Yellow Creek State Park offers year-round outdoor recreation opportunities in western Pennsylvania. Situated at an elevation of 1,270 feet, the park features a 720-acre lake surrounded by mixed hardwood forests. The Penn Run area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F and winter temperatures often below freezing, affecting camping availability and conditions.
What to Do
Fishing in stocked ponds: Pioneer Lakes RV Park maintains fishing ponds where visitors can catch bass without traveling far. One camper noted that despite the need to pay for fishing access, they "stayed here to go to the flight 93 memorial so we didn't do much at the campground except fish caught a few nice bass."
Water recreation: Yellow Creek State Park offers multiple water activities including boating rentals. A visitor mentioned, "We rented a pontoon boat for one afternoon and explored the lake, which was awesome." The park's lake provides opportunities for paddling, fishing, and swimming during warmer months.
Outdoor sports and BMX: Crooked Run Campground at Prince Gallitzin State Park features a BMX track popular with younger visitors. As one reviewer stated, "Great place for kids! We love staying at crooked run campground. Has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. Bmx track for kids." The park also offers hiking trails and water sports on its large lake.
What Campers Like
Private island camping: Yellow Creek State Park offers a unique island campsite. One camper shared their experience: "The private island is a beautiful campsite and has enough room for several tents. There's plenty of trees on the island so there are plenty of sticks to find for fires, and even if you want logs you can buy some at the office."
Well-maintained facilities: Friendship Village Campground receives praise for its upkeep. A visitor observed, "The campground is quite spread out through the property with sites ranging from primitive campsites to full hook up big rig sites. There are multiple ponds on the property however only one of them can be fished in."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Campgrounds in the region focus on creating environments for families. At Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing, a camper reported: "My family stayed in one of the cabins while friends were in their campers. The cabin was great, very clean and cozy. The campgrounds are very nice they have a pool as well as a community building and camp store."
What You Should Know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds near Penn Run have limited operating seasons. Visitors to Rustic Acres RV Resort should note its year-round availability, which is uncommon in the region. A camper traveling through stated, "We are traveling across country. This campground is easy access to I80, Less than 10 minutes. It is very clean, amazingly helpful staff, mix of seasonal, weekly, and overnight."
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds in the region experience highway noise. At Friendship Village Campground, a camper observed, "Nice campground, clean and plenty of activities for the kids. The only thing we didn't like was all of the road noise. This campground is located by 2 major highways and truck traffic and Jake brake are constant all night long."
Site leveling challenges: Terrain varies significantly throughout the region. One camper at Pioneer Lakes RV Park reported, "We ended up on a grassy hill in the back. The spot was so unlevel there were 19 inches between my bottom step and the ground. This site was the same price as level ones closer to activities."
Tips for Camping with Families
Children's programming: Several campgrounds offer organized activities specifically for children. At Rustic Acres, a family shared, "Our children enjoyed the Saturday kids program, crafts, snacks and games with other children. Owners were great and extremely accommodating and helpful."
Recreation amenities: Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA offers multiple family-friendly facilities. A visitor with children noted, "We stayed during Bigfoot weekend. It was super fun as our family likes bigfoot fun. We started out Friday night getting the offered $12 bbq plate...On Saturday was rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party."
Access to swimming options: Many families prioritize water access when camping with children. A camper at Mirror Lake observed, "We had 8 kids and 8 adults who all had a blast playing on the playground, floating down the creek, swimming in the pool, riding bicycles etc."
Tips from RVers
Electric and hookup options: RV campers should research amperage availability. At Friendship Village Campground, RV sites feature full hookups with 50 amp service. A camper reported, "Sites are very spacious and the gravel pad was level upon parking. Good connections and solid cable."
Road access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain for larger rigs. A visitor to Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA advised, "If traveling from the Altoona area, go out through Martinsburg over Cove Mountain Rd - it saves you 30 minutes to an hour."
Dog-friendly features: Many RV parks welcome pets with dedicated facilities. One visitor to Pioneer Lakes noted, "Aside from all the above, the Dog Park is awesome. It's the size of a real, normal dog park."
