Camping spots near Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania offer primitive tent camping to full-service RV sites with varying amenities and seasonal availability. The region features several state parks with rustic experiences like those at Ravensburg State Park's creek-side tent pads, while private campgrounds provide additional amenities including swimming pools and entertainment options. Most campgrounds operate seasonally with varying opening dates, though several private facilities remain open year-round for extended camping seasons.
What to do
Swimming and beach access: Little Pine State Park Campground offers a lake for swimming with a clean beach area. "The lake is for swimming, kayaking and fishing," notes camper James P., who adds that the campground is "minutes away from Big Pine Creek and additional swimming, boating and fishing opportunity."
Stargazing opportunities: Raymond B. Winter State Park Campground provides excellent night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. "The night skies were beautiful (starry starry night w/little light pollution)," reports Kassie F. Phil C. agrees, mentioning it's "a great place to enjoy the night sky, see the stars and the Milky Way in the summer months."
Wildlife viewing: Parks in the region offer chances to spot local wildlife, particularly birds. At Russell P Letterman Campground, visitors can attend ranger programs about local wildlife. "We discovered one of the evening talks about the eagles nesting in the park and the ranger set up binoculars for us to try and see the nest," shares Cheryl W.
What campers like
Quiet, uncrowded camping: Ravensburg State Park Campground receives praise for its peaceful atmosphere. "This state park is beautiful and I consider it a semi-hidden gem. It's our favorite place to tent camp. It's rarely busy and it's first come first serve," writes Traci F., who appreciates the privacy created by "bushes and trees between the sites."
Creek access: Several campsites provide direct water access. At Riverside Campground, campers enjoy the river setting. Shannon C. notes, "Nice spots right next to river where we set up lawn chairs in river and let the kids play," though they also mention "sites are smaller and it was dusty but we will definitely go back."
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and showers. Jolene J. writes that at Little Pine State Park, "This is a nice clean quiet campground. The bathrooms have showers and were clean." Similarly, at Raymond B. Winter State Park, a visitor mentions "bathrooms were clean as well- an added bonus!"
What you should know
Site conditions vary substantially: Terrain and site layout differ dramatically between parks. At Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park, the camping experience depends on site selection. "The rustic campground has some parking sites, but we are most fond of the sites with a short walk in. Usually they're very private," explains Sean Y.
Weather preparation: The region experiences rapid weather changes, particularly during transition seasons. A visitor to Ravensburg State Park advises, "If you camp on the sites by the river, be prepared for lots of noise from the rapids. It had been raining quite heavily all day, so this may have impacted the volume levels."
Navigation challenges: Some parks have confusing access roads. Sarah C. cautions about Ravensburg State Park: "Park is easily accessible from I-80, just be aware of your directions and make sure they're taking you to the park via Rocky Road. Mine did not, and I ended up down a seasonal road that did not end at the park entrance."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Williamsport South-Nittany Mountain KOA offers numerous family amenities. "There are many activities available: swimming pool, recreation hall, fishing pond, biking, hiking/walking, mini golf, jumping pillow, playground, basketball, shuffleboard and more," shares John T. Michele M. adds, "Pool, nice playground with neat zipline for kids. Animals to see and feed. Hayride or firetruck ride in evening. Movie at night. Crafts to do with kids too."
Beach options: Several parks offer swimming beaches with additional amenities. Erik E. reports that at Russell P Letterman Campground, "The beach area is clean, there's a big playground on it as well as a concession stand and store (open during the summer)."
Biking opportunities: Many campgrounds feature bike-friendly areas for children. Greg J. notes that Russell P Letterman Campground has "good bike riding areas for kids," while James P. mentions Little Pine State Park is near "a world class rails to trails biking and hiking trails has numerous access points close by."
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidelines: Choose sites carefully based on size and features. At Little Pine State Park, Zach P. advises, "This is very rustic with electric options which is nice. The campsite we were at was very large probably better for a trailer but we enjoyed the space with our tent."
Utility access considerations: Water and electrical connections vary across campgrounds. One RVer at Little Pine State Park notes, "Electric only but water fill up is in convenient locations. Dump station is provided." At Russell P Letterman Campground, Greg J. cautions, "I'm not sure about other sites, but we did not have a water hookup, just a spigot we could fill from."
Site spacing and privacy: Campgrounds differ in how close sites are positioned. At Happy Acres Resort, Penny C. recommends, "Other reviewers had mentioned that sites were small, so we specifically asked for a larger site. We ended up getting a corner site right on the edge of a hill looking down on the main office and playground. It was perfect."
