Cabin camping near Franklin, Pennsylvania offers year-round opportunities in the heart of Pennsylvania's Oil Region. Within 30 miles of Franklin, elevation changes from 983 feet in the valleys to over 1,700 feet on surrounding ridges. Winter cabin rentals typically require 4-wheel drive access from November through March, with nighttime temperatures often dropping below freezing even during summer months.
What to do
Disc golf and trails: Oil Creek Family Campground features a 27-hole disc golf course primarily set in wooded terrain. "We had a blast on the disc golf course, fishing in the pond, and playing ping pong," writes Danielle V., who also notes the campground connects to Oil Creek State Park trails: "the campground hiking trail loop has a very short connecting piece to the 36-mile Gerard hiking trail."
Winter shelter stays: Oil Creek State Park offers Adirondack shelters that remain open during winter months. Travis S. reports, "We have stayed at the park for Christmas Eve the past two years. Had the Adirondack shelters to ourselves each year... Very quiet and no light pollution for a town or city, providing great moonlit nights."
Wildlife viewing: Look for native wildlife around cabin sites. At Jamestown Campground — Pymatuning State Park, Mary M. shares, "the bald eagles sit in the trees not at all bothered by us. amazing." Brannon M. suggests: "If you're camping with kiddos, try turning over the rocks in area creeks to find little aquatic insects. A little creepy, but a lot of awesome."
Historical oil industry exploration: Cook Forest State Park sits near the birthplace of America's oil industry. Oil Creek State Park and surrounding areas showcase this heritage, with Danielle V. noting it's "the site of the world's first commercial oil well, and where the oil industry began in the United States around 1860."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Two Mile Run County Park offers well-separated sites in wooded areas. John S. explains, "When staying at Two Mile you will find the sites are separated by trees and offer you your own little private area. The prices are good and you truly are in nature." Joanie B. adds, "Every site has plenty of room. Campground overall is quiet. And most if not all of the full hookups are pull throughs."
Clean facilities: Cabins and bathrooms receive regular maintenance at most locations. At Mercer-Grove City KOA, John M. reports, "Great campground and very clean. Probably the cleanest shower house I have ever seen at a campground." Tiffany V. similarly notes about Kalyumet Campground: "The pool is probably one of the cleanest."
Year-round options: Several campgrounds offer four-season cabin accommodations. Travis S. describes winter camping at Oil Creek: "Firewood is available but you have to donate some cash, split it and haul it to your shelter. It's always been seasoned well and provided plenty of heat for the shelter during our winter stays." Two Mile Run County Park maintains operations year-round.
Unique accommodation options: Beyond standard cabins, several campgrounds feature distinctive lodging. At Goddard Park Vacationland Campground, Suzan R. reports, "My husband and I stayed in Teepee number 3. He has never camped before except being a marine. We love it."
What you should know
Hookup placement challenges: At some campgrounds, utility connections require extra equipment. At Kalyumet Campground, Ember M. warns: "Our only complaint would be the site we were in (11) and others next to it were quite far from the water and cable hookups. I ended up having to run 60ft of water hose and 50ft of cable in order to get a connection."
Seasonal availability differences: Most cabin rentals have limited availability from November through March. Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest operates from April 15 to October 31, while Cook Forest State Park Campground runs from the second Friday in April to the third Friday in December.
Winter road access: For winter cabin stays, road conditions can be challenging. Brannon M. recalls an early spring stay at Oil Creek: "It was early April, the snow had just fallen week before, and it got pretty cold during the night. Still, the hiking trails were in great condition!"
Waterfront site accuracy: Some campgrounds advertise waterfront sites that don't provide direct access. Casey L. shares about Jamestown Campground: "We booked a waterfront site and were disappointed to learn that was not actually the case. There was a little bit of a swampy area behind us but the lake was further away."
Tips for camping with families
Adventure activities: Cook Forest State Park Campground & Cabins provides numerous family options. Courtney K. notes, "The Campground was really nice, some spots gave you enough space to feel pretty secluded from other campers." Gary P. adds it has "235 sites, many with electric. Most seem pretty level and big rig friendly."
Kid-focused amenities: Many campgrounds include facilities specifically for children. Ember M. says of Kalyumet: "Our family loved Kalyumet and there was plenty to do for everyone including some great activities for children. We enjoyed the pool, the walking/hiking trails, a trip into Cooks Forest, and even spent some time at the arcade."
Seasonal themed events: Holiday weekends often feature special activities at campgrounds. Suzan R. describes a stay at Goddard Park Vacationland: "It was Halloween themed weekend and the extent of planning they do for the patrons was outstanding."
Swimming options: Most cabin campgrounds provide swimming facilities. Leah L. shares about Jamestown Campground: "We were able to bike down to the beach for swimming." Robert H. adds it has a "beach for swimming and various functions throughout the year."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: Wolfs Camping Resort offers various site types. Nicole C. notes: "Spots are slightly tight. A lot of full time residents living here." For those bringing RVs, Jennifer P. explains the campground has "a pool, store, laundry, snack shack lots of great activities. Friendly staff."
Road access warnings: Some campgrounds have challenging approach roads. Regarding Mercer-Grove City KOA, Jen O. warns: "We have a 40'class A and flat tow a Jeep. We use both the RV Garmin 890 & RV Trip Wizard and both had us doing some crazy side roads to get into the KOA. Be sure to use the park's directions for an easier drive in."
Utility requirements: Different campgrounds offer varying hookup options. Ember M. mentions, "Close to where we live so it's an easy drive and a great start to the season to shake out anything that may not be working since bringing de-winterizing our camper."
Shower facility variations: Bathroom and shower configurations differ across campgrounds. Leah L. describes Jamestown Campground's setup: "The showers do not have a changing area within the shower unit or an area to store your towel/clothes within the shower unit. There is a central dressing room with towel hooks and 4-5 showers connected to the central dressing room."
