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Scout
ScoutStanding Stone Farm
Very private campsite
Super nice owner and its a privately owned farm. Went above and beyond clearing out a spot for us with only 4 hours if advance
Camping near Hesston, PA
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Raystown Lake dominates the camping landscape near Hesston, Pennsylvania, with Seven Points campground serving as the primary developed camping area managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. The region includes multiple camping loops with varied terrain and amenities, from waterfront sites to more secluded wooded areas. Seven Points offers electric hookups at most sites, with accommodations for tents, RVs, and cabin camping across its six distinct camping loops. Other mixed-use campgrounds in the area include Lake Raystown Resort, Trough Creek State Park Campground, and smaller private operations like Nancy's Boat To Shore and Star Lee Farm.
Seasonal considerations shape the camping experience in this region, with most campgrounds operating from April through October. A camper noted, "We stayed in Senoia loop in site 236 which was spacious, private, and with a nice breeze!" Reservations are strongly recommended for waterfront sites, which typically book immediately when reservation windows open. The terrain throughout the Raystown Lake recreation area features significant elevation changes, with many sites split between different levels—parking pads on one level and fire rings or picnic tables accessed by stairs on another. Cell service is generally available but can be spotty in some of the more remote camping loops, particularly those farther from the main lake area.
Waterfront campsites represent the most sought-after camping options around Hesston, offering direct lake access for boating and swimming. According to visitor reports, "The sites were nice, there was some garbage left behind from prior campers but a nice layout." Mountain biking enthusiasts frequent the campground areas near the extensive Allegrippis Trail system, with Ridge camp providing the closest access to these trails. The campground facilities receive consistent praise for cleanliness and maintenance, with multiple bathhouses, playgrounds, and a beach area with concessions available during peak season. While the natural setting remains the primary draw, campers should be prepared for significant boat traffic and associated noise during summer weekends, as Raystown Lake is a popular boating destination in central Pennsylvania.
Best Campgrounds near Hesston (126)
1. Seven Points (PA)
"Campground Review: Located in the Raystown Lake Recreation Area is Seven Points. It has 6 different loops to choose from. Two are waterfront and view."
"It’s close to bathhouse and playground if you want those. There is parking at every bath house. There is trash receptacles at the entrance to the loop as well as firewood or sale."
from $28 - $200 / night
Check Availability2. Susquehannock
"We ended up with spot 3, which was on a cliff’s edge. So, it looked like it may be near the water, but there was no way down, and the forest obscured any view that may have been there."
"Loops for RVs, higher on the hill, waterfront loops on steeper grounds for tents, and some walk-to sites adjacent to parking right at the point which double as boat-in."
from $25 - $32 / night
Check Availability3. Lake Raystown Resort
"Fantastic lake side camping resort. Best for campers or using their cabins but it has freeway access to the lake and beautiful views."
"Beautiful lakeside sites."
4. Point Campground
"Lost a star for the long and steep incline walk to the bathrooms. Accessibility note: Careful if you have mobility issues. Many of the sites are terraced and require using steps."
"Wonderful views of the lake and the lake go-ers!"
5. Trough Creek State Park Campground
"We wanted to be close to Raystown Lake. Trough is quiet and small. It's really great if you're looking for a spot to "rough" it (not really, but closer than most!) with the kids. Awesome sites."
"Nice small park with gravel drives/roads and plenty of room for big rigs. All sites level with partial shade. Open, but with plently of space between sites. The trails are nice and very sceinic."
from $23 - $25 / night
Check Availability6. Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA at Four Seasons
"The pavilion where all those activities happened were right next to our site (22 with the doggie den)."
"The staff here at Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA are great. They a friendly, willing to help anyway they can, and keep the place spotless."
from $100 / night
Check Availability7. Honey Bear Campground
"thankful to have raystown family campground so close to home. Can paddle and hike year round and camp in the spring, summer and fall."
"We called to make the reservation and told them we would be pulling in around 7 pm. Danielle (one of the owners) stated no problem, I will be here."
from $1 - $395 / night
Check Availability8. Branch Camp
"Bathrooms with flush toilets but showers are outside showers (ew). Situated along a creek connected to Raystown Lake."
"Flush toilets but showers are outside public showers (ew) ."
from $9 / night
Check Availability9. Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground (PA)
"They are in an area of the lake that has a lot of boat traffic, the waterfront spots usually book a few weeks in advance and are in a wake zone. There is mooring along both sides of the campground."
from $15 / night
Check Availability10. STAR LEE FARM
"There's a huge field to start gaze as well as taking pictures, lots of hiking and if you're a bee enthusiast they grow their own honey in the property and you're more than welcome to walk around and look"
Drive Time
- 39 min from Altoona, PA
- 50 min from State College, PA
- 1 hr 16 min from Johnstown, PA
- 1 hr 23 min from Chambersburg, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Hesston, PA
177 Photos of 126 Hesston Campgrounds
Gabe
Pleasant Hills Campground
Travis S.
Seven Points (PA)
Anne W.
Point Campground
Stephen D.
Susquehannock
Megan B.
Trough Creek State Park Campground
RJourney R.
James Creek RV Resort by Rjourney
Mary C.
Lake Raystown Resort
Timber Run Campground
Timber Run Campground
Jonathan F.
Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA at Four Seasons
Sarah C.
Pat's Primitive Place
Diane T.
Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground
Travis S.
Blue Knob State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Hesston, PA
480 Reviews of 126 Hesston Campgrounds
Chance H.ScoutBranch Camp
Great place
Other campers are nice and welcome. The river is close and just a great location.
Glenda M.ScoutBlue Knob State Park Campground
Ok place to stay
Wow, 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
Patrick H.ScoutHosack Run
Great park, not so great camp site
We stayed at site #146 in Hosack Run. The campground itself is a small, pet friendly loop and has very nice bathrooms/showers that were very clean and appeared fairly brand new. There is a very small playground in the loop (just swings and seesaws) and Caledonia State Park itself has lots of nice hiking and history. It sits about 20 minutes outside of Gettysburg National Battlefield. The campsite itself (#146) was pretty abysmal. It is extremely small and looks like it was once the parking lot for the restrooms. You can still see the remnants of the painted yellow parking lines on the asphalt. Our small, 12 foot pop-up barely fit with just enough room for our tow vehicle. Also, your neighbor (site #144) sits right on top of you. Lastly, we stayed during a rainy Memorial Day weekend and learned that our former parking space of a campsite sits inside of a bowl in which all other campsites drains into creating a small lake around our firepit. The one plus side was that it is extremely close to the facilities. There are lots of other nice camp sites in this loop, but this was not one of them. I would choose this site again if I was extremely desperate to camp here and no other sites were available. 5 stars for the park, trails, and locale. 1 star for the campsite.
MsTrailBlazer 🏔.
RangerColonel Denning State Park Campground
Snakes! 🐍 🥰
Great park, alittle close together than I like. I wish I had picked 1-12 sites by the creek, but I don’t think I had much choice when I booked anyway. Bathrooms were clean. My site was more of an rv and I felt like I was at the neighbors for supper.
- MsTrailBlazer 🏔.Ranger
Little Buffalo State Park Campground
Campground away from park 👍🏻
Beautiful park, pool and lake. Great for boating and fishing, running or hiking and swimming. In may, it wasn’t busy, but I can imagine it gets packed. I will be back for summer.
- MsTrailBlazer 🏔.Ranger
Caledonia State Park Campground
Great time
Pool, campgrounds area is so great. Don’t forget the bbq place up the street, it is so good! Getting the the bathrooms from my site will be more of a challenge once the campground fills up. Showers were a tad colder than I like but once the summer comes I would t mind it, I guess?
Finished some of the App trail from there
- SSteven W.
TravelerHosack Run
Peaceful Oasis
Well kept, clean facilities, easy to work with camp staff, we stayed at site 51 a full hook up site mostly level with a gravel pad short walk to the restrooms
- MsTrailBlazer 🏔.Ranger
Caledonia State Park Campground
Great Park App Trail 🤌🏼
Great Park, showers were cold and after the App Trail, A hot shower would have been awesome. Beautiful park though. My site was a little bit uneven but it looks like the park has been through an upgrade recently.
Guide to Hesston
Camping options near Hesston, Pennsylvania center around Raystown Lake, the largest lake entirely within Pennsylvania at 8,300 acres with 118 miles of shoreline. The area sits within the Ridge and Valley physiographic province, with elevations ranging from 760 feet at the lake to over 2,300 feet on surrounding ridges. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October, with some sites requiring reservations up to 6 months in advance.
What to do
Mountain biking access: Ridge Camp provides the most convenient entrance to the Allegrippis Trail system. "Ridge camp is the furthest away from the marina and the public swimming area. However it's the closest to the Allegrippis Trail system and from the entrance of the camp loop there is a trail head!" reports a camper at Seven Points.
Hiking options: Trough Creek State Park offers scenic trails with unique geological features. "It has a nice hike up above a creek with a huge rock that appears ready to fall over the cliff with a simple touch. very neat," notes a visitor to Trough Creek State Park Campground.
Lake recreation: The lake provides extensive fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities. "There's a marina, a restaurant at the marina, a visitors center, and a bicycle 'course' for younger people I think," explains a camper from Seven Points. Boat rentals are available seasonally at some locations.
What campers like
Secluded waterfront camping: Susquehannock Campground offers primitive sites directly on Raystown Lake. "Very cool camp. Loops for RVs, higher on the hill, waterfront loops on steeper grounds for tents, and some walk-to sites adjacent to parking right at the point which double as boat-in. Some site right on the water, can walk right into the lake," reports a visitor to Susquehannock.
Well-maintained facilities: Campground facilities throughout the region receive consistent maintenance. "Great clean campground, easy to maneuver with a big rig, level sites, clean restrooms and shower rooms. Lots of great hiking, footpath around the park layered with recycled rubber was great to walk on," notes a camper at Seven Points.
Convenient boat access: Some campgrounds offer direct lake access for boats. "These campsites are accessible by boat ONLY! They are in an area of the lake that has a lot of boat traffic, the waterfront spots usually book a few weeks in advance and are in a wake zone," explains a visitor to Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground.
What you should know
Site terrain considerations: Many campsites throughout the area are built on slopes or uneven terrain. "Our site was carved out of the side of the hill with 3 wood walls. Our table and firepit were up several stairs/steps. This is a hilly area so your site is split and the two areas are on different levels," shares a visitor to Seven Points.
Limited cell service: Cell reception can be spotty throughout the area, especially in more remote campgrounds. "Service is a little sketch but it's perfect for those who want to completely escape the business of modern world," notes a camper at STAR LEE FARM.
Reservation timing: Waterfront sites book extremely quickly when reservation windows open. "We wanted a waterfront spot, and although we booked over a month in advance none were available," reports a camper at Susquehannock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What recreational activities are available at Raystown Lake in Hesston?
What recreational activities are available at Raystown Lake in Hesston?
Raystown Lake offers extensive recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy swimming in designated beach areas, fishing, kayaking, and boating on the lake's expansive waters. Lake Raystown Resort provides access to many of these water activities. The area features numerous hiking trails and an extensive mountain bike trail system. Other popular activities include wildlife viewing, picnicking, and night sky observation. During summer months, some locations offer concession stands for visitor convenience. The variety of activities makes it ideal for families, with options suitable for all ages and interests.
Where is the Raystown Lake recreation area in Hesston, Pennsylvania?
Where is the Raystown Lake recreation area in Hesston, Pennsylvania?
The Raystown Lake recreation area is located in south-central Pennsylvania, near the community of Hesston. Seven Points (PA) is situated on the east side of the lake, offering beautiful waterfront views. The recreation area encompasses several thousand acres along the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, with multiple access points around the lake. The area is easily accessible regardless of vehicle size, making it convenient for visitors traveling with various types of recreational vehicles.
Are there camping facilities at Raystown Lake near Hesston, Pennsylvania?
Are there camping facilities at Raystown Lake near Hesston, Pennsylvania?
Yes, Raystown Lake offers excellent camping facilities. Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground (PA) near Hesston provides both boat-in and drive-in access with reservable sites. Point Campground offers water access and is big-rig friendly. The area features over 200 campsites, many right on the water with options ranging from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spots. Campgrounds in the region typically provide clean facilities with amenities like showers, toilets, and in some cases, electricity. Most sites are reservable, which is recommended during peak summer months when the area becomes popular.
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