  Went to Raccoon Creek State Park to camp for Labor Day weekend. We booked campsite F1 since we had 2 dogs and the F loop allowed dogs. This site was great! We could fit two tents and it was nice and secluded from the other sites. I recommend booking a site that is on the outside of the “loops” if you want some seclusion. The inner loop sites are right on top of each other, good for Rvs, not so much for tent camping. The bathrooms were a little bit of a hike, the next loop over, but they where clean and had flush toilets and running water along with a shower and sinks to wash dishes. There was a place to get water across from this site which was very convenient . The dog walking trails weren’t bad, but they where very up and down hill, at points steep and rocky. The spring was a really cool hike (right off the park office parking lot.) Down by the beach they had a place to buy wood, only $5 a bundle and the beach place also sells bags of ice. Overall a really good family campground!

• M

  Matt R.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 20, 2019

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Not private for tent camping

  I have been to Raccoon Creek many times as it is one of the closest camping places to the Pittsburgh metro area.  The park it self is large, has over 40 miles of trails, a fantastic backpacking loop setup for beginners, and a nice lake for swimming, fishing, ect.  I would give the park as a whole a 5/5 but for tent camping the campground is mediocre.  It is a really large campground with lots of adjoining loops.  We stayed in the tent loop at the back of the campground.  The area is not wooded at all and most sites look right into the sites next to them.  If you are like me and crave privacy, avoid.  The bathroom was rather dirty also.  There is a trail that leads down from the tent loop to the beach which is cool but very very steep (not for too young or old).  Overall, if you are looking to stay in a camp in this park I'd suggest doing the backpacking loop instead.  Grab your permit at the park office, park at the heritage trail lot in the southern end of the park and hike to the Pioneer shelter.  Sites 4 and 5 are amazing.  Note though that the Pioneer site does not have water so you will need to filter water from a stream on the way, though there are many opportunities.  The Sioux site is overgrown and is not worth backpacking to, though it does have a water pump and is close to the park office.

• 

  Joanne R.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 22, 2020

  Breakneck Campground

  Nice place but horrid visitors

  I was here the Friday of Labor day weekend. The woman who took my reservation was great and the grounds were nice. They had several options including tent sites in a large open area, some areas that were a little more secluded, lean-to, RV parking and tent platforms which was where i landed.. The 2 stars is due to the fact i was surrounded by people who were beyond drunk,obnoxious and extremely loud which is fine its all a part of camping right? They were hanging out playing there music when i first arrived about 6 and i can appreciate some good fun and music! (but how much Johnny Cash can one handle?) They then moved onto some less appealing tunes which i do not have children but there were plenty riding their bikes by so I'm sure mom had to explain some words that evening. Nothing was done regardless of the vulger lyrics but i figured what do i know I'm not a parent! I had been traveling for days so i was exhausted and managed to fall asleep only to be woken around 11:00 by several people across the way having a blast laughing and yelling which went until 2am and a couple next to me screaming and arguing at each other until 3am.. Quiet time 10:00? At least tone it down! No one addressed the situation. So if you like to hang out and party it up this is a great place. If your looking for a family oriented camping experience maybe not so much..

• 

  Ashley E.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 15, 2019

  Clendening Lake Marina & Campground

  Peaceful serenity

  My family and I had never gone tent camping before together, since my husband and I were kids. I have chronic pain and was terrified to go due to my difficulties. This place was amazing!

  PROS:

  The shower houses are individual big rooms to use that include a shower with a seat and toilet. They do also have handicap parking&camping spots right by the shower house, no smell even being 89 degrees.

  They also have amazing prices for renting out a pontoon, it’s only a max 10 mph. I was able to comfortably fish for 4 hours on this. For the boats we were allowed to park down below right by the docks so I wouldn’t have to walk the hill.

  When you book online it needs to be done 2 days out, from where we live (Columbus Ohio) the reception at the camp was very very hard to hear on the phone. It is easier to book online then see them at the office when you arrive, they close at 7 pm. Checkin is at 4 pm and checkout is 2pm for camp set up(you can set up sooner if no one is there)

  We were lucky to get a walk up electric spot, although hilly it was beautiful! We were right by the private dock and the residents were very kind, some offered us worms or help with our fire. Even though we were by the public outhouse you could not smell anything until right by the outhouse.

  You do need a special plug for the electric, we didn’t realize this and did not bring one. I was panicked at first since I needed a fan to get through the 89 degree weather in a tent but the front office has spares you can borrow! They are a lifesaver up there and so kind, if we could have tipped we would have.

  We caught plenty of fish up there for all 3 of us, including my 1 st grader, all we used were worms and was surprised how much we caught.

  All in all we were really happy and even convinced my parents to come up with us next year 😊

  CONS:

  The drive up was very hilly and lots of buggies. Be careful sometimes the road disappeared and you don’t see the buggy until right there; the road speed is 55mph but we only went between 35-45.

  There is no cell service up there so be prepared, we lost it for about 20 minutes before the camp site. We have sprint. Make sure to pack a old school map so you can get around, there is a family dollar store in town, about 4 mile drive, if you forgot anything.

  Most neighbors you have our yearly members, this is great for peace but limits the spots they actually have open to rent out by the lake and have electric. We were hoping to get a better spot in the future but they only have a couple of non yearly spots available even a year out.

• J

  Jess I.

  Traveler

  

  May. 16, 2022

  Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA

  It’s really gone down hill

  It’s been 2018 since our last visit. The place has really gone downhill. We’ve been to the Madison KOA at least 4 times. What they think is clean now a days is laughable.

  I will give you some advice if you do HAVE to stay there but PLEASE READ the bottom.

  I usually cabin stay when staying at a branded campground, for $10-20 more a night makes it worth it not to lug my tent and usually tent sites are crap at these places and they have a couple just to say they have some (the ones here are grown over they claim to have 2, one is dug up) I camp at all 3 KOA brands, state parks, family campgrounds, and yogi bears etc.

  Everything here is dated and it looks like they only have an interest in fixing things when they can’t avoid it anymore. Other places I’ve been have been putting in the upgrades left and right since camping has seen a serge these past couple of years.

  Lake-never seen anyone fish at the lake until this past stay and they caught a blue gill. They have a few small non motor boats no peddle boats so don’t let that mislead you with “boat rental”. You do see things jump so I don’t doubt there’s fish and it’s really pretty in the backdrop.

  If you HAVE KIDS young enough to have to keep an eye on the kabins and spots facing the pillow ARE PRIME (kids wait for it to blow up every morning), play ground (basic-not toddler friendly, there’s a sand pit that’s not covered up at night where they HAD some toddler play stuff), and pool (clean and small but does the job, they try to open it ASAP every year) all the activities are around there as well. If you DONT have kids or have a napper in the family, expect constant noise until quiet time. Get a white noise app or bring a sound machine, the fuzzy TV you may get isn’t loud enough. Quiet and shade is on the backside of those Kabins in the pet friendly area.

  Campstore is sparse, they need to bring it up date and offer more. Make sure you grocery shopping before you pull in. Camp host family was awesome and usually the lower staff all are. They never had a security gate, car hangers, or escorts to sites so don’t expect that. Activities have always been cheap and bare bones. I think they should get more creative. There isn’t an activities director, the camp hosts run them.

  Deals: they participate in Kid Care (May) and Camper Appreciation (September) weekend. Some KOAs don’t, claim they do but can’t actually use it when you try or pickings are slim.

  Even with the deals I won’t be back. It’s not worth it. There is nothing new or upgraded and I’m not passing through or here for other things like some are. It’s ok for a weekend, don’t spend a week here with kids they’ll get bored. If you want to be within an hour from Pittsburgh there are PLENTY of other options. Uniontown KOA is 15 minutes further out.

  What tipped my scales from PROBABLY won’t be back to ABSOLUTELY WONT be back is….when I arrived my cabin was not clean, there was ultra crusty very dried up insect parts (its the woods, but…no one could have wiped that up? It’s obvious it’s been sitting there awhile) all over the top bunk, a flim/dust on the bed mats. I went to set up the beds and found several coins (from peoples pockets I assume) and an ear pod my toddler could have choked on if I hadn’t I lifted the bed pads like a cleaning person should have and looked. A cleaning person should have found that if they truly did clean the kabin. They sent the cleaning lady, she came in with a duster pad and went over our sleeping pads….no cleaners, towels, or shop vac. After she left, I swept the floor and LOTS of dirt came up. I broke out my sani wipes and did everything I could. I didn’t appreciate paying $90 a night for a tiny kabin to have to clean before my kids could settle in.

  Also the door didn’t lock, I didn’t find this out until late in the second day when I went for 10 rounds of bingo and wanted to lock it. I was leaving the next day at noon so I figured tell them at check out. She said I should have told them at check in, she knew exactly the problem I was talking about and that maintenance would have come to fix it had I called. Although I’ve always felt safe there…Non locking door, no security gate, electronic valuables, purse, medications and wife there alone with kids not ideal. Explained that to them, made it out to be no big deal.

  The upper staff people were indignant and I was the problem for complaining and I was imagining it. I was given a dirty kabin. They kept trying to minimize what I was telling them, tried to pass the buck ( she-referring to the cleaning lady said there was only 1 coin, she didn’t tell me about the air pod), and said measures were taken that were obviously not. There wasn’t an acknowledgement of the problems nor any apologies from anyone.

  If you stay in one of the smaller kabins with a shower, just know there will be a flood and you should wet, turn the water off, lather, then rinse. Also don’t think everyone is showering one after the other or you can do dishes and wash hands as much as you want before showering because it’s very small water tank, it goes lukewarm to cold quick.

  I’m crossing them off my list of places to camp, they do not live up to KOA brand image and standards even for a KOA Journey brand.

• K

  Kimberly

  Guide

  

  Jun. 25, 2021

  Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

  Quiet and Beautiful

  This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning. You need to be careful when booking, especially if you are trying to pitch a tent, as some sites are quite sloped. Our site was huge and right next to the water spigot.

• N

  Nick D.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 26, 2021

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Best camping in Pittsburgh area

  Great campground near Pittsburgh. Lots of tent , camper, and cabin sites. Good bathrooms

• 

  David A.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 20, 2020

  Tomlinson Run State Park Campground

  Comfy camping!

  Nice simple, small campground sites are for everyone, RV to tent, older bathhouses but clean. Swimming pool and lake for fishing and boating!

• B

  Bill C.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 28, 2019

  Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

  Not really RV friendly

  They have some spots for small trailers, but we’ve only ever been able to tent there. Nice clean facilities, plenty of hiking, fishing and swimming.

• 

  Dylan L.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 12, 2021

  Breakneck Campground

  Great spot!

  Got a good spot down by the creek with a great view from the tent.