Campgrounds in the Claysburg area of Pennsylvania range from basic tent sites to full-hookup RV locations with varying amenities. Located in the Appalachian Mountain range, many camping areas sit at elevations between 1,200-2,500 feet, creating distinct microclimates compared to surrounding lowlands. During summer months, temperatures typically run 5-10 degrees cooler than urban areas, while spring and fall camping can require additional warm layers.
What to do
Fishing access: 5-minute walk from most sites at Pat's Primitive Place, a small campground with only four primitive sites along a creek. "Right around the corner from our site was a great spot along the river for sitting out in the sun and fishing for trout," noted a visitor to Pat's Primitive Place.
Mountain biking: extensive network available directly from Ridge Camp at Seven Points campground. "From the entrance of the camp loop there is a trail head! This upper loop is also the quietest of the loops and although there were still plenty of boaters in the camp there were just as many bikers," according to a reviewer at Seven Points.
Hiking Blue Knob peak: accessible from Blue Knob State Park campground, offering trails that extend into adjacent state forest lands. "The hiking here is really spectacular with lots of scenery, overlooks, and side trails that extend many miles out into state forest lands which are adjacent to the park," explained a visitor to Blue Knob State Park.
Visit historical sites: 15-minute drive from Shawnee State Park to nearby Schellsburg historical sites. "Foggy mornings are the best in the beautiful forest near Schellsburg historical sites. Nice lake too. Easy access from the PA Turnpike," mentioned one camper.
What campers like
Quiet sites with privacy: despite being close to recreational areas. "Ridge camp is the furthest away from the marina and the public swimming area. However it's the closest to the Allegrippis Trail system. Big spacious sites that make pitching a tent easy with water available just a few sites away no matter where you stay," noted a reviewer at Seven Points.
Small, uncrowded campgrounds: particularly Blue Knob State Park. "It's small, with shaded sites around the perimeter and two walk in sites just left of the entrance. The campground usually has empty sites and the center sites are a little exposed to the sun," explained a camper.
Water recreation options: multiple access points at Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA. "This campground is a short drive to Raystown Lake in Saxton, PA which is beautiful and very big. The campground is in the middle of nowhere but if you like the outdoors, I recommend it," shared a recent visitor.
Accessibility to supplies: despite remote feel. "There are several stores within a 20 minute drive (Walmart, etc) and a mall an hour away. Camp wood at the entrance is $5 and is tiny; our biggest piece was a foot long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick!" noted a camper at Seven Points.
What you should know
Weather variations: significant at Blue Knob due to elevation. "Come prepared for short rain showers, chilly air even in the summer, and great views," advised a camper. "Clouds blowing east from the Midwest tend to break on the mountains here at Blue Knob, so short little bursts of rainfall are frequent, and they don't always show up on weather apps."
Limited cell service: consistent issue across multiple campgrounds. "Bring everything you need, it's about 30 minutes to some supplies. Make sure you bring firewood and be prepared for extremely limited cell service (Verizon)," mentioned a visitor at Blue Knob.
Site selection matters: particularly at Shawnee State Park. "There are a fair amount of awkwardly-placed sites that sit on a hill and are difficult to place a tent, equipment or gear. Our site was essentially a grassy plain, no tree cover which was a bit disappointing," explained one camper.
Seasonal considerations: many bathrooms lack heating. "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites," reported a camper at Shawnee State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: available at Friendship Village Campground. "There are many playgrounds spread out across the property as well as a jumping pillow and a very well-built gaga ball pit. For big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500," advised a visitor.
Swimming options: vary between natural and developed. "The lake is clean and refreshing and we have such beautiful views from our camp site. We went down to the swim beach and our kiddo made sand castles and swam in the clear water," shared a family camping at Seven Points.
Educational activities: available seasonally at several parks. "Rangers were wonderful to work with in setting up teaching opportunities for the girls. We will definitely go back," mentioned a Girl Scout leader who stayed at Prince Gallitzin State Park.
Consider site proximity: to activities and facilities. "If you have kids are sites 145–171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit," recommended a Friendship Village visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: common at several campgrounds. "Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20' to 115'," advised an RVer at Trough Creek State Park.
Hookup availability: varies significantly between parks. "We stayed at site 236 which was spacious, private, and with a nice breeze! It's close to bathhouse and playground if you want those. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site," shared a camper at Seven Points.
Road access considerations: some campgrounds have challenging approaches. "The campground is relatively flat and on the shore of Lake Raystown. The amenities are great and located centrally in each section of the park. Lots of trees which adds to the privacy of the sites," noted an RVer at Lake Raystown Resort.
Water access for filling: centralized at some campgrounds. "We ended up here on the way from the NJ high point to the PA high point, but this is a neat park. Great trees on the approach drive, decent campground (with some odd terrain parking-wise) and clean showers," mentioned a visitor to Shawnee State Park.
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