Best Glamping near Ohiopyle, PA

We camped at Kentuck Campground (site 192) two weekends before the typical summer camping season (2 weeks before Memorial Day), and I was honestly extremely disappointed in the campground, though part of that frustration is probably more appropriately aimed at the state park system as a whole, and their lack of communication.

Prior to reserving the two campsites (we have a pop-up, and we were camping with my parents, who use a tent), I had called the Kentuck campground park office to ensure the campground was actually open, as the reservation system was very confusing (for this park only - I’ve used the state reservation system more times that I can count). There were special notices at the bottom of the site’s page stating that certain campground facilities were closed, and a conflicting message on the reservation site’s page for the campground - which also mentioned a detour that was necessary for ‘big rig’ campers traveling to the campground. I called the office, spoke with a woman who assured me that the campground was open on the weekends (not during the week), but there was a paving project going on and only the largest bath house near the main entrance was open - cool, no problem, that was the closest one to our camp sites anyway. I booked the sites.

No one - not either website or the woman whom I spoke to - mentioned that the main road to the campground from Ohiopyle was also closed due to a separate paving project. This unanticipated road closure with the typically convoluted PA road system detour - coupled with the fact that everyone in the town of Ohiopyle was telling visitors to the area that the campground was fully closed - infuriated my father and husband so much that we almost turned around and drove back home. After finding a local park ranger and getting detailed directions for how to navigate the 30-minute detour (because… Pennsylvania.), we finally arrived at the campground, along with the other 3 cars that had also frustratingly swarmed around the poor park ranger in town for the same reason.

The campground itself was buggy, not well maintained, and covered in poison ivy. The bathhouses themselves (which were almost all open, unlike what I was told on the phone) were great. The roads were torn up due to the paving project, and the playground area did not look to be maintained. I understand that paving projects need to take place, and that it was the best time of year to do them (several weeks prior to Memorial Day when prime time begins) - I don't fault them for that.

Bottom line is that Ohiopyle is one of the premier outdoor destinations around the Pittsburgh area, and the state park (and additional forests and related state parks nearby) are fantastic in every way - and I expected a state park campground that matched the area. Kentuck is not it!

Ohiopyle is located in a beautiful area of Pennsylvania we've camped there a couple of times and have been able to get last minute tent sites. Lots of outdoor activities nearby.

The Kentuck campground was fairly empty (except for the yurt areas.) The trails were very enjoyable, as was the Natural Waterslide and Cucumber Falls.

Great site, level and not far from the GAP trail (great Allegheny pass). Fit our yurt shaped tent perfectly, and the bathhouses were close to each site. Definately plan to return.

OHIOPYLE CAMPING TENT FRIDAY SEPT 15TH BK Meetings

First, I must say, we did not anticipate camping, hiking or rafting in Pennsylvania. The plan was to camp and hike throughout West Virginia, but when we visited Pathfinder outdoor retailer in Morgantown, WV the staff encouraged us to check out Ohiopyle, while we were so close.

Traveling to Ohiopyle, PA from Coopers Rock State Forest, WV…the drive was enjoyable and took less than an hour. Our plan was to visit and drive back and resume camping at CRSF. Upon arrival, we were so stunned and enamored by the beauty of the area…we quickly secured a campsite in Kentuck…then drove back to CRSF and tore down camp.

Kentuck Campground is a very nice campground, the sites are plentiful, and though there are many…there is enough foliage that separate campsites that it feels somewhat private. (That is, until discourteous fellow car campers selfishly disregard quiet hours…but hey, that can…and often does…happen anywhere). One gripe at several campgrounds we visited on this monthly foray…it all seemed to be self-governing…no rangers or enforcement…possibly due to limited funding…I found it stressful. That's the only negative…everything else was…in a word a…blast!

Ohiopyle is a trendy, hip little town…like Boulder East. Running smack dab through the center of town is the Youghiogheny River…Yough for short. A picturesque waterfall, numerous outdoor retailers, bicycle & raft rentals, peaceful trails and a sweet, cutting edge visitor/nature center.

You could easily spend a week here and not exhaust all there is to see and do. The town is tiny, so you cannot miss the plethora of outfitters down every street. Of the numerous cool outfitters, we chose Wilderness Voyageurs across the river, over the tracks and to the right. Time and finances limited us to a "family friendly" float self-guided raft down the Middle Yough…laced with minimal Class 1 and 2 rapids, which I would classify as riffles. The float took three hours, was relaxing, serene and full of solitude.

The Ferncliff Trail loops around the inside of the Yough as it does a near 360 in town. Gentle terrain along the falls and then through moss covered forest.

Just outside town as you climb the hill, to the left is Sliding Rock. Get there early to get a parking spot…and then look forward to having some serious liquid fun. A natural water slide extends around 100 feet as it winds through the rock. Wear sturdy shorts and shirt…I'd also recommend solid footwear…its fun but it is still rock.

As you journey further up the mountain toward Kentuck campground, Cucumber Falls is on the right. Again, get there early for one of the few parking spaces to walk down to the falls. In early August, the falls were not flowing heavy so it wasn't as spectacular as it would be after rains or in the spring. If you are looking to take photos, you will contend with people wading under the falls later in the day.

The local outfitters are a wealth of information for places to go.

From the campground trails head mostly straight down the mountain to the river or to the Great Allegheny Passage mult-use trail…that also runs through Ohiopyle. So give yourself time to climb them, as there are many switchbacks…pretty much straight up…but doable.

Bottom line…Pathfinder staff tips were spot on and we had a memorable time. I gave four stars for Kentuck Campground. I give 5 stars plus…for Ohiopyle!

Logistically, this park can be a challenge to reach for riders along the GAP trail, unless you’re willing to push it. The campground is between 500-700 vertical feet above the former railroad line. Options to get there include the steep walking trail where bikes are allowed to be walked but not ridden, riding the 3.5 miles along the road, also very steep, or taking a shuttle from downtown Ohiopyle.  Let me just preface this with the fact that this was the hardest part of the trail for us.  Maybe it was our low energy that day, maybe we just needed an extra coffee, but with our loaded bike and bike trailer, this hill kicked our butts!  Check out our video for details.

We stayed at the very top of the campground in the walk-in sites. They were fine, tucked into the trees, so we had some privacy although access to other sites lies right along the same trail so you do get to see your neighbors on a busy night.  Most of the sites in this area of the campground lacked level ground for the tent, but if you are as a tired as we were, you'll sleep well anyway.

Bathrooms, well, let’s just say that their heyday was around 1982 and the backlog of maintenance must be high. It’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, it’s just in a sad state of peeling paint and cobbled together plumbing repairs. Some things worked well, like the awesome dishwashing sink and the copious amounts of hot water. All the park’s literature claimed that this was one of PA’s most popular parks. If this is their pride and joy, well, pony up tax payers because it’s time to do some work. All this being said, the rest of the campground was in really good shape, and the Yurts looked lovely (and are very popular). 

The surrounding area is truly gorgeous, worth exploring the gorge, taking a rafting/kayaking trip, hiking, cycling, etc.

Very large park with a variety of campsites ranging from tent, 20/30 amp, 50 amp, and yurts. Price is the same for all electric sites, regardless of amperage. There is a 40-foot maximum vehicle length allowed in the campground– not a problem for our 17-foot van but the staffer who checked us in remarked that many people come in with larger rigs trying to squeeze in and are unable to. We had no problem securing a site with no reservation on a Monday evening after Labor Day. Very close to two Frank Lloyd Wright properties– Kentuck Knob and the more widely known Falling Waters. Other things to do in or near the park include whitewater rafting, rail trail biking, hiking, zip-lining and touring Laurel Caverns. The nearby town of Ohiopyle has many outfitters and several restaurants. The sites are all located on roads leading off the main road; we stayed in a 20/30amp site on Cherry Road (Site 49). It was right next to the bathroom which was good and bad. Good for proximity but bad because we could hear the hum quite clearly. Also, the door to the women’s room would hit you in the rear quite forcefully unless you held onto it (it took me three times to remember to do this)! There was a dishwashing sink in the women’s room (and I’m assuming in the men’s room?); it was very clean, but the only downside was having to do the dishes by myself! Alcohol is prohibited. Only certain areas allow pets. Only one garbage/recycling station outside of the campground. Wood and ice are available 24/7 on the honor system– very nice not to have to wait until a host is on duty to get what you need. Quiet hours 9 pm-8 am, a bit longer than most campgrounds but except for some sites with campfires still burning with people talking, it was very quiet in this campground. Surprisingly strong cell signal for being deep in the woods.

ohiopyle gets very crowded during the season. There is plenty to do around the park. The bathrooms are kept very clean all throughout the park

Campground was so clean & neat. Ohio Pyle is great place to visit on weekend so many Hikes & other adventures are available specially biking on River side was so beautiful.

Stayed here one weekend and rafted down the Ohio Pyle river.  Very convenient to the river and town.  The campground was not as well maintained as other state parks we have visited but not bad.

Ashley here with The Dyrt. 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. One yurt with a bed is offered. Please no alcohol. Friday nights are Toke With A Goat Yoga at 7 at the barn weather depending. Book your stay today and leave them some love!

Very nice campsite lots of people but everyone was very friendly. Heads up when booking only a few areas allow pets. Also on this app it says drinking allowed not the case. Had a great time with lots to see and do in ohiopyle

This place is such a beautiful place! It is so green and in the fall there are so many beautiful hues of reds and yellows! I highly recommend this place, the camping ground is absolutely beautiful, and the Ohiopyle town is such a cute little place to visit.

Ohiopyle is pretty much a camping family's delight. Aside from the rock water slide, which is burned into the kid's memories, there's great, easy hiking trails and a pet-friendly campsite. Late spring is my favorite time to go because the water is at its highest and everything is lush and green!

Site 207 was very large and private. (206 looked good too). Bathrooms were cleaned daily, but could use some updating. Free showers, strong cell service (at&t). No camp store, but fire wood was available. Campground is very quiet most of the day most are off visiting the local attractions of Ohiopyle.

I love ohiopyle! the road up to it has many little waterfalls and wonderful little hikes to take. There is a natural water slide as well that is fun to swim in. There is also some great little shops in the town, and a wonderful wine festival that happens in May! I will definitely be back!

Ohiopyle is an absolutely beautiful area and this campground is no doubt included in that! Sites are well maintained, facilities are clean with hot showers, and the shower houses even have a kitchen sink to wash dishes in! My site did have electrical issues but it was fixed immediately by staff once I brought it to their attention. Highly recommend!

Incredibly clean & close To everything. Located right beside Ohiopyle and Yough Lake dam. There is a beach in campground but found the drive to Yough lake perfect. Site #5 is where We stayed and it was perfect for the small children to play in the creek behind us there was the perfect pathway down to the creek. Very quiet and family oriented.

This is a nice and large campground by Maryland State Park Standards. Sites are nice and not stacked right on top of one another. Some sites have electric, but the bathhouses are clean and decently well kept. The real draw here is the very large lake stocked with fish, and the casino. Botha are just a short walk from the campground. It is incredibly convenient from I68 but you do t get any highway noise. There are even yurts to rent.

we have stayed here many times campground- is allways very clean bathrooms- are spotless staff -is as nice as you could ask for with 2 swimming pools. 4 water slides ,tractor rides ,fire truck rides and a train ride alongside the free activities for the kids there is allways something fun to do and only a few minute drive from beautiful ohiopyle state park

From white water kayaking and guided rafting trips, natural waterslides, to hiking and biking trails - this park has it all! This beautiful park has something to offer for everyone. The campground is nice with several camping options such as tent, camper, yurt and cabin rentals. They also have hot showers, electric options, and pet friendly areas. They have several seasonal events and festivals that are fun for the whole family. Must respect quiet hours here, rangers patrol frequently. For those who want to have a good time and be noisy and share some adult beverages Scarlett Knob campground May be a better option.

Ohiopyle Kentuck Hike/Bike Campsites are positioned directly off the trail, but only after pushing your heavily loaded bike a quarter mile up Beech Trail from the GAP Trail.

Once you are at the top, campsites are all good and its a short walk further up the campground roadway to the modern restroom/showerhouse, complete with a double sink inside to wash dishes and secure fresh water. 

Amenities:

• Level campsite area to place tent
• Picnic table
• Fire Ring

For the same price per night for non-electric, you can travel up to the main campground area, which is what several bikepackers did, just to be close to modern conveniences.

Camping midweek brings quietness as very few sites were filled. Now this was mid-June, mid-week, during Covid-19 Sites are$23 a night.

What goes up, must come down…when you decide to head back to the GAP Trail, its back down the Beech Trail to the GAP Trail. You walk your bike and are feathering the brakes the entire 1/4 mile down.

So…before you trudge up that hill, you cross over the Yough River and visit Ohiopyle for lunch or dinner, ice cream, shop around the area or schedule a rafting trip down the river. Falls Market offered a delicious burger and fries with a fantastic root beer float. The main roadway through town is under massive construction so its a bit clogged...the noise was deafening when eating lunch at Falls Market (no fault of their own) as inside seating was prohibited. 

Ohiopyle is both a GAP Trail Town and a River Town, with rafting a huge part of their economy. Sadly, we saw many small, unique businesses shuttered for good in each Trail Town along the GAP, so we did our best to spend as much as we could to help support the few still open.

The good

• walk in camp sites are nice
• Campground is in a good location in relationship to the trails, you can hike to them from the camp ground
• bathrooms are okay, nothing great but nothing bad

The bad

• extra $5 charge for out of state campers
• have to reserve the yurts for at least two nights (but they are cheapish)
• The office was super busy and there was only one person working when we were there

Tips

• visit on a weekday and all the rafting and rentals are cheaper and LESS people
• check out the laurel highlands trail on your visit
• definitely visit fern cliff peninsula

ohiopyle has so much to offer. The state park is very big and has fantastic facilities. We camped at some of the hike-in sites which were really level and nicely wooded, while still being within an easy walk to the bathrooms/showers. You have to check out the rail trail for biking, walking, or running and highly recommend the white water rafting trip if you can do it. Some good rock climbing in this area too.