Camping near Port Matilda, Pennsylvania offers mountain terrain access with elevations ranging from 900 to 2,200 feet throughout the region. Summer temperatures typically reach 70-85°F during the day while dropping into the 50s at night. The area's forested camping locations remain cooler than surrounding valleys, providing natural shade at many sites.
What to do
Mountain biking at Rothrock State Forest: The roadside campsites at Rothrock State Forest connect directly to extensive trail networks. "The site is pretty remote, though there were vehicles and the occasional biker coming up the road," notes one camper about site 002 on Colerain Road.
Boating at Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir: Located at Bald Eagle State Park, the 1,730-acre lake offers multiple boat launches. "We love this park and usually rent a boat and swim and watch the eagles all day. One of the best experiences ever," shares a visitor who frequents the park.
Paddling on calm waters: The 250-acre lake at Black Moshannon State Park provides a unique kayaking experience. "Nice campground with quiet 250 acre lake for kayaking. Good birding," explains Matthew U., highlighting the peaceful paddling opportunities.
What campers like
Private lakeside sites: At Seven Points Campground, waterfront sites offer direct lake access. "The lake front sites are beautiful and well maintained, but difficult to book," notes Megan W., who visited during Memorial Day weekend.
Clean bathhouse facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high-quality restrooms. According to a visitor at Crooked Run Campground, "The bathrooms were clean. There are no shelfs in the showers (except for a bar of soap) but they had hooks to hang your clothes."
Dark skies for stargazing: Limited light pollution creates excellent night viewing conditions. "We saw the Milky Way!" reports Ann P. about Greenwood Furnace State Park, adding that "a couple of really nice things about this campground: You can buy ice ($2), bundles of wood (15 pc @ $5) and as long as you don't need change, it's self serve."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Prime sites fill months in advance, especially waterfront locations. "Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early," advises Denise D. about Black Moshannon State Park.
Water conditions: Some lakes have distinctive water characteristics. "The Iron Ore mines from the past have left the creek water stained red which is why its called the Red Mo with the locals," explains Travis S. about Black Moshannon.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close during winter months. Bald Eagle State Park's primitive camping area operates from "May to 3rd Sunday October," while Russell P. Letterman Campground runs from "2nd Friday April to mid December."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Prince Gallitzin State Park, one visitor notes, "Good trails, kayak rentals, and a private beach for the campgrounds make it a nice vacation spot."
Educational opportunities: Look for ranger-led programs when available. At Black Moshannon, "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc," according to Lisa L.
Swimming beaches: Several parks offer designated swimming areas with amenities. "The lake is so clean and refreshing and we have such beautiful views from our camp site. We went down to the swim beach and our kiddo made sand castles and swam in the clear water," shares Jennifer D. about her experience at Seven Points.
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Review site details before booking. At Bellefonte-State College KOA, "All the regular pull through sites in the old part are very tight and dusty," warns Jessica, while premium sites offer more amenities: "We loved this deluxe site but they are a lot pricier than the standard ones."
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. "Make sure you have leveling tools as the sites are not very level side-to-side," advises Joel A. about sites at the KOA.
Water pressure variations: Some campgrounds have inconsistent utilities. At Bald Eagle State Park, "I'm not sure about other sites, but we did not have a water hookup, just a spigot we could fill from," reports Greg J., noting that "the power pole was in rough shape but worked."
