Best Glamping near Jones Mills, PA

This area is one of the nicest areas in southwestern PA near Pittsburgh. Ohiopyle and the Laurel Highlands both have lots of hiking, biking, and boating (canoeing / kayaking) options, and it's an especially beautiful area to visit in the fall. Laurel Hill specifically has a pretty large campground area with the standard site options, bathrooms with showers, and even a few different playgrounds. From the campground, you can walk to the Jones Mill Run Dam (built by the CCC) for a cool photo opp or hike the short Hemlock Trail to see some old growth forests. The Laurel Hill Creek and Lake are also within walking distance for fishing, trying to see salamanders, turtles, snakes, etc. Lots to do with the family.

The Kentuck campground was fairly empty (except for the yurt areas.) The trails were very enjoyable, as was the Natural Waterslide and Cucumber Falls.

We stayed in one of the yurts, and I was perfect for the group of 6 I went with. It dumped rain the first night we were there and the yurt kept us perfectly comfortable and dry. There is fishing, boating, hiking, and all sorts of activities to do around the park. We rented a pontoon boat for one afternoon and explored the lake, which was awesome. I will say the "beach area" we visited was less than clean and quite small. However, the trip was a blast overall and if you're looking for a quick weekend trip, this is a place to go.

Great site, level and not far from the GAP trail (great Allegheny pass). Fit our yurt shaped tent perfectly, and the bathhouses were close to each site. Definately plan to return.

Ashley here with The Dyrt. We're happy to welcome your host, Laurel, to our platform. This is a cannabis friendly campground that overlooks the Laurel Highlands Hemp field, and surrounding mountains. One yurt with a bed is offered. Please no alcohol. Friday nights are Toke With A Goat Yoga at 7 at the barn weather depending. Book your stay today and leave them some love!

This is a nice and large campground by Maryland State Park Standards. Sites are nice and not stacked right on top of one another. Some sites have electric, but the bathhouses are clean and decently well kept. The real draw here is the very large lake stocked with fish, and the casino. Botha are just a short walk from the campground. It is incredibly convenient from I68 but you do t get any highway noise. There are even yurts to rent.

From white water kayaking and guided rafting trips, natural waterslides, to hiking and biking trails - this park has it all! This beautiful park has something to offer for everyone. The campground is nice with several camping options such as tent, camper, yurt and cabin rentals. They also have hot showers, electric options, and pet friendly areas. They have several seasonal events and festivals that are fun for the whole family. Must respect quiet hours here, rangers patrol frequently. For those who want to have a good time and be noisy and share some adult beverages Scarlett Knob campground May be a better option.

The good

• walk in camp sites are nice
• Campground is in a good location in relationship to the trails, you can hike to them from the camp ground
• bathrooms are okay, nothing great but nothing bad

The bad

• extra $5 charge for out of state campers
• have to reserve the yurts for at least two nights (but they are cheapish)
• The office was super busy and there was only one person working when we were there

Tips

• visit on a weekday and all the rafting and rentals are cheaper and LESS people
• check out the laurel highlands trail on your visit
• definitely visit fern cliff peninsula

Logistically, this park can be a challenge to reach for riders along the GAP trail, unless you’re willing to push it. The campground is between 500-700 vertical feet above the former railroad line. Options to get there include the steep walking trail where bikes are allowed to be walked but not ridden, riding the 3.5 miles along the road, also very steep, or taking a shuttle from downtown Ohiopyle.  Let me just preface this with the fact that this was the hardest part of the trail for us.  Maybe it was our low energy that day, maybe we just needed an extra coffee, but with our loaded bike and bike trailer, this hill kicked our butts!  Check out our video for details.

We stayed at the very top of the campground in the walk-in sites. They were fine, tucked into the trees, so we had some privacy although access to other sites lies right along the same trail so you do get to see your neighbors on a busy night.  Most of the sites in this area of the campground lacked level ground for the tent, but if you are as a tired as we were, you'll sleep well anyway.

Bathrooms, well, let’s just say that their heyday was around 1982 and the backlog of maintenance must be high. It’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, it’s just in a sad state of peeling paint and cobbled together plumbing repairs. Some things worked well, like the awesome dishwashing sink and the copious amounts of hot water. All the park’s literature claimed that this was one of PA’s most popular parks. If this is their pride and joy, well, pony up tax payers because it’s time to do some work. All this being said, the rest of the campground was in really good shape, and the Yurts looked lovely (and are very popular). 

The surrounding area is truly gorgeous, worth exploring the gorge, taking a rafting/kayaking trip, hiking, cycling, etc.

Very large park with a variety of campsites ranging from tent, 20/30 amp, 50 amp, and yurts. Price is the same for all electric sites, regardless of amperage. There is a 40-foot maximum vehicle length allowed in the campground– not a problem for our 17-foot van but the staffer who checked us in remarked that many people come in with larger rigs trying to squeeze in and are unable to. We had no problem securing a site with no reservation on a Monday evening after Labor Day. Very close to two Frank Lloyd Wright properties– Kentuck Knob and the more widely known Falling Waters. Other things to do in or near the park include whitewater rafting, rail trail biking, hiking, zip-lining and touring Laurel Caverns. The nearby town of Ohiopyle has many outfitters and several restaurants. The sites are all located on roads leading off the main road; we stayed in a 20/30amp site on Cherry Road (Site 49). It was right next to the bathroom which was good and bad. Good for proximity but bad because we could hear the hum quite clearly. Also, the door to the women’s room would hit you in the rear quite forcefully unless you held onto it (it took me three times to remember to do this)! There was a dishwashing sink in the women’s room (and I’m assuming in the men’s room?); it was very clean, but the only downside was having to do the dishes by myself! Alcohol is prohibited. Only certain areas allow pets. Only one garbage/recycling station outside of the campground. Wood and ice are available 24/7 on the honor system– very nice not to have to wait until a host is on duty to get what you need. Quiet hours 9 pm-8 am, a bit longer than most campgrounds but except for some sites with campfires still burning with people talking, it was very quiet in this campground. Surprisingly strong cell signal for being deep in the woods.

Ohiopyle is located in a beautiful area of Pennsylvania we've camped there a couple of times and have been able to get last minute tent sites. Lots of outdoor activities nearby.

I had made plans to stay at SSP-PA as my first stopover spot, post leaving my beach friends on the East Coast. The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride. Shawnee is a lovely state park and I was really pleased with my brief stay. 'Though we were only sleeping the one night, I found the staff to be pleasant and the site spacious. It might have helped that the doggo and I were about the only ones in our campground loop, aside from the campground hosts but the area felt well-maintained and well-proportioned. We had a good night's rest, after enjoying a post-dinner campfire and getting to breathe in the fresh, woodsy air. While sitting fireside, I got to enjoy the local wildlife, from birds to young deer, around the edges of my campsite. The campground restroom was clean and a fair size. I would definitely recommend it and I will certainly look into another reservation, the next time I roadtrip through Pennsylvania.

General: Large campground in four loops with a variety of sites ranging from tent-only, 30-amp electric, 50-amp electric, and 30/50-amp electric, along with eight camper cabins. 

Site Quality: All sites are gravel; most appeared level, but some did not. All sites are wooded but some have more separation than others. Our site backed up to the creek but surprisingly, there was not a lot of water flowing in the spring, 

Bath/Shower house: Basic and dated, but reasonably clean. Did not use the shower.

Activities/Amenities: Many include fishing, swimming, boating, bicycling, hiking, geocaching, and hunting. The lake is separate from the campground, but it is less than a mile away and a reasonable distance walk. There is also a playground, volleyball, shuffleboard, and a large picnic area at the end of one of the loops. Bike and boat rentals are available in the summer season; the season was set to open the day after we left so aside from hiking, we could not avail ourselves of any of the activities (and my husband had a foot injury so even hiking was out for us). There are also laundry facilities, but I did not check these out. 

We were surprised that just a few days before Memorial Day, only a handful of sites were occupied. We’ve been very impressed by the pristine conditions of many Pennsylvania state parks, but this one had a more rustic feel and had not been modernized. Fleeting cell at best on Verizon.

Friendship Village Campground in Bedford, Pa.

Overall, I give the campground 4.5 out of five stars. The campground is nestled on the outskirts of Bedford Pennsylvania and is a very easy location to travel to regardless of your rig size. Check in was extremely easy particularly if you pay for your stay upfront. In that case all you need to do is walk into the office and they will have your packet ready for you and you’re headed to your site within a minute.

The office staff was extremely friendly and you can tell that this is a family owned and religious-based campground. The campground is quite spread out through the property with sites ranging from primitive campsites to full hook up big rig sites.

There are multiple ponds on the property however only one of them can be fished in. No license is required for fishing here. There are also two pools at each end of the campground and they are very well-maintained and have lifeguard supervision. The pool hours or a little later than most campgrounds as they open at 11 through the week and 12 on Sunday. The campground does maintain a policy of having to wear a shirt or a cover-up when not in the pool vicinity but that was not really a big issue. The lower pool is right beside the main office which also includes an arcade and a very nice miniature golf course. The upper pool is larger and also well maintained.

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.

There are many playgrounds spread out across the property as well as a jumping pillow and a very well-built gaga ball pit. We stayed at site number 41 for the weekend and have no complaints at all. It’s a little more of a tight packed area versus the rest of the campground but it was in good vicinity to everything.

For tent campers I recommend staying in the area of sites 5-25 as there is a very nice bathhouse very close by. For big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500. In my opinion, 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.

The property had a movie showing in their barn on Saturday night (Despicable Me) and they also seem to schedule a lot of live entertainment, mostly Bluegrass. The staff on the property is virtually nonexistent minus trash pickup, lifeguards, and office staff...which I think is not a bad thing. I imagine if we would have needed anything, it would have been easy to find a staff member. If you have any issues with your camping rig, there is a full-service RV dealership basically at the entrance to the campground where you can buy virtually anything that you may require.

I only give this campground 4.5 out of five stars primarily due to its location. There is really nothing to do in Bedford Pennsylvania. You are limited to the activities within the campground unless you travel to another township to find something to do. There are no hiking trails in the campground however it was quite nice to walk through the campground at 5 o’clock every morning. I would absolutely return here again, the rates were very reasonable for the value to get out of it. Even though our campsite was close to the fishing pond, it was a little tighter than the other larger sites and I think I would attempt to stay in those next time.

All in all, this is a great family (non-commercialized) campground and I would recommend staying here.

We camped at Kentuck Campground (site 192) two weekends before the typical summer camping season (2 weeks before Memorial Day), and I was honestly extremely disappointed in the campground, though part of that frustration is probably more appropriately aimed at the state park system as a whole, and their lack of communication.

Prior to reserving the two campsites (we have a pop-up, and we were camping with my parents, who use a tent), I had called the Kentuck campground park office to ensure the campground was actually open, as the reservation system was very confusing (for this park only - I’ve used the state reservation system more times that I can count). There were special notices at the bottom of the site’s page stating that certain campground facilities were closed, and a conflicting message on the reservation site’s page for the campground - which also mentioned a detour that was necessary for ‘big rig’ campers traveling to the campground. I called the office, spoke with a woman who assured me that the campground was open on the weekends (not during the week), but there was a paving project going on and only the largest bath house near the main entrance was open - cool, no problem, that was the closest one to our camp sites anyway. I booked the sites.

No one - not either website or the woman whom I spoke to - mentioned that the main road to the campground from Ohiopyle was also closed due to a separate paving project. This unanticipated road closure with the typically convoluted PA road system detour - coupled with the fact that everyone in the town of Ohiopyle was telling visitors to the area that the campground was fully closed - infuriated my father and husband so much that we almost turned around and drove back home. After finding a local park ranger and getting detailed directions for how to navigate the 30-minute detour (because… Pennsylvania.), we finally arrived at the campground, along with the other 3 cars that had also frustratingly swarmed around the poor park ranger in town for the same reason.

The campground itself was buggy, not well maintained, and covered in poison ivy. The bathhouses themselves (which were almost all open, unlike what I was told on the phone) were great. The roads were torn up due to the paving project, and the playground area did not look to be maintained. I understand that paving projects need to take place, and that it was the best time of year to do them (several weeks prior to Memorial Day when prime time begins) - I don't fault them for that.

Bottom line is that Ohiopyle is one of the premier outdoor destinations around the Pittsburgh area, and the state park (and additional forests and related state parks nearby) are fantastic in every way - and I expected a state park campground that matched the area. Kentuck is not it!

First, I must say, we did not anticipate camping, hiking or rafting in Pennsylvania. The plan was to camp and hike throughout West Virginia, but when we visited Pathfinder outdoor retailer in Morgantown, WV the staff encouraged us to check out Ohiopyle, while we were so close.

Traveling to Ohiopyle, PA from Coopers Rock State Forest, WV…the drive was enjoyable and took less than an hour. Our plan was to visit and drive back and resume camping at CRSF. Upon arrival, we were so stunned and enamored by the beauty of the area…we quickly secured a campsite in Kentuck…then drove back to CRSF and tore down camp.

Kentuck Campground is a very nice campground, the sites are plentiful, and though there are many…there is enough foliage that separate campsites that it feels somewhat private. (That is, until discourteous fellow car campers selfishly disregard quiet hours…but hey, that can…and often does…happen anywhere). One gripe at several campgrounds we visited on this monthly foray…it all seemed to be self-governing…no rangers or enforcement…possibly due to limited funding…I found it stressful. That's the only negative…everything else was…in a word a…blast!

Ohiopyle is a trendy, hip little town…like Boulder East. Running smack dab through the center of town is the Youghiogheny River…Yough for short. A picturesque waterfall, numerous outdoor retailers, bicycle & raft rentals, peaceful trails and a sweet, cutting edge visitor/nature center.

You could easily spend a week here and not exhaust all there is to see and do. The town is tiny, so you cannot miss the plethora of outfitters down every street. Of the numerous cool outfitters, we chose Wilderness Voyageurs across the river, over the tracks and to the right. Time and finances limited us to a "family friendly" float self-guided raft down the Middle Yough…laced with minimal Class 1 and 2 rapids, which I would classify as riffles. The float took three hours, was relaxing, serene and full of solitude.

The Ferncliff Trail loops around the inside of the Yough as it does a near 360 in town. Gentle terrain along the falls and then through moss covered forest.

Just outside town as you climb the hill, to the left is Sliding Rock. Get there early to get a parking spot…and then look forward to having some serious liquid fun. A natural water slide extends around 100 feet as it winds through the rock. Wear sturdy shorts and shirt…I'd also recommend solid footwear…its fun but it is still rock.

As you journey further up the mountain toward Kentuck campground, Cucumber Falls is on the right. Again, get there early for one of the few parking spaces to walk down to the falls. In early August, the falls were not flowing heavy so it wasn't as spectacular as it would be after rains or in the spring. If you are looking to take photos, you will contend with people wading under the falls later in the day.

The local outfitters are a wealth of information for places to go.

From the campground trails head mostly straight down the mountain to the river or to the Great Allegheny Passage mult-use trail…that also runs through Ohiopyle. So give yourself time to climb them, as there are many switchbacks…pretty much straight up…but doable.

Bottom line…Pathfinder staff tips were spot on and we had a memorable time. I gave four stars for Kentuck Campground. I give 5 stars plus…for Ohiopyle!

The Kentucky campground at Ohiopyle State Park in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania is the most convenient campground to stay at if you are a private boater who is rafting or kayaking the Lower Youghigeny River. It is located ½ way between put in and take out right on the road that goes between the two. I have camped here MANY times. I always travel with my dog, so I can only provide information about the facilities on Ginko, Cherry and Juniper Roads and the sites that fall within the 'Pet-Friendly' side of the campground - which is Ivy Road and Hickory Road.

Most convenient, being the operative words here and the whole reason to stay here, really. That being said - it is a very nice campground - it just has some draw backs. I have broken down the 'Good' and the 'Bad' (in my opinion). For some, the things I have listed as 'bad' would be on their 'good' list - so take it for what it is worth - advice from someone who likes to paddle and relax with an adult beverage around a campfire at the end of the day. I don't want to throw a loud obnoxious camping party, I just want to be able to sit around the campfire and enjoy a few beverages with my friends and talk in a normal voice to share our stories from the day.

The Good: Large tall shade trees throughout the entire campground. I cannot think of a single campsite that is actually in full sun. Nice fire pits and picnic tables. Clean bathrooms and showers - and lot's of them (although that being said, they could use another shower facility down at the end of Hickory Road - if you are in Hickory sites 160 - 175 it's a far walk to a shower). Hot water for showers seems pretty plentiful - it's been few and far between that it has run out or not been available when I needed it. There are large sinks outside all bathrooms for washing dishes. There are additional potable water taps throughout the campground as well. There is an RV dump station. There are dumpsters for trash and recycling. Dogs ARE now allowed at this campground (in designated areas - and there are a lot of them) - in years gone by dogs were not allowed. There are a lot of flat/level campsites.

The Mediocre: There are also quite a few campsites that are not so flat or level. You cannot tell very well when making your reservations which are flat/level and which are not.

The Bad: 'Quiet hours' start at 9pm. The Rangers are ridiculously vigilant about 'Quiet'. You literally need to almost whisper around the campfire in order to not arouse the interest of the Rangers which frequently patrol the campground on both foot and by vehicle. As soon as you arouse their suspicion by 'talking too loud', they make it perfectly clear that they can exercise their right to search your campsite and destroy/remove anything that is not allowed and/or kick you out.

This campground is in a PA state park. Alcohol is not allowed in any PA State Parks. Certainly there are ways around that - using cups and mugs, etc. - but you have to know before you go to do that. It is obvious by the content of the trash in the dumpsters and recycling bins that NO ONE follows this rule. So what you then need to know is that the Rangers are vigilant about patrolling the campground for people violating the alcohol rule. (refer to the info about Quiet hours above.)

Bottom line is: If you are traveling alone or in a very small group/just your family and are looking for somewhere clean, quiet and convenient to camp near the Lower Youghigeny River - this is a great place for you.

If you've got a decent sized group, that will need multiple campsites and you want to be able to hang out, talk, drink without worrying about hiding it from the Rangers and enjoy yourselves later than 9pm, you might want to look for somewhere else to stay.

If you've got a large and potentially loud group of people who want to party - don't even consider staying here. (My suggestions for that would be Tall Oaks in nearby Farmington or Scarlett Knob on the other side of Ohiopyle.)

We booked this state park last minute to go away for memorial day weekend. We were not sure what to expect but were pleasantly Surprise. It's a beautiful park with hundreds of campsites and amazing lake and huge swimming beach area bike rentals boat rentals hiking trails and you can even see some very Old groupcamping cabins. They even have some very adorable cottages for rent.

My boyfriend and I love this place so much, as soon as we came back from a 2 night weekend stay, we booked a week long trip for the fall. Unless you are in the pet camping area, the whole place is very wooded, which we like the feel of. However, tent campers beware, the sites are very very small, and sometimes you’re almost sharing this small space with your neighbor. Great if you have an RV to sleep in, but we like to tent! There are a few larger spots to get 1 large tent in, or a few medium to small ones. I would recommend scouting the campsite before your trip and picking your spot/circling your favorite spots on the map before you book your trip. Bathrooms are clean, have showers, and all the running plumbing - even soap to wash your hands! They sell firewood in bundles for $5 and bags of ice for $2. Plus they have a gift shop for any forgotten essentials. The nearby town is cute with lots of little markets, restaurants and a family fun center, called Caddie Shack. I’d recommend the “famous smorgasbord” at The Oakhurst Tea Room nearby. There’s is a swimming area/beach across from the campground, and Ohiopyle is nearby for lots of outdoor and river activities. Also nearby is a local bike trail that is very wooded and takes you to the swimming area - love it.

Awesome park, clean beaches awesome waterfall nearby and plenty of stuff to do

The pet loop mixes tent camping with RVs, which isn't our preference. The sites are arranged around a big field, which means many of them have no trees or shade. If you planned to hang a hammock at some of these sites, you would be in trouble.

But it's a good park. They've got firewood at the contact station.

We had a really nice camping experience here. Tent camping at an electrical site. We were on the outside edge of the pet loop so there was some nice shade there. Everyone was friendly. And what a lovely state park. The beaches were great. We went canoeing on the lake. And had fun just hiking around a bit. No luck fishing, but there was one fella who found a good spot. Note: sites can be a bit small or awkward for campers. Our neighbor had a bit of a rough time accessing our shared electric box and we had to put our tent right on the edge because the rest of the campsite was a little muddy and there were roots sticking up—minor issues! Some of the sites were on an incline or i the middle of a field—which is good for some. Just make sure you check the pictures so you know what you’re getting!

This was our first trip here. I booked online after looking at the pictures of multiple sites on the website. The pictures on the site do them no justice in terms of size. It was very comfortable with having a 9 person tent, a screened in tent, a truck, the blackstone and cooking table, the picnic table plus 2 dogs.

Staff at the gift shop was very friendly and helpful. The campground was close to many outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking/biking trails, the lake beach, and dog trails.

It was pretty crowded for the camper sites and there were a lot of children so it's certainly a family friendly place. There was even a little playground for the kids.

The bathrooms were pretty clean and well maintained which is always a plus!