Best Tent Camping near Coudersport, PA

Several primitive tent campgrounds dot the Coudersport area of northern Pennsylvania, with Patterson State Park Campground and various sites in Susquehannock State Forest offering rustic tent camping experiences. Patterson State Park features approximately eight open tent sites arranged around a small gravel loop, providing access to the Susquehannock Trail System. Tent campers can also find sites at nearby Colton Point State Park Campground on the western rim of Pine Creek Gorge, about 30 miles southeast of Coudersport.

Most tent sites in the Coudersport region feature basic amenities with fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities remain minimal. Patterson State Park provides vault toilets and manual pump water but no showers or electrical hookups. Sites typically have limited privacy between campers, with open layouts rather than secluded, separated spots. The Susquehannock State Forest sites generally lack drinking water and toilet facilities, requiring tent campers to pack in their own supplies. Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, particularly at Patterson State Park, while some forest sites can be reserved.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Coudersport offers access to extensive trail systems and dark skies. Primitive tent setups at Patterson benefit from its proximity to Cherry Springs State Park, known for exceptional stargazing. The area's relative seclusion provides opportunities for wildlife viewing and quiet camping experiences away from crowded destinations. While sites lack substantial privacy screening, the overall atmosphere remains peaceful, especially midweek. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for hiking the connected trail networks. One visitor described Patterson State Park as "a mostly overlooked gem" noting that "at any given time you may have the whole park to yourself," making it particularly suitable for families seeking space for children to play without disturbing other campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Coudersport, Pennsylvania (39)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Coudersport, PA

5 Photos of 39 Coudersport Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Coudersport, PA

418 Reviews of 39 Coudersport Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Mary H.
    Jun. 13, 2019

    Upper Campground — Kettle Creek State Park

    Upper campground: Rustic, remote, restful

    The upper campground has a rustic feel, beautiful views and is a great location for wildlife encounters. While it has some amenities (electric on a few RV sites; scullery area near the pit toilets; showers available at lower campground), these grounds are away from the bustle of the outside world. We are tent campers, and without the need for hookup and never having been there, we reserved site 45--but do not recommend it for its challenging slope. When a loud, disrespectful family set up nearby that first night for a long weekend, we spoke with the camp host (helpful, amenable Jim), who suggested we ask about site 71, the most removed of all the sites. Went to the camp office and obtained it for the rest of our week-long stay--and it was perfect. (While it had a hookup that we didn't need/use, we did pay extra for it--but well worth the seclusion.) Super quiet back there and totally private. Some of the rustic tent sites looked lovely, too (did not note best site numbers; sorry), but we cannot recommend #71 enough. If you're an RV camper, however, the sites with the vista views overlooking the reservoir are amazing, if not somewhat close together. 

    We wanted to encounter wildlife; went looking for it and found it! Everything seemed to be about an hour or more away on winding roads, but that was okay; love the meandering. We went to:  

    • Hyner View (gorgeous vistas -- and also came across a mama rattlesnake sunning on a back road and took photos from the safety of our car!); 
    • Pine Creek Gorge (Leonard Harrison State Park) more amazing views; 
    • Benezette to find elk (wild herd at dusk on Winslow Hill, complete with mama and baby--then three buck sauntering through town!); and 
    • lovely nearby Kettle Creek Vista. We also saw a few elk and lots of deer as we drove along the river's edge over the Leidy Bridge. 

    Pennsylvania is gorgeous!

    We also enjoyed meeting Julie at the Lock Haven Visitors' Center and had our only meal out at Deb's in Cross Fork. For ice cream treats (a weakness): Ice Shack near Lock Haven; Old Bull Cafe in Benezette; the kiosk at the top of Pine Creek Gorge. 

    A very restful, quiet week in early June was just what we needed, and Kettle Creek State Park Upper Campground was wonderful.

  • 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.

  • David A.
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Tiadaghton Campground — Tioga State Forest

    Tiadaghaton State Forest, PA

    Roadside site 1/4 mile from the nearest site. You can drive right to the site on Hackett Rd. Very secluded and peaceful. Picnic table and fire ring, but no water or latrine.

  • 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.

  • Paula L.
    Jun. 29, 2019

    Sinnemahoning State Park Campground

    Come inside to really enjoy all that’s outside!

    Adults and Children alike will love the park office / Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park. Learn about this buildings green construction (LEED)geo thermal heat, rain water harvesting system, recycled materials and more! Step inside to view elk bear birds and other wildlife! Learn about the building of the dam and the early days of the CCC camps. If you can get the children out of the office or bring yourself to leave ... make a souvenir penny on your way out before walking across the parking lot and around the corner to visit the arch tree. This park is a long narrow park with a road running through it that is perfect for a bike ride or stroll. On one end is a wildlife viewing area, the other end offers great fishing and a boat launch. Between is a picnic day use area and a 35 site campground with a dump station, a modern restroom with flush toilets and showers. The restrooms and some campsites are ADA accessible. Electric hookups are available and each pet friendly camp site has its own picnic table, lantern hold and fire ring. Elk, eagles deer and many other varieties of wild life can be seen here on a regular basis! There is much to explore here during any season and even on a rainy day the kids will have the opportunity to learn about the world around them! 5 stars Sinnemahoning! What a treasure in the PA Wilds!

  • Zack B.
    Apr. 11, 2024

    Medix Run Camping Area — Moshannon State Forest

    Generic positive title

    Great tent site with lots of room. Have your own little driveway to park your car right next to the site. Comes with a picnic table and fire pit. Need lots of rope for setting up tarps as trees are far apart. Cute little stream in the back with a log crossing. No cell service, near town with free wifi. No toilets or garbage. Good amount of traffic coming down the road but isn't an issue at night time.

  • Christine J.
    Jun. 9, 2021

    Red Bridge Recreation Area - Allegheny National Forest

    Campground in Allegheny National Forest

    Nice location near the water. Campground has three sections to it. Once you come in the main enterance, off to your right are nice walk in tent sites. Off to the left are two loops for tent and RV camping. There are two bath houses, one near each loop. They each have three hot water showers, flush toilets and sinks. All sites have a fire ring. Some sites offer more shade than others. (We were at site #31 and it didn't have much shade.) Ice and firewood is avaliable. You are better off getting firewood down the road as you will get more wood for the money. Current price is $10 a bundle. Ice is only $2 a bag. Closest grocery store is in Kane. There are hiking trails nearby. The only thing that I didn't like was that it seemed that many of the sites were quite muddy because all of the grass was worn out. Not much grassy area for tents. Other than that it was great.

  • Dan N.
    Jul. 18, 2016

    Kanakadea Park - Almond Lake

    Lake right off rt 86

    This is a park with a lake. In the green rolling hills of the Finger Lakes. Grassy open fields are nice but not private. Used the basic tent setup. Clean, grounds kept up nice, simple, no water. Lots of state lands and water nearby. Deer by the tent in the morning. Great stopover or base camp, not much to do right on site.


Guide to Coudersport

The Coudersport region in northern Pennsylvania sits at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,300 feet in the Allegheny Plateau. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with heavy snowfall in winter and cool, pleasant summers. Tent campsites near Coudersport, Pennsylvania typically remain open from April through October, with many primitive sites accessible only during snow-free months.

What to do

Hike Turkey Trail: At Colton Point State Park Campground, campers can access this less crowded trail down into Pine Creek Gorge. "Unlike Leonard Harrison, Colton Point on the western rim of the Pine Creek Gorge isn't a tourist hub. The trails aren't built up with steps and the like, but I think the Colton Point Turkey trail is much more manageable even without them," notes Emily S.

Cross Pine Creek: During low water periods, visitors can wade across Pine Creek to access the rails-to-trails pathway. "Water was low enough the weekend we went, we crossed the river and hiked some of the rails to trail pathway," explains Marisa L., who camped at Colton Point.

Night sky observation: The Coudersport area provides excellent stargazing opportunities. Fernando V. at Patterson State Park Campground notes, "You can still observe the stars, but difficult for telescopes since trees cover Polaris in most of the sites."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Certain camping areas offer secluded spots away from neighbors. "I loved that you can pick your own tucked away spot within the camp area but yet still close enough to other people," writes Marisa L. about her stay at Colton Point State Park.

Affordable pricing: Most primitive tent sites remain reasonably priced. Marisa added that Colton Point costs "~$20 a night which isn't to bad," though she noted hiking trails are close by for additional recreational opportunities.

Trail connectivity: Tiadaghton Campground in nearby Tioga State Forest offers direct access to multiple trail systems. David A. describes his experience at a roadside site: "Very secluded and peaceful. Picnic table and fire ring, but no water or latrine."

What you should know

Water availability varies: Many forest sites lack potable water. At Patterson State Park, Fernando V. notes, "It has a really nice water well with a manual pump," but many Susquehannock State Forest sites have no drinking water facilities.

Bathroom facilities: Most tent campsites near Coudersport feature basic or no facilities. "Restroom is the typical hole with no flush, but is very clean," reports Fernando V. about Patterson State Park.

Noise considerations: Some campsites experience road noise. At Firefly Acres, Jake C. mentions the area has "tons of activities nearby including trails for hiking & mountain biking," but Patterson campers note proximity to the road means "its noisy at night when cars pass."

Tips for camping with families

Space for children: Sites with fewer visitors provide room for kids to play freely. At Patterson State Park, Paula L. points out an advantage: "at any given time you may have the whole park to yourself. If you are camping with children this can be a plus! They will have plenty of room to play."

Vehicle access: Many primitive sites require different levels of vehicle capability. At Tiadaghton Campground, Julian S. warns, "would recommend 4 wheel drive vehicles to drive to site, steep dirt roads to access it."

Pack supplies accordingly: With limited facilities, careful planning is essential. Camping at Colton Point State Park, Sadie S. advises, "They take a small hike so don't over pack! There is so much that this park has to offer."

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most primitive campsites near Coudersport lack full RV amenities. At Riverside Park Campground in nearby Wellsville, Jesse K. notes, "We had a full hookup site. Exceeded expectations," highlighting the contrast with more basic offerings closer to Coudersport.

Campsite selection: RV travelers should research site dimensions before arrival. While Colton Point accommodates some RVs, Lois simply states, "Small sites with porta potty's, did not stay found another campground."

Off-season accessibility: Many forest roads leading to tent campsites become impassable for RVs during wet weather or winter months, requiring alternative arrangements at established campgrounds with maintained access.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Coudersport, PA is Patterson State Park Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 39 tent camping locations near Coudersport, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.