Looking for an adventure where you can explore Imperial and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
One camping area with room for 25-30 tents. Convenient camping for cycling trips along the Great Allegheny Passage!
We are a dedicated GAP Trail biker only campground. No vehicles are permitted at our campground. Our location is only 200 feet off the trail just 1/4 mile north of the GAP Trail headquarters building in West Newton. The campground is located right on the banks of the beautiful and historic Youghiogheny River. West Newton is a full service, biker friendly town. You can walk to all the restaurants, bars, stores and Main Street from the campground for dinner and entertainment, or for a home style breakfast in the morning to get ready for your next day of pedaling.
$25 / night
You will be camping on top of our hill that overlooks the town, river, mountains and cannabis field. There is a tent that can be used, fire pit and wood.
$100 - $150 / night
This quiet hiker-biker campground is nestled along a bend in the Youghiogheny River and has room for over 100 tents. It features three Adirondack-type shelters (two for parties of six people, and one solo unit), two fire rings (with free firewood available), a pair of grills, and two picnic tables. There is a composting toilet on site and a well with non-potable water. River access offers secluded spots for fishing and birdwatching. Lovely Slush Run tumbles off the hillside and winds through the campground.
Visitor Information Overnighting at Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground is free and first-come, first-served; no reservations are required or accepted.
Pioneer Trails Tree Farm has 35 acres of beautiful fir, spruce, and pine trees to explore. Pioneer Trails Tree Farm has been serving Ohio and Western Pennsylvania for over 30 years, the Perdulla family welcomes your family this camping season!
Reserve Your Space – Camping Season Opens May 1st. Primitive camping sites are available May 1st - October 31st for those wanting to escape the daily grind to get a bit of country peace and quiet.
$35 / night
Cabins
Glamping 5 room Spring/Summer/Fall Tent Deck (City Water, Hot shower tent, leather furniture, double pull out bed complete with linens, recliner, dining table/chairs, Propane BBQ, In the forest, Porta Potty, (Quiet Generator optional), Dishware/glassware/cookware optional), sleeping bags optional), WiFi, deck furniture.
OR,
Lakeside shelter stacked hammocks, porta potty, Tent hot shower.
OR,
Lakeside, elevated pitch-your-own tent(s)
OR,
Primitive camping in the forest.
$10 - $60 / night
Ranger
Breakneck is a private campground on the edge of the McConnell’s Mill State Park. They offer RV sites, tent camping and cabins. The tent camping is either grassy, flat sites or on an elevated timber platform overlooking a gorge. They also offer walk-in tent sites down by the creek which are beautiful.
We were lucky enough to be able to to camp down by the stream. There are designated fireplaces. It is quite a walk up the hill to the campground amenities, but worth it to feel secluded down by the creek. From our campsite we walked along the creek into McConnells Mill State Park and joined the covered bridge trail. Approx. 30min walk along the creek down into McConnells Mill State Park.
The campground sells firewood and has great amenities. Note: there is no phone reception at the tent sites by the creek. They welcome fury friends!
Scout
Went tent camping with my fiancée. Had a great time other than the loud neighbors. Bathrooms were also a bit dirty.
Scout
Was a relaxing 4 days at a tent site. Would absolutely recommend this campground!
Guide
Awesome owners,quiet place to relax. Tent site was nice and conveniently located next to the bathhouse
ScoutI enjoyed my stay at this park. We had a tent site for the weekend. It was a beautiful area and I really enjoyed exploring. Looking forward to going back soon!
ScoutMostly an RV campground, but several tent sites. Each site was very spacious and well shaded. Fire ring and table at each sight. Restroom were a short walk away. Firewood available for purchase. I would stay again.
ScoutI had the most wonderful time on my first tent camping at Racoon Creek. We made a fire, hiked by the moonlight and swam at the warm lake at night. There were other campers around but we rarely noticed them and only when walking to restrooms at the daylight. I will be back soon
TravelerWe stayed here overnight on a trip to Pittsburgh. Tent sites were nicely spaced apart, but were often on inclines, like ours. We saw deer and turkeys, so be on the lookout for lots of animals! Bathrooms were fairly clean! Fun hiking to mineral springs!
Traveler
It is a very well maintenance campsite most have fire pits a lot of level ground for tent camping pull in parking spots for RVs and campers a bathroom on site and two different trails to hike fishing minutes away the gun rage is also near (the gunshots don’t bother me) must register when you arrive at the box attached to the bathroom building can’t beat it for FREE
TravelerOlder type bathhouses but very clean, stainless steel fixtures. The campground is in two areas but split into about 5 loops. A lot are paved with electric sites, a couple loops are I paved roads and mostly tent sites but very nice! Pretty peaceful place, well patrolled by park rangers!water access in all loops. Outside of camping area are picnic areas and a lovely swimming beach, nice electric only fishing lake!
Guide
Plenty to do with it’s ups and downs. Has a pool but it isn’t the cleanest and with small children you have to be within arms reach of them. Fine for one not so much with two. For 37 dollars a night you have check in at 3 and have to be checked out by 12. 5 dollars per hour before or after those times. The saving grace to this place is the back primitive tent site and the private beach.
Traveler
I did not stay in the cabins. I tent camped. The tent areas are out past the Vue Bar and Grill. They are spread out and each has a fire ring, picnic table and fire wood is free! The people there are great, easy check in. The tent areas are spread out and there isn’t an actual road to each of the sites. I actually thought this was cool but not if its raining and you have a small car.
The best part is the Vue Bar and Grill, the food is surprisingly good. Cooked well and is large portions. There is many other things to do there as well. They have an adventure park but we didn’t make it there. Planing to go back.
Traveler
My girlfriend and I stayed at tent site 40 Friday August 9th and Saturday August 10th. Most of the sites were pretty private and ours was probably the most private and had a lot of space since we were on the very end of the road / cul-de-sac. I would definitely recommend this site if you like privacy but it is a longer walk to the bath house but we didn't mind that at all. The only thing I didn't like about the campground is that there is no wash tub / sink to wash your dishes which made clean up a little more of a chore. Other than that the staff were very friendly and it is overall a great campground.
TravelerIn the past 5 years, I've made 13 trips to Raccoon Creek State Park and spent 16 nights in a tent there. It is my local state park and I can tell you lots about it.
The D loop is really great tent camping at Raccoon Creek State Park. It's tents only, no RVs. So it gets a really fun, party vibe on Saturday nights during the summer. There's a trail right to the beach near the D loop, so it's a great place for families to go with pets. The sites are big, wooded, and all close to the bathroom.
The C loop, however, doesn't take pets (which stinks). When we have our dogs with us, we gravitate towards the C loop. It's fine, but it's not as fun as the D loop.
When we don't make a reservation and we have our dog, we end up in the F loop. It's not our preference (but--let's be clear--even the worst site in the F loop is better than NO trip!).
Traveler
I've only camped in state parks before. We went to Bear Run during the pandemic, when the state parks weren't open yet.
We were tent car-camping. We felt as if Bear Run really catered to RVers.
The tent sites were small and crammed together. There was no bathroom (only a porta-potty). There was no place to wash dishes (the closest thing we could find was a hose that was FAR away). There were no grates on the fire-pits for cooking (as there are at DNCR facilities).
Now that said, you CAN drink alcohol there (which IS a plus).
And the staff was awesome ... we could CALL them on our phone and they would bring us stuff (more fire wood, a grate for cooking). THAT was nice.
But without a closer bathroom and a place to wash dishes, we would just as soon go back to state parks.
TravelerWent to Raccoon Creek State Park to camp for Labor Day weekend. We booked campsite F1 since we had 2 dogs and the F loop allowed dogs. This site was great! We could fit two tents and it was nice and secluded from the other sites. I recommend booking a site that is on the outside of the “loops” if you want some seclusion. The inner loop sites are right on top of each other, good for Rvs, not so much for tent camping. The bathrooms were a little bit of a hike, the next loop over, but they where clean and had flush toilets and running water along with a shower and sinks to wash dishes. There was a place to get water across from this site which was very convenient . The dog walking trails weren’t bad, but they where very up and down hill, at points steep and rocky. The spring was a really cool hike (right off the park office parking lot.) Down by the beach they had a place to buy wood, only $5 a bundle and the beach place also sells bags of ice. Overall a really good family campground!
TravelerI have been to Raccoon Creek many times as it is one of the closest camping places to the Pittsburgh metro area. The park it self is large, has over 40 miles of trails, a fantastic backpacking loop setup for beginners, and a nice lake for swimming, fishing, ect. I would give the park as a whole a 5/5 but for tent camping the campground is mediocre. It is a really large campground with lots of adjoining loops. We stayed in the tent loop at the back of the campground. The area is not wooded at all and most sites look right into the sites next to them. If you are like me and crave privacy, avoid. The bathroom was rather dirty also. There is a trail that leads down from the tent loop to the beach which is cool but very very steep (not for too young or old). Overall, if you are looking to stay in a camp in this park I'd suggest doing the backpacking loop instead. Grab your permit at the park office, park at the heritage trail lot in the southern end of the park and hike to the Pioneer shelter. Sites 4 and 5 are amazing. Note though that the Pioneer site does not have water so you will need to filter water from a stream on the way, though there are many opportunities. The Sioux site is overgrown and is not worth backpacking to, though it does have a water pump and is close to the park office.
GuideI was here the Friday of Labor day weekend. The woman who took my reservation was great and the grounds were nice. They had several options including tent sites in a large open area, some areas that were a little more secluded, lean-to, RV parking and tent platforms which was where i landed.. The 2 stars is due to the fact i was surrounded by people who were beyond drunk,obnoxious and extremely loud which is fine its all a part of camping right? They were hanging out playing there music when i first arrived about 6 and i can appreciate some good fun and music! (but how much Johnny Cash can one handle?) They then moved onto some less appealing tunes which i do not have children but there were plenty riding their bikes by so I'm sure mom had to explain some words that evening. Nothing was done regardless of the vulger lyrics but i figured what do i know I'm not a parent! I had been traveling for days so i was exhausted and managed to fall asleep only to be woken around 11:00 by several people across the way having a blast laughing and yelling which went until 2am and a couple next to me screaming and arguing at each other until 3am.. Quiet time 10:00? At least tone it down! No one addressed the situation. So if you like to hang out and party it up this is a great place. If your looking for a family oriented camping experience maybe not so much..
Guide
My husband & I recently purchased our first 20ft. pull-behind camper. Having made reservations for a tent site for Memorial Day weekend back in February, there were slim pickings when it was time to find a site w/an electric hookup mere weeks before the 3 day weekend. I stumbled upon Bush Recreation Area on recreation.gov (FYI- the website has been redesigned & is still working out kinks) and it was the only campground w/availability. It’s located east of Pittsburgh and is tucked alongside a large boat dock/launch on the Loyalhanna Creek. Motorized boating is allowed and there’s access for fishing from the shore. Some of the sites are more open & exposed (see picture) but others are back in a more wooded area further away from the water. There wasn’t a map for the facility on the website; we stayed at site 18 & noticed the higher the site number (starting at about #25), the further back in the wooded area it was, where there’s more privacy. It’s definitely a great choice for families, especially those w/young children- there’s a nice playground and green space. Reservations are required (recreation.gov) and as of 5/25/19 the dump station is closed & undergoing construction. My husband and I prefer places w/easier access to hiking & biking trails and more privacy, but for our first weekend in our new camper, it worked out well!
Traveler
It’s been 2018 since our last visit. The place has really gone downhill. We’ve been to the Madison KOA at least 4 times. What they think is clean now a days is laughable.
I will give you some advice if you do HAVE to stay there but PLEASE READ the bottom.
I usually cabin stay when staying at a branded campground, for $10-20 more a night makes it worth it not to lug my tent and usually tent sites are crap at these places and they have a couple just to say they have some (the ones here are grown over they claim to have 2, one is dug up) I camp at all 3 KOA brands, state parks, family campgrounds, and yogi bears etc.
Everything here is dated and it looks like they only have an interest in fixing things when they can’t avoid it anymore. Other places I’ve been have been putting in the upgrades left and right since camping has seen a serge these past couple of years.
Lake-never seen anyone fish at the lake until this past stay and they caught a blue gill. They have a few small non motor boats no peddle boats so don’t let that mislead you with “boat rental”. You do see things jump so I don’t doubt there’s fish and it’s really pretty in the backdrop.
If you HAVE KIDS young enough to have to keep an eye on the kabins and spots facing the pillow ARE PRIME (kids wait for it to blow up every morning), play ground (basic-not toddler friendly, there’s a sand pit that’s not covered up at night where they HAD some toddler play stuff), and pool (clean and small but does the job, they try to open it ASAP every year) all the activities are around there as well. If you DONT have kids or have a napper in the family, expect constant noise until quiet time. Get a white noise app or bring a sound machine, the fuzzy TV you may get isn’t loud enough. Quiet and shade is on the backside of those Kabins in the pet friendly area.
Campstore is sparse, they need to bring it up date and offer more. Make sure you grocery shopping before you pull in. Camp host family was awesome and usually the lower staff all are. They never had a security gate, car hangers, or escorts to sites so don’t expect that. Activities have always been cheap and bare bones. I think they should get more creative. There isn’t an activities director, the camp hosts run them.
Deals: they participate in Kid Care (May) and Camper Appreciation (September) weekend. Some KOAs don’t, claim they do but can’t actually use it when you try or pickings are slim.
Even with the deals I won’t be back. It’s not worth it. There is nothing new or upgraded and I’m not passing through or here for other things like some are. It’s ok for a weekend, don’t spend a week here with kids they’ll get bored. If you want to be within an hour from Pittsburgh there are PLENTY of other options. Uniontown KOA is 15 minutes further out.
What tipped my scales from PROBABLY won’t be back to ABSOLUTELY WONT be back is….when I arrived my cabin was not clean, there was ultra crusty very dried up insect parts (its the woods, but…no one could have wiped that up? It’s obvious it’s been sitting there awhile) all over the top bunk, a flim/dust on the bed mats. I went to set up the beds and found several coins (from peoples pockets I assume) and an ear pod my toddler could have choked on if I hadn’t I lifted the bed pads like a cleaning person should have and looked. A cleaning person should have found that if they truly did clean the kabin. They sent the cleaning lady, she came in with a duster pad and went over our sleeping pads….no cleaners, towels, or shop vac. After she left, I swept the floor and LOTS of dirt came up. I broke out my sani wipes and did everything I could. I didn’t appreciate paying $90 a night for a tiny kabin to have to clean before my kids could settle in.
Also the door didn’t lock, I didn’t find this out until late in the second day when I went for 10 rounds of bingo and wanted to lock it. I was leaving the next day at noon so I figured tell them at check out. She said I should have told them at check in, she knew exactly the problem I was talking about and that maintenance would have come to fix it had I called. Although I’ve always felt safe there…Non locking door, no security gate, electronic valuables, purse, medications and wife there alone with kids not ideal. Explained that to them, made it out to be no big deal.
The upper staff people were indignant and I was the problem for complaining and I was imagining it. I was given a dirty kabin. They kept trying to minimize what I was telling them, tried to pass the buck ( she-referring to the cleaning lady said there was only 1 coin, she didn’t tell me about the air pod), and said measures were taken that were obviously not. There wasn’t an acknowledgement of the problems nor any apologies from anyone.
If you stay in one of the smaller kabins with a shower, just know there will be a flood and you should wet, turn the water off, lather, then rinse. Also don’t think everyone is showering one after the other or you can do dishes and wash hands as much as you want before showering because it’s very small water tank, it goes lukewarm to cold quick.
I’m crossing them off my list of places to camp, they do not live up to KOA brand image and standards even for a KOA Journey brand.
Guide
This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning. You need to be careful when booking, especially if you are trying to pitch a tent, as some sites are quite sloped. Our site was huge and right next to the water spigot.
GuideGreat campground near Pittsburgh. Lots of tent , camper, and cabin sites. Good bathrooms
TravelerThey have some spots for small trailers, but we’ve only ever been able to tent there. Nice clean facilities, plenty of hiking, fishing and swimming.
TravelerNice simple, small campground sites are for everyone, RV to tent, older bathhouses but clean. Swimming pool and lake for fishing and boating!
ScoutGot a good spot down by the creek with a great view from the tent.
Legend
Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run is a free camping area directly on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail around Mile 99 (East of West Newton roughly 15 miles). For those not familiar with the GAP Trail, it is a Rails-to-Trails initiative that travels from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD…meandering through numerous Trail Towns that were former thriving railroad towns at the end of the 1800's.
Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run can only be accessed by the GAP Trail, which means on foot or bicycle…or paddlers on the Youghioheny River. Being positioned directly off the GAP Trail grants easy access to those traveling the trail.
Amenities:
No potable water…there is hand pump but the water was discolored. It is a short walk down a trail to the river's edge, where I filtered water for drinking.
There is plenty of grassy area for scores of tents in this area. So if you are not fortunate enough to secure one of the two Shelters or tent pads, you can still set up a tent in the nicely mowed areas, which are still level.
We were bikepacking the GAP Trail east from Pittsburgh and arrived on a Sunday evening mid-June. We secured the only open Adirondack Shelter and were able to set up our tent inside, along with keeping our bicycles inside and out of the elements. Which made it wonderfully convenient when it started to rain. Sites and shelters are first come, first served.
Usually the vault toilets along this trail are clean, maintained and stocked…but on this visit, piles of trash were inside likely from an overly busy weekend.
The only negative was the train traffic on the opposite side of the River…it is loud when they rumble through. If you don't sleep with ear-plugs, you will wish you had.
Bicycle traffic was fairly light during the week, so not only did you have the GAP Trail mostly to oneself, the camping areas were either sparsely filled or empty. Although, things just did start opening up from the Covid-19 shutdown.
Apart from the train noise during sleeping hours, Round Bottom Camping Area is very peaceful and though you can still visually see the GAP Trail, you are not disturbed by passing cyclists.
ScoutGreat place for family camping, this campground is more of a Park trailer RV campground but they do have a few good spots for tents, events all summer through October.
Tent camping near Imperial, Pennsylvania offers a variety of scenic spots for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With well-maintained facilities and access to beautiful trails, these campgrounds cater to both novice and experienced campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Imperial, PA is Dravo's Landing Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
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