RV parks near Imler, Pennsylvania sit in the rolling foothills of the Allegheny Mountains at elevations between 1,100-1,400 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months. Most campgrounds in this region maintain operating seasons from April through October, though several larger RV parks offer year-round accessibility with plowed interior roads during winter months.
What to do
Creek exploration: Multiple campgrounds provide creek access where children wade and float during summer months. At Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing, "kids play in and can float down" the small creek that runs alongside many campsites, with Site 26 offering "a huge back yard and easy access to the creek."
Fishing opportunities: Stocked ponds at campgrounds require no additional license, with bass being common catches. At Pioneer Lakes RV Park, one camper reported they "didnt do much at the campground except fish cought a few nice bass." Most fishing areas have accessible shorelines with designated fishing spots.
Special events: Many Imler area campgrounds schedule regular themed weekends, especially during summer months. Timber Run Campground (formerly Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA) hosts special weekends like their "Bigfoot weekend" where one family enjoyed "rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party," plus educational programming through "RayCEP which is an education program that PA DNCR provides talking about various outdoorsy type things."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Bathhouse cleanliness receives consistent praise across multiple campgrounds, with particular attention to shower areas. At Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA at Four Seasons, campers note "bathrooms are Soo nice" and "they still maintain it like it is being inspected the next day." Another visitor mentioned that "they have recently remodeled the bathrooms/showers (3 of the 4 look brand new)."
Pool amenities: Several RV parks maintain pools with extended seasonal availability. Friendship Village maintains two pools, though as one camper notes, "Neither pool has provided seating so you will need to bring your own camp chairs or towels to sit on. They also do not provide umbrellas but allow you to bring your own as long as they are 5 feet wide or less."
Family activities: RV parks near Imler focus heavily on family-oriented amenities and scheduled events. Friendship Village Campground & RV Park offers "mini golf, fishing, and special events on weekends" along with "multiple playgrounds spread out across the property as well as a jumping pillow and a very well-built gaga ball pit."
What you should know
Site leveling: Many campgrounds in the region feature hilly terrain requiring leveling equipment. At Nature's Getaway RV Park, "the site wasn't so level, but we made it work." Similarly, at Timber Run Campground, "the sites are hilly and in fact the whole park is on a hill."
Road conditions: Interior campground roads often need maintenance, especially after winter months or heavy rains. One camper at Pioneer Lakes noted "the roads around the camp ground could use some maintenance, especially on the hill side by the pool!"
Seasonal variations: Off-season stays offer different experiences with limited scheduled activities. At Timber Run Campground, "after the weekend though, all the activity slows down. There are seasonal campers that stay around, and they're constantly working on improving and fixing up sites during the week. Expect lots of quiet time just relaxing during the week."
Tips for camping with families
Best sites for kids: Choose sites near activity centers to minimize walking distances for children. For Friendship Village, one experienced camper advises "the best sites to stay at if you have kids are sites 145–171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit."
Entertainment options: Most campgrounds schedule family activities, particularly on weekends. At Timber Run Campground, families can enjoy weekend activities like "bigfoot fun" including "$12 bbq plate that included pork burnt ends, beans and potato salad" followed by activities where "Saturday was rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party."
Local attractions: Several family-friendly destinations lie within short driving distances of Imler area campgrounds. Mirror Lake provides convenient access to nearby attractions as "Close by is Ligonier, Idlewild, and St. Vincent (where the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp takes place)."
Tips from RVers
Connection quality: WiFi reliability varies significantly between RV parks in the region. One camper at Pioneer Lakes noted "The wifi is terrible. You can't even use your cellphone on the wifi, let alone trying to stream TV."
Site selection strategy: When possible, request specific sites based on access needs and rig size. At Timber Run Campground, "Site 22 is a deluxe patio back in site with a patio, 4 nice Adirondack chairs, a double glider, a weber propane grill and built in fire pit AND a dog fence just for that site that was maybe 6 ft x 6ft."
Travel routes: Alternative routes can save significant time when navigating to campgrounds in the Imler area. For Timber Run Campground, one RVer recommends "if traveling from the Altoona area, go out through Martinsburg over Cove Mountain Rd - it saves you 30 minutes to an hour."
