Campgrounds near Mars, Pennsylvania offer a mix of seasonal and year-round options for RVers and tent campers. The area's rolling hills and valleys create elevation changes that affect both temperature patterns and site leveling requirements. Cell coverage varies significantly from mountain to valley locations, with stronger reception typically available at campgrounds within 35 minutes of Pittsburgh.
What to do
Horseback riding excursions: Bear Run Campground features regular Sunday horse rides that families enjoy. "My son loves the horse rides on Sundays," notes Jeani B., while another camper highlights that "Further into the campground the sites turn to more permanent sites. Further up the hill are more cottages and camping."
Swimming and water recreation: Austin Lake RV Park & Cabins offers multiple water activities beyond basic swimming. "Lake and scenery was beautiful! Very clean and friendly help! Very kid oriented!" writes one visitor. The campground includes "Kayaks, paddle boards, jumps, slides. Name they had a blast!!"
Hiking trail networks: Raccoon Creek State Park Campground maintains over 40 miles of trails with varying difficulty levels. "We did the Palomino Loop. It also was quite interesting getting to the trail. Some nice snow covered back roads," reports Jay R. Another camper notes, "There is a trail that leads down from the tent loop to the beach which is cool but very very steep (not for too young or old)."
What campers like
Well-spaced sites: Mountain Top Campground earns praise for site spacing and layout. "The sites are pretty spread out and spacious, so you have pretty decent privacy," reports one camper. Another mentions, "Spacing between spots was not cramped at all. The central bathroom, pay shower, and laundry room had ac, a couch and were quite clean."
Family programming: RV Village Camping Resort schedules regular activities for guests. "The resort has lots of planned activities on the weekends," notes a reviewer. Another visitor shares, "Overall a great campground. The pool and playground are awesome for the kiddos. There are a ton of permanent sites which the folks are all very friendly."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the Mars area maintain bathroom facilities with varying levels of amenities. "The bathrooms are clean if a bit unique with a rope and pulley system of water delivery to the shower head," mentions one visitor to Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground. Another Chestnut Ridge camper appreciated that "the bathrooms were close to the tenting area."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Many rv campgrounds near Mars, Pennsylvania close during winter months. "The park is very nice, sites are large and the area is peaceful. The area is well kept and owners are very nice," notes a Chestnut Ridge visitor about this campground that operates from May 1 to October 1.
Site leveling challenges: Some campsites require significant leveling equipment. "Some sites are not level enough for RV or trailer," notes a reviewer about one park. At The Blue Canoe RV Resort, a visitor reported, "Many full hookups, great playground for the kids. New pool, but not open when we stayed. Staff make multiple rounds, picks up your trash and delivers your purchased firewood."
Flooding risks: Sites near creeks can experience water issues during heavy rain. "The campground is entirely in a flood zone. It gets so deep the locals cars have floated away," warns a Fombell Landing camper. "Our camp area ended up in at least 6 inches of rushing creek water (we moved when it was ankle deep)."
Tips for camping with families
Look for supervised activities: Structured programs can keep children entertained throughout your stay. "Our family really enjoyed staying here, and our kids especially loved swimming and fishing in the lake," writes a Chestnut Ridge camper. Another mentions their children enjoyed "making crafts, playing games, finding items on a scavenger hunt and of course snacks!"
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds maintain stricter quiet hours than others. "The daily sites are a bit tight which lends to noisy evenings past quiet hours. We had to get creative making white noise for our toddler to sleep," reports a visitor to RV Village Camping Resort.
Evaluate playground locations: Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "Our family really enjoyed staying here, and our kids especially loved swimming and fishing in the lake," notes a visitor. The campground includes "a large playground, and super friendly host. It's also really easy to get to from Interstate 80."
Tips from RVers
Check road access carefully: Navigate carefully when approaching some Mars area rv campgrounds. "There is a road in the park that RVs/Trailers can't go on so make sure you approach this campground from Leslie Road!" advised one camper about a nearby park. At Mountain Top Campground, a visitor notes, "The hardest part is finding it. The roads get narrow so if in an RV call them for the easiest way in."
Grey water disposal options: Some campgrounds offer partial hookups with innovative solutions. At Mountain Top Campground, "Since they sit atop the mountain, the grey water hookup is a long hose that has an adapter which hooks up to your black and grey tank outlet and it runs down the hillside of the mountain into the grassy area."
Consider price vs. amenities: Facility fees vary widely at rv campgrounds near Mars, Pennsylvania. "I appreciate that the owners have a desire to keep prices steady but wonder if consideration might be given to some kind of a discount such as a rate for more than two days, passport America, AARP, a weekday discount, a weekly rate... $35 is about five dollars more per night more than we typically pay."
