138 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Port Matilda, Pennsylvania include established state parks and privately owned facilities providing diverse camping experiences. Within a 30-mile radius, Black Moshannon State Park Campground and Bald Eagle State Park offer tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin accommodations. The region features a mix of lakeside camping options, wooded sites, and open areas suitable for both primitive camping and those seeking modern amenities like electric hookups, showers, and sanitary facilities.
Seasonal operation varies significantly across campgrounds, with most state park facilities opening from April through mid-December. Several campgrounds have specific opening dates, typically the second Friday in April, and closing dates ranging from October to December. Cell phone coverage can be limited in many areas, particularly at Black Moshannon State Park. As one visitor noted, "Put your phone away cuz there's no cell service here! Nice and peaceful with a dozen or so tent only sites." Weather conditions should be monitored, as Pennsylvania mountain weather can change quickly, requiring campers to bring appropriate layers and rain gear, especially during spring and fall visits.
The waterfront camping opportunities receive consistently positive feedback from visitors. Bald Eagle State Park offers both primitive camping areas and more developed sites at the Russell P. Letterman Campground, where campers appreciate the spacious sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Raystown Lake, slightly farther from Port Matilda, features Seven Points Campground with waterfront sites that are particularly sought after. According to reviews, the sites at Seven Points are "big and private with stunning views of Raystown Lake." Many campgrounds in the region provide access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and swimming areas. State park campgrounds typically maintain clean facilities, with multiple reviews highlighting the "pristine" bathhouses and showers at Pennsylvania state parks, which many visitors consider superior to those found in other states.
"Electric motorboats are permitted on Moshannon Lake. Boat rentals are available in season."
"Great hiking and a beautiful lake for kayaking. Site 22 is a full hookup. Utilities worked nicely. However, our picnic table had seen better days. "
from $24 - $159 / night
Check Availability"You can also buy firewood at the entrance. Sites have a picnic table + fire ring. There is little to no phone service here and it's not super close to town, so come prepared."
"Well maintained bathroom and firewood plus ice available at the entrance (this is a great plus for those car/tent camping. extremely close to the rothrock forest mountain biking trails."
from $24 - $33 / night
Check Availability"Very peaceful and quite, but close to State College (a must since we were in town for a Penn State game). I also loved historic Bellefonte (I highly recommend eating at the Governors Pub)."
"The section in the front of the park is open with spotty trees; whereas, sites in the back of the park are tucked in the woods and are a lot more private."
"This campground is perfect for people who are looking to get away from busy city life or just want to relax next to a lake."
"The site was roomy enough, but next time I know to try to reserve on the outside perimeter for more room. Dogs are permitted in this area of the campground and honestly they were all well behaved."
from $24 - $108 / night
Check Availability"The site itself was fairly uneven and rocky so we had to always use caution when walking around the site but it added to the rugged experience."
"The rustic section was located around a large loop with each site ranging in a few feet from the car-friendly loop to about the 50 foot walk where our site was located."
from $20 - $22 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to camp ground. The check in process was just to drive to the site and set up which was different but very easy. The sites are private on the sides with some green space to play on."
"If you are not the camping type you can stay at the Nature Inn and enjoy the beautiful lodge in an amazing location! Definitely tops on our list of state parks in Pennsylvania!"
from $26 - $113 / night
Check Availability"Get a site on the outside towards the water. They are spaced out and peaceful. Has restrooms (no shower), picnic table, and fire pit at each site. Short walk to creek and beautiful pond."
"went there for a picnic with the young ones and it was quite a fun evening. there were not many people around so the kids could frolic and be slightly loud without bothering any other people."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"It’s close to bathhouse and playground if you want those. There is parking at every bath house. There is trash receptacles at the entrance to the loop as well as firewood or sale."
"Ridge camp is the furthest away from the marina and the public swimming area. However it's the closest to the Allegrippis Trail system and from the entrance of the camp loop there is a trail head!"
from $28 - $200 / night
Check Availability"This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "
from $10 / night
Check Availability
GuideIts was great, we stayed in new area, sites had ample room, not many trees at our spot so summer there wouldnt be much shade but we were next to a retention pond/drainage. We brought our dig whole loved running through there.
Not much to say besides it was clean, not crowded (in November) and decent spacing between sites
GuideIt was overall good, Nice amenities, pool was clean (3ft-5ft) Splash pad, air pillow, playground, pond, etc
It has nice wooded areas but very compact, if you have a large camper id be concerned with trying to make some turns on the upper area
ScoutMicheal met us with a welcome packet, delivered campwood at a very reasonable price (and loaned us a hatchet), clean facilities and hot shower were a bonus!
Very responsive to messages and an overall delightful experience. Great bird watching and a huge herd of deer came to visit too.
GuideStayed for 2 nights with my pup. Nice, private, walk up tent sites maybe 50 yards or so from the road. Didn’t find too much to do trails wise at the campground but the pond nearby has some lovely views and the park across the bridge has a nice beach for swimming.
GuideFabulous campground, off the beaten path. Stayed here 2 nights and enjoyed walking to the beach and hiking some of the extensive trail system. Campsites are well spaced and private. Although most are on on a slight hill, our parking spot was level and it appeared most others were as well.
ScoutSuper nice owner and its a privately owned farm. Went above and beyond clearing out a spot for us with only 4 hours if advance
ScoutOther campers are nice and welcome. The river is close and just a great location.
RangerWhat a gorgeous area. Camp site has a path down to Medix Run (which seems quite clean) with a perfect spot to set out camp chairs and watch the water. Beautiful sounds of birds and spring wildflowers all over the site. Sites are well spaced. The road is surprisingly busy day and night, which did take away from the experience. Unfortunately that issue was dwarfed by other behavior.
Imagine you're sitting by the water on your campsite at 6pm, and a man is suddenly standing next to you. On your dispersed, state forest camp site. With a path only accessible by walking through the site. He tells you a beaver dam used to be here and goes into the water to fish. Weird things happen, but THREE different fishermen at different times used our campsite as their fishing base. Not the area next to it, the campsite. Even parked down the driveway next to our car.
Maybe you're not bothered by this. Maybe it's because you've read this and now had the chance to consider the possibility. However, I'd be willing to bet you'd rather not be surprised. Especially when there are no amenities and as a woman, you need to get partially undressed just to take a leak in the morning.
This is unacceptable behavior. There were other unoccupied campsites, turn offs and places to stop and fish. In all my life camping, no one has ever done this sort of thing. You stay off campsites when other people are there, unless you need help or want to pass on information.
If one person had done this, I wouldn't be writing such a cranky review but three instances warrants a warning for other campers. Good luck, folks.
RangerGreat park, alittle close together than I like. I wish I had picked 1-12 sites by the creek, but I don’t think I had much choice when I booked anyway. Bathrooms were clean. My site was more of an rv and I felt like I was at the neighbors for supper.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Port Matilda, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Port Matilda, PA is Black Moshannon State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.
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