Mountain camping near Delmont offers diverse terrain from open meadows to dense forested areas at elevations ranging from 1,100 to 1,400 feet above sea level. The region's four distinct seasons create varied camping conditions, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and 55-65°F at night. Camping areas around Delmont provide access to the Loyalhanna Creek watershed, part of the greater Ohio River drainage basin.
What to do
Fishing access points: Bush Recreation Area provides multiple fishing spots along Loyalhanna Creek. One camper noted, "Our grandchildren loved it. The boat launch is a nice size to fit 2 boats at a time. It's a great place to fish and swim and just relax."
Biking on the Great Allegheny Passage: Dravo's Landing Campground offers direct trail access for cyclists. "Free bike-in camp site with water access along the Youghiogheny River. Access from the Allegheny Gap trail. There were a few shelters, nice campsite," writes one reviewer.
Lake activities: Paddling and swimming options at Crooked Creek Lake during summer months. "The lake is great for kayaking or small boats. We fish and kayak the creek opposite the lake," shares a visitor. Kayak rentals at some locations cost around $15 per hour.
Playground facilities: Multiple campgrounds offer family play areas with different equipment. At Bush Recreation Area, "The playground areas near pet-friendly sites allow families to supervise both children and dogs simultaneously," while another camper mentioned having "site 16 late August 2020 and our friends (and their kids) rented #17 on the inner circle, right next to us with the playground right behind us. Great spots!"
What campers like
Convenient location: Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA offers easy access for Pittsburgh visitors. "If your in the area, this is a good little spot. The facilities are a little rough & they don't always have someone in the office to help. The laundry facilities would keep me coming alone. They gave HUGE INDUSTRIAL SIZE washers & dryers."
Hillside camping privacy: Some sites at Fox Den Acres Campground offer more seclusion than others. A camper described, "Each site was very spacious and well shaded. Fire ring and table at each sight. Restroom were a short walk away. Firewood available for purchase."
Mountain views: Scenic overlooks from higher elevation sites. At Mountain Top Campground, "You come up a winding road and emerge atop the mountain. It's cute. Wide open grass land with sites around the perimeter. Half a dozen of them (premium) are at the edge and have a nice view to the hills beyond."
Fishing success: Multiple stocked fishing areas throughout the region. One visitor to Crooked Creek mentioned, "The area is beautiful. Nice beach, boat ramps, disc golf, corn hole at campground with kid playground. We did watch kids fishing and pulling fish out as soon as they put their line in!! So much fun for them."
What you should know
Site unevenness: Many campgrounds have sloped sites that can be challenging for RVs. At Ohiopyle State Park, "Our site wasn't wasnt great either. It was a steep drop on the pull out. Twisted my stabilizer jack."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds have road noise due to proximity to highways. At Donegal Campground, "The only thing I can say about this campground that made me not give it 5 stars is, the highway noise. It's located right off the highway so the traffic noise is a little loud."
Seasonal maintenance: Facilities at many dog friendly campgrounds near Delmont vary by season. One camper at Laurel Hill noted, "We were surprised that just a few days before Memorial Day, only a handful of sites were occupied. We've been very impressed by the pristine conditions of many Pennsylvania state parks, but this one had a more rustic feel."
Water levels: Lake conditions fluctuate throughout the season, affecting activities. At Bush Recreation Area, a visitor noted, "The lake level was high because of the dam nearby so fishing was non-existent, but it was peaceful and pleasant."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection for playground access: Choose sites near play areas to allow for easy supervision. At Bush Recreation Area, one reviewer recommended, "We rented space 16 late August 2020 and our friends (and their kids) rented #17 on the inner circle, right next to us with the playground right behind us. Great spots! Our kids were within easy eye and earshot of the playground."
Book early for holiday weekends: Pet-friendly campgrounds near Delmont fill quickly during summer holidays. "Very nice folks when you check in and large general store/laundry facility. It is a great launching pad if you would like to do things in the area," notes a camper about Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA.
Bring water toys: Several lakes offer swimming areas with no lifeguards on duty. "The lake provides a great place to fish and the walking trail has some less used fishing spots if you are willing to walk. We enjoyed the easy walking lake trail with the kids because it was wide and flat," shares a Laurel Hill State Park visitor.
Pack extra supplies: Limited shopping options near most campgrounds. A Fox Den Acres visitor advised, "Campstore is sparse, they need to bring it up date and offer more. Make sure you grocery shopping before you pull in."
Tips from RVers
Extension cords helpful: Some electric hookups are not ideally positioned. As one Laurel Hill camper explained, "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."
Level challenges: Many sites require additional leveling equipment. At Mountain Top Campground, "I couldn't get my trailer level on the site so that was a problem but one that a smaller trailer might not have."
Grey water solutions: Some sites offer creative disposal options. A Mountain Top visitor noted, "Since they sit atop the mountain, the grey water hookup is a long hose that has an adapter which hooks up to your black and grey tank outlet and it runs down the hillside of the mountain into the grassy area."
Water fill logistics: Plan your water tank filling strategy. "Bring two hoses to reach your camper. Dump station is out the exit by ranger building. Pull out and make a left and its about 500' down road on left by pavilion. Pull into the second drive to be on the correct side."
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