Tent campgrounds around Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania offer a mix of free and fee-based sites, primarily concentrated along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail system. Dravo's Landing Campground provides walk-in tent access with picnic tables, fire pits, and lean-to shelters along the Youghiogheny River. Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run offers another free tent camping option approximately 99 miles along the GAP Trail with raised tent pads and Adirondack shelters for hikers and bikers.
Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities suited for primitive camping experiences. Fire pits with adjustable cooking grates are standard at established campgrounds, though campers should verify if firewood is provided or must be purchased locally. Several locations like Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground have vault toilets but limited or questionable water sources, requiring visitors to either carry in water or filter from nearby rivers. The region's campgrounds typically follow a first-come, first-served model for site selection, with some locations requiring permits for extended stays beyond one night.
Tent campers accessing sites along the GAP Trail should prepare for varying degrees of privacy and remoteness. The walk-in nature of many sites creates a more secluded experience than standard campgrounds, though nearby train tracks can affect the overnight experience. A visitor commented, "The only negative was the train traffic on the opposite side of the River. If you don't sleep with ear-plugs, you will wish you had." Despite occasional noise disruptions, these tent campgrounds offer convenient access to river activities, with many featuring direct pathways to water for filtering, swimming, or boat launch. Seasonal considerations include increased traffic during fall foliage season and on weekends, when securing a preferred tent site may require earlier arrival.
"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!)"
"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
"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
"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
"Being positioned directly off the GAP Trail grants easy access to those traveling the trail. "
"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"
"This is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."
"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."
from $10 - $60 / night
ScoutThis is our second time staying here. Each time in October. We love it. Unlike most RV resorts this place is small and wooded. Has free Wi-Fi, clean bathrooms and an awesome community hub room for work from home or playing games. The weekends are busy but during the week it’s so quiet and peaceful. Close to so many attractions and parks that are part of the PA Wilds. Would definitely recommend.
ScoutPLEASE 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..
TravelerStayed 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!
ScoutThe 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.
GuideThis 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.
ScoutSpent 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.
ScoutAdvertised as a family camp but very far from it. I’ve watched this camp progressively get worse as the years go on, over priced camp with zero efforts to make anything worthwhile, run down play grounds, broken toilet paper roll holders in the bathrooms of the shower house, roads that make you feel like your off road. Owner plans “events” and then wants campers to pay for overpriced food. The owner complains nobody comes to events anymore but barely comes to them herself. The owner is VERY money hungry! And most importantly it’s home to a sex offender who the owner cherishes dearly.
It’s a shame to see how many people realized how terrible this camp was and are selling their camps because of it. The owner should open her eyes and realize she’s the reason people don’t want to be there anymore !!!
ScoutWe are here for a month and it feels like we have the place to ourselves!
ScoutCant have no fun or drink.kids get yelled at all the time..owner sneaks around looking in campers at night..they watch every thing you do. Then they throw you out because your having to much fun. Or your up after 10pm..what a joke....please dont do nothing wrong.because.youll be on the shitlist...they are very very racist ,dont ever take a black child or try to get a place to stay or even put a tent up ,cause if your Black ,they tell you their is no room for u or a tent..STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE,ITS A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES AND THEY DONT WANT NO BLACS IN THEIR CAMP GROOUND AT ALL..GO UP THE ROAD..THEY ARE NICER THERE...
Tent campsites near Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania span across multiple state forests and trail systems. Most primitive sites sit 800-1200 feet above sea level along river corridors that experience hot, humid summers and cold winters with moderate snowfall. Fall camping typically runs from mid-September through early November when nighttime temperatures can drop below 40°F, requiring appropriate cold-weather gear.
River activities at trailside sites: Access the Youghiogheny River directly from several GAP trail campsites for swimming, fishing, and paddling. At Dravo's Landing Campground, campers can enjoy water recreation with easy river access. "There were a few shelters, nice campsite. It's close to an old cemetery which is useful in telling ghosts stories around the campfire," notes Lauren C.
Hiking forest preserves: Multiple trails near primitive campsites connect to longer regional trail networks. The Danner Primitive Campground offers hiking paths through mature forests. "This is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also," says Casey L.
Mountain biking accessible tracks: Several camping areas connect to mountain bike trails through the surrounding forests. Richard C. from Mountain View Camps recommends: "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."
Well-maintained shelters: The Adirondack-style shelters at many GAP trail sites provide protection during unexpected rain. Dave V. appreciates Round Bottom Camping Area: "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."
Ample tent space: Most primitive sites feature cleared, level ground even when designated pads are occupied. "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," a camper reports about Round Bottom.
Privacy between sites: Many camping areas provide tree cover and spacing between sites. At Laurel Ridge State Park Campground, Ashleigh M. found "a beautiful wooded park offering lots of trees for privacy. I wish I had more time to explore the park before moving on."
Wildlife precautions: Local wildlife may investigate unsecured food overnight at primitive campsites. Sarah Q. warns about The GAP Trail Campground: "Just be sure to secure your food overnight - if you don't, the raccoons will make quick work of it!"
Water availability concerns: Many sites have questionable water sources requiring filtration or treatment. Shari G. notes about Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground: "The bathrooms are the standard forest service pit-toilet and were certainly clean enough, but the well for the campground stated that it was no longer potable. My guess is that this is simply because the volunteer organization which maintains this campground lacks the funds for testing."
Train noise disruptions: Railroad tracks parallel many camping areas, creating periodic noise disturbances. "One thing to consider with these campgrounds next to the trail is the number of trains that pass by in the night. It's not the train horn but the number of turns in the track and the squealing breaks that keep you up -- so bring good earplugs!" advises a regular GAP trail camper.
Easy access options: For families with younger children, choose drive-in sites rather than hike-in locations. Christopher M. from Indian Creek Camplands notes: "Good spot, just beyond owners side yard. Not the most level areas but good clean and quiet campsites."
Ghost story opportunities: Several campsites near Natrona Heights feature historic sites perfect for family storytelling. Lauren C. mentions that Dravo's Landing is "close to an old cemetery which is useful in telling ghosts stories around the campfire."
Wildlife viewing potential: Multiple camping areas offer wildlife viewing opportunities for children. At Mountain View Camps, campers report occasional sightings of rare wildlife, including "an albino fawn" according to one visitor.
Limited RV accessibility: Most tent campsites near Natrona Heights lack RV-specific amenities. Small trailers under 20 feet can access some locations, but Brian S. notes that Laurel Ridge State Park is primarily a "pack-it-in-pack-it-out camping experience" with minimal amenities.
Seasonal road conditions: Access roads to primitive campsites deteriorate during wet seasons, making RV access challenging. Sites like Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground are explicitly designed for hikers and cyclists, not vehicle access.
Alternative accommodations: Some locations offer cabins as alternatives to tent or RV camping. Lake Eron Park provides basic cabin accommodations with five total sites available for visitors seeking more structural protection than tent camping provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Natrona Heights, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Natrona Heights, 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 Natrona Heights, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Natrona Heights, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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