C
Christopher P.
Traveler
TravelerBig Run State Park Campground
Generous sized sites, quiet, beautiful area.
Equestrian Camping near Fort Hill, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Shawnee State Park Campground near Fort Hill, Pennsylvania accommodates horses but lacks dedicated equestrian facilities. The campground reeks of horse manure according to visitor reports, indicating regular equine presence despite no formal horse corrals being listed among amenities. The 300+ site campground offers a mix of full hookup, electric, and non-electric sites along with cabins and yurts, though specific horse-related infrastructure is minimal.
Trail access provides the primary appeal for equestrians visiting the area. The park features hiking trails around its lake that could potentially accommodate horses, though specific bridle paths aren't documented in visitor reviews. Located approximately 2.5 hours east of Pittsburgh and close to the PA Turnpike, the campground provides convenient access for horse trailers. Visitors note that while some sites are spacious with ample tree coverage, others are awkwardly placed on hills that could present challenges for setting up horse containment. The proximity to the turnpike creates noticeable traffic noise that might affect sensitive horses.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Fort Hill (2)
1. Big Run State Park Campground
"The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $55 / night
2. Shawnee State Park Campground
"Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."
"The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride."
100 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
Drive Time
- 51 min from Morgantown, WV
- 53 min from Johnstown, PA
- 1 hr 18 min from Pittsburgh, PA
- 1 hr 25 min from Altoona, PA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Fort Hill, PA
35 Reviews of 2 Fort Hill Campgrounds
Nancy B.
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Double check site booked
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! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.
Lee D.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Huge state park
General: 300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do.
Site Quality: Varies by type and location within the park. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites. Most 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. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20’ to 115’ Most of the non-electric sites had no definable pads at all and as mentioned, were not level. Some roads in the campground were paved but a few were not.
Bath/Shower House: was clean. Did not use the shower.
Activities: A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season.
As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise. This was just an overnight stay for us. We’ve been to many stellar Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but this one was not as good as many others.
- JJennifer R.
ScoutShawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Rick G.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Met our Needs Perfectly
Booked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
- KKatie H.Scout
Big Run State Park Campground
Great primitive campsite
This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals
Christina V.
GuideShawnee State Park Campground
Large, accompdating campground- Quiet on the weekdays!
Shawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Gina I.RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Beautiful
Nice campground. Some of the campsites are a little bit too close together with no privacy. Our site/47 was too sunny. No shade, no privacy. But during the week was not too crowded, nice and quiet. The bathrooms were nice and kept clean. We had to ride our bikes or walk to get to the beach, that was more then a mile away or just felt like it was more, because it wasn’t mostly flat and for the kids was hard to ride they’re bikes . But when we got there we were pleased. Large,clean beach with sand , no rocks or aquatic plants in the water. I will do more day trips to the beach in the future.
Guide to Fort Hill
Shawnee State Park near Fort Hill, Pennsylvania sits at approximately 1,275 feet of elevation in the Allegheny Mountains. The campground experiences distinct seasonal changes, with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-70s and winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. The park encompasses over 3,900 acres of forested land surrounding a 451-acre lake, providing access to multiple recreational activities.
What to do
Explore lake activities: The 451-acre lake at Shawnee State Park Campground offers swimming, fishing and boating opportunities. "The lake is gorgeous and has a large, sandy beach. Would love to spend more time there to explore the park further," notes camper Gerard.
Bicycle the lake trail: The paved pathway circling the lake provides excellent biking opportunities for all skill levels. "The trail around the lake was incredible for biking - highly recommend! Everything in this park and campground are extremely well marked and maintained," writes Kaley R. from Philadelphia.
Visit nearby historical sites: The campground's location provides convenient access to significant landmarks. "Foggy mornings are the best in the beautiful forest near Schellsburg historical sites. Nice lake too. Easy access from the PA Turnpike," says Melanie Z. The Flight 93 Memorial is also accessible from the campground, with Rachel L. recommending: "If you stay here, make sure to travel down the road to see the Flight 93 Memorial."
What campers like
Peaceful waterfront sites: At Big Run State Park Campground, campers appreciate the stream-adjacent locations. "Beautiful campsite and loved the sound of the river as white noise!" writes Zoe H. Another camper, Nathan S., adds: "Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish. So quiet and very little traffic. Tons of space between sites."
Natural surroundings: The wooded environment creates a sense of seclusion. "This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds," shares Katie H.
Diverse site options: Campers value the variety of accommodations available. "300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do," reports Lee D. This diversity makes the area suitable for different camping styles, including equestrian camping near Fort Hill.
What you should know
Site selection matters: At Shawnee State Park Campground, careful site selection is crucial. "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," notes Brittany V.
Uneven terrain: Many sites present leveling challenges. "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level," explains Lee D.
Environmental factors: Weather conditions can impact camping experience. "The picnic table was saturated and too heavy to move, so we ate sitting in camp chairs. We would stay again," mentions Danielle S. Seasonal considerations should be made when planning equestrian camping trips near Fort Hill, Pennsylvania.
Road noise: Despite the rural setting, traffic can be audible. "As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise," observes Lee D.
Tips for camping with families
Look for sites near amenities: Choose locations that balance convenience and privacy. "The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks," advises Katie H. at Big Run State Park Campground.
Water activities for children: The lake and streams provide natural play areas. "Used lot 73 for a 26ft hybrid camper. Fit perfectly! It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. The kids loved playing in the water," shares Andy C.
Playground access: Consider camping loops with recreational structures. "A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground," notes Lee D. This can be particularly important for families combining horse camping near Fort Hill with child-friendly activities.
Tips from RVers
Check hookup locations: Verify utility positions when selecting sites for larger rigs. "We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up. We have a 32 foot trailer. The site we were assigned was easily accessed and had a nice view of the campground," shares Gerard at Shawnee State Park Campground.
Beware of challenging access: Some sites have difficult approaches for larger vehicles. "As we drove through the rest of the RV park area we noted that many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them," Gerard continues.
Utilize dump facilities: Plan for waste management when selecting sites without full hookups. "Easy access to the dump station as you exit," mentions Brittany V., highlighting an important consideration for RV-based equestrian camping options near Fort Hill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Fort Hill, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Fort Hill, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Fort Hill, PA is Big Run State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
Keep Exploring