Ebensburg area campgrounds offer year-round access in the western Pennsylvania mountain region, with elevations ranging between 1,600-2,000 feet. Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly during spring and fall when temperature swings of 30+ degrees within 24 hours aren't uncommon. Cell service throughout the region varies from strong to non-existent depending on campground location and surrounding terrain.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing maintains a dedicated fishing pond where campers can fish without a license. The property includes a half-mile walking path around the water with resting areas. As camper Steve K. notes, "The pond is nice and has a 1/2 mile walking path around it with trees and beaches to stop and sit."
Fall foliage festivals: Local campgrounds coordinate with Bedford's annual Fall Foliage festival, with some providing shuttle services. According to Shelby B., "They provide a shuttle for Bedford's annual Fall Foliage festival, which is a bonus."
Family activities: Friendship Village Campground & RV Park offers multiple recreational options for children. "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing," reports Tasha M..
Outdoor education: Special events include educational programming through local partnerships. One camper at Timber Run Campground described a visit from "RayCEP which is an education program that PA DNCR provides talking about various outdoorsy type things."
What campers like
Themed weekends: Several campgrounds host special themed events. Paul B. describes, "We stayed during Bigfoot weekend. It was super fun as our family likes bigfoot fun. We started out Friday night getting the offered $12 bbq plate that included pork burnt ends, beans and potato salad."
Bathroom facilities: Clean, updated restrooms rank high on camper satisfaction lists. "Bathrooms are Soo nice," notes Dawn C. about Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA. Another camper at Mirror Lake mentioned, "Clean and luxurious bathrooms and restrooms."
Dog amenities: Pet owners appreciate designated areas for their animals. At Friendship Village, Steve K. found "dog park is big and has a place for small or large dogs." Timber Run Campground even offers specialized pet accommodations, with one site featuring "a dog fence just for that site that was maybe 6 ft x 6ft."
Community activities: Campgrounds foster social interaction through organized events. At Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing, campers enjoy community gatherings. According to Mathew H., "After office hours they can be commonly found hanging out with their campers. Pick up cornhole games, bonfires, are the norm at the community building."
What you should know
Site conditions: While many rv campgrounds near Ebensburg, Pennsylvania offer level sites, some require additional work. "The site wasn't so level, but we made it work," reports Paul B. about Nature's Getaway RV Park.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience persistent road noise due to proximity to major roads. One camper at Friendship Village mentioned, "The only thing we didn't like was all of the road noise. This campground is located by 2 major highways and truck traffic and Jake brake are constant all night long."
Mountain terrain challenges: Many Ebensburg area RV parks feature hilly landscapes that affect campsite layout. A visitor to Timber Run noted, "The site wasn't hard to level our RV but overall the sites are hilly and in fact the whole park is on a hill."
Additional fees: Some campgrounds charge extra for certain services or activities. A visitor to Mirror Lake mentioned, "My only negative would be extra costs."
Tips for camping with families
Creek access: Look for sites that offer creek or stream features where children can play. At Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing, "Alot of their sites are along a small creek which the kids play in and can float down. Site 26 is our favorite. It has a huge back yard and easy access to the creek," says Mathew H..
Off-season visits: Campgrounds remain active even during shoulder seasons with specialized programming. "Although it was the off season there was still tons to do. The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds," notes a family visiting Friendship Village in November.
Playground distribution: Consider proximity to play areas when booking. At Friendship Village, "For big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500. In my opinion, the best sites to stay at if you have kids are sites 145-171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit."
Tips from RVers
Alternative routes: Local knowledge can save time when navigating mountain roads. One camper at Timber Run suggests, "If traveling from the Altoona area, go out through Martinsburg over Cove Mountain Rd - it saves you 30-60 minutes."
Staff assistance: Campground staff often provide exceptional service for RV issues. Tara R. shares, "We really got to witness the owners' kindness when we left for a hiking trip and a sudden windstorm caught our awning and broke one side of it. The owner and his son got right to work fixing it."
RV repairs: Several Ebensburg area RV campgrounds have nearby service centers for equipment issues. A camper at Friendship Village noted, "If you have any issues with your camping rig, there is a full-service RV dealership basically at the entrance to the campground where you can buy virtually anything that you may require."
Site selection: For larger rigs, specific campground areas offer better accommodation. "For big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500," advises one camper about Friendship Village's layout.
