Loyalhanna camping areas sit within Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands region at elevations reaching 2,500-3,000 feet. The regional terrain features rocky outcroppings and old-growth hemlock forests around the Loyalhanna Dam, creating challenging terrain for some camping equipment. Winter closures typically run from mid-October through April with overnight temperatures dropping below freezing even in early fall.
What to do
Fishing options: Bush Recreation Area provides shoreline fishing access along Loyalhanna Creek with a boat dock/launch for motorized boats. "The boat launch is a nice size to fit 2 boats at a time," notes a visitor to Bush Recreation Area.
Trail access: Kooser State Park borders Forbes State Forest with hiking trails featuring sharp elevation gains. "There's a pretty lake where people fish and picnic," explains a visitor to Kooser State Park Campground, who adds that "there's only one hiking trail within the park's 250 acres. But it's a decent trail with sharp elevation gain."
Family activities: Friendship Village offers multiple playgrounds, miniature golf, and recreational amenities. "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing," shares a camper at Friendship Village Campground & RV Park.
What campers like
Swimming facilities: Several campgrounds maintain swimming pools when weather permits (typically May-September). A visitor to Pine Cove Beach Club RV Resort praised "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."
Creek access: Sites along water features remain popular for families with children. "Many of their sites are along a small creek which the kids play in and can float down. Site 26 is our favorite. It has a huge back yard and easy access to the creek," according to a camper at Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing.
Privacy options: Some campgrounds offer more secluded sites in wooded areas. "Got a nice secluded spot to camp in the wooded area that had amazing mountain views and the star gazing platform," reports a visitor to Benner's Meadow Run RV Campground.
What you should know
Site leveling: Many RV parks in the region require significant leveling due to hilly terrain. At Kooser State Park, "many of the sites are not level at all and take some serious work to get your rig level."
Highway noise: Several campgrounds sit near major roadways with noticeable traffic sound. One camper at Donegal Campground noted: "It's located right off the highway so the traffic noise is a little loud, so it takes away from the great sounds of camping, like the crickets, frogs and fire crackling."
Limited bathhouse facilities: Some campgrounds maintain minimal bathroom facilities despite large camping areas. A visitor to Fox Den Acres Campground mentioned "only one bathhouse with a few stalls for hundreds of RV sites but they figure you're self-contained I suppose."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Request sites near play areas for convenient supervision. At Bush Recreation Area, one family noted that sites 16-17 on the inner circle had "the playground right behind us. Great spots! Our kids were within easy eye and earshot of the playground."
Swimming alternatives: When lake swimming areas close, campground pools provide alternatives. "The swimming pool was great. The amenities are basic but functional," reports a camper at Donegal Campground.
Weekend activities: Many RV parks near Loyalhanna schedule weekend entertainment. Benner's Meadow Run has "Saturday night entertainment" including a "fun DJ," with one camper noting the campground is "family oriented and not looking for large/loud groups."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose upper elevation sites when available for more privacy and shade. At Pioneer Lakes RV Park, sites in the higher-numbered section (200-500) accommodate larger rigs while a camper recommended sites 145-171 for families since "those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit."
Utility hookups: Full-service sites vary widely in availability. The Blue Canoe RV Resort offers seasonal riverfront sites with full hookups while Fox Den Acres provides pull-through sites with 50-amp service from May through October.
Leveling requirements: Bring substantial leveling equipment for RV camping in the Loyalhanna area. One camper noted their site "was so unlevel there were 19 inches between my bottom step and the ground," while another mentioned that "some sites are sloped pretty bad side to side."
