The forested ridges surrounding Penn Run, Pennsylvania offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Laurel Ridge State Park, about 25 miles south, provides eight distinct tent campgrounds along the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. Long Acres on Clover Creek offers walk-in tent sites with creek access and primitive tent camping experiences. For backcountry tent camping, Dravo's Landing Campground provides free hike-in and walk-in tent sites along the Youghiogheny River, particularly popular with GAP Trail hikers and bikers seeking primitive tent camping.
Most tent campsites in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Tent pads are typically set on natural surfaces with minimal grading. Campers should bring water treatment supplies, as many primitive tent sites lack potable water. Laurel Ridge State Park's tent-only areas require advance reservations and cost approximately $12 per night. Fire rings are common at established tent campgrounds, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply. Vault toilets are available at most locations, but shower facilities are limited to more developed campgrounds like The GAP Trail Campground, which offers tent-only camping with shower access for hikers and bikers.
Tent campers frequently note the privacy and natural setting of sites throughout the region. According to reviews, Long Acres on Clover Creek provides "secluded areas combined with creek access" and "bright stars at night," making it ideal for primitive tent camping. Visitors to Laurel Ridge State Park mention that "the camping areas have firewood and water, but the wood is often punky, and water needs treatment." October weekends see higher visitation at most tent campgrounds, so backcountry tent camping during weekdays offers more solitude. Wildlife sightings are common, with one camper at Mountain View Camps reporting albino fawn sightings near the tent sites. Raccoons are active at Dravo's Landing, requiring proper food storage for tent campers.
"Great place to stay close to hiking trails and fishing spots. Hit the mountain bike track, explore the ruins on the game lands, and might even see an albino fawn."
from $20 - $70 / night
"We camped out overnight with a group of 14 people, and there was plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars."
"This campsite is a nice reward for west-bound riders on the GAP trail (it's the last one before Pittsburgh!)"
"They are in an area of the lake that has a lot of boat traffic, the waterfront spots usually book a few weeks in advance and are in a wake zone. There is mooring along both sides of the campground."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
"The secluded area combined with the creek nearby made for a great escape from reality. The stars are so bright out here and the tent was absolutely fabulous! Definitely 10/10 recommend."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $65 / night
"Laurel Ridge State Park is the greenway that protects the legendary Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail from the busy world around it."
"It is a beautiful wooded park offering lots of trees for privacy. I wish I had more time to explore the park before moving on. The bathhouse could use a renovation. It felt old and kind of dirty."
"The spacious and lush lawn has lots of space for tents, but the winner is the covered seating, dining, and cooking area. Everything is clean as a whistle…pun intended. "
from $25 / night
from $10 - $60 / night
ScoutThis is our second time staying here. Each time in October. We love it. Unlike most RV resorts this place is small and wooded. Has free Wi-Fi, clean bathrooms and an awesome community hub room for work from home or playing games. The weekends are busy but during the week it’s so quiet and peaceful. Close to so many attractions and parks that are part of the PA Wilds. Would definitely recommend.
ScoutPLEASE DONT GO HERE ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND IF YOUR NOT WHITE..THE OWNER IS A RACIST HYPOCRITE AND SO ARE ALL OF HER CREW AT THIS LOWLIFE CAMPGROUND. JUST BECAUSE SHE DONT DRINK AND LIKE TO HAVE FUN, SHE RUINS IT FOR ALL THE OTHER CAMPERS..YOU HAVE TO BE IN BED AT 10PM..WHAT A FRIGGING JOKE..SHE SNEAKES AROUND IN HER GOLF CART AT NIGHT AND CREEPS IN YOUR WINDOWS TO SEE WHAT YOUR DOING. THATS WHY YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE CURTAINS CLOSED .SO HER AND HER SO CALLED HYPOCRITE FRIENDS CAN SEE WHAT YOUR DOING..WE USED TO BE UP THERE UNTIL WE SAW HOW SHE TREATED AND TALKED ABOUT THE POOR LITTLE BLACK KIDS..ESPECIALLY ON CHRISTMAS IN JULY, SHE BOUGHT TOYS FOR EVERY WHITE KID UP THERE WHILE SHE WATCHED THE LITTLE BLACK KIDS CRY THEIR EYES OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE 10 MINUTES LATE TO GET THEIR GIFTS..SHE IS A WHICH IN DISQUISE..EVERY KID GOT TO RIDE THE WAGON WITH SANTA AND WHEN SHE SAW YHE BLACK KIDS ,THEY JUST PASSED THEM UP LIKE THEY DIDNT EVEN SEE THEM...HOW CRUEL CAN SOMEONE BE🤬🤬BUT THEN AGAIN, ITS HER ,SHE HATES PEOPLE HAVING FUN UP THERE.DONT DRINK AFTER HER HRS .DONT PLAY MUSIC AFTER HER HRS..DONT DO SHIT UP THERE UNLESS YOU WANT KICKED OUT THE NEXT DAY...I NEVER SEEN ANYONE SO CRUEL AND HEARTLESS
....THERES A FEW OTHER CAMPGROUNDS AROUND THE BEND .PLEASE GO THERE IF YOU DONT WANT TO CAMP IN A PRISON CAMPGROUND....SHE'LL NEVER CHANGE..MAYBE UF YOYR WHITE, SHELL BE NICE 🤣🤣🤣AND YOU WOLNT GET KICKED OUT..
Scoutbeautiful site and campground ground. peaceful. quite. and the showers were excellent!
LegendWe spent a long weekend for walks in the woods, seeing the fall colors, and all around a huge lake.
What We Liked:
- Even though the sites are sloped, they’re huge. I like that a lot.
- This property is enormous. They have a marina on the lake, a wedding facility, conference center, lots of cabins which look pretty good, and tent sites in addition to the RV sites. Go say hi to the goats behind the store. The property is amazing!
- If you’re interested, it’s a 90-minute drive to the Flight 93 Memorial— well worth the trip!
Things to Keep in Mind:
- The roads getting there are like a roller coaster. This isn’t the resort’s fault, but something you need to know if you’re going there.
- The sites are sloped. Took several blocks to get even close to level. I may be spoiled, but I really appreciate a level site.
- No sewer connection. There’s a dump station available, but just know the sites are water and electric only.
Would We Return?
- Probably not. It’s not fun driving in that area and there’s nothing much to do in the area.
GuideVery large CG. I car camped at site 066 (with electric) in mid-October and CG was 3/4 empty. Nice location on Glendale Lake with a beach and boat activities (for warmer months). Showers had no hot water but facilities were nice. Very little separation between sites. Nearby hunters discharging guns into evening hours.
TravelerStayed the weekend for the first time and it wasn’t bad! There were kids playing at sites nearby but that was all the noise, highway noise at all! I like how they have a spot for your tent with a picnic table and fire ring. I was in my rooftop tent on my truck so I wish the parking spot went back a little deeper for a little more privacy. But it was nice that there was bathrooms and showers within a 1 minute walk from the site! Also it says on here there is no AT&T signal, that’s not true…it’s not great but there is a bar or 2 at times!
RangerThe sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
ScoutAdvertised as a family camp but very far from it. I’ve watched this camp progressively get worse as the years go on, over priced camp with zero efforts to make anything worthwhile, run down play grounds, broken toilet paper roll holders in the bathrooms of the shower house, roads that make you feel like your off road. Owner plans “events” and then wants campers to pay for overpriced food. The owner complains nobody comes to events anymore but barely comes to them herself. The owner is VERY money hungry! And most importantly it’s home to a sex offender who the owner cherishes dearly.
It’s a shame to see how many people realized how terrible this camp was and are selling their camps because of it. The owner should open her eyes and realize she’s the reason people don’t want to be there anymore !!!
ScoutWe are here for a month and it feels like we have the place to ourselves!
Tent campsites near Penn Run, Pennsylvania sit within the Laurel Highlands region at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 feet above sea level. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Most primitive camping areas remain open from April through November, with closures during winter months due to access limitations and weather conditions.
Explore local waterways: The Youghiogheny River provides camping options and recreational opportunities at Dravo's Landing Campground, where visitors can fish or paddle directly from camp. "This campsite is a nice reward for west-bound riders on the GAP trail, and a nice easy introduction to bikepacking camping for the east-bound," notes camper Shari G.
Visit historic sites: The area contains numerous historical landmarks within short distances of camping areas. Lauren C. mentions that Dravo's Landing is "close to an old cemetery which is useful in telling ghost stories around the campfire."
Mountain biking: Local forest trails offer moderate to difficult biking terrain with established routes. Richard C. from Mountain View Camps recommends to "hit the mountain bike track, explore the ruins on the game lands, and might even see an albino fawn."
Wildlife viewing: State game lands surrounding Penn Run provide opportunities for animal observation. Dawn and dusk offer the best viewing windows, with deer, turkey, and various bird species commonly spotted.
Creek access: Waterfront campsites rank highly among visitor preferences. Sarah A. notes that at Long Acres on Clover Creek, "The secluded area combined with the creek nearby made for a great escape from reality."
Stargazing conditions: Limited light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing. "The stars are so bright out here," reports Sarah A., making astronomy activities popular at primitive sites throughout the region.
Trail connectivity: Many campgrounds serve as access points to larger trail networks. "We made friends with a few other folks who were stopping at Dravo during their bike trips along the GAP, and everyone appreciated the abundance of picnic tables, fire pits, lean-tos, and the nearby river," shares Sarah Q.
Boat-in camping options: Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground provides unique water-access camping. "This campground is accessed by boat only. But it has a maintenance road and is patrolled by college kids with summer jobs," explains John H.
Train noise: Multiple tent camping areas near railroad tracks experience periodic noise disruption. One camper at The GAP Trail Campground advises, "With all this luxury comes an active train too...that's the nature of this trail. Bring those earplugs for a good night's sleep!"
Wildlife precautions: Proper food storage prevents animal encounters. "Just be sure to secure your food overnight - if you don't, the raccoons will make quick work of it!" warns Sarah Q. about camping at Dravo's Landing.
Water treatment requirements: Most primitive campgrounds require water filtration or treatment. Consider carrying portable filtration systems as many tent sites lack reliable potable water sources.
Limited cell reception: Signal strength varies significantly throughout the region. Many primitive tent sites have minimal or no service, so download maps and information before arriving.
Reservation requirements: Several tent campsites fill quickly during peak seasons. Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground experiences high demand for certain sites, with Kristen H. noting "the waterfront spots usually book a few weeks in advance and are in a wake zone."
Bathroom considerations: Facility quality varies widely between camping areas. Ashleigh M. at Laurel Ridge State Park Campground mentions, "The bathhouse could use a renovation. It felt old and kind of dirty."
Site spacing: Select campgrounds with adequate distance between sites for privacy and noise control. Sarah Q. notes at Dravo's Landing, "We camped out overnight with a group of 14 people, and there was plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars."
Sound management: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby college students or other groups. According to Kristen H., at Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground, "Some weekend get slightly loud because of college kids, but most are mindful of younger children if you ask them to keep it down."
Short hiking options: Family-friendly trails under 2 miles can be found near most established campgrounds. Look for loop trails rather than out-and-back options for variety and engagement with younger hikers.
Size limitations: Most tent camping areas near Penn Run accommodate only smaller RVs or vans under 25 feet. Large motorhomes and fifth wheels have limited options.
Hookup availability: Electric connections exist at select locations but water and sewer hookups remain rare. Mountain View Camps offers electric hookups but lacks sewer or water connections at individual sites.
Primitive RV camping: Some tent-focused areas permit small RVs with advance permission. These sites typically lack amenities but provide more natural settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Penn Run, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Penn Run, PA is Nanty Glo Municipal Park with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
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