Best Tent Camping near Bradford, PA

Dispersed tent camping opportunities around Bradford, Pennsylvania include Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite, about 20 miles northwest near the Allegheny National Forest, and primitive tent sites at Patterson State Park. Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite, located about 30 miles southwest of Bradford, offers additional backcountry tent options in the Allegheny region. These areas provide tent-only camping with minimal amenities amid the forested terrain of northwestern Pennsylvania.

Sites typically feature natural, ungraded surfaces with little site development. At Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite, campers find established fire rings but must pack in their own water, as reviews indicate no potable water sources exist on site. Most dispersed tent sites require visitors to follow leave-no-trace principles and pack out all waste. A visitor commented, "If you don't mind roughing it a bit, it's really quite nice. Sites are first come first serve." Access roads can become muddy after rain, and some sites may require moderate clearance vehicles to reach, particularly at more remote locations along SF-160 and forest service roads.

Tent campers seeking seclusion will find the walk-in sites particularly rewarding. Areas farther from developed campgrounds offer deeper isolation and fewer neighbors, with some sites providing access to nearby hiking trails. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, some dispersed sites offer proximity to natural features like Hector Falls, approximately a 2-mile hike from the Forestry Road camping area. Wildlife sightings are common, with reviews mentioning black bears in the region, making proper food storage essential for tent campers. Winter tent camping is possible but challenging, as one camper noted, "It was freezing, quite literally, with nights in the low teens. The melting and refreezing had made the roads and surrounding trails a little slippery." The tent sites near Ludlow provide the rare opportunity for free dispersed camping in the eastern United States, making them popular with experienced backcountry campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Bradford, Pennsylvania (19)

    1. Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park

    4 Reviews
    Salamanca, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 354-9121

    $229 / night

    "Allegany State Park is nearby for hiking, snowshoeing, XC skiing, leaf peeping,etc."

    "After the last bad winter storm we had (2/2018) trees fell all over the park, including on my favorite hiking trails."

    2. Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

    11 Reviews
    Ludlow, PA
    24 miles

    "Some you can drive your car in and tuck it back. Other spots you cant take your car at all.   There are tons of logging roads that split off the main forest road."

    "Big open spots with established fire rings. Quiet except for the distant rumble of a train passing the town down in the valley."

    3. Firefly Acres

    1 Review
    Portville, NY
    17 miles
    +1 (347) 824-9867

    $35 - $89 / night

    "Firefly Acres is a great spot to setup camp with tons of activities nearby including trails for hiking & mountain biking.  Check them out and share some pics of your stay!"

    4. Hidden Valley Camping Area

    1 Review
    Frewsburg, NY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 569-5433

    5. Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite

    9 Reviews
    Marienville, PA
    44 miles

    "This one was close enough to the road to feel safe but far enough away to have privacy."

    "Great little roadside campsite to get away. We spent the night during a tropical storm and got the pleasure of hearing the rain on the tent out in this peaceful spot!"

    6. Allegheny Wild and Scenic River

    1 Review
    Irvine, PA
    33 miles

    "Large sites well shaded"

    7. Bella Vista Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Frewsburg, NY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 267-4021

    8. Riverside Park Campground

    1 Review
    Wellsville, NY
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (585) 593-3856

    9. Patterson State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Jamison, PA
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 435-5010

    "Not much privacy from site to site but that’s fine. You can still observe the stars, but difficult for telescopes since trees cover Polaris in most of the sites."

    "Many consider Patterson State Park an over flow Park for when the famous “Dark Skies” Cherry Springs State Park or the large Lyman Run State Park with its lake for swimming, boating and fishing gets full"

    10. Private Island w/ Paddle Moor Co.

    1 Review
    Tidioute, PA
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (724) 406-9765

    $55 - $400 / night

    "The island has cleared trails to get to the campsite which seem to be maintained very well and on a regular basis. 

    I stayed near the cabin and had the opportunity to have a tour."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bradford, PA

5 Photos of 19 Bradford Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Bradford, PA

417 Reviews of 19 Bradford Campgrounds


  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2022

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Great quiet little campground

    Very nice quiet small wooded campground. No hookups, about 3-4 fresh water spigots, 1 dump station and dumpster. Water pressure was very low and took a while to fill tank. 26 various sized sites, some large with plenty of space for our 22 foot tow behind and truck + some for extra vehicles. Other smaller sites for tents or vans. Self serve ice $2 wood $10. Vault toilets. Fire rings and picnic table at each site. AT&T spotty 0-1 bars. Host camper. Quiet time 10pm-6am. 1 Xlarge site for groups.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2020

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Simple and serene

    Hearts Content is best described as a way station. The sites are nestled within a grove of immense pines. Some are large enough for large RV’s . There are no showers. Bathrooms are vault toilets. Two of the sites include Adirondack type shelters. A picnic table and fire ring are within each site. I used this site as a staging area to explore Allegheny National Forest for a week. Used a camp shower. The closest town is Warren, PA. Firewood is available at the camp host site. Across the road is an hiking area with picnic tables and the like.

  • Mary S.
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    This is a great vacation area.....spend a week!

    Did you know this is NY's largest state campground? We stopped here on a rainy night, but what we saw convinced me we need to return. I know this campground is a vacation destination for families in western NY.

    Cain Hollow is in the Quaker Run area which includes Quaker Lake. There is another campground in the Red House Area, and there are also lots of cabins. This is definitely a 4 seasons park - hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing....

    I was able to take photos of a few sites the next morning. You can see that sites are private and you're definitely in the woods. There are food storage boxes at all campsites because you're in bear country.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Minister Creek Campground

    Small, rustic, gorgeous

    We stayed here July 2018 and found a quiet campsite by the creek. It had been quite rainy and some of the sites were wet and muddy, but for $12, I couldn't complain. While there is an outhouse, it is simply a couple of toilets (bring a lantern or wear a headlamp). Arrive early to get a prime spot, and take advantage of the hiking trails (a bug net for your head will help in the summer as the gnats and deer flies are distracting). Looking forward to staying again.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2018

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Minimal offering for maximum relaxing

    This campground is within Allegheny National Forest near the town of Warren and Tidouette. The sites are few but spacious. Good for car camping, though I’m sure a smaller RVcould get by. Each site has a fire ring. Two sites have Adirondack type shelters. The night sky is promising but light pollution from Warren inhibits a truly awesome night sky. There is a vault toilet. No showers. No water either. Bring what you need! The closest town is about 30 minutes away. Lots of critter life. My dogs loved it here. We spent all days exploring the nearby trails and creeks. Price was cheap. No frills but a quiet respite for sure.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • D
    Oct. 21, 2021

    Kelly Pines Campground

    Off the grid, lots to explore!

    This equestrian campground also has 2 non-equestrian sites, one which is reservable. There is no potable water but there is a river and a non-potable pump. There is a permanent toilet usually stocked with TP. Carry out all garbage. No electrical hookups.

    Traditional camp sites have space for multiple tents and 2 cars. Each has a picnic table and a fire pit with moveable cooking surface. We’ve never had an issue with bears or other wildlife where food and trash are concerned but we store in the cars at night to be safe. The area is usually damp so don’t count in being able to find much dry wood - we stop before driving in for wood.

    Trails galore! Mushrooms everywhere! Quiet and no cellular to distract.

  • Travis S.
    Jun. 30, 2020

    Dewdrop

    Spacious

    Campsite layouts are non traditional with large driveways and often times the tables and fire rings are below the driveway.  With this layout you get more privacy with very few sites having and overlapping with other sites. Pitching a tent was easy on the driveway and fairly level. Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair. 

    Bathrooms and shower house was below the standards of many of PA State Parks which we regard as the benchmark for campgrounds at reasonable prices. 

    Boating and biking all accessible from the grounds. No need to drive to the trails at Jakes Rocks.

  • Britt B.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Clear Creek State Park Campground

    Pennsylvania Favorite!

    A Pennsylvania favorite, Clear Creek State Park is a beautifully maintained, scenic park, right on the Clarion River in the Clear Creek State Park. The Park offers movies on an outdoor screen, regular nature talks and walks and has an onsite museum. The park has tent sites, RV sites and cabins. Clear Creek runs through the campground and is a perfect spot for a BBQ or Picnic. It also has a designated swimming beach with sand. There are multiple hiking trails leaving the campground. There is a general store just 5min from the park, plus multiple private firewood options on the road in. The park also sells firewood bundles. The Clarion is a crystal clear, shallow, rock bottom river perfect for a cool off, fishing or kayaking. There are two kayaking/tubing companies in Cook Forest to hire watercraft to float the river. Both floats don’t go as high as Clear Creek State Park so you won’t float past the campground, with the longest being 9 miles. The facilities are always clean, with large shower areas and always fully stocked with tissue. All sites have fire rings with adjustable grills. The best un-powered RV site is site 40– private and waterfront. The best powered-RV site is 39– private and waterfront. There are also two very private tent sites that are waterfront(classified as Kayak In tent sites) numbered CR-001& CR-002. Both waterfront, shaded with fire rings. Excellent tent sites! Note you can only book them for 1 night at a time. No phone reception at this one! They welcome furry friends at selected sites!


Guide to Bradford

Tent camping near Bradford, Pennsylvania, offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, making it an ideal escape for nature enthusiasts.

Local Activities for Tent Campers

Tips for Tent Camping Near Bradford

Nearby Attractions for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bradford, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bradford, PA is Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Bradford, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.