Best Tent Camping near Blue Marsh Lake

Tent Camping Reviews near Blue Marsh Lake

872 Reviews of 29 Blue Marsh Lake Campgrounds

• 

  Ra F.

  Scout

  Aug. 28, 2024

  Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park

  OK, but camping gets a low rating.

  The park is lovely, but the camping facilities are subpar, primitive and lack any kind of privacy. I bike toured there. The only potable water was from a near-broken water fountain at the public rest rooms and no electrical connection to recharge electronics. There was also a fair amount of road noise at night. Bathhouse OK, but just basic. Tent spots are just lined up against one another facing a service road.

• 

  Laure D.

  Legend

  Sep. 19, 2020

  Locust Lake State Park Campground

  Serenity on the lakes

  Pretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.

• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  Jun. 25, 2022

  French Creek State Park Campground

  Campsites Jammed Closely Together

  PROS 

  Reserved 328 days prior to arriving

  $13.50 senior discount 

  Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful 

  Site C3 parking pad level asphalt 

  Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable 

  One hook lantern pole 

  Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival 

  Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites 

  Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center. 

  Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP 

  CONS

  $6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation 

  Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching 

  Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together

  Pitiful low water pressure  in Loop C

  Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level 

  Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking 

  Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday 

  Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable) 

  Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced

  Lots of barking dogs 

  No wood sales in park 

  No WiFi 

  1 bar Verizon

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• V

  Valerie M.

  Scout

  Jul. 11, 2018

  Knoebels Campground

  Clean, quiet, inexpensive, fun place to camp!

  Knoebels campground is situated next to Knoebels amusement park and offers sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as cabins.

  There is electricity at every site but not water. There are fill stations throughout the campgrounds. Most sites are level and shaded. There are nice sturdy wooden platforms for tent campers.

  The bath houses are clean and well maintained. There are outside sinks with mirrors, laundry facilities, shower stalls, and toilet stalls. Or if you prefer there are also traditional bathrooms with showers.

  Quiet hours are enforced between 10p and 8a.

  Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Wood is available by the bucket near the check in building. Sites are inexpensive and are all a short walk, or free shuttle ride, to the park!.

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• 

  Jim N.

  Guide

  Apr. 29, 2019

  Hibernia County Park

  Hidden gem

  A nice primitive campground - good for a quick trip away. The campground is a county run one that works on a first come first serve basis, which is fine if there are others close by. They are wooded sites and have 2 loops. There is no store, but there a places close to get supplies. The park is dry, no alcohol. No hook ups either. There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  Feb. 14, 2025

  Little Red Barn Campground

  Nice family-run campground

  General: 132-site campground with a mix of no hookups or water and electric. Six of the sites are “field sites” – on grass. Our site was chosen for us. 

  Site Quality: Varies. Sites 68 and 69 are next to the field sites and aside from having electricity and water and a faint gravel camper pad, there is not much to distinguish them from the field sites (which have electricity but no water). Our site was almost level but in order to reach the electric connection, we were sloped slightly downhill side-to-side. The FHU sites are wooded but close together.

  Bath/Shower house: Clean with soap and paper towels. The shower had nice hot water. 

  Activities/Amenities: The pool is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. There is also a separate kiddie pool. We were there the Thursday after Memorial Day and had the pool to ourselves. Other amenities include laundry, a game room, golf cart rentals, and sports equipment (basketballs, volleyball, soccer, football, horseshoes, bocce ball, ping pong) are available. Propane fill-ups, firewood, a camp store, and a dump station (including on-site for a fee) are all available. Free WiFi, although not the strongest signal. 

  Had we not needed an electric hookup for our computers, I would have much preferred the primitive sites – they are private and shaded but they are a hike to the bathroom. There is one vault toilet in this area. Our site had no shade, and it was a very hot day when we were there. I was surprised at the lack of camping options in this area.

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• 

  Max C.

  Traveler

  Oct. 14, 2019

  French Creek State Park Campground

  Gorgeous in the fall

  Stayed in B-08 on mid October and had a great trip. The site was non-electric and it seems most of the outer side of this loop is basic camping with the inside of the loop having power. The other loops offer full hookups but opting for this area kept us from being surrounded by massive RV's. Easy back in spot for our car, partially shaded, decent brush cover between sites and able to keep tent about 20 yards from the road on a crushed rock pad. I will say this site has a little bit of slope but nothing that affected our sleep. The fire ring is very high sided and if you're not sitting on a higher camp chairs you kind of miss the fire. Picnic table was sturdy but easy enough to move lnto place to fit our needs. Tons of hike mg within the park including some historic sites at Hopewell Furnace like the blacksmith shop and old residences. Checked in a. It before the stated 3pm time without issues. Very few rangers seen during stay but it is after labor day and most of the seasonal attractions like the pool etc were closed for the season. Very clean bathrooms with easy to use dish sinks on the outside. Overall for a trip that within 75 minutes of Philly you can't go wrong for a quick jaunt out of town.

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• 

  Tara T.

  Scout

  Jun. 26, 2021

  Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park

  Easy Camping

  Green Lane is a beautiful park with a small campground. The spaces are right on top of each other with no tree cover between spots, so you’ll definitely be right up on your neighbors. The fire rings are big and frustrating, the fire sits on a lifted grate so you go through wood like crazy. Lovely park, lovely rangers, but not my favorite spot.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  Mar. 15, 2023

  French Creek State Park Campground

  Convenient to Philadelphia

  General: Four loops with a total of 200 campsites. Two of the loops allow pets (A, C) and two do not. Loop D offers no hookups while Loops A-C offer a mix of no hookups, water/Electric, and full hookups. We had no problem securing a site on a weekday in October with no reservation. There are also two yurts and three cottages. 

  Site Quality: We chose a non-electric site in the B Loop, so this review focuses on this loop. There are abundant trees separating the sites. The pads were paved and B12 was very long. A picnic table and fire ring complete the site. Because the loops are on a slight slope, not all of the sites are completely level, something that would be difficult to determine if making reservations ahead of time. 

  Bathhouse: Pennsylvania state parks get high marks for their modern, clean restrooms and this park (at least the B Loop) was no exception. Hot showers were no additional charge and generous in size. 

  Activities: 35 miles of hiking trails. Be aware that the Hopewell Lake Loop is not very well marked (it appears to be a work in progress) although blazes on trees are abundant for most trails. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent during the summer season, and there is a boat dock for your own boat for fishing (either from a fishing pier or on your boat). There is a huge pool available from Memorial Day through Labor Day (there is an additional fee for this). Some of the trails allow horseback riding. Nearby Hopewell Furnace is accessible via hiking trails, or you can drive there. Other activities include orienteering and disc golf. Make sure you wear blaze orange during the fall hunting season as you will hear hunters! 

  In general, it is obvious Pennsylvania invests in its state park campgrounds and the price is reasonable ($27 for a non-electric site during the week with a $4.50 senior discount). My only complaint is that the dumpsters are a hike from the loops, but this is a minor complaint.

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