Camping opportunities near Irwin, Pennsylvania span from the Laurel Highlands foothills to the Youghiogheny River valley at elevations ranging from 900 to 1,300 feet. The region receives approximately 41 inches of rainfall annually with camping season typically running from April through October. Winter camping options are limited with only a few campgrounds remaining open year-round in this western Pennsylvania region.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Bush Recreation Area offers access to Loyalhanna Creek with a boat dock and shore fishing. "The boat launch is a nice size to fit 2 boats at a time. The only problem is the beach is not that great. However we stayed out in the boat on the lake most of the time. It's a great place to fish and swim and just relax," notes AnnaMarie S.
GAP Trail access: The Blue Canoe RV Resort provides direct access to the Great Allegheny Passage trail system. "The GAP trail rolls right through the middle of this traditional KOA campground. The seasonal RVers and weekend warriors have long claimed their sites, but for through riders on the trail there is a special place to camp, close to the west-bound entrance," explains Shari G.
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds, pools, and organized weekend activities. A visitor to Pioneer Lakes RV Park noted, "Wonderful staff and facilities. The roads around the camp ground could use some maintenance, especially on the hill side by the pool! All in all, a wonderful place to take your family camping!"
What campers like
River sites for water access: The Blue Canoe RV Resort offers camping spots directly along the Youghiogheny River. A camper observed, "Located on the Youghiogheny River. Many full hookups, great play ground for the kids. New pool, but not open when we stayed. Staff make multiple rounds, picks up your trash and delivers your purchased firewood."
Spacious wooded sites: Benner's Meadow Run RV Campground features shaded tent and RV sites. "Got a nice secluded spot to camp in the wooded area that had a amazing mountain views and the star gazing platform. Kids had a great time and lots of activities for them to do!" reports Tom C.
Well-maintained facilities: Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing receives high marks for cleanliness. A visitor mentioned, "My family stayed in one of the cabins while friends were in their campers. The cabin was great, very clean and cozy. The campgrounds are very nice they have a pool as well as a community building and camp store."
What you should know
Site levelness varies significantly: Many campgrounds in the area have uneven or sloped sites. At Bush Recreation Area, "Some of the sites are more open & exposed 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."
Pool availability seasonal: Most campgrounds open pools from Memorial Day through Labor Day. "We were there for one of the first weekends of the season, and we enjoyed every bit of our trip. Not only were the staff super friendly and helpful, but we were lucky enough to get a full-hookup site right on the lake," explains a camper at Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing.
Weekend activity levels: Fox Den Acres Campground has different atmosphere levels depending on when you visit. A reviewer mentioned, "Although the campground is close to several large cities, it is very relaxed, wooded, and quiet. We weren't to sure what to expect as we usually camp in much more remote areas, but we enjoyed the park very much."
Tips for camping with families
Dog parks and pet areas: Pet-friendly policies extend to dedicated exercise spaces. "Big open dog park! There are only a few shaded spots. Spot width was a little narrow where we stayed (on the hill), but perfect for a quick overnight stay," notes a visitor to Washington-Pittsburgh SW KOA.
Playground accessibility: When selecting sites, consider proximity to play areas. At Bush Recreation Area, a camper shared: "We rented space 16 late August 2020 and our friends (and their kids) rented #17 on the inner circle, right next to us with the playground right behind us. Great spots! Our kids were within easy eye and earshot of the playground."
Swimming options: Pine Cove Beach Club RV Resort offers an oversized pool popular with families. "Great: The pool & concession stand, beautifully maintained lawns and gravel campsites, modern hookups, good shower/laundry facilities, nice fire rings with built in grills, trash pickup service," according to Heath T.
Tips from RVers
Utility reliability: Most RV sites offer reliable electric and water connections, but water quality varies. At Bush Recreation Area, a camper noted, "This campground is not bad but is not great there is running toilets and hot showers but not very well maintained if you have a large trailer may run to some problems most of the sites are sloped and the water is not filtered."
Laundry facilities: Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA offers exceptional laundry options. "Laundry facilities are the best we have encountered. Big machines and dryers making life easier and less time spent doing laundry. Nice little pool and lake for fishing. Lots of full timers here. Nice bath houses," explains Mary Elisabeth D.
Road conditions: Access roads to campgrounds can present challenges. A Fox Den Acres visitor observed, "We did watch kids fishing and pulling fish out as soon as they put their line in! So much fun for them. I don't know how typical this is on a weekend but on Saturday it was incredibly loud with a site blasting music. Good music for sure but it was probably a 1/4 mile away and I could hear every word."
