137 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Garrett, Pennsylvania sits near several state parks and forests offering diverse camping experiences. Laurel Hill State Park Campground provides tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with electric hookups and showers, while Savage River State Forest in nearby Maryland offers more primitive camping options. Kooser State Park Campground features cabin rentals and RV sites with electric hookups. The region includes both developed campgrounds with full amenities and more secluded forest sites for those seeking a quieter experience.
Camping seasons vary significantly throughout the area, with many campgrounds operating from mid-April through October. Laurel Hill State Park typically opens mid-April and closes the third Sunday in October, while Kooser State Park maintains a similar schedule from April 15 to October 15. Some areas like Savage River State Forest remain open year-round, though winter access may be limited by snow and ice conditions. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays. A camper noted that "Green Ridge State Forest's dispersed campsites offer great privacy. All are roadside, but plenty are tucked away so you feel alone in the woods."
The Allegheny Mountains provide a scenic backdrop for camping in this region, with several lakes and rivers enhancing the experience. Rocky Gap State Park Campground receives consistently positive reviews for its spacious, shaded sites and lake access. "The sites are large, paved and with shade (lots of trees). Very short walk to the beach on a path between sites," one visitor reported. Campers should be aware that sites vary in privacy levels across the region's campgrounds. Some campgrounds like Ohiopyle State Park can feel crowded during peak season with sites positioned close together, while others offer more seclusion. Most developed campgrounds provide clean bathhouses with hot showers, picnic tables, and fire rings, though amenities decrease at more primitive sites. Cell service varies throughout the mountainous terrain, with better coverage typically available at campgrounds closer to towns.
"Ohiopyle is located in a beautiful area of Pennsylvania we've camped there a couple of times and have been able to get last minute tent sites. Lots of outdoor activities nearby."
"Very close to two Frank Lloyd Wright properties– Kentuck Knob and the more widely known Falling Waters."
from $20 - $54 / night
Check Availability"The lake is separate from the campground, but it is less than a mile away and a reasonable distance walk."
"The site numbering is a bit wonky on the door loop so make sure you look at your map before you start driving the loops."
from $20 - $64 / night
Check Availability"We stayed in cabin 170 in Fir loop and the site was incredibly spacious, heavily shaded, close to the bath house, path to the beach, and well distanced from other sites."
"Our friends were in the site next to us (17) which was also nice and there was a wide walking path between them. Family also stayed in one of the rental cabins (21)."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability"This was a beautiful state forest, with two state parks sort of bordering it (Big Run & New Germany). The roads were all paved which was nice."
"It was a good sized site with a nice fire circle. my favorite part was how private it was, each campsite was 50-100ft away from each other at least. Mine was probably 100yrds."
"Beautiful scenery, quiet location, spacious campsites, full RV hookups, well-placed fire rings, dog park, nice large bathhouses, polite staff, and Wi-Fi that works. "
"The lake and farm country provided a welcoming and relaxing setting. The trail around the lake was perfect for running or walking. "
"5 firewood bundles at the entrance. -Cleanest bathrooms/showers -Crystal clear stream with beautiful trail to the lake. Both stocked with fish. -Lots of picnic tables at the lake."
"Kooser State Park sits on the border of Forbes State Forest in the Laurel Highlands. It has a mix of camper & tent sites around a central clearing, and offers a few cabins."
from $22 - $70 / night
Check Availability"It was an easy short walk to the parking lot. The campground has easy access to the bike trail. You can see bikers camping in a certain spot for the special rate of $14.00 per biker. "
"Great access to the Allegheny bike trail and all the small towns near. No shade over campsites."
from $155 / night
Check Availability"New Germany State Park is situated in Garrett County Maryland. The park has a small lake, a few trails, and two camping loops."
"If you’re camping at sites 14-26, the walk may seem a bit long to use the john. The park has about 15 or so miles of trails."
from $18 - $117 / night
Check Availability"Extremely family friendly, lots to do for kiddos on weekend, stocked ponds, bathhouses very close to all sites. Laurel hill cricks/lake are 2 miles up the mountain!"
"The roads around the camp ground could use some maintenance, especially on the hill side by the pool! All in all, a wonderful place to take your family camping!"
"The train line, and the trail, are a steep hike up the hill from the rest of town, so the noise is much less bothersome during the night."
from $20 / night
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ScoutWow, the weekends were fun. They were quite a bit of people there and my kids had a good time. The weekdays were different story we were told we had to be quiet. We had a lot of craziness go on
GuideCoopers Rock State Park is an absolute gem and easily deserves 5 stars. The RV lots are large and easy to navigate, making setup stress-free and comfortable. The staff was very friendly and helpful, which made the whole stay even better. The new washrooms were clean, modern, and well maintained, and the scenery is breathtaking everywhere you look. It’s the perfect place to relax, enjoy nature, and take in the beautiful views.
GuideThis place is gorgeous and very quiet. The shower house and bathrooms were well maintained, and even had a laundry room and large sink around the back for dishes. Laundry costs $2 in quarters per load, 4 quarters for the washer and 4 quarters for the dryer. They are quick as well, took maybe an hour and 15 minutes all together. Campsites are spaced apart so you're not directly on top of eachother, but you can still see most of the other campers. Lots of trails in the area. We had electrical hook up and a lantern pole, and the is a dump and water station on the way in/out. Highly recommend this site.
TravelerWe are here a couple days . Staff and facilities are great. Lots of hiking trails of various types and lengths. June 9 and only 2 other RVs on our loop. The “new” loop has great single occupancy bath facilities.
TravelerWe LOVED our visit to Kentuck campground and Ohiopyle. We went mid-week in early June and had very few neighbors Tuesday and Wednesday, with more rolling in toward the end of the week.
We stayed on Hickory Loop with our dog and saw quite a few other dogs while we were there. Not all sites are equal at this campground - ours was huge and lovely with adequate flattish area and a stream running along two sides of it. Others were quite small and not very level. I think we had one of the best sites on the loop, with great trees for hammocks and big rocks nearby, as well as good privacy from other sites.
The campground is very shaded and was regularly several degrees cooler than elsewhere in the park, which was great to home 'home' to. There's a lot of poison ivy in the area, so be watchful.
Firewood is available for purchase on entrance to the campground.
The bathhouse was relatively clean, with a large kitchen sink for washing dishes, three toilet stalls, and two shower stalls. We never had to wait for any of it.
TravelerThis place is so relaxing! As soon as we stepped out of our motorhome it felt like we could relax. You could hear the birds tweeting and see squirrels playing and even butterflies dancing in the sunlight. It felt so nice to just set down in our chairs and take a break from life here. The owners are so friendly! I loved being able to pet the donkey/mule. This place is beautiful. We stayed in site 9 this time and site 8 last time. I honestly have no complaints about this place!!!
GuideThis campground's foliage is interesting, I saw fernes growing and trees that looked older than me. I also noticed the campground has some history shown by the rust of the firepits. There is Billy's Pizza and general store which sells firewood if you go a little further down the road that maps takes you and take the second left instead of taking the first left. I think the campground also sells firewood on site. You can order Billy's Pizza and I saw them deliver to the campsites, which is amazing, havent seen that before. I'm a light sleeper and could hear truck engine braking sounds echo through the forest from the nearby highway, so the proximity to the road ruins the feeling of seclusion and the quiet. There's a restroom with a large sink outside which is nice.
TravelerThis is one of six campsites that can be reserved through PA's DCNR website. The six campsites are spread throughout the Laurel Highlands. This is the only one at Mt. Davis. We camp with three dogs, so we really appreciated the privacy. There were occasionally the sounds of distant ATVs or farm equipment, but, overall, this is a peaceful site. The campsite does not connect to the trails at Mt. Davis and there is no vault toilet here, but both vault toilets and a trailhead are just a few minutes away at the Mt. Davis picnic area. There is only one obvious tent site, so, if you need more than one tent site, you will have to get creative. The site is along a gravel road that leads to a field which you can use to walk your dogs. There are no water features here which our dogs enjoy, so that is the only reason for the 4 out of 5 stars. We will be reserving this site again!
ScoutThis was a great place to camp. Lovely. The price was affordable. We stayed in the cabin. Electricity. Air conditioning. Running water. The property owner manager is very accommodating and pleasant to talk with.
Highly recommended.
~Robert
art505.com
Dispersed camping options around Garrett, Pennsylvania provide alternatives to established campgrounds in the Allegheny Mountains. The region sits at elevations between 2,000-3,000 feet, with summer temperatures typically cooler than surrounding lowland areas. Nearby forests offer primitive camping with fewer amenities but greater privacy than developed sites, while state parks maintain both rustic and modern camping facilities.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Several campgrounds near Garrett feature well-stocked fishing spots. At Rocky Gap State Park Campground, "the lake provides a great place to fish and the walking trail has some less used fishing spots if you are willing to walk," according to Erik E. The park also offers affordable boat rentals to access more remote fishing areas.
Trail exploration: The region contains extensive hiking networks suitable for various skill levels. Savage River State Forest connects to adjacent parks, as one visitor noted: "There's also plenty of hiking in the park and in the adjacent parks like New Germany state park." The trails accommodate day hikes ranging from 30 minutes to full-day excursions.
Biking on the Great Allegheny Passage: Multiple campgrounds provide direct access to this major trail system. "We loved being able to access the GAP trail right from the campground," reports a visitor at Outflow Camping. The trail follows former railroad routes with gradual elevation changes suitable for recreational cyclists.
Spacious, wooded sites: Campers consistently praise the room between sites at certain campgrounds. At Hickory Hollow Campground, "Hickory Hollow's campsites were nicely spaced out, perched on a hillside, but with nice flat pads. The lake and farm country provided a welcoming and relaxing setting." This setup allows for more privacy than many commercial campgrounds.
Convenient water access: Proximity to lakes and streams ranks high in camper satisfaction. "The campground has their own beach so it's not over crowded with the public," notes Katie H. about Rocky Gap State Park. Some sites in Savage River State Forest sit directly beside flowing streams, as one camper mentioned: "We found a site right on a beautiful stream. It was a good sized site with a nice fire circle."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses make extended stays more comfortable. "The bathhouses are always clean and well stocked," reported a Rocky Gap visitor. Another camper at Hickory Hollow noted: "The bathhouse was clean and easy to access," showing the importance of basic amenities even in more rustic settings.
Variable cell coverage: Connectivity differs dramatically between campgrounds near Garrett. New Germany State Park has "NO cell coverage, so bring your conversation starters or a book," according to one reviewer. At Laurel Hill, a camper reported "Fleeting cell at best on Verizon," indicating even major carriers have limited reception in the mountainous terrain.
Distance to supplies: Most campgrounds sit far from major shopping areas. "There are no grocery stores real close," warns a reviewer about Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park. Another notes to "Plan your meals well, before arriving. There are a couple of restaurants in Ohiopyle, but they are not open late."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature sloped terrain requiring preparation. "Many of the sites are not level at all and take some serious work to get your rig level," reports a Kooser State Park visitor. This factor affects both tent and RV camping comfort.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer better play facilities than others. At Rocky Gap, "Near the beach there is a nice playground near shade for parents to watch," mentions a repeat visitor. This allows parents to relax while maintaining visibility of children.
Swimming options: New Germany State Park Campground provides family-friendly water activities. "Nice destination spot if you have children. A great swim area where mom can relax while kids play," according to one reviewer. The lake areas typically feature shallow sections cordoned off for younger swimmers.
Kid-friendly hiking: Several trails accommodate younger hikers. At Rocky Gap, "The 5 mile hike around Lake Habeeb is enjoyable. Great way to see all sides of the park," notes a visitor. The relatively flat lakeside paths work well for families with mixed abilities.
Site selection matters: Research specific site characteristics before booking. At Kooser State Park, "The electrical hookups are not played out well like an expensive RV park with the shared power post on the entrance side of the camper. You may want to have an extension for your power cable," advises a recent visitor. Photos on reservation systems may not show all site details.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging access routes. A camper at Pioneer Lakes noted: "The roads are full of potholes going back to the sites," indicating the need for careful driving with larger vehicles. Narrow, winding mountain roads require advance planning for larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Garrett, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Garrett, PA is Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 84 reviews.
What parks are near Garrett, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Garrett, PA that allow camping, notably Youghiogheny River Lake and Jennings Randolph Lake.
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