Cowans Gap State Park Campground
Great spot for a weekend away!
Very clean campgrounds with nice trails along the lake and the creek that feeds it! Plenty of space near swimming area and even a geocache to find!
168 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Fort Littleton, Pennsylvania spans rustic tent sites to full-service RV hookups across south-central Pennsylvania's mountain landscape. Cowans Gap State Park Campground, located approximately 10 miles southwest of Fort Littleton, provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations alongside a scenic lake. Ye Olde Mill Campground in nearby Burnt Cabins offers year-round camping with both primitive and developed sites. The region includes several state parks and private campgrounds within a 30-minute drive, with options ranging from rustic tent camping to full-service RV sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups.
Camping areas throughout the region operate on varied seasonal schedules, with most state park campgrounds open from April through December. Several campgrounds near Fort Littleton close during deer hunting season, while others like Ye Olde Mill Campground remain open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when waterfront sites fill quickly. The mountainous terrain creates distinct microclimates, with higher elevations experiencing cooler temperatures even during summer months. Cell phone coverage can be limited in more remote camping areas, particularly in the valleys between ridges. A review noted, "Cowans Gap State Park was pretty awesome. Off the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Fort Littleton, through Burnt Cabin on Rt522, signage the entire way. A drive through the PA mountain-scape, excellent scenery to be seen."
Campers report high satisfaction with lakefront sites at Cowans Gap State Park, where swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities complement the camping experience. The developed campgrounds in the area typically feature clean shower facilities, picnic tables, and fire rings, with many offering electric hookups for RVs. Several visitors mentioned the quality of hiking trails accessible from campgrounds, with connections to longer routes like the Appalachian Trail in some locations. The region's state parks provide educational programming during peak season, including ranger-led hikes and wildlife presentations. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "There are 50 miles of single track mountain biking at Raystown Lake campground. They are some of the best flow trails on the East coast and are the #1 trail system in Pennsylvania." Proximity to historical sites, including covered bridges and stone farmhouses, adds cultural interest to the natural camping experience.
"Off the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Fort Littleton, through Burnt Cabin on Rt522, signage the entire way. A drive through the PA mountain-scape, excellent scenery to be seen."
"Nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania, this gem of a campground."
from $24 - $76 / night
Check Availability"This is a huge campground with mostly very large RVs situated on farmland. The sites varied. Some were in an open field, others by the stream with trees. We had Site C, which was right on the stream."
"Our kids love the creek and playing in and around it. Some activities, playground, mini golf etc. but more of a relaxing campground."
from $38 - $43 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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!"
from $28 - $200 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $22 - $95 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Stayed here two nights while visiting Gettysburg (short 20mi drive between the two). Stayed on Chinquapin Hill, each site has picnic table and fire ring and good space for camp."
"It’s a fantastic state park with great picnic areas next to the creek. You can also drive up the road to the dam where there’s a beautiful lake with fishing, kayaking, etc."
from $20 - $102 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"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 Availability"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 $27 - $29 / night
Check Availability











Very clean campgrounds with nice trails along the lake and the creek that feeds it! Plenty of space near swimming area and even a geocache to find!
I don’t know what it is about this place but whenever I’m here all my worries are gone! I can honestly say IM RELAXED!!! I’m relaxed- whether I’m riding the golf cart eating ice cream, playing in the arcades, walking around in the campground store, playing mini golf, fishing from our campsite, watching the doggy’s play in the dog park. I’m honestly happy here!!! My favorite sites are by the lake or river. The bathhouses were clean!! We don’t swim but the pools looked great!! I’m always sad to leave but super excited to come back!! I have a video review on my YouTube channel @UpOnTheRidge304 about this campground - feel free to check it out.
We had a delightful 2 night stay at Rocky Gap in the Dogwood loop. This campsite was beautiful, well maintained and clean, with great access from our area in Dogwood to both the trails and the beach. The campsite itself was a large pull-through, wooded site, that accommodated our big tent and glamping set up for a family of four. The beach was adorable, with a snack bar, playground, nature center and camp store, and I loved that it was only for the campground's use. We took the lake trail walk one day and got to see the campsites that are right across from the lake with amazing views! Minor complaints are that you can hear the roadway from the campsite (didn't really bother us, just noting it) and there's not a ton of privacy in the campground. Neither of these things detracted from our enjoyment of the park and campground though!
Staff is friendly and everything is kept up well, newly renovated pool and pavilion area.
We used to camp here 30+ years ago. Nice that it hasn't changed much. Still has a game room with pool table, driving games, skeet ball, etc. No more pinball games like in the past. Apparently in the 1930 there was a working train around the campground, a restaurant and horse shoes - none of which are at present.
Sites are quite small. I thought our neighbor's awning was going to hit our RV, and that ours might hit the next neighbor's RV. In some parts the campers are also back to back, luckily ours is not.
They have wi-fi but you must pay for it, no free service. No cable TV (which is the norm these days). Good cell reception so you will need that or a Starlink to stream shows.
Staff are friendly. Sites are pretty level. The campground itself is rather pretty with trees, grassy areas, playgrounds for kids, etc. Lots of lightning bugs at night, and birds during the day.
At night it's interesting to walk around as so many seasonal and permanent campers have lights around their campers, trees, etc. Almost like walking around one of those light up parks they do around Christmas.
Micheal met us with a welcome packet, delivered campwood at a very reasonable price (and loaned us a hatchet), clean facilities and hot shower were a bonus!
Very responsive to messages and an overall delightful experience. Great bird watching and a huge herd of deer came to visit too.
This is a very nice and quiet park owned by the city of Jacksonville, Florida. On the beach with tons of stuff to do.
Frome the moment you drive up the women at the gate is about as welcoming ( as my Pops would say ) "A fart in church.," Great way to start your vacation. Didn't get much better in the office. The one guy that worked there did at least smile at us....
Well maintained campgrounds with thoughtful touches. Staff very friendly and responsive.
Fort Littleton in Pennsylvania provides access to several established campgrounds with diverse accommodation options. Cowans Gap State Park Campground offers tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping areas around a scenic mountain lake about 15 miles south of Fort Littleton. Nearby, Ye Olde Mill Campground in Burnt Cabins provides year-round camping with water and electric hookups, while Seven Points campground near Raystown Lake offers additional options including yurts. The region includes both state park facilities and privately operated campgrounds with varying amenities and natural settings.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October. Cowans Gap State Park is open from the second Friday in April until deer season in December, while other facilities like Seven Points campground operate from early April to late October. Several campgrounds provide electric and water hookups, though services and amenities vary significantly between developed campgrounds. Cell service can be limited or non-existent in many areas, creating a true disconnect from technology. As noted in one review, "You are totally off the grid as far as cell, WiFi, and TV signal. Be prepared to be out of communication during your stay."
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for the region, with Cowans Gap State Park's lake offering swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. The lake features a sand beach, concessions, and watercraft rentals during summer months. Hiking trails surrounding the campgrounds range from easy lakeside paths to more challenging mountain routes. Campers note the cleanliness of facilities as a consistent highlight, with reviews mentioning "incredibly clean bathrooms" and "new showerhouse facilities." Weekends and summer holidays tend to see higher visitor numbers, particularly at the beach areas. Many campgrounds allow pets in designated areas only, with Cowans Gap permitting dogs in sites 1-30 of Campground A, making advance reservations advisable for those traveling with animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Fort Littleton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fort Littleton, PA is Cowans Gap State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.
What parks are near Fort Littleton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Fort Littleton, PA that allow camping, notably Raystown Lake and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
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