Best Tent Camping near Blairsville, PA
The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail corridor near Blairsville, Pennsylvania offers several tent-only camping options for hikers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground and Dravo's Landing provide free walk-in tent sites along the Youghiogheny River, accessible only by foot or bicycle. Laurel Ridge State Park, approximately 30 miles south of Blairsville, features eight primitive tent camping areas along its 70-mile hiking trail. These backcountry tent sites require reservations and offer a true pack-it-in, pack-it-out camping experience.
Most tent campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities with varying levels of development. Sites typically feature dirt or grassy surfaces with minimal grading. Dravo's Landing includes raised tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, though potable water can be unreliable. Campers should bring water filtration equipment, as many sites require filtering water from nearby streams or rivers. The camping season generally runs from May through October, with Laurel Ridge State Park's tent sites available for approximately $12 per night. Train noise affects several GAP Trail campgrounds, particularly at night when sound carries across the river valley.
In early fall, tent campers experience fewer crowds and cooler temperatures at most sites. According to reviews, Roundbottom Camping Area offers "plenty of grassy area for scores of tents" with level ground even when designated tent pads are occupied. One camper noted that Dravo's Landing accommodated a group of 14 tent campers with "plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars." Laurel Ridge State Park provides more seclusion with "several dramatic overlooks out over valleys to the east" and opportunities to hear barred owls at night. Wildlife sightings are common, though campers should secure food properly as raccoons are active, particularly at riverside tent campgrounds.
