Searching for the best camping near Mercer, PA? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Mercer, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
The Shenango Recreation Area is situated within the broad, flat, meandering valleys of the Shenango River and Pymatuning Creek. Sharon, Pennsylvania is approximately 7 miles southwest and Youngstown, Ohio is about 21 miles west. Visitors to the area enjoy camping, boating and fishing.
The lake provides an attractive setting for picnicking, camping, boating or simply enjoying nature's beauty. Anglers fish for bass, walleye, muskellunge and a variety of panfish. The lake is shallow and water levels generally drop throughout the summer, especially after the Fourth of July, depending upon rainfall. The Coonie Trail is one-half mile in length. This self-guided interpretive nature trail invites visitors not only to experience the beauty of Shenango River Lake but also to learn about its varied habitats and relationships between plants, animals and humans. Shenango Lake is an unlimited horsepower lake and has six free boat launches for access. The Lakeside Picnic Shelter is located on site and can be reserved for reunions or other large gatherings.
Shenango River Lake stretches 11 miles up its namesake river, covering over 11,000 acres. The shore is lined with a northern hardwood forest of shady and colorful trees such as Black Cherry, Beech, Maple and Hemlock. Deer, turkey and other small game animals are plentiful, with excellent opportunities to observe osprey and eagles in the area.
The Shenango Water Trail provides 7.5 miles of scenic river corridor for paddlers, with three access points between Kidds Mill Park and Big Bend. Personal Floatation Devices must be worn on all canoes and kayaks. The historic Kidds Mill Covered Bridge features the unique "Smith-Truss" design from the 1800s. Remnants of the Erie Extension Canal can be found nearby in Sharpsville below the Shenango Dam. The Shenango and Mahaney Recreation Areas feature restoration chestnut tree orchards that are managed through a partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation for research and education, with the goal of developing blight resistant American chestnut trees. The nearby Bayview Off-Road Vehicle Area provides over 200 acres of riding trails for ATV's and dirt bikes (3.5 miles from the campground) The Chestnut Run Swim Beach is only 3 miles from the campground and offers a great area for swimming and sunbathing (NOTE: no lifeguard on duty) "The Pines" Disc Golf Course in the nearby Mahaney Recreation Area (6 miles from the campground) offers a challenging course that hosts PDGA sanctioned events The nearby Trout Island Trail in Sharpsville is a 5 mile paved trail that accomodates walking, running and cycling The Shenango Hiking Trail, on the east end of the lake, is 7.5 miles through wooded areas adjacent to the Shenango River Boat Rentals are available at the nearby RC's Marina in Clark, Pa. (1.4 miles) An ADA Fishing Pier is available in Clark, Pa. 1.4 miles from the campground.
A $10.00 service fee will be charged if you change or cancel a reservation. If a customer does not arrive at the campground by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the day before or day of arrival, the customer will be considered a "no-show" and may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and also forfeit use fees. If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellation for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but not be charged the $10.00 service fee. For more information on cancellations or refunds, please visit the recreation.gov site or call 877-644-8777.
$20 - $33 / night
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest is rated as one of the best, set under the tall trees in the prettiest parts of Butler County in Western Pennsylvania. From basic tenting & RV's, to BIG RIG pull-thru sites, They have what you need. Rental cabins, basic to full service, and Yurts are available. The group camping area with a picnic pavilion is great for clubs and family reunions. With scheduled activities, & family fun, Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest is a great delight for the entire family. This campground has 170 shaded sites with 20/30/50 amp service, laser tag, gaga ball, RC car tracks, bike track, swimming pool, game room, store, playground, fire rings, full schedule of activities and games. 10 miles from Grove City Prime Outlets and Moraine State Park, near Amish country, 60 miles north of Pittsburgh and 90 miles south of Erie. Very conveniently located close to Interstate 79 and Interstate 80. Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest is an award winning park. In 2011/2014/2015/2017/2020 they were recognized as ARVC National "Park of the Year". In addition, The Yogi Bear Franchise has awarded them "2021 Franchise System Camp-Resort of the Year - Eastern Region", 2014 "Facility of the Year", 2013 "Entrepreneur of the Year", and in 2012 "#1 Inspection Rating". The restrooms are some of the best in the country.
$41 - $750 / night
Pymatuning State Park invites outdoor lovers of all ages to enjoy a relaxing lakeside vacation experience. In a setting that highlights the mystery of an old swamp forest and the excitement of a water recreation area, Pymatuning camping is one of the finest walleye and muskellunge lakes in the country, and offers excellent camping, swimming and boating opportunities.
$27 - $29 / night
This recreation area is part of Michael J Kirwan Lake
At Breakneck, we offer camp sites that will please any type of camper, from remote primitive sites to fully enclosed cabins with electricity. Refer to the Camp Site Overview below for our current rates and amenities for each type of site. For more information and photographs, or if you have any additional questions, please fill free to contact us anytime.
$10 - $20 / night
This recreation area is part of Mosquito Creek Lake
$24 - $36 / night
Bear Run Campground is a full-service family vacation destination operated by the Wehr Family since 1975. This top-rated Good Sam and Trailer Life Park offers a wide range of accommodations; select from RV and pull-thru sites, rustic to deluxe cabins, or tent and backpacking and walk-in sites. Of course, Bear Run Campground has all the amenities to make your stay convenient and easy going. In addition, Bear Run Campground offers an array of activities for adults and children to enjoy.
Nestled into the beautiful Western Pennsylvania countryside and bordering Moraine State Park and a wealth of natural treasures in the surrounding area, Bear Run Campground is truly a gem that offers an unparalleled family camping experience near Pittsburgh. Learn all about what's waiting for you in Butler County!
At Rose Point Park it is our mission to provide you and your family with a memorable camping experience. As a full service campground, we offer a wide range of facilities and opportunities - from our 4 star recreation program to the calm, quiet of ferns and hemlocks along Slippery Rock Creek. Come visit us and enjoy the outdoors. We have something for everyone: Relaxing for You, Fun for the Kids!
$32 - $60 / night
The Shenango Recreation Area is situated within the broad, flat, meandering valleys of the Shenango River and Pymatuning Creek. Sharon, Pennsylvania is approximately 7 miles southwest and Youngstown, Ohio is about 21 miles west. Visitors to the area enjoy camping, boating and fishing.
The lake provides an attractive setting for picnicking, camping, boating or simply enjoying nature's beauty. Anglers fish for bass, walleye, muskellunge and a variety of panfish. The lake is shallow and water levels generally drop throughout the summer, especially after the Fourth of July, depending upon rainfall. The Coonie Trail is one-half mile in length. This self-guided interpretive nature trail invites visitors not only to experience the beauty of Shenango River Lake but also to learn about its varied habitats and relationships between plants, animals and humans. Shenango Lake is an unlimited horsepower lake and has six free boat launches for access. The Lakeside Picnic Shelter is located on site and can be reserved for reunions or other large gatherings.
Shenango River Lake stretches 11 miles up its namesake river, covering over 11,000 acres. The shore is lined with a northern hardwood forest of shady and colorful trees such as Black Cherry, Beech, Maple and Hemlock. Deer, turkey and other small game animals are plentiful, with excellent opportunities to observe osprey and eagles in the area.
The Shenango Water Trail provides 7.5 miles of scenic river corridor for paddlers, with three access points between Kidds Mill Park and Big Bend. Personal Floatation Devices must be worn on all canoes and kayaks. The historic Kidds Mill Covered Bridge features the unique "Smith-Truss" design from the 1800s. Remnants of the Erie Extension Canal can be found nearby in Sharpsville below the Shenango Dam. The Shenango and Mahaney Recreation Areas feature restoration chestnut tree orchards that are managed through a partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation for research and education, with the goal of developing blight resistant American chestnut trees. The nearby Bayview Off-Road Vehicle Area provides over 200 acres of riding trails for ATV's and dirt bikes (3.5 miles from the campground) The Chestnut Run Swim Beach is only 3 miles from the campground and offers a great area for swimming and sunbathing (NOTE: no lifeguard on duty) "The Pines" Disc Golf Course in the nearby Mahaney Recreation Area (6 miles from the campground) offers a challenging course that hosts PDGA sanctioned events The nearby Trout Island Trail in Sharpsville is a 5 mile paved trail that accomodates walking, running and cycling The Shenango Hiking Trail, on the east end of the lake, is 7.5 miles through wooded areas adjacent to the Shenango River Boat Rentals are available at the nearby RC's Marina in Clark, Pa. (1.4 miles) An ADA Fishing Pier is available in Clark, Pa. 1.4 miles from the campground.
A $10.00 service fee will be charged if you change or cancel a reservation. If a customer does not arrive at the campground by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the day before or day of arrival, the customer will be considered a "no-show" and may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and also forfeit use fees. If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellation for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but not be charged the $10.00 service fee. For more information on cancellations or refunds, please visit the recreation.gov site or call 877-644-8777.
$20 - $33 / night
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest is rated as one of the best, set under the tall trees in the prettiest parts of Butler County in Western Pennsylvania. From basic tenting & RV's, to BIG RIG pull-thru sites, They have what you need. Rental cabins, basic to full service, and Yurts are available. The group camping area with a picnic pavilion is great for clubs and family reunions. With scheduled activities, & family fun, Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest is a great delight for the entire family. This campground has 170 shaded sites with 20/30/50 amp service, laser tag, gaga ball, RC car tracks, bike track, swimming pool, game room, store, playground, fire rings, full schedule of activities and games. 10 miles from Grove City Prime Outlets and Moraine State Park, near Amish country, 60 miles north of Pittsburgh and 90 miles south of Erie. Very conveniently located close to Interstate 79 and Interstate 80. Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest is an award winning park. In 2011/2014/2015/2017/2020 they were recognized as ARVC National "Park of the Year". In addition, The Yogi Bear Franchise has awarded them "2021 Franchise System Camp-Resort of the Year - Eastern Region", 2014 "Facility of the Year", 2013 "Entrepreneur of the Year", and in 2012 "#1 Inspection Rating". The restrooms are some of the best in the country.
$41 - $750 / night
Pymatuning State Park invites outdoor lovers of all ages to enjoy a relaxing lakeside vacation experience. In a setting that highlights the mystery of an old swamp forest and the excitement of a water recreation area, Pymatuning camping is one of the finest walleye and muskellunge lakes in the country, and offers excellent camping, swimming and boating opportunities.
$27 - $29 / night
At Breakneck, we offer camp sites that will please any type of camper, from remote primitive sites to fully enclosed cabins with electricity. Refer to the Camp Site Overview below for our current rates and amenities for each type of site. For more information and photographs, or if you have any additional questions, please fill free to contact us anytime.
$10 - $20 / night
$24 - $36 / night
Guide
First time at this park I can see why it's always booked up. It seems like the sites are good sized but some are on slopes even the pads so make sure to bring stuff to level. Bathrooms were clean separate showers verizon works well here.
Scout
Beautiful place. Host was very accommodating. Great time.
Scout
I came up for an event at the farm show grounds(yes the event you’re thinking of). I made a reservation and paid in full the day after it was announced 6 days beforehand. I got a call the day before Friday stating that I wasn’t able to check in until 1PM and the latest was 8PM. I asked if I could park there before the event and deal with it later. The owner reluctantly agreed, however said that my vehicle would be towed if I came after 8. He also stated that I couldn’t check in early or wait a little. Gates closed at 1; and was over at 8 and couldn’t leave the parking lot until 10. Needless to say I just drove home 3 hours instead. Mind you the“campground” is a quarter mile from the farm show grounds. I honestly just wanted somewhere to rest my eyes for a couple of hours in my car before I left early on the morning. I understand that places like this have policies, however this was probably the largest congregation of people Butler and the Farm Show has ever hosted. There was 10s of thousands of people in town and as a bonus the rounds were closed to due construction. If you lean even a little right, caveat emptor. The guy knew exactly what was doing. This will be the most expensive$35 this guy ever stole.
Guide
When you pull into Beaver Creek Family Campground you pretty much have two choices: either you go left into multiple Pine tree sites or right into two cabins and more RV friendly open sites. A few of the RV sites have electric, but no water for their tanks. I suggest the pine sites for any tent or hammock campers. I stayed in one of the first set of 3 pine sites numbered 43, 44, and 45. There is some brush and cover between these sites, but each has a pull in parking pad. If 45 was occupied with a RV, 44 would not be as nice as it was. Backing into 44 and 45 would be tricky as well. To be fair any larger RV that came in better know how to get through tight quarters.
The back area of each of those 3 sites looked best to get even ground for a tent. My buddy hung his hammock between the tree to the left of the picnic bench and to a tree back and left in the picture of site 44. Site was fairly clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe.
Probably the nicest pit toilets I have experienced and while we didn't use, it the sun shower building would give anyone privacy if they had packed a portable shower. Lots of trails to choose from and the pioneer village in the state park gives you many options to spend the day. Had some luck fishing at the Canoe/Kayak area in the South East area of the park close to the Group Camp Sites.
Scout
Very nice campground, convenient and clean. A lot of lake front camp sites
Traveler
I'm bicycle touring across the United States. First time user of dyrt. My first camping location and review. Camping in a tree farm has been cool!
I called the number listed and left a message. See the friendly manager walking the farm. He says they no longer offer the camping service due to low guest attendence. Since I've got no place else to camp, I offer to pay for the spot. Weather was a factor. So he let me stay.
Clean bathroom. Office to charge electronics and a campsite with firepit was great. Nice and quiet here also.
I do hope more people find a use for this location. The camping service needs to return. 🚲
If not, come here during the holiday season and purchase a tree! 🌲
Thank you!
Guide
Any worker over the age of 20 was super rude and they did NOT Re-Book Our Reservation For Next Year The Website sates that it is now being managed by a company called Oasis Marianas. There Are Signs Falling Apart And They Pool Was Water Orange! The Arcade was completely broken the showers were tiny and the entire place is in disrepair. The Gate was taken off the Opener And thrown into the weeds DISAPPOINTING And This Place was NOT CHEAP And Was Super RunDown.
Scout
Great staff great place.
Scout
Campground is closed. Roads are a minefield! Park by the dam is nice and so are the trails across from the dam. Trails by the campground are very nice, once you get through the mine field to them.
Guide
Wolf's Camping Resort Is The Perfect Campground For Family's To Stay At With Its large Swimming Pool And It's Large Game room It is prefect for kids young and old! It has a large store with helpful employees and it sits on a large plot of land that includes a small mini golf corse and a full sized 18 hole golf course with many activities and themed weekends that you can find on their Facebook it is the perfect place to come!
GuideGets loud and crowded on the weekend as usual, the shower house is pretty nice. There are fire rings and electrics and nonelectric sites. Swimming and boating is nearby.
The water is muddy and the shoreline is sharp rocks.
Peaceful when the early morning lawn mower brigade has gotten past and the dumpster work isn't at full force near my campsite (B18) at 7:30 AM.
Traveler
I took my 7yo son last year for his first time camping. He absolutely loved it!!! Everyone was very nice & the heated pool & campstore are great. He especially enjoyed the “rock mining”. He keeps wanting to go back to get the motherload bag to mine!
Scout
Nice campground with full hook ups. Close to a large recreational lake with hiking trails and a boat launch. Sites were fairly level no issues with power fluctuations and sewer worked great!
Scout
We stayed here for a week in June 2024 in our 42-foot fifth wheel. Overall the campground is clean and well-maintained. The owner is friendly and helpful. Amenities include a heated, in-ground pool, a recreation center, a pavilion, and swing sets.
The current owners have had the campground since ~2014 and have made many repairs and improvements. Water, electric, and sewage lines have been replaced or upgraded in the past few years. We had stable electric and good water.
Unfortunately no WiFi is available, but there was a good AT&T cell phone signal.
Traveler
We stayed here with our Coast to Coast membership, so it was good for that price. The main restroom/shower house is attached to the office. There are 5 restrooms with flush toilet and hand sanitizer scattered around the park. Most all of the sites are back in. We stayed at a site that shares a pole with water and electric hookups with 3 others. The first time I connected to the internet at our site, it connected right away with good quality. For about 30 seconds. I never got internet at our site again. It is good in the game room by the office, but there isn't anywhere with air conditioning to sit. AT&T has one bar of signal. Many problems getting internet with that. We did enjoy the indoor pool. Until it became crowded with kids. So, we went to the swimming pond. It was quite nice. We took out a paddle boat. They offer paddle boats, canoes, and rowboat to use for free. The one we had wouldn't steer. We went in circles to the right in the middle of the lake for 45 minutes before we got it back to the dock. I think it needs more trees.
Scout
This campsite was close to an archery tournament for me. It is a huge campsite that is remote and peaceful. I will try to get this place again next year.
Scout
The Tuttle Campground was enjoyable. It is a well maintained park with big spacious spots.
Traveler
Quiet park. Some road noise from campsite J100 but US route 322 is lightly traveled. Typical tent site with fire ring and picnic table. Across street from bath house with shower and toilet which was clean.
Guide
We live in Oregon and our son and family live in Zelienople. We have stayed here in 2019, 2021, 2023 and now 2024. The owners and staff are wonderful, right on top of things. We enjoy spending time with our son and his family in Zeli and Harmony as well as the other Villages around. Highly recommend IBCG to everyone (until we can't get a spot!)
Ranger
We've stayed here twice, and both times have been great. The only downside for us is that we're full-time and this is close to "home." We don't really use the amenities, so we can't validate having to pay for anyone to visit us only at our rv. We understand the policy as camp hosts ourselves. People abuse areas and will bring 30 people to a place like this. It is beautifully set up with a small lake for swimming, playgrounds, pavillions, games, events, music etc. Level gravel sites with really great grassy areas. We stayed memorial weekend and it was quiet by 9 every night. They do a great job keeping the park looking beautiful. Reasonable rates.
Guide
This campground was exactly what I was looking for, a quiet campground with a large campsite. I have very few complaints. We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and enjoyed our time there. Even with the holiday weekend, the campground was very quiet. Our site was lakeside and was probably the largest campsite I ever stayed in. Some areas where not as big, especially the pull through sites toward the front, but most of the sites on the back side were large. Most sites looked pretty level. Ours sloped up toward the road, but our trailer was not log enough for it to be an issue. The road are mostly dirt and dusty, but didn't bother me. I Site was large enough that there wasn't dust blowing and the traffic was pretty minimal. t was worse when it rained and everything was muddy when we were trying to leave. There are some seasonal campers with golf carts, but It wasn't overwhelming and we didn't feel like we were invading a private neighborhood. The larger lake was bigger than I anticipated and was big enough to paddleboard/kayak on. The pool as fine, nothing special, but good enough for a quick dip. We didn't' use the swimming lake, but it had a sand beach. The location is about 30 minutes from Geneva on the Lake. There are several wineries about 15-20 min away that we visited. My biggest complaint I had was the firewood rule. As another reviewer mentioned, they don't allow outside firewood and your have to pay$12 a bundle for theirs. This adds some cost to the stay, thought I'm not sure how much they enforce it. We saw some rather large fires going around the campground and I doubt they were burning that much wood at$12 a bundle. The other rules were reasonable and I think making people acknowledge them at booking and checking in reinforces it. It is nice to not have to hear your neighbor 3 sites away playing music at 10:00 at night. No sewer hookups that I saw, but the bathroom was clean. Only one main bathhouse with some port-johns in the back areas. Overall, we were happy and would consider going back.
Traveler
It was a nice location to the turnpike but the bathrooms are so out of date. We have a small TT and use the bathhouse frequently. The stall doors hit your knees and the well water stinks…couldn’t wash my hand in the sink. Only one shower stall in the one of 2 bathroom locations. It was nice to see an area designated for dog swimming area. The office closed at 6 PM so no late arrivals. Nice pond but it was a little murky.
ScoutWe will definitely be back. The sites are very level, so setup is a breeze. There's plenty of spots to go fishing and hang out by the lake, plus different things to do in the area.
ScoutThis campground was perfect for what we needed to accomplish! As first time travel trailer owners, they helped us accomplish our first trip away! Upon calling to book a site, we mentioned this was our first trip, they made the utmost effort to accommodate us with all of our needs. They escorted us to our campsite (which was larger than most) and made sure we had plenty of help getting backed in and set up! The front office and store was tiny but had a few essentials in case you forgot or didn’t have things. The site was quiet and even though you were close to your neighbors it didn’t feel like it to us! The atmosphere seemed friendly among the other campers and they were all willing to lend a helping hand where needed. They definitely made our first trip a huge success!
Scout
Was a relaxing 4 days at a tent site. Would absolutely recommend this campground!
ScoutWe love staying here when we visit family in Butler it’s a quiet family run park . It is very affordable and bathrooms are clean
Guide
Everything Was Perfect
The Day before they Called us to make sure that we were still coming and to confirm the reservation and offered us a FREE site upgrade! it is the little thing that count and we said yes! It was one of their deluxe patio sites ,super nice patio with concrete pad and Nice Picnic Table! Site was Super Large And Was Perfect For A larger rig! Our Rig is only about 34 feet long but still perfect.
Halloween Events
Camping near Mercer, Pennsylvania, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature and make lasting memories.
Camping near Mercer, Pennsylvania, has something for everyone. Whether you're looking for family fun or a peaceful getaway, you'll find a spot that suits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Mercer, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mercer, PA is Shenango Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 14 reviews.
What parks are near Mercer, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Mercer, PA that allow camping, notably Michael J Kirwan Lake and Tionesta Lake.
