Best Tent Camping near New Kensington, PA
The wooded valleys and river corridors surrounding New Kensington, Pennsylvania offer several tent-only camping options, particularly along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail. Dravo's Landing Campground, located about 26 miles from Pittsburgh, provides free walk-in tent sites with direct access to the Youghiogheny River. Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run, positioned at mile 99 of the GAP Trail, offers primitive tent camping with raised tent pads and Adirondack shelters. These walk-in tent sites cater primarily to hikers and cyclists traversing the trail that connects Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, though potable water availability varies significantly. At Round Bottom, campers report needing to filter water from the nearby river as the hand pump produces discolored water. Dravo's Landing maintains a free woodpile stocked by local volunteers. First-come, first-served policies apply at most primitive tent camping areas, with weekday visits offering the best chance for solitude. Campers should prepare for occasional train noise, as many backcountry tent sites sit near active rail lines that parallel the river corridors.
Tent campers visiting Laurel Ridge State Park, located within driving distance of New Kensington, can access eight different camping areas along the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. According to reviews, these primitive tent sites require advance reservations and cost approximately $12 per night. One visitor noted, "The camping areas are supposed to have firewood and water, but the wood is often punky, and the water needs to be treated." At Dravo's Landing, campers reported sufficient space for large groups, with one stating, "There was plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars." Wildlife encounters are common, with raccoons known to investigate unsecured food at night, particularly at riverside tent campgrounds.
