Best Campgrounds near Mont Alto, PA

Camping opportunities near Mont Alto, Pennsylvania include a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites throughout the region. Caledonia State Park Campground in Fayetteville offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with electric hookups and shower facilities. Michaux State Forest, which surrounds Mont Alto, provides both North and South Campsites with more rustic accommodations. The area features a blend of state park facilities, KOA campgrounds, and forest service sites within a 30-minute drive, creating diverse options for overnight stays in south-central Pennsylvania.

Many campgrounds in the Mont Alto area remain open year-round, though some like Gettysburg Battlefield KOA operate seasonally from April through November. Reservations are recommended, especially for electric sites and during summer weekends when waterfront locations fill quickly. "This campground is located next to a water source that runs well in Spring/Early summer. Midsummer and early Fall can be iffy, so bring a backup," noted one visitor about a Michaux State Forest site. Access to most developed campgrounds is straightforward with paved roads, while forest sites may require higher clearance vehicles. Cell service varies significantly, with better coverage near towns and spotty reception in forested areas. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, with state parks offering additional facilities such as showers and flush toilets.

The camping experience around Mont Alto benefits from proximity to historical sites and natural features. Gettysburg National Military Park lies within easy driving distance, making many campgrounds convenient bases for exploring Civil War history. Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground, described by one camper as "a great little campground with lots of electric sites and nice, updated bathrooms," serves as the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail with excellent hiking opportunities. Michaux State Forest campsites receive high ratings for their privacy and natural setting, with several visitors noting the spacious sites and proximity to trails. Water features are common highlights, with lakes at Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace offering swimming and fishing opportunities during warmer months. Most developed campgrounds permit pets, though restrictions apply in certain areas and during specific seasons.

Best Camping Sites Near Mont Alto, Pennsylvania (163)

    1. Caledonia State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Fayetteville, PA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 352-2161

    $20 - $92 / night

    "Stayed here two nights while visiting Gettysburg (short 20mi drive between the two). Stayed on Chinquapin Hill, each site has picnic table and fire ring and good space for camp."

    "It’s a fantastic state park with great picnic areas next to the creek. You can also drive up the road to the dam where there’s a beautiful lake with fishing, kayaking, etc."

    2. Gettysburg / Battlefield KOA

    26 Reviews
    Fairfield, PA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 642-5713

    "Spent 2 nights at Gettysburg KOA in July while touring Pennsylvania with granddaughter. Very convenient to historical stuff. Large sites, separated by rocks and trees. Quiet and private."

    "Our site was very spacious, beautifully landscaped and wooded, but right next to the road. There was a buffer of trees, but unfortunately that didn’t make much of a difference with regard to noise."

    3. Owens Creek Campground — Catoctin Mountain Park

    28 Reviews
    Sabillasville, MD
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 663-9388

    $30 / night

    "We stayed at site 28 which is right next to the little bridge over the creek for easy access to the trails and near the bathrooms."

    "Our campsite was quiet with the creek right behind us and had lots of privacy. This place is a great campground to go during summer as it's tucked in the mountains with lots of tree coverage."

    4. Gettysburg Campground

    26 Reviews
    Gettysburg, PA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 642-5713

    "I always appreciate the near solitude experience of this campground as 90% of the sites are RV sites, that are kept away from the tenting area."

    "If you’re looking for a backwoods, off-the-beaten-path type of campground, this isn’t it."

    5. Houck - Cunningham Falls State Park

    24 Reviews
    Thurmont, MD
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 271-7574

    $21 - $65 / night

    "Camp next to the president."

    "There are a few vineyards and breweries nearby. Gettysburg, PA is close as is Frederick, MD. Our site was level and had a good view of the woods. Family was staying in site next to us, site 12."

    6. Granite Hill Camping Resort

    16 Reviews
    Fairfield, PA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 642-8749

    "Great shade and access to the playground. You can let the kids play all day while sitting at your campsite cooking and just hanging. It’s only 15 yards for the play set."

    "Nice place to camp me and the wife was there July 4th weekend close to the pool"

    7. Greenbrier State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    41 Reviews
    Boonsboro, MD
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 432-2267

    $23 - $29 / night

    "Positives

    • Big, immaculately groomed tent pads

    * Mostly tent campers!"

    "Our site was private and kind of faced away from most other sites. There was a hiking trail behind us that led to the lake."

    8. Artillery Ridge Campground

    24 Reviews
    Gettysburg, PA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 334-1288

    "This park is a perfect location if you want to explore Gettysburg National Historical Site as you can literally walk across the street and be in the park or venture½ mile up the road and you come to the"

    "Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded."

    9. North Michaux State Forest Campsites

    7 Reviews
    South Mountain, PA
    5 miles
    +1 (717) 352-2211

    $10 / night

    "There's a parking area which fits several cars, and I actually counted 4 campsites there is immediate access to."

    "Great campsite - Site 8, Hairy Springs; long walk from vehicle so pack lightly. "

    10. South Michaux State Forest Campsites

    6 Reviews
    South Mountain, PA
    5 miles
    +1 (717) 352-2211

    $10 / night

    "No water close by so you’ll have to bring it. Short walk from car to site. Lots of trails and a golf course close by. Free permit required but you can now get it online"

    "Walk in tent site. No amenities, dispersed camping only. Next to a water source that runs well in Spring/Early summer. Midsummer and early Fall can be iffy, so bring a backup."

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Recent Reviews near Mont Alto, PA

1029 Reviews of 163 Mont Alto Campgrounds


  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park

    Great non-electric site, no dumstation

    This site is at the very top of the loop so it has a great cozy vibe and is spaced well away from other sites. The only downside is that the bathhouse is a walk downhill and then a walk back uphill. Surprised there’s no place for someone to park next to the bathhouse - only trails to it- so if you have accessibility needs, consider choosing a site that’s lower in the loop. The site is level and was raked by the hosts before we got there. Really clean and quiet except for some road noise. Showers are SO nice compared to other campsite. Hot water is hot, no push buttons, and there is a shower wand in both stalls. No dump station though!! Dump before you get here. Also if you work remote and depend on service, it’s spotty. Very wooded so Starlink can’t help much. OH- Don’t bother visiting the winery down the road. Ew. Just don’t.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA

    Dense and chaotic, but great breakfast

    We got here late on a Friday and boy was it packed. It was a pretty tight fit and at a perpendicular. Not sure why campsites do that. We didn’t use the bathroom or showers because it was so late and honestly because they only had one bathroom location for all those people and it was on the opposite side of the campsite. They have SO many activities going on for kids and families including crafts and a magic show. They also had a diner and general store. Didn’t go into the store but did get breakfast from the diner and the breakfast was honestly delicious. It was about a 20 min wait at 8:15 but the quality of the food totally makes up for that. I recommend the sausage gravy and biscuits. Overall, great spot if you’ve got kids. Pretty packed if you’re just traveling or looking for some outdoor time.

  • E
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Camp Cacapon

    Great camping in a perfect spot

    We stayed at this campground Sep 26-28 and had a fantastic time. The campsite is in a perfect spot on the Cacapon river, and the facilities are excellent. Nice campsites, clean bathrooms and a charming little pavilion that you can rent and hang out with your group.

    Highly recommend

  • Brian C.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cowans Gap State Park Campground

    Solid State Park Camping

    Stayed in a walk-in tent site. Much better spacing than typical sites, though sites 2 & 3 were basically connected. The non-walk in sites in Loop B are typical to smaller than average and mostly suited for campers/RVs.

    Pros : Site spacing/privacy was good Bathrooms and showers were clean. Firewood available at the park ($5 for 6 pieces self-serve). Location near the dam and lake trail is nice. Cell service was limited, but had reliable (but low) signal with T-Mobile at my site. Easy access (on foot) to all of the hiking trails.

    Cons: The tent pads could use some leveling and there was some trash around the site. The major negative was generator noise coming from the facility just beyond the dam. Droning generator noise was on/off at all hours of the day and went on until 10pm in the evening. Not sure how far up in Loop B this was heard, but it was pretty loud in the walk-in site area.

  • Marcandpatti B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Gettysburg Campground

    Good spot for Gettysburg, a bit spendy.

    We stayed here mid-week in September so it was very quiet. There was a bit of road noise as our site was close to the entrance. Host was super friendly. They have a bunch of things going on with groups that stay here; next group is quilters with vintage trailers, sorry to miss that. All of the utilities worked just fine. Sites re a bit close to each other, not a lot of foliage between sites.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Artillery Ridge Campground

    Great location and friendly staff

    We have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.

  • p
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Artillery Ridge Campground

    Rv stay

    Site and bathrooms clean. Activities provided free each day. Food trucks in park. Close to museum and battleground sites.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Round Top Campground

    Better than OK

    Stayed for 2 days while passing through from FL to NH. Off-season so not crowded. Pool was clean and quite good sized, had it to ourselves due to season. Did laundry while here, ample laundry room. On-site extras include food-truck restaurant and small country goods vendor during our stay. Office staff did ok. Sites have reasonable spacing with gravel pads, mostly level. Trees between sites with sloping hills , not just a big open field. It’s a corporate site so automated web-based reservation system was finicky so we had to verify reservation went through. Tried to book 2 nights but system only set us up for 1. Phone call to help line easily resolved the issue. Quiet and no spotlights on all night.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders

    Awesome views on the Potomac

    Very cool spot. Amazing sites right on the Potomac. There is a Ale House above the office that delivers for free to your site (2.5 miles away), just tip the driver


Guide to Mont Alto

Camping in the Mont Alto area occurs at elevations between 780 and 2,100 feet within the northern reaches of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer highs averaging 85°F and winter lows frequently below freezing. Fall camping draws crowds for spectacular foliage viewing, particularly during the third week of October when maple and oak trees reach peak color.

What to do

Appalachian Trail hiking access: The best places to camp near Mont Alto, Pennsylvania connect directly to the historic AT. "[The] Appalachian Trail was a few minutes drive up the hill, where you can take a short hike North to the AT midway marker. It's a beautiful, clean trail where you pass very few, even mid-spring on a gorgeous day," notes a visitor to North Michaux State Forest Campsites.

Bird and wildlife watching: Spring campers should bring binoculars. "The synchronous firefly show we saw in July!" reports a camper at Caledonia State Park Campground, while another mentions "Saw a baby deer on this hike" when exploring from their South Michaux campsite.

Fishing opportunities: Most campgrounds with water access permit fishing with valid Pennsylvania license ($22.97 annual for residents). "My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site," shares a guest at Artillery Ridge Campground. The 43-acre Hunting Creek Lake at Cunningham Falls State Park offers crappie, bass, and trout.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: South Michaux State Forest Campsites receives high marks for seclusion. "It was clean, well stocked with firewood and huge! There was space for 4-6 tents and just as many hammocks," one camper writes about Site 15. Another notes the primitive sites feature "a picnic table and fire ring with tons of chopped wood already there from previous campers."

Clean facilities: Even basic campgrounds maintain good standards. At Cunningham Falls State Park, "Showerhouse/Restrooms are placed in the middle of each loop and are modern facilities. Fairly clean and maintained. Electric outlets are a plus." A visitor to Greenbrier State Park observed, "Bathroom facilities were close enough and had hot and cold water, showers, flush toilets, and showers. All were spotless."

Historical connection: Several campgrounds provide direct access to significant historical sites. Artillery Ridge Campground "served as an artillery storage/staging area for the Union during the battle. Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded."

What you should know

Water availability varies seasonally: Several primitive campsites have unreliable water sources. A camper at Michaux South Campground notes site #15 is "Next to a water source that runs well in Spring/Early summer. Midsummer and early Fall can be iffy, so bring a backup."

Some campgrounds require permits: Free primitive sites often need advance reservations. "All reservations are free, but must go through the PA state park motorized camping website," explains one Michaux Forest user, while another adds "You can stay for free, but you need to obtain a permit for large groups, or if you plan to stay for 2 or more nights."

Crowding levels fluctuate: Weekends during summer can get busy at state parks. A Greenbrier State Park visitor warns, "The lake area can be crowded on weekends, I tend to avoid," while another noted, "When we pulled the rangers where blocking traffic to the park. They said that the park was full."

Tips for camping with families

Look for campgrounds with activities: Granite Hill Camping Resort offers "mini golf and pool. There are plenty of activities for the entire family," according to reviews. Another visitor highlights "free showers, a playground, mini golf and two small ponds for fishing. Plus they plan lots of weekend events."

Choose sites near playgrounds: Parents appreciate convenience to recreation areas. One Granite Hill camper shared, "We stayed in the 'C' row site. Great shade and access to the playground. You can let the kids play all day while sitting at your campsite cooking and just hanging. It's only 15 yards for the play set."

Beach access makes hot days better: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas. At Cunningham Falls, "The beach area at the lake was fantastic! My kids loved it plenty of areas to grill and dogs are allowed," while another camper notes the 75-acre man-made Hunting Creek Lake offers "great (and busy weekend) fishing."

Tips from RVers

Check hook-up configurations: Several campgrounds have unusual utility layouts. At Granite Hill, "The hookups are oddly spaced and you need to ensure you have extentions handy. My electric hookup didn't work on 30A," warns one RVer.

Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven ground at some campgrounds. One RVer at Granite Hill mentioned "it took 2 hours to get our camper set up because of the very uneven stone lot, thankfully we had enough wood to get the jack up without having to over extend it."

Access considerations: Some forest campgrounds have limited big rig suitability. At Gettysburg Campground, "The amenities are quite good: full hookups with cable, all working as expected. Level sites, friendly and efficient staff, decently sized sites long enough for my 32' coach and a toad," although "the sites are quite packed together and the noise of traffic can get rather loud at night."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Mont Alto, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mont Alto, PA is Caledonia State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 33 reviews.

What parks are near Mont Alto, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Mont Alto, PA that allow camping, notably Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.