Raystown Lake spans 8,300 acres as Pennsylvania's largest lake within Huntingdon County. The area sits in the Allegheny Mountains with camping options ranging from lakefront sites to wooded retreats on moderately hilly terrain. Late summer temperatures typically reach the high 80s with cooler mountain evenings, and most campgrounds near the lake offer a combination of seasonal and year-round access depending on elevation and amenities.
What to do
Fishing access points: Raystown Lake offers multiple fishing spots with convenient access from nearby campgrounds. At Honey Bear Campground, campers 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," according to Elizabeth K.
Mini golf and games: Many campgrounds feature recreation areas for family entertainment during your stay. Friendship Village Campground & RV Park offers "mini golf, fishing, and special events on weekends," as noted by Heidi K., making it ideal for families looking for on-site activities.
Outdoor recreation: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools, playgrounds, and other outdoor amenities. "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing," wrote Tasha M. about her off-season visit to Friendship Village, showing year-round recreation options.
Lake activities: Boating, swimming, and water sports are popular during summer months. Some campgrounds provide boat rentals or lake access points within a short drive. The area features multiple beach access areas for day trips from your campsite.
What campers like
Convenient lake proximity: Campers appreciate locations that balance peaceful settings with lake access. At Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA at Four Seasons, Chuck M. notes it's "a short drive to Raystown Lake in Saxton, PA which is beautiful and very big. The campground is in the middle of nowhere but if you like the outdoors, I recommend it."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent bathhouses and common areas. Aurélie F. praised Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA for its "clean and luxurious bathrooms and restrooms," which can be especially important for tent campers or those in smaller RVs.
Activity programming: Scheduled events enhance the camping experience. Paul B. shared that at Timber Run Campground, "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... On Saturday was rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party."
Attentive service: Family-owned campgrounds often provide personal attention to guests. At Honey Bear Campground, Tricia C. experienced exceptional service: "Danielle stated no problem, I will be here. On arrival we noticed the hours were till 5 pm and we apologized. Danielle stated, no problem, glad we could help and that they were also waiting for one more person."
What you should know
Site spacing and layout: Site dimensions and spacing vary significantly between campgrounds. Jonathan F. noted about Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA: "This was a nice campground! The staff were super friendly and the whole campground was tidy and clean. The only downside was that the sites were tight and not the most level but we made do."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds have limited operations during winter. "After the weekend though, all the activity slows down. There are seasonal campers that stay around, and they're constantly working on improving and fixing up sites during the week," shares Paul B. about Timber Run Campground.
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds require navigating mountain roads. Chuck M. notes that Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA "is in the middle of nowhere," which may require additional planning for provisions and travel time.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience road noise. Aaron S. mentioned that at Friendship Village, "The only thing we didn't like was all of the road noise. This campground is located by 2 major highways and truck traffic and Jake brake are constant all night long. The road noise made it hard to hear when we were sitting around the fire."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Families with children should consider campgrounds with pool facilities. Doug J. mentions that at Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA, "it still has a pool the is as clean as they come (they may have added a new liner, not sure) and they still maintain it like it is being inspected the next day."
Playground locations: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. At Timber Run Campground, Paul B. suggests, "the best sites to stay at if you have kids are sites 145–171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit."
Educational activities: Some campgrounds offer nature programs for children. Paul B. describes an experience at Timber Run: "Sunday we had pancakes and later a visit from RayCEP which is an education program that PA DNCR provides talking about various outdoorsy type things. This is primarily for kids, but we sat and listened too and our 17 year old helped out with the craft."
Bathroom proximity: For families with young children, bathroom location matters. Christopher R. suggests at Friendship Village, "For tent campers I recommend staying in the area of sites 5-25 as there is a very nice bathhouse very close by."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature hilly terrain requiring leveling equipment. Paul B. notes about 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."
Hookup configurations: Water hookups may be shared at some parks. Ernest G. observed at Western Village RV Park: "The sewer is in odd locations all around our campsite I'm excited as well as sharing the water source with or source with up to 5 other RVs."
Big rig navigation: For larger RV camping near Raystown Lake, site selection is crucial. Christopher R. advises at Friendship Village: "For big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500."
RV dealer proximity: Having repair options nearby provides peace of mind. Christopher R. mentions that at Friendship Village, "If you have any issues with your camping rig, there is a full-service RV dealership basically at the entrance to the campground where you can buy virtually anything that you may require."
