Cabins near Irwin, Pennsylvania range from basic shelters to fully equipped accommodations across state parks and private campgrounds within 30-60 minutes of town. Most cabin locations sit at elevations between 1,000-3,000 feet in the Laurel Highlands region, with seasonal temperatures ranging from 20°F in winter to 85°F in summer. The rental season varies significantly by location, with some parks closing completely from November through March.
What to do
Hiking at Ohiopyle State Park: The 19,000-acre park offers numerous trail options near Kentuck Campground. "This park and campground is nature at it's best," notes one camper who enjoyed the natural surroundings. Another visitor mentioned, "A beautiful walk through the park leads you to the Kooser Lake, great for fishing."
Biking the Great Allegheny Passage: Access this 150-mile rail trail directly from several campgrounds. "Awesome campground right on the Great Allegheny Passage trail. We loved being able to access the GAP trail right from the campground," reports one visitor at Ohiopyle State Park. The Blue Canoe RV Resort provides "biking access and sites" according to a recent review.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks offer fishing with varying regulations. At Laurel Hill State Park, "The lake provides a great place to fish and the walking trail has some less used fishing spots if you are willing to walk," notes a camper. Kayak rentals cost approximately $15 per hour at most parks.
Water activities: Swimming beaches and boating options available May through September. "The lake is great for fishing with plenty of hiking trails," explained a visitor at Keystone State Park. Another camper added, "Laurel Hill State Park's beaches were great. We went canoeing on the lake."
What campers like
Quiet locations: Several campsites offer more secluded options away from crowds. At Kooser State Park, "Park and campground are very small and almost desolate during the week. There are some great private tent only wooded sites that sit above the main park of the campground so you really feel secluded." Another visitor noted, "The campground is small but it is quiet and clean."
Wildlife viewing: Many cabin areas provide opportunities to see local animals. "Wildlife (turkeys and deer right by the tent)," reports a Kooser State Park visitor. At Raccoon Creek State Park, one camper mentioned enjoying watching "raccoons raccoons and deer" near their site.
Cabin variety: Options range from primitive to modern accommodations. At Keystone State Park Campground, "Park itself is gorgeous with a large lake and designated swimming area." Another visitor noted, "There are 2 campgrounds in the park, the hillside one and the one on the lake." Sites at various campgrounds range from full sun to heavily wooded settings.
Seasonal activities: Different parks offer specialized programming throughout the year. "We have stayed here multiple times throughout several summers. The lake is great for fishing with plenty of hiking trails," explains one visitor about Keystone State Park. At The Blue Canoe RV Resort, cabins are available "Open 5/1/2020 - 10/18/2020" with seasonal programming.
What you should know
Road access challenges: Some parks have difficult approaches, especially for larger RVs. At Washington-Pittsburgh SW KOA, "Follow the signs to the campground NOT the GPS in order to avoid some narrow and sharp turn roads." Another camper warns, "Very steep narrow roads to access campground and sites."
Reservation timing: Most cabin sites require booking well in advance, especially for summer weekends and holidays. "We were there in November with plans to visit Fallingwater. This campground was the perfect location for both activities," notes a visitor about timing at Ohiopyle State Park.
Cabin amenities vary significantly: Check specific listings before booking. "Our site backed up to the creek but surprisingly, there was not a lot of water flowing in the spring," one Laurel Hill State Park visitor reported. Another mentioned, "Most sites are gravel; most appeared level, but some did not."
Cell service considerations: Coverage varies widely between parks. At Mountain Top Campground, visitors report "full verizon coverage lte" while at Laurel Hill State Park, there's "Fleeting cell at best on Verizon."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks offer dedicated play areas for children. At Raccoon Creek State Park, "Long holiday weekend trip. Love this park. Designated pet areas, flush toilets and shower house available. Plenty of trails." The park also features "a nice little beach area to lay out and enjoy the sun."
Swimming options: Many parks have designated swimming areas with varying facilities. One visitor at Keystone State Park noted, "small lake where you can fish, paddle boat, and swim." Another mentioned "a large pool and cloud pillow with the playground next to it" at Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA.
Cabin location selection: Choose based on proximity to restrooms and activities. "We 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," shared one visitor. Consider that at some parks, "the bathroom was rather dirty" and facilities vary significantly.
Family-friendly scheduling: Plan around park quiet hours and activity schedules. "Quiet hours are from 9pm-8am," noted a Keystone State Park visitor, while another mentioned that "quiet hours and parking are strictly enforced."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many sites require substantial effort to level RVs. At Mountain Top Campground, "the site was flat" according to one visitor, but at other parks like Washington-Pittsburgh SW KOA, "sites not level and noisy, next to highway." Check site descriptions carefully.
Hookup variations: Electrical service types vary between parks. "Water and electric available (50 amps), grey sewer available," reports a camper at Mountain Top Campground. Another noted, "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."
Site privacy considerations: RV sites offer varying degrees of separation. One visitor to Laurel Hill State Park explained, "Sites can be a bit small or awkward for campers," while another noted that at Mountain Top Campground, "Spacing between spots was not cramped at all."
Seasonal restrictions: Some parks limit RV access during winter months. "We're staying in the winter for a few nights to visit friends who live outside Pittsburgh. Friendly and cozy spot," notes a Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA visitor. They added, "They've done a great job in the winter despite the frigid weather by using heat tape on the spigots."
