Best Tent Camping near Portersville, PA

Tent campsites around Portersville, Pennsylvania include both established and primitive options across multiple natural settings. Quiet and Secluded offers seven tent sites with amenities like drinking water and electrical hookups, while Danner Primitive Campground provides a more rustic experience along the river, accessible only by hiking approximately two miles from the Kennerdell bridge trailhead. Both locations accommodate tent campers seeking varying levels of amenities and accessibility within the region's forested terrain.

Most tent camping areas near Portersville feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. At Danner, tent sites include picnic tables and fire rings with adjustable grates, plus vault toilets with hand sanitizer available. A spring provides water, though visitors must boil before drinking. Sites are generally level and clear, positioned along the riverbank with some offering stairs for paddler access. Quiet and Secluded provides more developed tent sites with electrical hookups and drinking water. Reviews indicate the facilities are well-maintained, with one visitor noting, "Clean amenities!" Many tent campgrounds in the area require permits, particularly for stays longer than one night.

The region's terrain creates diverse experiences for tent campers. Dravo's Landing Campground offers free tent camping with picnic tables, fire pits, and lean-tos along the Youghiogheny River, making it popular with cyclists on the GAP trail. A camper commented that their group of 14 people found "plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars." For hikers seeking seclusion, the hike-in access to Danner creates a remote backcountry camping experience, though campers should note cabins are visible across the river. Most tent sites in the area provide good shade coverage with mature trees and access to nearby hiking trails or water features, allowing for multi-day adventures from established base camps.

Best Tent Sites Near Portersville, Pennsylvania (8)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Portersville, PA

10 Photos of 8 Portersville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Portersville, PA

403 Reviews of 8 Portersville Campgrounds


  • Kathleen B.
    May. 25, 2021

    Breakneck Campground

    Nice little campground

    Our first visit to this campground and we actually found from using this website! We wanted a secluded site and close to Pittsburgh. 

    We arrived around 7pm and there was no check in, we drove around for a while trying to find a spot with a fire ring per some helpful campers. There are two really nice spots by the water which were taken, and we only saw one other in the woods (the other 2 were hidden by a large group of people).

    We ended up finding a flat spot with some tree cover what was far enough from our neighbors but about as close as a bigger campground. Would be good for larger groups. Ton of flat land for tents but saw some people with smaller campers. Firewood is $5 a bucket and clean and dry. Bring a table cloth for the tables. 

    Portapot close by but full bath rooms and showers by main lodge. Lots of tent platforms that overlooked into the woods which would be fun, for a smaller 4 person tent though. 

    As another reviewer stated, there was a super loud group Friday night but Saturday was very peaceful and quiet and we met the owner who checked us in and apologized for the loud group and said he was still getting the campground ready for the season. The price is the same for either spots. 

    Short walk down cheeseman road to trail entrances to McConnells Mills State Park. Short drive to hells hallow or the covered bridge. 

    Overall we had a great time and will be back!

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Tomlinson Run State Park Campground

    Camping in the trees

    Electric Site 37 - pad is pretty level, plenty for our small camper and truck, on a slight hill to get to fire ring but lots of space to spread out. You could tent but not really a flat spot. We were near the non-electric cul de sac and a neighbor right across but not on top of each other. Trees are everywhere and wonderful during the fall season. We had a big night of rain and with the wind it dried up pretty quickly.

    Camp store - small, not a lot in it but may be end of the season items only. Mostly shirts and mugs and very little snack food. The camp store staff were all very friendly and helpful and the store has limited WiFi if you stood in the right spot. There is a laundry room available there as well.

    Dump station- 2 way and potable water on the other side of it. The only place to drop your trash too.

    Trails - lots of trails to choose from. Some were pretty easy some were a little hilly. My favorite was the fern trail - lots of ferns and a very pretty stream. Hiking poles are recommended especially if it rains.

    Playground - is available for kids and a huge shelter house too.

    Firewood is $6 a bundle and burns well, no slab cut.

    Water - have to go up to entrance as the water spouts are still shut off.

    Showers - in womens the shower on the left never got warm, other two were fine. There are 4 flush toilets.

  • d
    Jul. 24, 2018

    Jamestown Campground — Pymatuning State Park

    great spot for direct kayak/canoe put in.

    We stayed in site 218. this spot is in the smaller ( less crowded) part of Jamestown campground in Pymatuning SP. it is right on the water and has an easy access area for shore fishing and entering a kayak or canoe or some other water device. the site sits on a little bay and the otherside (more crowded) of the campground is across the water. the water is a little murky/ grassy but still good entry area. the campsite was spacious for a pa state park. the site is between the lake and the road. sites 212-222 look to be on the water with boat access, but 218 has the easiest entry. 220’s picnic Bench and fire pit sit next to the water with great views, but there is little shade. 218 had a great shady spot were you can hang 3 hammocks. there is no electricity at these sites and pretty much tent only. lots of tent space. the fire ring was decent but we moved it as it was right underneath a burnt tree. 218 was ADA accessible with a nice picnic table. restrooms were fairly close. clean... outdated, but clean.

  • Britt B.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Breakneck Campground

    Perfect Spot to Explore McConnell's Mill

    Breakneck is a private campground on the edge of the McConnell’s Mill State Park. They offer RV sites, tent camping and cabins. The tent camping is either grassy, flat sites or on an elevated timber platform overlooking a gorge. They also offer walk-in tent sites down by the creek which are beautiful. 

    We were lucky enough to be able to to camp down by the stream. There are designated fireplaces. It is quite a walk up the hill to the campground amenities, but worth it to feel secluded down by the creek. From our campsite we walked along the creek into McConnells Mill State Park and joined the covered bridge trail. Approx. 30min walk along the creek down into McConnells Mill State Park. 

    The campground sells firewood and has great amenities. Note: there is no phone reception at the tent sites by the creek. They welcome fury friends!

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2022

    Mill Creek Camping — Berlin Lake Wildlife Area

    Beautiful but no peace and quiet

    Camp hosts were amazing and our spot was large and pretty. Our neighbors however were absolutely obnoxious. Just screaming obscenities nearly the whole time and were definitely drinking even though no alcohol is allowed in the park. Rangers drive by very frequently yet do absolutely nothing even after quiet hours start. Maybe it's not always like this but I may never return because of it. I want a nice quiet and relaxing time not put up with screaming drunks and kids. Also there was so much traffic constantly!

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 24, 2022

    Shenango Campground

    Huge COE

    After getting off I80, our RV GPS wanted to take us on a wonky route, so we followed Waze and the campground’s(CG) web instructions that took us across the causeway on N. Hermitage Rd, then a right turn off on Birchwood Rd, which led us to take a left turn back across N. Hermitage Rd to get back to the Shenango Rec Area turn. Once we got to the CG, check in was quick and very easy. Just happened, our next door neighbor/camp host checked us in and told us we could get water off their site so we proceeded straight to site 199 that’s a back in with electric(50/30 AMP) only plus one of the better spaced sites in the CG. We had to maneuver a couple of times to get into the 90 degree site but the road was wide with no obstacles to prevent swinging into the site. We quickly found out that our 50 AMP connection had issues and after reporting it, a maintenance crew came within 20 minutes and fixed a bad breaker. We got 3 bars on Verizon and a handful of OTA channels. Due to the amount of mature trees, satellite would be iffy depending on your site. There are no FHU sites(camp host sites have electric& water). Electric sites are centrally grouped within the loops and spaced closer together than most COEs. The majority of the sites within this CG are dry camping and they too are fairly close together. The sites right on the lake were all dry camping. With all the dry camping sites in this CG, its nice that they allow generator use during non quiet hours. Quiet hours here are 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. There are water spigots periodically located within the loops and the CG map identifies where they are. There’s also a two-lane dump station located near the entrance but there is no potable water. There are signs stating no alcohol in the park, but people were openly drinking. We also noted that the contractors who clean the restroom/shower facilities start early in the morning and close the facility while cleaning, which was inconvenient for the dry campers just waking up. If we were to stay at this CG again, we’d come during the week and get a dry camping site on the water.

  • K
    Jun. 25, 2021

    Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

    Quiet and Beautiful

    This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning. You need to be careful when booking, especially if you are trying to pitch a tent, as some sites are quite sloped. Our site was huge and right next to the water spigot.

  • C
    Jun. 28, 2021

    Jamestown Campground — Pymatuning State Park

    Another trip to Jamestown Campground

    My family has visited Pymatuning park many times now and try have used a variety of spots at Jamestown campground. It is large, offering multiple options for campsite types. It’s a standard PA state park campground offering bathrooms (bathrooms are older, but are being renovated July-August 2021) showers, fire ring, picnic table, etc. Campsites J-106 thru J-116 are well shaded, but are alongside route 322 which maintains consistent traffic at all hours. If the noise is not an issue, this run of tent sites are well spaced, and offer easy access to the facilities. To be away from the road (and nearer to the lake) sites J-120 thru J-128 are closer together but can be quieter (depending on your neighbors…)

    The beach area is clean, and raked often. It has a playground and volleyball court. On Friday’s they have a family movie night at the amphitheater. Most Saturdays in the summer they offer crafts and activities for kids at the beach.

    The surrounding area also has plenty of activities to offer: Local restaurants, ice cream, hiking, kayaking/boating, fishing, etc.

  • M
    May. 31, 2024

    Jamestown Campground — Pymatuning State Park

    Pymatuning Jamestown

    Quiet park. Some road noise from campsite J100 but US route 322 is lightly traveled. Typical tent site with fire ring and picnic table. Across street from bath house with shower and toilet which was clean.


Guide to Portersville

Tent campsites near Portersville, Pennsylvania offer opportunities for both primitive and established camping within the forested ridges of western Pennsylvania. The region sits at elevations between 900-1,400 feet with mixed hardwood forests dominating the landscape. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F, while spring and fall camping seasons often see overnight lows in the 40s, requiring appropriate gear for comfortable tent camping.

What to do

Explore historic ruins: At Mountain View Camps, campers can access nearby game lands with interesting remnants of the past. One visitor notes, "explore the ruins on the game lands, and might even see an albino fawn," indicating the blend of historical features and wildlife viewing opportunities available to campers.

Cycle the GAP trail: The Great Allegheny Passage trail provides access to tent camping at Dravo's Landing Campground, a popular stop for cyclists. Lauren C. describes it as a "Free bike-in camp site with water access along the Youghiogheny River" and mentions its proximity to "an old cemetery which is useful in telling ghosts stories around the campfire."

Mountain biking: Active campers staying at Mountain View Camps can access local trails for mountain biking. Richard C. recommends to "Hit the mountain bike track" as part of the camping experience, mentioning it's "close to hiking trails and fishing spots" for those seeking variety in outdoor activities.

What campers like

Riverside camping: Many tent sites in the region offer direct access to waterways. At Danner Primitive Campground, Casey L. observed that "There are 8 sites spread out along the edge of the river, some being closer together than others. They are level and clear... A few of the sites had stairs to the water for paddler access."

Group accommodations: Dravo's Landing Campground receives positive feedback for its spaciousness. Sarah Q. reports, "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. We made friends with a few other folks who were stopping at Dravo during their bike trips along the GAP."

Friendly hosts: Campers at Quiet and Secluded appreciate the reception they receive upon arrival. Tom J. states, "Host was very accommodating. Great time," while another camper notes being "welcomed kindly by the owner Bill" despite arriving late.

What you should know

Limited campground access: Several tent sites require physical effort to reach. Danner Primitive Campground requires a commitment to access, as Casey L. explains: "This is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."

Food storage concerns: Wildlife can be active at night at some campgrounds. Sarah Q. warns about camping at Dravo's Landing: "Just be sure to secure your food overnight - if you don't, the raccoons will make quick work of it!"

Permit requirements: Extended stays at Danner Primitive Campground require proper documentation. As one camper clarifies, "This is meant more to be a stop along a paddling or hiking trip than a destination camping trip - you must get a permit to stay more than one night. They are first come first serve."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Portersville, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Portersville, PA is Quiet and Secluded with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Portersville, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Portersville, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.