Best Tent Camping near Meyersdale, PA

Tent camping near Meyersdale, Pennsylvania centers around the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail, with several tent-only sites and primitive campgrounds available within a 30-mile radius. Maple Festival Park offers a unique tent camping experience just 8 miles from the Eastern Continental Divide, with grassy areas for tent setup and clean facilities with warm showers. Laurel Ridge State Park Campground, located about 20 miles northwest of Meyersdale, provides backcountry tent camping along the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail with eight different camping areas. Big Run State Park Campground in nearby Maryland features primitive tent campsites with spacious sites adjacent to streams and a reservoir.

Most tent campgrounds in the Meyersdale area require advance reservations, though some hiker-biker sites along the GAP Trail operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Tent campsites typically include basic amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets or portable facilities. Water availability varies significantly between locations, with some sites offering hand pumps while others require campers to bring their own water or filter from nearby streams. Train noise is common at many of the sites along the GAP Trail, so earplugs are recommended for light sleepers. Weather conditions are most favorable from May through October, with potential for cold nights in spring and fall.

The tent camping experience around Meyersdale is characterized by its connection to long-distance trails and waterways. According to reviews, the hiker-biker campgrounds along the GAP Trail provide a communal atmosphere where "the camaraderie of riders along the trail is a nice side benefit." At Maple Festival Park, campers can "set up tents on the lawn, up on the stage, or under the long lean-to" for protection from weather. Laurel Ridge State Park offers more secluded backcountry tent camping with "several dramatic overlooks out over valleys to the east." Many tent sites in the region provide direct access to rivers and streams, with one camper noting that Big Run State Park has "tons of space between sites" and a stream that is "incredible and lively with trout and crayfish."

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Best Tent Sites Near Meyersdale, Pennsylvania (25)

    1. Maple Festival Park (near GAP Trail)

    2 Reviews
    Meyersdale, PA
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 442-4284

    $20 / night

    "We’ve camped in a lot of places, from remote islands, alpine glaciers, to downtown parks, and yet none have displayed the unique mix of this quaint little corner of Meyersdale, PA."

    2. Big Run State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Bloomington, MD
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 895-5453

    $10 - $55 / night

    "The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."

    "Unfortunately, someone moved our picnic table to the next site. Too lazy to move it. Pit toilets were pretty clean. Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish."

    3. Laurel Ridge State Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Normalville, PA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 455-3744

    "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."

    4. Barnum Whitewater Area

    2 Reviews
    Jennings Randolph Lake, WV
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 788-5732

    $10 - $30 / night

    "Primitive campsites are $10 a night. Small cabins are $35 a night, with larger cabins going at $56 a night. There is electricity in the cabins."

    "Had my wedding 2022 at Jennings picnic area and then after that spent the whole weekend away from everyone and everything!"

    5. Indian Creek Camplands Inc

    1 Review
    Normalville, PA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (724) 455-7900

    6. Paw Paw Tunnel Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

    4 Reviews
    Little Orleans, MD
    36 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "Basic tent camping sites. Portable bathroom facilities only. Only a mile from the historic paw paw tunnel. Tunnel is very fun to travel through. Kids and adults alike enjoy the tunnel."

    "Close to the Paw Paw Tunnel towpath. The Portapotties were in bad shape, but it was winter so hopefully they get serviced more often in season."

    7. Lost Land Run

    1 Review
    Kitzmiller, MD
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 334-2038

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Due to location in-between the tall mountains there is absolutely No CELLPHONE SRRVICE past the first couple campsites and only very spotty at those campsites as well."

    8. Abrams Creek Campground and Retreat Center

    2 Reviews
    Kitzmiller, WV
    36 miles
    Website

    $28 / night

    "Tented a cabin for two nights to hide from bad weather. Cabin had electric service, a microwave, electric heater, refrigerator and lights. The campground had no other guests during our stay."

    "Surrounded by a white water stream, this is the perfect place to relax and unwind. This really is a such a peaceful environment, and the ideal property to re-connect with nature."

    9. Possum Tail Farm Camp

    1 Review
    Terra Alta, WV
    34 miles
    +1 (304) 857-2608

    $55 / night

    "We're happy to welcome this property to our platform. Camp in the heart of this farm close to a pond. Book your stay and come back here to leave them some love."

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Showing results 1-10 of 25 campgrounds

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Tent Camping Reviews near Meyersdale, PA

740 Reviews of 25 Meyersdale Campgrounds


  • Britt B.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Kooser State Park Campground

    Small Shaded Park

    Kooser State Park is a small campground nestled in the Laurel Highlands, close to Hidden Valley and Seven Springs ski resorts. The park has great amenities just a short walk from all sites. All sites have fire rings, with grills, however note they are double walled so do not expel a lot of heat outward. Great for cooking however. 

    Most sites are not level, but very grassy. Firewood is available at the entrance for$5 bundle supporting a local club. A beautiful walk through the park leads you to the Kooser Lake, great for fishing. It is also close to the Laurel Hill State Park which is great for hiking and water activities. The park is close to the road so you will experience some road noise. 

    The park is 15min from Somerset. No phone reception at this one! They welcome all furry friends!

  • K
    Jul. 27, 2022

    Swallow Falls State Park Campground

    Great camping near falls

    Clean, beautiful and quiet (occasional barking dog or children playing loudly). The basic tent sites each have a picnic table, fire pit w/ grill, and lantern post. The trails to the beautiful falls are a short walk from the campgrounds.

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    Pioneer Park Campground

    Close to Flight 93 Memorial

    PROS 

    Able to reserve 129 days prior to arriving 

    Melissa at check-in was very friendly and helpful 

    Good overnight stop to visit Flight 93 Memorial 22 miles from campground 

    Site #391 level 

    Gravel site surrounded by grass 

    Moveable wooden picnic table 

    Large concrete fire ring 

    Clean toilet-shower building that are heavily used 

    Mostly quiet except for road noise 

    Firewood for sale in Park

    CONS 

    No discount 

    Site #391 no shade 

    Park cable connection failed 

    Sewer connection“up hill” 

    Never found trash dumpster and wasn’t marked on campground map 

    Very loud radio station blaring in the toilet/shower building that could be heard outside the building 

    2 bars Verizon 

    No WIFI

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Robert W. Craig - Jennings Randolph Lake

    Great Tenting, Little Busy

    8/14/2025

    USACE-managed campground with hosts who are on-site all season. Nice sites (easy staking) with picnic tables and fire pits, plus a camp store for firewood and other supplies (got there too late to check it out though). A little crowded with what seemed like folks who stay there for a hefty chunk of the season, and the sites are pretty close together, but there weren't any issues with rowdy folks - it seems like the hosts keep things in order/enforce quiet hours if necessary. 

    Drinking water right next to the site (37) as well as a trail to a restroom - I think there's a shower on the other loop/section. 

    $22 for a basic (non-electric) tent site.

  • Olivia M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Coopers Rock State Forest

    Beautiful Mountains

    We often do dispersed, leave no trace, primitive camping throughout the state forest. There are wonderful, well maintained trails throughout. If you want to dive into nature within a 30 minute drive from Morgantown, this is your place to go. Take the scenic hike to raven’s rock for views that will not disappoint.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Coopers Rock State Forest

    Go all the way up the hill

    We stayed here 9/2018 at site #10 and can't wait to return. There is a small campground just by the entrance that has a small store and electric sites with RV hookups. Site 10 was at the campground at the top of the hill, sparsely populated, and had beautiful views beyond the trees. There were toilets and drinking water, but no electricity.  The bathrooms do not have lighting so bring a headlamp or flashlight. Each site had a fire ring and a picnic table. Trails were well maintained, but be warned that the overlook is crowded.

  • Benjamin S.
    Dec. 7, 2023

    Swallow Falls State Park Campground

    Peaceful and Serene

    Campground was well maintained. Tent pads were great. It rained on us but tent pads were elevated enough that we stayed dry. It is so peaceful and serene there. Hiked the trails to the waterfalls and had a great time. Firewood was cheap. Bathrooms were good and clean.

  • Dave V.
    Aug. 1, 2020

    Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run

    Great Hike/Bike Camping Area on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail

    Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run is a free camping area directly on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail around Mile 99 (East of West Newton roughly 15 miles).  For those not familiar with the GAP Trail, it is a Rails-to-Trails initiative that travels from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD…meandering through numerous Trail Towns that were former thriving railroad towns at the end of the 1800's.

    Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run can only be accessed by the GAP Trail, which means on foot or bicycle…or paddlers on the Youghioheny River. Being positioned directly off the GAP Trail grants easy access to those traveling the trail. 

    Amenities:

    • Raised Tent pads (4)
    • Vault Toilet
    • Adirondack Shelters (2)
    • Firepits
    • Picnic tables

    No potable water…there is hand pump but the water was discolored.  It is a short walk down a trail to the river's edge, where I filtered water for drinking.

    There is plenty of grassy area for scores of tents in this area.   So if you are not fortunate enough to secure one of the two Shelters or tent pads, you can still set up a tent in the nicely mowed areas, which are still level.

    We were bikepacking the GAP Trail east from Pittsburgh and arrived on a Sunday evening mid-June. We secured the only open Adirondack Shelter and were able to set up our tent inside, along with keeping our bicycles inside and out of the elements. Which made it wonderfully convenient when it started to rain. Sites and shelters are first come, first served.

    Usually the vault toilets along this trail are clean, maintained and stocked…but on this visit, piles of trash were inside likely from an overly busy weekend.

    The only negative was the train traffic on the opposite side of the River…it is loud when they rumble through. If you don't sleep with ear-plugs, you will wish you had.

    Bicycle traffic was fairly light during the week, so not only did you have the GAP Trail mostly to oneself, the camping areas were either sparsely filled or empty. Although, things just did start opening up from the Covid-19 shutdown.

    Apart from the train noise during sleeping hours, Round Bottom Camping Area is very peaceful and though you can still visually see the GAP Trail, you are not disturbed by passing cyclists.

  • not S.
    Aug. 5, 2022

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Mill Run

    Kid Heaven

    We stayed in a Ranger Smith Cabin in the upper campground. I give this 3 stars because I'm a state park camper at heart: I prefer more room between sites,  more relaxation and nature when camping. But your kids will love it here: two pools, splashgrounds, fire truck rides, arcades, meeting Yogi and friends, nightly movies...the list goes on. Be prepared for an endless parade of golf carts during your stay. We were underwhelmed by the expensive cabin as it had dorm room furniture and uncomfortable beds. The walk-in tent sites were in a hilly area without pavilions, but reservable tent sites in the lower campground had pavilions and more level ground. This is a great base camp for exploring area attractions in the Laurel Highlands such as Idlewild,  Fort Necessity and the beautiful Ohiopyle State Park. If you go to Idlewild, then stop by Gino's pizza in Ligonier; order the sampler pizza (includes pierogi,  taco, white and margherita)--you won't be disappointed.


Guide to Meyersdale

Tent camping near Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from peaceful streams to wooded areas, there's something for everyone.

Tent campers should check out Big Run State Park Campground

  • Enjoy a serene experience at Big Run State Park Campground, where you can set up your tent near a lively stream and listen to the soothing sounds of nature.
  • This campground features spacious sites with plenty of privacy, making it ideal for those seeking a more secluded camping experience.
  • While there are no electric hookups, the area allows for campfires, enhancing your outdoor experience under the stars.

Local activities for outdoor enthusiasts

  • Explore the nearby trails and waterways at Laurel Ridge State Park Campground, which offers access to the legendary Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.
  • For those interested in fishing and kayaking, Barnum Whitewater Area provides a great location along the river, perfect for water activities.
  • Hikers can enjoy the scenic views and challenging trails at Lost Land Run, which is known for its rugged terrain and beautiful landscapes.

Some prices for tent camping range from $10 to $35

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Meyersdale, PA is Maple Festival Park (near GAP Trail) with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Meyersdale, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.