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Tent Camping near McKeesport, PA

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    Tent camping options abound along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail near McKeesport, Pennsylvania, with several campgrounds catering specifically to tent campers seeking backcountry experiences. Dravo's Landing Campground and Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground offer free tent camping directly on the GAP Trail, with both requiring walk-in or hike-in access. These sites serve as popular stops for through-hikers and cyclists exploring the 70-mile Laurel Highlands region, positioned along the Youghiogheny River with natural separation from developed areas.

    Most tent campgrounds in this region feature basic amenities suitable for self-contained camping. The sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, though potable water availability varies significantly between locations. At Roundbottom Camping Area, the well is marked as non-potable, requiring campers to either filter water from the nearby Youghiogheny River or carry in their own supply. Sites are generally set on grassy clearings with ungraded terrain, so selecting level tent pads requires some searching. Campers should prepare for nighttime train noise, as most sites along the GAP Trail parallel active rail lines, with reviewers consistently mentioning the need for earplugs.

    The McKeesport area tent camping experience offers direct river access and solitude not found at developed campgrounds. Sites provide raised tent pads at several locations, with Adirondack-style lean-to shelters available at both Dravo's Landing and Roundbottom on a first-come, first-served basis. During weekdays, campers report minimal crowds and peaceful settings despite the proximity to the GAP Trail. Most sites accommodate multiple tents on mowed grass areas when the designated pads are occupied. As one camper noted, "There are about 4 lean-to's which can accommodate 4 sleepers, or one 2-person tent. Additional picnic shelters and free-range tables means that the whole troop could pitch their tents and still not be on top of each other."

    Best Tent Campgrounds near McKeesport (9)

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      1. Dravo's Landing Campground

      4.7(3)5mi from McKeesportTents

      "We camped out overnight with a group of 14 people, and there was plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars."

      "This campsite is a nice reward for west-bound riders on the GAP trail (it's the last one before Pittsburgh!)"

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      2. The GAP Trail Campground - Bikers Only

      5.0(1)10mi from McKeesportTents

      "The spacious and lush lawn has lots of space for tents, but the winner is the covered seating, dining, and cooking area.  Everything is clean as a whistle…pun intended.  "

      from $25 / night

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      3. Laurel Highlands Hemp Cannabis Farm

      5.0(1)17mi from McKeesport1 siteTents, Glamping

      "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."

      Campground full this weekend

      from $100 - $150 / night

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      4. Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run

      5.0(1)20mi from McKeesportTents

      "Being positioned directly off the GAP Trail grants easy access to those traveling the trail. "

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      5. Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground (GAP Trail)

      4.0(1)20mi from McKeesportTents

      "This is one of the only free hiker-biker campgrounds along the GAP trail (mile 99.6), and it is laid out similarly to the Dravo Campground, with lean-tos, picnic tables, firepits and lots of spaces for"

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      6. Lake Eron Park

      Be the first to review20mi from McKeesportTents, Cabins

      from $10 - $60 / night

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      7. Indian Creek Camplands Inc

      4.0(1)32mi from McKeesportTents
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      8. Laurel Ridge State Park Campground

      4.5(2)37mi from McKeesportTents

      "Laurel Ridge State Park is the greenway that protects the legendary Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail from the busy world around it."

      "It is a beautiful wooded park offering lots of trees for privacy. I wish I had more time to explore the park before moving on. The bathhouse could use a renovation. It felt old and kind of dirty."

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      9. Mountain View Camps

      5.0(1)45mi from McKeesport2 sitesTents, Cabins

      "Great place to stay close to hiking trails and fishing spots. Hit the mountain bike track, explore the ruins on the game lands, and might even see an albino fawn."

      from $20 - $70 / night

      Check Availability
    View all 9 campgrounds

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near McKeesport, PA

    11 Photos of 9 McKeesport Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Tent Camping Reviews near McKeesport, PA

    609 Reviews of 9 McKeesport Campgrounds

    • C
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Lazy Acres Campground

      RACIEST SNEAKY OWNER

      PLEASE DONT GO HERE  ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND IF YOUR NOT WHITE..THE OWNER IS A RACIST HYPOCRITE AND SO ARE ALL OF HER CREW AT THIS LOWLIFE CAMPGROUND.  JUST BECAUSE SHE DONT DRINK AND LIKE TO HAVE FUN, SHE RUINS IT FOR ALL THE OTHER CAMPERS..YOU HAVE TO BE IN BED AT 10PM..WHAT A FRIGGING JOKE..SHE SNEAKES AROUND IN HER GOLF CART AT NIGHT AND CREEPS IN YOUR WINDOWS TO SEE WHAT YOUR DOING. THATS WHY YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE CURTAINS CLOSED .SO HER AND HER SO CALLED HYPOCRITE FRIENDS CAN SEE WHAT YOUR DOING..WE USED TO BE UP THERE UNTIL WE SAW HOW SHE TREATED AND TALKED ABOUT THE POOR LITTLE BLACK KIDS..ESPECIALLY ON CHRISTMAS IN JULY, SHE BOUGHT TOYS FOR EVERY WHITE KID UP THERE WHILE SHE WATCHED THE LITTLE BLACK KIDS CRY THEIR EYES OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE 10 MINUTES LATE TO GET THEIR GIFTS..SHE IS A WHICH IN DISQUISE..EVERY KID GOT TO RIDE THE WAGON WITH SANTA AND WHEN SHE SAW YHE BLACK KIDS ,THEY JUST PASSED THEM UP LIKE THEY DIDNT EVEN SEE THEM...HOW CRUEL CAN SOMEONE BE🤬🤬BUT THEN AGAIN, ITS HER ,SHE HATES PEOPLE HAVING FUN UP THERE.DONT DRINK AFTER HER HRS .DONT PLAY MUSIC  AFTER HER HRS..DONT DO SHIT UP THERE UNLESS YOU WANT KICKED OUT THE NEXT DAY...I NEVER SEEN ANYONE SO CRUEL AND HEARTLESS 

      ....THERES A FEW OTHER CAMPGROUNDS AROUND THE BEND .PLEASE GO THERE IF YOU DONT WANT TO CAMP IN A PRISON CAMPGROUND....SHE'LL NEVER CHANGE..MAYBE UF YOYR WHITE, SHELL BE NICE 🤣🤣🤣AND YOU WOLNT GET KICKED OUT..

    • M
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

      There’s no electricity and no where in walking distance and the internet isn’t great, and at night u hear raccoons in the trash cans. If you come here bring a portable phone charger. There’s really nothing here, and the bathrooms are disgusting

    • BThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 15, 2026

      Keystone State Park Campground

      Decent place

      Stayed the weekend for the first time and it wasn’t bad! There were kids playing at sites nearby but that was all the noise, highway noise at all! I like how they have a spot for your tent with a picnic table and fire ring. I was in my rooftop tent on my truck so I wish the parking spot went back a little deeper for a little more privacy. But it was nice that there was bathrooms and showers within a 1 minute walk from the site! Also it says on here there is no AT&T signal, that’s not true…it’s not great but there is a bar or 2 at times!

    • Diego E.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 1, 2026

      Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

      beautifull park BUT!!!!

      The park is beautiful, unlevel shade sites; is challenging to get the trailer level.  unfortunately, the bathhouses are neglected, dark and full of mildew inside the showers.  The park really needs to upgrade the bathhouses. The park itself is very nice and offers a lot of opportunities for outdoor exploration and hiking.

    • Charles S.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 27, 2026

      Crawford's Camping Park

      Nice little campground.

      This is more a campground for RVs then tents or even roof top tents. Place is clean and the sites 90% of them are in the open. Very little shade. Travis runs the place and very nice and accommodating. Fire wood is 20 dollars for a massive amount.

    • Old Skool L.
      Sep. 21, 2026

      White Thorn Lodge - Family Nudist Campground

      Very Nice Visit

      Spent three nights there in August Mid-week.  Was pretty quiet but was clean and nicely taken care  of.  No mosquitos or bugs at night.  Nice walking paths.  Pool, hot tub, outdoor showers all very nice.

    • Sarah J.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 7, 2026

      Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground

      Beautiful location

      The spots are spread out and the trees are beautiful. The people are so nice. The drive in is tight narrow lanes. We stayed one night at #49, pull through with water and electric, no sewer. We booked #43 but Becky moved us to 49 cuz it’s more level.

    • Sandra P.
      Aug. 28, 2026

      Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground

      Very calm campground

      We stayed 2 nights. People are very nice. Bathrooms and Laundry are clean.

      Spaced spots surrounded by the forrest. Some trails directly from the camp.

    • KThe Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 24, 2026

      Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park

      Restrooms, showers and visitor center get an F

      Stayed one night. Close to Fallingwater and Fort Necessity.  The campsite was terrible; close to water and buggy, steep grade required lots of blocking to level the camper and challenging to hook up to the vehicle. Thick canopy kept Starlink from working. The worst part was the bathrooms. The one closest to our spot had no hot water. So we had to walk about a half a mile to two other restrooms and showers within 100 yards of each other. Makes no sense. Anyway, both bathrooms were filthy, had paint peeling everywhere, lots of black mold growing on the ceilings, growing everywhere. No place to hang clothes while taking a shower. One of the two toilets in each of the men’s room was probably 3 feet off the ground. Made for giants I guess!  And good luck finding the visitor center. It’s hidden from view and parking is terrible.  You’ll have to walk 150 yards from the nearest point of the parking lot to find it. To walk there from the bus and RV parking, add an additional 1/4 mile each way. Be aware that the visitor center store does not accept credit cards. Cash or check only. Who does that? It’s 2026 Pennsylvania!

    Guide to McKeesport

    Tent campers near McKeesport, Pennsylvania have several options along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail that cater specifically to hikers and cyclists. Dravo's Landing Campground and Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run offer free, walk-in tent sites alongside the Youghiogheny River. These primitive tent campgrounds feature picnic tables, fire pits, and basic toilet facilities, making them ideal stopping points for GAP trail users seeking overnight accommodations without the need to carry extensive camping equipment.

    Most tent camping areas in the McKeesport region require walk-in or hike-in access, with no vehicle camping available at trail-adjacent sites. Tent pads and Adirondack-style lean-to shelters can be found at several locations, offering level surfaces for tent setup. Potable water is available at some campgrounds like Dravo's Landing, though campers at Round Bottom should note that well water may not be potable and should bring filtration equipment for river water. Pit toilets are standard at these primitive tent sites, and campers should prepare for no shower facilities. The proximity to active train tracks is a consistent feature of GAP trail camping, with noise potentially disturbing sleep.

    The tent-only camping experience along the GAP trail offers convenient access to the Youghiogheny River for swimming and water filtration. Sites typically provide adequate space for multiple tents with grassy areas for setup when designated tent pads are occupied. A reviewer noted, "There are about 4 lean-to's which can accommodate 4 sleepers, or one 2-person tent. Additional picnic shelters and free-range tables means that the whole troop could pitch their tents and still not be on top of each other." Campers often mention the free firewood available at Dravo's Landing, maintained by local volunteer groups. For those seeking backcountry tent camping farther from McKeesport, Laurel Ridge State Park offers eight primitive camping areas along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail with pack-in, pack-out requirements.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near McKeesport, PA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near McKeesport, PA is Dravo's Landing Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near McKeesport, PA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near McKeesport, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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