Gaines is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Gaines is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Pennsylvania camping adventure.
$30 - $100 / night
With 125 generous sites, six cabins, two pavilions, a large event tent, playgrounds, and a swimming area we aim to please and there's still plenty of room to run around. We offer some primitive sites but all others offer 30 and 50 amp hook-up. A portion of our sites also offer sewer. Feel free to find a site that fits your needs and we'll do our best to make that happen for you. Wi-Fi is found throughout the campground for those that need
$26 - $110 / night
$34 - $138 / night
Tompkins Campground is on the north shore of Cowanesque Lake in the northern tier of Pennsylvania, less than one mile from the New York state border. Surrounded by lush forested ridges, the lake offers recreation for the entire family, including picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, hunting and wildlife watching. The campground is a great place for kids of any age.
Cowanesque Lake offers a variety of outdoor activities. With a boat ramp and overnight mooring, campers can easily spend time on the water. There are a variety of indigenous fish that inhabit the area's streams and lakes, and fishing tournaments are held frequently. The North and South Tailrace areas provide access for fishing downstream of Cowanesque Dam. The fields and forests around the lakes are popular destinations for both local and out-of-state hunters looking for large and small game species native to the eastern hardwood forests. The 4 mile Moccasin Trail within the facility leads hikers on a trek through reclaimed farm fields and wood lots inhabited by a variety of watchable wildlife.
Cowanesque Lake offers a variety of outdoor activities. With a boat ramp and overnight mooring, campers can easily spend time on the water. There are a variety of indigenous fish that inhabit the area's streams and lakes, and fishing tournaments are held frequently. The North and South Tailrace areas provide access for fishing downstream of Cowanesque Dam. The fields and forests around the lakes are popular destinations for both local and out-of-state hunters looking for large and small game species native to the eastern hardwood forests. The 4 mile Moccasin Trail within the facility leads hikers on a trek through reclaimed farm fields and wood lots inhabited by a variety of watchable wildlife.
The partially forested campground sits in the pristine setting of the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains. The surrounding land paints a scenic picture of rolling mountains and open fields.
Reservations to include any reservation changes, such as cancel, refund requests, site transfer, or date changes cannot be made at facility location.
$40 / night
Big open campground with lots of sites both electric and non electric. Many rigs in non electric sites running generators 24 hours. Very noisy. Would not recommend
This is a nice clean quiet campground. It's a great stop if you're doing rails to trails or swimming at the beach up the road. (Note to get to both places you'll need to drive). We went on a weekday and it wasn't crowded but I've heard on the weekends it gets packed. There are two sets of swings and one slide. The bathrooms have showers and were clean. Some of the spots are smaller and right next to each other (down by the creek and up around top). But spots 68,69,70 are prime. We were in spot 75 right next to the bridge and not ideal
The campground is beautifully kept. Bathrooms and sites were nice. Some sites are alittle closer personally esp in the dog area. It was extremely buggy when we went. Our dogs wouldn't come out of the camper because there was no relief. It was the height of rattle snake season. A site near ours and very close to the playground had a rattler under their camper. Alittle too close for comfort. Otherwise, campers, rangers and hosts were nice to deal!
This is one of the best campgrounds we've ever stayed at. Beautifully maintained and landscaped, and the sites are level. Our site was literally on the river, we even saw an eagle. Their bathrooms are so clean I almost swept from joy. Keep in mind you need quarters for a hot shower but I only needed 2 quarters for 6 minutes, plenty of time. What I love most is how accessible the biking trail and river are. The staff will even shuttle you to the kayak drop off site for a fee, and then you just pull in right to the campground. We have been coming to this area for years and this is the first time we were lucky to snag a site for a Holiday weekend. We won't stay anywhere else from now on.
This is a big park. We just reserved one night as as an overnight stop after a 10 hr day of driving. We travel with a dog so our only choice for an electric site was on the Sycamore loop. The Oak loop does not allow pets. Sites we nicely laid out with level gravel and a fire ring. Looks like there lots to do around the park, especially for families.
Very clean,family friendly ,relaxing
Very nice campground, well maintained quiet, clean restrooms and showers, nice sized sites, very nice owners
Stayed in the modern camping section. Easy access to camp ground. The check in process was just to drive to the site and set up which was different but very easy. The sites are private on the sides with some green space to play on. Lots of extra places to park extra cars or bring a second vehicle with a boat.
The kids had fun riding the bikes around the loop and taking the short cuts cut in around the loop. We had fun walking to the foot bridge to go fishing.
The camping area was very quite both mornings and evenings. We saw the park rangers drive through multiple times per day.
The bathrooms were clean. There are no shelfs in the showers (except for a bar of soap) but they had hooks to hang your clothes.
The racoons were a fun surprise on our last night! We left the grease trap from the Blackstone out and the they found it. We did not see any bears though we heard they are there.
We had smoke from Canadian forest fires so haze in the pictures is smoke not haze or rainy days! The walking trails are great. You can see the largest white swamp oak in Pennsylvania!
Definitely check out Penns Cave too.
This a small campground, around 33 sites. The pads are all gravel except for the handicapped pad, which is paved. This campground is alcohol free and upon checking on you are asked if you have any alcohol. The sites are fairly spaced apart and many are shaded by large pine trees.
The park visitor's center has many participatory A/V camping and wildlife exhibits. The law enforcement/ranger was exceptionally helpful and friendly and he provided me with the locations of current elk sightings.
I had no verizon cell service in the park.
Would like to stay at this campground, but these folks do not respond to reservation requests or vmail requests per their website instruction. Have lost all interest - horrible
Quiet campground right on the river. Grass and gravel so easy to keep things clean. Great biking and hiking.
This place was pretty decent. My only complaint was that the trees around our site were dead or at least had a lot of deadfall in them. I was laying in my hammock and the wind picked up so I sat up to observe if anything took off from our site and as soon as I sat up a big dead branch fell out of the tree and struck where my head had been. Needless to say I was very lucky! Other then that it was a great spot you could hike from the campground out to the Turkey trail or go check out the fire tower (It’s $5 per person and credit card only). The whole area is beautiful.
PROS
Senior discount $18
Able to reserve 334 days prior to arriving
Campground quiet but can hear PA 150 road noise
Great night sky viewing
Nice privacy from side neighbor's campsite
Asphalt parking pad
Large gravel around pad to include firepit and utility hook up
Grass around gravel, but was mid-calf high
Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon arrival
Lantern pole
8 miles off of Interstate 80
Firewood for sale at the campground; $6 bundle
Park is good proximity to Penn State University and Central Pennsylvania
Country Pride Restaurant Milesburg (TA truck stop off of Interstate 80) has some terrific food!
4 bars Verizon
CONS
$6.50 reservation fee for self made online reservation
One day while away from our campsite, park personnel mowed mid-cafe high grass at and around our site and the mowers threw grass all over our table with a table cloth, chairs, trailer, driveway...you name it...it was covered with grass. Why the mowers didn’t direct the mowed grass AWAY from our items is beyond me. What a mess!!!
Check-in clerk at park office was disturbed we checked in with her. Told us just to go to site. Could not tell us if site was vacated. We had to ask for a park map and directions to campground/campsite since this was first time visiting
Site MO45 unlevel from side to side
Site MO45 NO shade as was the case with most of the FHU campsites
Metal frame wood top table in bad condition
Need pathway from upper campsite to toilet/shower building…have to wade thru mid-calf high grass if you don’t walk on the roadway
Toilet/shower facility lit up like a Christmas tree
Toilet/shower facility cleaned on Wednesdays only, according to sign on door
No WiFi
Kids has a great time at this campground. Two playgrounds, a pool, two jumping pillows, mini train, carousel, and activities. Good for bike riding although hilly. The site we booked online had bad measurements, so when we got there we found our trailer wouldn't fit. The camp map is close but not very accurate, so calling them to book if you have any questions is the way to go. We went back to check in when we discovered our problem and got the site swapped with no issues. They're just transitioning to the campspot system this year, and they're working out the bugs. The staff was really great during this whole visit. The new site was a few down from where we originally booked and it was much better. I'd recommend the outer part of the loop that circles the common areas. Woods and shade but very close to all the happenings. The big playground is new and very nice. The small one is mainly two very big playsets (pirate ship and castle). My kids enjoyed both. Two jumping pillows were awesome. Pool was cold but fun. The campground has new owners this year, and renovations are going on. Everything is very clean, and I'm looking forward to the updates they're making. No breed restrictions for dogs. No dog park. Standard GPS directions for this campground are wrong, (coming from 15N they have you turn right at the end of the ramp, you need to turn left) So plot your route before you go. Otherwise it guides you to a gravel road with a no campers sign. The entry road to the campground itself is a very steep, narrow road with a small curve at the top. It's well-maintained but keep an eye out for campers coming down. There's space for getting by but it's tight. Overall this is a very nice campground that's getting some updates that it deserves. The staff is really nice and helpful. We look forward to going back.
Everything was good. Owner was delightful and helpful. Only negative was slow sewer. Site 11c
Visited early June. Very quiet and clean campground. Check out Park Office/ Wildlife Center, Elk Country in Benezette (Elk Life coffee shop is great). Amazing vistas off Ridge road; great hiking all over. Make your first stop the park office and grab a bunch of maps to see what’s around. The SP itself doesn’t offer a ton of hikes, but lots to explore in the nearby state forests. No cell service at all - a blessing!!!
We had a decent experience however there was a horrible odor throughout the campground. I think it was the mud. The mini golf course was pretty run down. I will say they did have a delicious breakfast delivered to the camp site for an extra charge. Not many hiking trails. Staff were friendly.
We set up our tent and allegany national Forest deer camp area, a snow storm came overnight 5 plus inches so we settled in, the place is absolutely beautiful just for the solidarity and the wonderful animal noises and complete darkness at night. Definitely a place to be if you prefer solitude
In my opinion, this is one of the best state parks in the state. The sites are a decent distance apart with only electric available. Water is available at the entrance and at several different sites throughout the campground. Have stayed in several different sites with #4 or #5 being my favorites. As weekends are very busy, we use this campground during weekdays.
Very well kept state park. Bathrooms are super clean.. Sites and huge and we had one of the lakes right behind our site. If you like nature this is a great place. Wildlife everywhere. Hiking, fishing, kayaking...you name it. Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is amazing.
We tent glamp with a Q air mattress and lots of room. Happy Acres had tent spots with electric and water. We were put in a hollow that had space for 6 tents, but with the exception of one (rainy) night when there was one other tent, we had the hollow to ourselves.
The showers and bathrooms were older but in good working order and clean—but a hike from the tent so if you’re like me, a portable loo is a must.
We visited over Labor Day weekend 2021 — intended to stay 4 nights and ended up staying a whole week!
Park is on a large reservoir. Lots off electric sites makes it a nice stopover day from our long road trip. Sites are large with adequate privacy. Bathroom is flush with sinks-just adequate. Only 2 showers per bath house, and they are subpar. Some short hikes in the park. Beautiful stars at night, and Poconos off in the distance.
Been going to this camp since 2001. Love it ever since.
Great location in the Finger Lakes. Wifi was useless. No lounge chairs at either pool which seemed weird. Nice space between sites. Free bunch of wood upon check in. Very friendly folks running the place.
The owners are very nice and helpful. It is mostly occupied by regulars but the rental sites are close to the very clean bathrooms and showers. The swimming pool is a nice bonus!
Absolutely beautiful well kept campground situated between Pine Creek and the rail trail! Great facilities...there's even glamping tents!
Campground was nice but, spot are very close together.
Camping near Gaines, Pennsylvania, offers a mix of stunning natural beauty and a variety of campgrounds to choose from. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there’s something for everyone in this area.
Camping near Gaines, Pennsylvania, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors, with plenty of options for everyone. Whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure, this area has it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Gaines, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Gaines, PA is Hills Creek State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Gaines, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 glamping camping locations near Gaines, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
