Port Matilda's camping options are spread across the mountainous terrain of central Pennsylvania, where elevations range between 1,200 to 1,600 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters, making camping most popular from April through October. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, with occasional snowfall limiting accessibility to certain sites.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Black Moshannon State Park Campground features a 250-acre lake perfect for fishing and kayaking. One visitor noted, "Great camping area stop a mountain...nice unique lake that is incredibly dark in color. Lilly pads abound with great flowers."
Educational programs: Black Moshannon offers various ranger-led activities. "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc," mentions a camper who appreciated the learning opportunities available throughout the season.
Camping near water: Waterside Campground and RV Park provides direct access to the Juniata River. According to a visitor, "Stay on the waterside! Sites 48-53. Stayed at 49, it was absolutely perfection!"
Paddling options: Honey Bear Campground gives access to Raystown Lake for water activities. One regular visitor shared, "Can paddle and hike year round and camp in the spring, summer and fall. Amazing camp sites and several have beautiful lookouts over the lake."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Timber Run Campground (formerly Four Seasons at Raystown Lake) receives consistent praise for cleanliness. A camper mentioned, "Bathrooms are Soo nice. Staff was wonderful and just a great campground."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA at Four Seasons offers activities for all ages. "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 that included pork burnt ends, beans and potato salad that were 'oh it's so good'."
Natural setting: Seven Mountains Campground provides a woodland environment with comfortable amenities. A visitor described, "Nice, clean, friendly/accommodating staff and the prices were reasonable for the accommodations. Large covered front porch with again more lighting and a hanging swing."
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most rv parks near Port Matilda, Pennsylvania operate on limited schedules. Black Moshannon State Park Campground runs "2nd Friday April to December 15," while Honey Bear Campground is open "April 15 to October 15."
Navigating to campgrounds: GPS directions can be troublesome in this mountainous region. One camper at Black Moshannon advised, "Our only trouble was our GPS brought us in the most difficult way. We suggest avoiding heading south from I80 on Casanova road."
Last-minute availability: Black Moshannon State Park Campground sometimes has openings even on holiday weekends. "Pulled in on Friday of Labor Day weekend without a reservation but there were a couple open sites," shared one fortunate camper.
Cell service limitations: Mobile coverage varies significantly between campsites and providers, with some areas having no service at all. Plan communications accordingly and download maps for offline use.
Tips for camping with families
Cabin options: River's Edge RV Park & Campground offers family accommodations with amenities. "There is a nice children's playground. No tenting allowed, but a great spot for RV's," mentioned one visitor who appreciated the family-friendly atmosphere.
Weekend activities: Campgrounds often schedule special events for families. At Timber Run, "On Saturday was rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party."
Accommodation variety: Many campgrounds offer options beyond traditional camping. At Black Moshannon, "We rented 1 of the cabins they have on the property and it was great all of us fit comfortably we were able to have a campfire out front and sit at a picnic table."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When choosing an RV site in Port Matilda area campgrounds, consider elevation and levelness. At Timber Run Campground, "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."
Utility hookups: Lumber City RV Park offers basic amenities for RVers. A camper noted, "Staff drives around periodically on a ranger and can be flagged down if help is needed."
Seasonal stays: Several rv parks around Port Matilda offer seasonal site options. "We stumbled upon this brand new campground along the Juniata River in Mifflintown PA, fell in love with it, and purchased our first seasonal site!" shared an enthusiastic RVer at River's Edge.
