Best Tent Camping near Claysburg, PA

Several tent campgrounds operate in the forested areas surrounding Claysburg, Pennsylvania, with options ranging from established sites to more secluded camping experiences. Long Acres on Clover Creek provides tent-only camping with drive-in and walk-in access, while Star Lee Farm offers three dedicated tent sites with basic amenities in a more private setting about 10 miles east of Claysburg.

Tent campsites in this region typically feature a mix of standard amenities with some limitations. Most established tent campgrounds provide picnic tables and fire rings, though firewood availability varies by location. Water access differs significantly between sites, with some like Star Lee Farm offering drinking water and others requiring campers to bring their own supply. Toilets are available at most locations, but shower facilities are limited to select campgrounds. During peak summer months, reservations are recommended for the more popular tent-only sites, particularly on weekends when availability becomes limited.

The surrounding landscape provides tent campers with diverse natural settings, from creekside spots to open fields ideal for stargazing. Areas near Clover Creek offer peaceful tent camping with the soothing sounds of running water throughout the night. Many tent sites in this region provide good access to nearby hiking trails and fishing spots, creating convenient base camps for outdoor activities. The more secluded locations offer excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and night sky observation. According to one visitor, "This campsite was absolutely perfect! The secluded area combined with the creek nearby made for a great escape from reality. The stars are so bright out here."

Best Tent Sites Near Claysburg, Pennsylvania (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Claysburg, PA

8 Photos of 12 Claysburg Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Claysburg, PA

521 Reviews of 12 Claysburg Campgrounds


  • S
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest

    Nice spot to camp in the mountains

    First I'll just say that the Rothrock campsites should probably each be listed separately, rather than as a group; they are very spread out throughout the State Forest and each is a different experience.  This review will be for site 002 Colerain Road.  

    This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain.  It's easy enough during the summer, though the road is narrow and you've got some sharp bends depending on which way you come from.  This road is not safe to access in the winter in my opinion.  

    The parking is just right off the road, and there's a picnic table and large stone fire ring near the parking.  There's a small path further up the hill into the woods where there is a tent pad, another fire ring and another picnic table.  There are also a lot of flat spots nearby for additional tents to be set up.  

    Just behind the upper tent site is the top of the mountain, and the site has their own private overlook to the valley below.  The site is pretty remote, though there were vehicles and the occasional biker coming up the road.  Traffic may have been busier than usual the weekend we went because there was the Mid Atlantic Overland festival nearby at the same time.  At one point a family parked in the campsite's parking to start a walk... (there's a better trailhead up closer to Indian Lookout they should have used).

    No hookups, water, bathrooms, etc; its fully primitive camping here.  Cell coverage was fine on Xfinity Mobile (Verizon). 

    These sites used to be totally free but they're now $10 a night.  You still need to book a while out if you want to be here on a weekend, especially during the fall when Penn State is playing.

  • Joann&WellsThePup I.
    Jul. 14, 2021

    Penn Roosevelt State Park Campground

    Quiet camping

    Beautiful primitive campground (tent only). Get a site on the outside towards the water. They are spaced out and peaceful. Has restrooms (no shower), picnic table, and fire pit at each site. Short walk to creek and beautiful pond.

  • Britt B.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Kooser State Park Campground

    Small Shaded Park

    Kooser State Park is a small campground nestled in the Laurel Highlands, close to Hidden Valley and Seven Springs ski resorts. The park has great amenities just a short walk from all sites. All sites have fire rings, with grills, however note they are double walled so do not expel a lot of heat outward. Great for cooking however. 

    Most sites are not level, but very grassy. Firewood is available at the entrance for$5 bundle supporting a local club. A beautiful walk through the park leads you to the Kooser Lake, great for fishing. It is also close to the Laurel Hill State Park which is great for hiking and water activities. The park is close to the road so you will experience some road noise. 

    The park is 15min from Somerset. No phone reception at this one! They welcome all furry friends!

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    Pioneer Park Campground

    Close to Flight 93 Memorial

    PROS 

    Able to reserve 129 days prior to arriving 

    Melissa at check-in was very friendly and helpful 

    Good overnight stop to visit Flight 93 Memorial 22 miles from campground 

    Site #391 level 

    Gravel site surrounded by grass 

    Moveable wooden picnic table 

    Large concrete fire ring 

    Clean toilet-shower building that are heavily used 

    Mostly quiet except for road noise 

    Firewood for sale in Park

    CONS 

    No discount 

    Site #391 no shade 

    Park cable connection failed 

    Sewer connection“up hill” 

    Never found trash dumpster and wasn’t marked on campground map 

    Very loud radio station blaring in the toilet/shower building that could be heard outside the building 

    2 bars Verizon 

    No WIFI

  • Johanna B.
    May. 31, 2021

    Duman Lake County Park

    Nice local park

    Duman lake review notes.

    • Well-maintained small park, stocked lake, popular with local fisherman. Kayaking/small boat fishing. I’ve seen bald eagle and osprey.
    • Six campsites, w/mature trees, level, w/paved drive & gravel area, large enough for mid-sized RVs. They state 40 ft., but all are back in. All have (lighted)30 amp & water. We did not see the tent sites. Not sure if they are developed, ask.
    • Number one is closest to the bathhouse, number five was less shaded. Number six is closest to the road.
    • Newer restroom, w/two stalls each. Push-button, hot showers. Men’s worked best.
    • Campsite number one is closest to restroom, but also behind picnic shelter number 12, so if the shelter is booked for a party could be noisy? Day use people bugged out quickly at dusk.
    • We were in #1 in May & had the entire campground & upper park to ourselves.
    • They have a kids’ train in summer.
    • Nice playground.
    • The only real downside of this campground is that the local road is close by and you do get some traffic noise before dark. It is not a high traffic road however. Dumpsters were overflowing with weekend trash & bathrooms needed a bug sweep-out. Sportsmen were target shooting nearby before dark FYI.
  • Brian C.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cowans Gap State Park Campground

    Solid State Park Camping

    Stayed in a walk-in tent site. Much better spacing than typical sites, though sites 2 & 3 were basically connected. The non-walk in sites in Loop B are typical to smaller than average and mostly suited for campers/RVs.

    Pros : Site spacing/privacy was good Bathrooms and showers were clean. Firewood available at the park ($5 for 6 pieces self-serve). Location near the dam and lake trail is nice. Cell service was limited, but had reliable (but low) signal with T-Mobile at my site. Easy access (on foot) to all of the hiking trails.

    Cons: The tent pads could use some leveling and there was some trash around the site. The major negative was generator noise coming from the facility just beyond the dam. Droning generator noise was on/off at all hours of the day and went on until 10pm in the evening. Not sure how far up in Loop B this was heard, but it was pretty loud in the walk-in site area.

  • Travis S.
    Jul. 27, 2017

    Black Moshannon State Park Campground

    Red Mo

    Nice campground, wooded sites and most were okay for tent camping however some required your tent to be set up a small distance from the fire ring. Clean showerhouses and bathrooms. Big Lake and a few miles of hiking and biking trails right from the campground.

    The Iron Ore mines from the past have left the creek water stained red which is why its called the Red Mo with the locals.

  • L
    Jun. 17, 2021

    Laurel Hill State Park Campground

    Forested State Park in the Laurel Highlands

    August 2020 Stay

    We camped for 1 night.  We chose site 102 because it looked decent in the picture and seemed a little apart and more private than other areas.  Unfortunately, it was not great for tent camping as there wasn't really a spot to set up our 4-person tent.  We squeezed it in by the fire pit, but if we had wanted to use the fire pit it would have been a fire hazard.  Elsewhere in the site it was rocky or uneven ground.

    Looking around the rest of the campground, the loop up near the cabins was a typical RV area with sites lined up with little privacy in between.  I would look at the other loops for our next tent-camping visit.

    We were hoping to do some hiking in the morning but got rained out.  However the trails looked nice and we hope to be back soon.

  • Travis S.
    Aug. 28, 2017

    Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground

    Small quiet scenic park with fascinating history

    Beautiful campgrounds with spacious camp sites. Well maintained bathroom and firewood plus ice available at the entrance (this is a great plus for those car/tent camping.

    extremely close to the rothrock forest mountain biking trails. Less than a mile to trails that take you to the IMBA epic coopers gap loop.

    Campgrounds and surround park area were well maintained with a few picnic shelters, a beach and sand volleyball courts. Camp was full and all day use areas were occupied during our stay.


Guide to Claysburg

Tent camping near Claysburg, Pennsylvania offers options beyond established campgrounds, with several primitive sites situated in the Allegheny Mountains region at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 feet. Seasonal considerations impact camping experiences significantly, with spring bringing higher water levels in Clover Creek and fall offering spectacular foliage displays throughout nearby state forests.

What to do

Hiking access from campsites: Penn Roosevelt State Park Campground provides direct access to multiple trails within Rothrock State Forest, including connections to the Mid State Trail. According to camper Denise D., "The area has lots of hikes to offer including the Alan Seeger State Forest, Midstate Trail and several others. It's a beautiful natural area."

Creek exploration: Many tent campsites near Claysburg feature water access for wading and photography. At Long Acres on Clover Creek, campers can enjoy creek activities directly from their sites. The proximity to water creates opportunities for nature observation and relaxation.

Stargazing opportunities: STAR LEE Farm offers exceptional dark sky viewing from its open field location. One camper notes, "There's a huge field to stargaze as well as taking pictures," making it ideal for night photography and constellation observation during clear nights.

Bee observation: STAR LEE Farm maintains honey bee colonies that campers can observe. As Tiana S. reports, "If you're a bee enthusiast they grow their own honey on the property and you're more than welcome to walk around and look at all the boxes," providing an educational component to camping trips.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Tent campers frequently mention site seclusion as a major benefit. At Penn Roosevelt State Park, a camper observed, "The sites are tent only and pretty close together but some still feel secluded," while another noted that "some sites are very private."

Water features: The combination of creeks and ponds enhances camping experiences throughout the region. Joann at Penn Roosevelt State Park Campground mentioned the "Short walk to creek and beautiful pond" as a highlight of their stay.

Limited technology access: The lack of cell service at certain campgrounds creates a more immersive outdoor experience. Tiana S. at STAR LEE Farm noted, "Service is a little sketch but it's perfect for those who want to completely escape the business of modern world."

Location accessibility: Despite feeling remote, many tent sites remain relatively accessible. Chuck M. shares about Penn Roosevelt: "Driving in I got a little worried I was getting lost, but I drove on," demonstrating the balance between seclusion and reachability.

What you should know

Water availability varies seasonally: Water systems at some campgrounds operate seasonally. A camper at Penn Roosevelt noted, "The water was off, but I was prepared to wilderness camp later in my trip so, that was no big deal." Always verify current water status before arrival.

Train noise affects certain sites: At Maple Festival Park, trains pass through regularly. Reviewer Mark G. mentioned, "There are quite a few trains thru town," though he still found it "a very peaceful place."

Limited supplies nearby: Many tent campsites lack nearby stores. As one Penn Roosevelt camper advises, "Make sure you bring everything you need as there isn't a store nearby." Plan to arrive with all essential supplies.

Site access challenges: Some locations have difficult access roads. Chuck M. warns about Penn Roosevelt: "If you have a trailer, I do not recommend this spot. There is a very tight hairpin turn on the way in. My six foot long trailer barely made the turn!"

Tips for camping with families

Quiet campgrounds for children: Certain sites provide particularly family-friendly environments. One visitor to Penn Roosevelt noted, "There were not many people around so the kids could frolic and be slightly loud without bothering any other people."

Unique accommodation options: At Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground, families can experience boat-in camping. John H. explains, "This campground is accessed by boat only. But it has a maintenance road and is patrolled by college kids with summer jobs."

Safety considerations: Waterfront sites require extra supervision. Kristen H. mentions about Nancy's Boat To Shore, "They are in an area of the lake that has a lot of boat traffic," indicating parents should be vigilant near shorelines.

Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds offer natural learning experiences. Beekeeping at STAR LEE Farm and wildlife observation areas provide educational components for family camping trips that supplement traditional outdoor activities.

Tips from RVers

Tent-only restrictions: Many campsites near Claysburg restrict access to tent camping only. At Maple Festival Park near GAP Trail, RVers should note the setup is designed primarily for hikers and cyclists with tents, as described by Shari G.: "Set your tent up on the lawn, up on the stage, or under the long lean-to."

Limited hookup options: While most sites focus on primitive camping, some offer minimal amenities. Travelers with camper vans might find suitable accommodations at locations with basic facilities, but should expect primarily tent-focused amenities.

Alternative parking arrangements: Larger vehicles may require special planning. Some campgrounds offer parking areas separate from tent sites, requiring campers to transport gear short distances to their camping location.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Claysburg, PA is Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground (PA) with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Claysburg, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.