C
Christopher P.
Traveler
TravelerBig Run State Park Campground
Generous sized sites, quiet, beautiful area.
Equestrian Camping near Laughlintown, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Shawnee State Park Campground accommodates horses with sites that can handle trailers and RVs up to big-rig size. The campground features 300+ sites with a mix of full hookup, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric options. Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7 according to visitor experiences, confirming regular equestrian use. The park maintains several loops with varying levels of privacy, with Loop D noted for its quiet atmosphere and ample space between sites. Horse owners should note that while pets are allowed throughout the campground, not all loops permit animals. The campground provides water hookups, sanitary dump stations, and showers, making it suitable for extended stays with horses.
Trail access is available directly from the campground with multiple hiking paths surrounding the 132-acre lake. Horse riders can enjoy the natural setting while being aware of the proximity to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which creates some background noise at certain campsites. The campground is accessible via boat-in, drive-in, and walk-in approaches, making it versatile for different arrival methods with horse trailers. Sites vary significantly in levelness, with reviewers recommending careful site selection for those bringing horses and larger rigs. The park remains open year-round, allowing for all-season equestrian camping opportunities. Firewood is available for purchase at the entrance via a vending machine, and campfires are permitted at designated fire rings at each site.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Laughlintown (2)
1. Shawnee State Park Campground
"Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."
"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."
100 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
2. Big Run State Park Campground
"The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $55 / night
Drive Time
- 28 min from Johnstown, PA
- 58 min from Pittsburgh, PA
- 1 hr 4 min from Altoona, PA
- 1 hr 17 min from Morgantown, WV
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Laughlintown, PA
35 Reviews of 2 Laughlintown Campgrounds
Nancy B.
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Double check site booked
We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35’ TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.
Lee D.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Huge state park
General: 300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do.
Site Quality: Varies by type and location within the park. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20’ to 115’ Most of the non-electric sites had no definable pads at all and as mentioned, were not level. Some roads in the campground were paved but a few were not.
Bath/Shower House: was clean. Did not use the shower.
Activities: A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season.
As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise. This was just an overnight stay for us. We’ve been to many stellar Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but this one was not as good as many others.
- JJennifer R.
ScoutShawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Rick G.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Met our Needs Perfectly
Booked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
- KKatie H.Scout
Big Run State Park Campground
Great primitive campsite
This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals
Christina V.
GuideShawnee State Park Campground
Large, accompdating campground- Quiet on the weekdays!
Shawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Gina I.RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Beautiful
Nice campground. Some of the campsites are a little bit too close together with no privacy. Our site/47 was too sunny. No shade, no privacy. But during the week was not too crowded, nice and quiet. The bathrooms were nice and kept clean. We had to ride our bikes or walk to get to the beach, that was more then a mile away or just felt like it was more, because it wasn’t mostly flat and for the kids was hard to ride they’re bikes . But when we got there we were pleased. Large,clean beach with sand , no rocks or aquatic plants in the water. I will do more day trips to the beach in the future.
Guide to Laughlintown
Shawnee State Park Campground provides extensive facilities for equestrian camping near Laughlintown, Pennsylvania. Located in the rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, this 3,983-acre park sits at an elevation of approximately 1,200 feet, creating varied terrain for horse riding. The campground features dedicated equestrian sites within its 300+ camping locations, designed specifically to accommodate the needs of visitors traveling with horses.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: The park offers multiple riding trails accessible directly from the campground areas. According to Casey S., "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating. The campground was nice, quiet and clean."
Lake activities: Shawnee State Park Campground centers around a 132-acre lake with a sandy beach area. As Gerard notes, "The lake is gorgeous and has a large, sandy beach. Would love to spend more time there to explore the park further."
Historical site visits: The nearby Schellsburg historical area provides additional attractions for day trips. As Melanie Z. states, "Foggy mornings are the best in the beautiful forest near Schellsburg historical sites. Nice lake too. Easy access from the PA Turnpike."
Flight 93 Memorial: Located a short drive from the campground, this national memorial offers a solemn experience. Rachel L. suggests, "If you stay here, make sure to travel down the road to see the Flight 93 Memorial."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many sites provide ample room for horse trailers and camping equipment. Brittany V. reports, "The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It's not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points."
Natural setting: The wooded environment creates a pleasant backdrop for equestrian camping. According to Tiffany K., "It is a nice park with good campsites, clean bathrooms, good hiking trails and a nice lake view. The park has lots of activities for the day, including a beach, fishing, hiking, group picnic areas."
Quiet atmosphere: The D loop offers a more peaceful experience. Danielle S. notes, "Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site."
Well-maintained facilities: Big Run State Park Campground offers a primitive alternative for horse camping with clean facilities. Katie H. shares, "Clean and well maintained. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Choose level sites carefully when bringing horses and trailers. Gerard advises, "As we drove through the rest of the RV park area we noted that many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them."
Seasonal considerations: The park operates year-round but services vary by season. Lee D. mentions, "A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season."
Background noise: Some sites experience highway noise from the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike. Danielle S. reports, "We were able to hear a small bit of traffic from the highway, but nothing that disturbed us."
Firewood limitations: Plan accordingly for campfires. According to Danielle S., "Camp wood at the entrance is $5 and is tiny; our biggest piece was a foot long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick! It was okay to start a fire, but we went into the woods and picked up dead wood that we cut into manageable logs."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: The lake provides family-friendly swimming and boating options during warm months. Casey S. shares, "Great swimming and kayaking/small boating. The campground was nice, quiet and clean."
Alternative camping options: For families not bringing horses, consider the variety of accommodation types. Gerard notes, "There are numerous tent sites, some with electric, that appear to be large and fairly level."
Playground access: Shawnee State Park Campground includes play areas for children. Lee D. mentions, "A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop."
Check campsite angles: Some fire rings are positioned at awkward angles for cooking. Danielle S. advises, "The fire ring is at an angle so cooking on it proved to be a challenge (we bring a grill grate with us just in case, and had to use it)."
Tips from RVers
Confirm site dimensions: Verify your site can accommodate your rig before arrival. Brittany V. cautions, "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked."
Consider hookup options: The campground offers various utility connections. Lee D. explains, "300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do."
Satellite reception: Tree coverage affects signal availability in many sites. Kaley R. notes, "Our site was essentially a grassy plain, no tree cover which was a bit disappointing."
Accessibility considerations: Access routes vary by campsite location. Andy C. from Big Run shares, "Used lot 73 for a 26ft hybrid camper. Fit perfectly! It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. Many other sites/options for 26ft ish size camper."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Laughlintown, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Laughlintown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Laughlintown, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
Keep Exploring