Camping near Clymer, Pennsylvania centers around the scenic Western Pennsylvania landscape at approximately 1,700 feet elevation in the Allegheny foothills. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with warm summers averaging 80°F and cold winters dropping to 20°F, creating varied camping conditions throughout the year. Local parks typically open from April through October with some sites available year-round.
What to do
Swimming in well-maintained beach areas: Laurel Hill State Park offers a designated swimming beach with sand near the campground. "The park itself is gorgeous with a large lake and designated swimming area. Place attracts a lot of people in the summer as its basically in the Pittsburgh suburbs along a major road artery," notes Matt R.
Fishing for various species: Local lakes provide fishing opportunities regardless of skill level. According to Noah R. about Yellow Creek Campground: "Very clean and helpful camp. Too bad the fishing isn't the best at yellow creek national park."
Disc golf courses for free recreation: Clear Creek State Park maintains a disc golf course among its natural features. As Caitlyn H. explains: "Clear Creek State Park is an amazing little gem right outside of Cook Forest. Most of the campsites are right on the water, beautiful bridges, a great disc golf course, and moderate-to-light hiking trails."
Kayak rentals under $20: Parks with lakes typically offer affordable rentals. "Kayak rental of $15 for an hour was the cheapest we have seen and allowed us to explore more of the lake," reports Erik E. at Laurel Hill State Park.
What campers like
Private tent sites with water access: Finding secluded spots with water access ranks highly among camper preferences. At Clear Creek State Park, Britt B. recommends: "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!"
Pet-friendly accommodation options: Many parks have designated pet-friendly sections. Mark S. explains at Prince Gallitzin State Park: "We take our dog so there is a restriction on where you can camp. Some sites are larger than others. Have been camping here since it first opened and never had an awful experience."
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Campgrounds in the area typically keep their amenities in good condition. In a review of Fox Den Acres Campground, Jennifer S. states: "Friendly people. Clean. Only downside is only one bathhouse/restroom, hampering the no #2 in camper."
Year-round glamping close to Clymer, Pennsylvania: Some parks offer heated structures during colder months. Shawnee State Park has year-round options including yurts with heating systems, making glamping near Clymer comfortable even during winter.
What you should know
Variable site levelness: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain that can challenge tent and RV setup. "Some 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," reports Lee D. about Shawnee State Park.
Limited cell service: Expect minimal connectivity at most parks. Sara notes about Clear Creek State Park: "None of the major carriers have service here, but I needed to 'get away' for the night so it was perfect."
Wildlife encounters: Bear activity occurs in some areas. According to Caitlyn H.: "I will say that I did have two separate run-ins with bears but overall a great experience!"
Road noise variations: Despite natural settings, some campgrounds experience traffic sounds. Lee D. explains: "As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise" at Shawnee State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple recreation options: Choose campgrounds with diverse activities. At Silver Canoe Campground, Indy A. shares: "It's very clean and well maintained. All campers have been respectful each time. It's not loud and crazy once 10pm hits. Family friendly and there's a little fishing lake. You can rent paddle boats or canoes to paddle around the lake."
Kid-friendly water features: Shallow creeks provide safe play areas. Mathew H. reports about Mirror Lake: "A lot of their sites are along a small creek which the kids play in and can float down."
Playgrounds with adjacent campsites: Some parks feature play areas near camping loops. Nicole F. explains about Prince Gallitzin State Park: "We used the group tent sites for our Girl Scout weekend. It was a fun weekend. We participated in the Outdoors for Everyone event."
Family event programming: Look for parks with scheduled activities. Jackie W. recommends Prince Gallitzin State Park: "Great place for kids! We love staying at crooked run campground. Has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. BMX track for kids."
Tips from RVers
Check site length before booking: RV site dimensions vary widely. Brittany V. cautions about Shawnee State Park: "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating!"
Electric hookup placement challenges: Outlets aren't always conveniently positioned. Erik E. notes at Laurel Hill: "The electrical hookups are not played out well like an expensive RV park with the shared power post on the entrance side of the camper. You may want to have an extension for your power cable."
Paved site availability: For easier leveling, seek paved options. Mark S. observes about Prince Gallitzin State Park: "All sites are paved as are the roads. Bathrooms are fairly modern and clean."
Gravel site conditions: Many sites use gravel pads of varying quality. Kathryn mentions about Fox Den Acres: "Gravel roads and level sites. Lots of grass areas for play and walking."
