The region surrounding Beavertown, Pennsylvania offers diverse camping opportunities across mountainous terrain at elevations ranging from 500 to 1,500 feet. Located within the Ridge and Valley physiographic province, the area features a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Most campgrounds reach full capacity during summer weekends, with limited availability from November through March due to seasonal closures.
What to do
Hiking trails abound: Raymond B. Winter State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks with varying difficulty levels. "Amazing Hiking, Lots Of Fun, Nice Fishing, Friendly, And Nice Beach And Store," notes one visitor.
Fishing in mountain waters: Penns Creek provides excellent fishing opportunities near Beavertown. "Though mixed with camper trailers, small RVs and camper residents, it was easy to find a site where we had privacy and great river access," according to a Penns Creek Campground review.
Swimming and beach activities: Raymond B. Winter State Park Campground features a swimming beach with clean, cold water. "The lake is small, more like a pond, but super cold and clean water, as it is fed by two mountains streams. The beach is amazing. Tons and tons of clean sand, no rocks, and lots of space to play and swim."
Boating and tubing options: Several campgrounds rent boats or allow personal watercraft. "You can rent boats there!" mentions a Lake Heron Retreat reviewer. At Little Mexico Campground, "we enjoy tubing down the river right to the campground."
What campers like
Exceptional stargazing: The remote locations provide minimal light pollution. A camper at Raymond B. Winter State Park Campground reports, "The night skies were beautiful (starry starry night w/little light pollution) and trails galore leading directly from the campground."
Natural sounds and solitude: Penns Creek Campground receives praise for its peaceful environment. "Nestled in by a creek, the campground was quiet and we could sit outside and hear the bugs (not our neighbors)."
Diverse wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to spot native species. At Little Buffalo State Park Campground, "wildlife is everywhere and there is even an eagle nest in the park and you can see the pair and often their young."
Proximity to waterways: Waterfront sites are highly valued. At Buttonwood Campground, "Large grassy sites right on the Juniata River. Tubing, canoeing, swimming. Nice pool. GORGEOUS landscaping."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Most remote sites have minimal connectivity. At Penns Creek Campground, a visitor notes: "We pulled in to camp for the weekend, nice location right on the creek. I work online so service is a must. Initial thoughts were, clean quiet, not very secluded, if we didn't need phone service it would have been perfect place to camp."
Permit requirements vary: Different management authorities have different reservation systems. For Bald Eagle State Forest, "Free, just need to get a permit and reserve through state forest."
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads. At Little Mexico Campground, "The road leading to the campground is narrow and winding, but we didn't experience any trouble."
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close during winter months. Raymond B. Winter State Park Campground operates "2nd Fri April to mid-December," while Buttonwood Campground runs "Apr 15 to Oct 31."
Tips for camping with families
Look for kid-friendly amenities: Buttonwood Campground offers extensive children's activities. "This campground is very fun. Campground is clean and very well maintained. Tubing down the river is so fun and the highlight of a stay here."
Check playground access: Some parks have better facilities for children. At Little Buffalo State Park Campground, there's "a big playground on it as well as a concession stand and store (open during the summer)."
Consider water safety features: Shallow water areas provide safer swimming. Raymond B. Winter State Park Campground has "a large area that is only 1 foot deep, great for little ones!"
Evaluate bathroom proximity: Site selection affects convenience. A Reeds Gap State Park Campground visitor mentioned "Bathhouses were a little far away" which can be challenging with young children.
Tips from RVers
Site access verification: Despite listings, physical barriers may prevent RV access. At Bald Eagle State Forest, a camper reports: "The only downside of our campsite was that it was listed as 'motorized'. These sites are advertised as drive-up and occupy your vehicle sites, however there were two giant boulders blocking the pathway to the actual site."
Hook-up reliability: Water pressure varies between campgrounds. At Lake Heron Retreat, "Our water pressure wasn't great, however not sure if it's the campground or us as hubby found a possible issue with our hookup."
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer this essential service. At Penns Creek Campground, "Fifth star deducted because the sewer pipe was too high for our site and our rig tank didn't drain well."
