Raystown Lake sits at 760 feet elevation in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, covering 8,300 acres with 118 miles of shoreline. The lake's narrow, serpentine shape creates numerous secluded coves for camping, with water temperatures reaching 80°F in summer. Several campgrounds around the lake offer sites within walking distance of the water.
What to do
Hiking at Trough Creek State Park: Located just minutes from Raystown Lake, this park features extensive hiking trails through forested terrain. "The trails are nice and very scenic," notes a visitor to Trough Creek State Park Campground. Another camper mentions, "The area is gorgeous and there are a ton of trails to check out."
Mountain biking on Allegrippis Trails: Access premier mountain biking directly from Ridge Camp at Seven Points. "From the entrance of the camp loop there is a trail head! The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack," explains a reviewer. Another cyclist notes, "With the many bike trails in Seven Points, there were a lot of adult mountain bike riders."
Fishing in secluded coves: Multiple coves around Raystown Lake provide excellent fishing spots. "The pristine lake features numerous coves and inlets perfect for exploring by kayak or paddleboard." A visitor at Susquehannock Campground mentions, "Raystown lake is incredible for fishing and swimming and the campsites were nice."
What campers like
Natural privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded camping experiences. At Susquehannock, "We could not see any of our neighbors, but could still hear them (which isn't a problem for us)." The campground features waterfront sites with good separation: "Most of the campsites are on a slight slope but they're still bearable. Also a lot of them are waterfront sites which is convenient for swimming in summer!"
Clean facilities throughout: Visitors frequently mention the cleanliness of amenities. At Lake Raystown Resort and Lodge, "The amenities are great and located centrally in each section of the park. Lots of trees which adds to the privacy of the sites." Similarly, a camper at Seven Points notes, "Ridge has a laundromat at only 25¢/load. Also, the restroom at Ridge has 4 shower stalls which were very clean with hot water at a great water pressure."
Water-based recreation options: Numerous glamping close to Raystown Lake offers immediate water access. "The lake is beautiful and sunsets from the campground are stunning. There is a sandy beach which is perfect for swimming," writes a Lake Raystown Resort visitor. Another camper shares, "There's a marina, beach area with snack bar, and lots of swimming areas all around the lake."
What you should know
Site selection matters significantly: At Shawnee State Park Campground, "There are a fair amount of awkwardly-placed sites that sit on a hill and are difficult to place a tent, equipment or gear." Similarly, many campgrounds feature varied terrain: "Sites across the way were on the water. They had cement pads only as wide as your rv/tt but then the surrounding grass dropped off sharply."
Reserve waterfront sites early: Waterfront sites book quickly, especially during summer. "We wanted a waterfront site but even trying to reserve the first day we could for this weekend, they were all taken," notes a camper. At Susquehannock, "There aren't many waterfront sites, so book early."
Limited connectivity: Many campgrounds have minimal cell service. At Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground, "There is little to no phone service here and it's not super close to town, so come prepared." Similarly, at Trough Creek, campers report "absolutely 0 cell service" with Verizon.
Tips for camping with families
Look for parks with multiple recreation options: Friendship Village Campground offers extensive family amenities. "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing," reports one family. Another mentions, "There are many playgrounds spread out across the property as well as a jumping pillow and a very well-built gaga ball pit."
Consider lake proximity and safety: At Seven Points, some loops are more family-friendly than others. "With the slope, however be aware of the kids and adults riding around on bicycles and skateboards." Another camper notes, "Once you go up the hill to sites above #231, it gets very steep and far away from the water. Probably not too safe for kids on bikes."
Check swimming options: Many campgrounds offer swimming areas beyond the main beach. "There is a nice little restaurant inside the resort if you need to eat. The swimming beach that wasn't crowded on Labor Day weekend," notes a Seven Points reviewer. At Crooked Run Campground, families appreciate that it "has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. Bmx track for kids."
Tips from RVers
Ridge Camp at Seven Points works well for RVs: The elevation can be challenging for some sites, but Ridge offers good options. "We pulled into Ridge Camp (RCAM on Recreation.gov) and drove a little bit down a hill to our site. One backup attempt into the site and it was perfectly level...that was definitely a first for us." Another RVer notes, "Our site in Ridge, along with most others from #6-24 were very well shaded."
Dumping facilities vary widely: Seven Points offers exceptional services. "On our way out, we visited the dump station again and got in one of the 4 lanes with no wait. The dump station, as noted above had wide lanes and made the experience an easy and clean one." Meanwhile, other campgrounds may have more limited facilities.
Site length verification is essential: Campgrounds often have varied site lengths. "A Monday in mid-October had many open sites. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20' to 115'."
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