Looking to go glamping near Gaines and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping near Gaines is especially popular among campers who enjoy beds and electricity. Search nearby glamping or find top-rated spots from other campers.
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
$18 - $117 / night
$30 - $100 / 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.
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.
$24 - $46 / night
Traveler
Absolutely beautiful well kept campground situated between Pine Creek and the rail trail! Great facilities...there's even glamping tents!
Traveler
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!
GuidePetticoat Junction campground is nestled in the PA Grand Canyon with Pine Creek on one side and the Rails to Trails on the other of the campground. This ideal location provides a nice tranquil environment with opportunities for active adventures. It had been several years since our last stay at PJC, but the new owners have done amazing improvements and upgrades to many areas of the campground which are greatly appreciated. Everyone we interacted with(owners/employees) were friendly and gave us the feeling that they were glad we chose to stay with them.
There are a variety of camping options from season sites, primitive sites, cabins, glamping tents, and RV hook-ups for water and electric(along the creek). We stated in one of the water/electric hook-up sites along the creek, which was wonderful. Very flat and larger than average in size, which was nice not being on top of your neighbor. Water pressure was very good and the WIFI signal was better than many campgrounds we have stayed.
The location of PJC is perfect for fishing, floating/kayaking, and biking/hiking the rails to trail. There are many nearby hikes throughout the canyon for the more adventures travelers. The office has biking/tubing/boating rentals for its campers. Additionally the firewood for sale is priced well and is very good quality, not the cheap smoky pine found in most places. If you need a break from civilization to reset and relax, I highly recommend PJC!
Guide
my family loves going here and relaxing in the fall. We will even take a day during the winter and just drive up for a visit. the pitures i have were from last winter. this state park has yurts you can rent to stay in and also so very good campsites too and good facilities. hikeing trails, a lake, huge picnic area too
Guide
This is one of the main attractions for the area. Locals come here when the weather is nice.
We stayed in yurts, which are round tents ($38 per night). We had a cozy wooden deck and slept four people in two bunk beds. We also had a cooking stove, refrigerator, heat and electricity.
There is plenty of fishing and hiking to go around.
Really recommend this campsite if you have a little extra money to spend and are looking for a light getaway with friends.
If you're looking for a secluded place for yourself or with a loved one, I would look around the area for a less-popular campsite.
Ranger
We stayed at site 78 on the Sycamore loop at the end of April in a tent, which isn't the best equipment for this campground. Our site had a blacktop driveway, a very small amount of gravel, and a ton of mud. There was standing water toward the back of our site, and no really solid place to pitch our tent.
It was very windy the night we stayed and the following morning was as well. Because our tent stakes were anchored in mud, our tent blew over and collapsed. Our neighbor's tent did as well.
With the exception of our neighbors, we were the only tents in the loop (the other sites had RVs, and there are 2 cabins and 2 yurts on the loop as well). Firewood is for sale at the camp host site. Bathrooms are clean and the showers are delightfully warm.
The sites are flat and open. There is a lack of trees, so no real wind break. Each site has a fire ring and a hook to hang food from small animals.
If the primitive sites weren't all booked out (it was the first day of turkey season) we would've stayed there. I'd give this place another chance, but only if we can snag a site at the primitive campground.
Guide
Incredible views, nicknamed the Grand Canyons of Pennsylvania
GuideVery 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.
Traveler
We stopped for 2 nights and felt so comfortable we added another 2 nights. Nice lake for kayaking and fishing. The finger lakes trail runs through the campground. Did a 5.5 mile hike up Pennsylvania Hill today. A little road noice and no water hookups.
Legend
Just off US 15 at the New York border. All roads and parking pads are paved. The sites are closer together than most other COE parks where we’ve stayed. We stayed in the Bench Loop which is very busy since it is waterfront. Our first week, we were on site 54 (W/E 50A) and waterfront. Our second week, we stayed on site 44 (FHU 50A) right across from the seldom used playground. Quite wooded here but we managed to get satellite TV. No Verizon phone service and very slow internet with a booster. This area is pretty with rolling hills all around so we enjoyed a couple of scenic drives. About an hour away is the Pine Creek Rail Trail in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
LegendOur family loved the modern cabins which are available in my of Pennsylvania's state parks. I'd rank any other park that we visit with a five star rating. The staff at other parks will let my family check in before 3:00pm if the cabin is ready.The swim area is one of the best around. Playgrounds are fun& the snack stand is a little expensive, but delicious!I think we picked the week with the most rain of the year to camp but it was still a lot of fun. The hike around the lake is not that long and a pretty easy walk. We did it with a 5 year old and he had no complaints. The nature talks were really fun for the kids and interesting for the adults.
GuideWe have stayed at Bald Eagle several times and have enjoyed our stay. The park has basic, water & electric as well as a few full hookup up sites. The sites are very spacious with a picnic table and fire rings and are easy to back into even with a rig as big as ours. We stayed recently and the park office was undergoing rennovations and expanding their camp store. We discovered one of the evening talks about the eagles nesting in the park and the ranger set up binoculars for us to try and see the nest. Very peaceful place to stay with lots to explore. The views are spectacular in the fall with beautiful foliage! If you are not the camping type you can stay at the Nature Inn and enjoy the beautiful lodge in an amazing location! Definitely tops on our list of state parks in Pennsylvania!
GuideStayed 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.
LegendPROS
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
ScoutThey have games for the kids, a small playground, bingo games for the adults, movie nights, clean outhouse restrooms, and a nice atmosphere. I would definitely camp here again.
Traveler
A fantastic hidden gem next to the picturesque pine creek. Perfect for a river float on your tube or kayak with a nearby shuttle service. Quiet campground with a brand new bath house. WiFi that actually works great. And nice sized sites.
TravelerSpent labor day weekend here had a great time very clean campground and very clean bathroom and showers
GuideVery nice campgrounds all new bath house and electric throughout the camp. Great views of pine creek that's stocked with trout. Large sites and quiet place. Owners are very nice and friendly. We will be back
ScoutSites right on the creek! Great for trout fisherman, and those with dogs who love water like ours. Bathrooms were super clean. All the kids seem to love the playgrounds. Staff is awesome and friendly!
ScoutSo myself, my Girlfriend and our dog went up to hike the Grand Canyon and decided to spend the night. We were met with extremely friendly personnel. The site was easy to get to. And the bathrooms and showers were extremely clean. Honestly it was a huge plus picking this place to stay the night.
TravelerFor whatever reason it's expensive to stay at this state Park. It doesn't have modern bathrooms, and you can't pre-book your stay. But nonetheless it's absolutely awesome. I love the walk in sites. They take a small hike so don't over pack! There is so much that this park has to offer. So many hikes, so many scenic overlooks. I highly suggest this parks Turkey trail. Unlike Lenard Harrison's trail it's not so easy for EVERYONE to access, so you won't see near as many tourists. It's a rougher climb but you follow a small stream filled with waterfalls down into the canyon. I would absolutely recommend visiting.
TravelerGreat hiking with great views!
GuideUnlike Leonard Harrison, Colton Point on the western rim of the Pine Creek Gorge isn't a tourist hub. The campsites are private and you get to hike in (varying amounts of distance.) The trails aren't built up with steps and the like, but I think the Colton Point Turkey trail is much more manageable even without them. You can connect to the West Rim Trail if you'd like. My only warning is that I managed to get turned around on the trails, nothing too serious, but I recommend a reliable map.
TravelerThis was our first camping trip of the summer and damn did we pick a good spot. I loved that you can pick your own tucked away spot within the camp area but yet still close enough to other people. ~$20 a night which isn't to bad. Hiking trails close by, wish I brought my fishing pole to fish down in Pine Creek. Water was low enough the weekend we went, we crossed the river and hiked some of the rails to trail pathway. Bathrooms are an easy 5min walk or just pee in the woods lol. Overall awesome campground. Beautiful views just 2 minute walk away overlooking PA Grand Canyon
TravelerI love this camping area! I used to go with my school when i was in high school. And since i graduated i have always enjoyed coming back to this wonderfull place! It is full of adventure and just a great place to camp!
GuideSmall sites with porta potty’s, did not stay found another campground
Scout
Our trip to Canyon Country Campground was fantastic! The owners were very friendly and helpful. Our site was well laid out. The campground was neat, clean and quiet. The owners were extremely helpful concerning the Pa. Grand Canyon, where to go, the trails, etc. It is a 5 hour drive for us but we are already booked again for this June.
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.
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