Prince Gallitzin State Park surrounds 1,635-acre Glendale Lake in central Pennsylvania at an elevation of 1,600 feet. RV campgrounds near Patton, Pennsylvania typically remain open from mid-April through late October, with the Raystown Lake area offering year-round options. Summer temperatures average 70-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
What to do
Fishing access: Prince Gallitzin State Park offers good fishing opportunities in Glendale Lake. "One of the better state park campgrounds. All sites are paved as are the roads," notes a visitor to Crooked Run Campground, which provides easy lake access for anglers seeking bass, pike and panfish.
Water recreation: The state park's beach area accommodates swimmers from late May through mid-September. "Huge lake for water sports, scenic trails, small dirt bike oval track," reports one camper who enjoyed multiple activities during their stay at Prince Gallitzin.
Mini golf and games: Friendship Village Campground includes on-site recreation options just a short drive from Patton. One visitor reports: "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing. Can't wait to come back in the summer."
What campers like
Creek access: Mirror Lake RV Camping offers waterfront sites where kids can play. "A lot of their sites are along a small creek which the kids play in and can float down. Site 26 is our favorite. It has a huge back yard and easy access to the creek," according to a regular visitor to Mirror Lake.
Friendly atmosphere: Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA receives praise for its welcoming environment. A camper noted: "First, what hasn't changed: It is still a small family run and family friendly campground, it still has a pool the is as clean as they come and they still maintain it like it is being inspected the next day."
Organized activities: Special weekend events enhance camping experiences at several parks. "Went during Bigfoot weekend. It was super fun as our family likes bigfoot fun. We started out Friday night getting the offered $12 bbq plate that included pork burnt ends, beans and potato salad," shares a visitor to Timber Run Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most RV campgrounds in the Patton area operate on limited schedules. Mirror Lake runs "April 21 to October 22" while Prince Gallitzin State Park operates from "2nd Friday in April to last Monday in October."
Site variations: At Friendship Village Campground, site quality varies by location. "The campground is quite spread out through the property with sites ranging from primitive campsites to full hook up big rig sites," explains one reviewer who adds that "for big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500."
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some camping experiences. "This campground is located by 2 major highways and truck traffic and Jake brake are constant all night long. The road noise made it hard to hear when we were sitting around the fire," reports one camper about their stay at Friendship Village.
Tips for camping with families
Best sites for kids: Look for campgrounds with playground proximity. "In my opinion, the best sites to stay at if you have kids are sites 145–171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit," advises a camper at Friendship Village Campground.
Group camping options: Prince Gallitzin accommodates organized youth activities. "We used the group tent sites for our Girl Scout weekend. It was a fun weekend. The site was clean, decently level area for tents, accessible to potable water and bathrooms with showers," shares a group leader at Prince Gallitzin State Park.
Nearby attractions: Some RV parks near Patton offer convenient access to regional destinations. A Mirror Lake visitor notes: "Close by is Ligonier, Idlewild, and St. Vincent (where the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp takes place)."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many RV sites in the area require leveling adjustments. At Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA, one visitor mentioned: "The only drawback was that the sites were tight and not the most level but we made do."
Navigating campground roads: Area RV parks have varying terrain challenges. "The site wasn't hard to level our RV but overall the sites are hilly and in fact the whole park is on a hill," notes a camper at Timber Run Campground.
Maintenance assistance: Some parks offer helpful emergency RV services. "We really got to witness the owners' kindness when we left for a hiking trip and a sudden windstorm caught our awning and broke one side of it. The owner and his son got right to work fixing it," explains a grateful Mirror Lake camper.
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