Camping spots near Oil City, Pennsylvania stretch across the Allegheny National Forest region with elevation changes ranging from 900 to 1,800 feet. Many campgrounds throughout Venango County remain open from spring to fall, though water access at primitive sites is typically unavailable during winter months. Camping options include everything from hike-in shelters to full-hookup RV sites.
What to do
Hiking woodland trails: The 36-mile Gerard Trail in Oil Creek State Park connects with campground paths for extended adventures. "Cross country skiing trails come directly past the shelter," notes Travis S., who appreciates winter camping at the park's Adirondack shelters.
Kayaking creek waters: Tionesta Creek offers gentle paddling experiences accessible from multiple campgrounds. At Tionesta Rec. Area Campground, "Beautiful level sites, spaced nicely apart, full hook ups, with big picnic tables and fire rings with multi-tiered grate. We had sites #46 and 48 right above the creek surrounded by tall trees," according to Lauren R.
Wildlife observation: Turn over rocks in smaller creeks to discover aquatic insects, particularly during spring and summer months. "If you're camping with kiddos, try turning over the rocks in area creeks to find little aquatic insects. A little creepy, but a lot of awesome," suggests Brannon M. about his spring visit to Oil Creek State Park.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Two Mile Run County Park provides secluded camping experiences with natural separation between sites. "Didn't explore much of the campground here, seemed huge with lots of sites, we basically had a whole area of sites to ourselves, and it was a very wooded area," writes Robyn S. about her experience at Two Mile Run County Park.
Winter camping options: Several locations maintain year-round access, particularly for those seeking solitude. "We have stayed at the park for Christmas Eve the past two years. Had the Adirondack shelters to ourselves each year... Very quiet and no light pollution from a town or city, providing great moonlit nights," explains Travis S. about Oil Creek State Park's winter camping.
Family activities: Organized programs keep children engaged throughout summer weekends. "They have a lot of activities. My favorite was the disc golf. Their course is really nice!" shares Lydia G. about her Memorial Day weekend at Oil Creek Family Campground.
What you should know
Late spring conditions: Early season camping requires preparation for potential cold weather. "It was early April, the snow had just fallen week before, and it got pretty cold during the night. Still, the hiking trails were in great condition! Runoff was happening, so oil creek was pretty flooded," reports Brannon M. about spring camping at Oil Creek State Park.
Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds, with some maintaining usable signals. "We got 2 bars on Verizon," reports MickandKarla W. about their stay at Tionesta Rec. Area Campground, while Two Mile Run County Park has "good signal for Verizon," according to Bobster L.
Site logistics: Hookup locations can be challenging at some campgrounds. At Kalyumet Campground, "Some sites require over 50' of hose and multiple power cords to reach power box due to the great amount of trees providing good shade throughout camp ground," warns Fred R., while another camper notes they "ended up having to run 60ft of water hose and 50ft of cable in order to get a connection."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly attractions: Choose campgrounds with dedicated youth activities and facilities. Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest provides "plenty of activities for the kids, awesome lasertag course," according to Fred R., who visited Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest.
Water access points: Beach areas provide controlled swimming environments for children. Two Mile Run County Park has a "great beach for kids," notes Joanie B., adding that the "campground overall is quiet. And most if not all of the full hookups are pull throughs."
Entertainment options: Several campgrounds maintain recreational facilities beyond typical playground equipment. Oil Creek Family Campground has "a large pool; a few llamas that the kids can feed and pet; a 27-hole disc golf course... a small pond for sunfish/bass fishing; a dog 'playground'... a well-maintained hedge maze; a pavilion with ping pong, a pool table, and foosball," according to Danielle V.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Multiple campgrounds offer sewer, water and electric connections, though amenities vary. "Sites were fairly level no issues with power fluctuations and sewer worked great!" reports Christopher M. about his experience at Tionesta Recreation Area Campground.
Site dimensions: Pay attention to pad sizes when booking for larger rigs. At Cook Forest State Park Campground, "235 sites, many with electric. Most seem pretty level and big rig friendly," notes Gary P. who stayed at Cook Forest State Park Campground & Cabins.
Seasonal considerations: Some campgrounds maintain limited winter operations. "The bathrooms are always clean and bonus bathrooms added by fishing area which is really nice and convenient," writes Kristie S. about Outflow Recreation Area, though they note concerns about road maintenance during off-peak seasons.
