Cabins near Russellton, Pennsylvania provide year-round accommodations in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania. Most locations sit at elevations between 900-1,300 feet, with the area experiencing four distinct seasons. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing from December through March, while summer months typically reach 75-85°F during daytime hours.
What to do
Fishing access: Lake Arthur: Located near Bear Run Campground, this 3,225-acre lake offers prime fishing spots for bass, muskie, and catfish. "There is a fenced dog run area and a beautiful lake. All sites have fire rings," notes a visitor.
Hiking options: McConnell's Mill trails: Breakneck Campground offers direct trail access to McConnell's Mill State Park. "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," reports a camper who stayed by the stream.
Swimming: Keystone State Park: The lake beach provides supervised swimming from late May through early September. "The park itself is gorgeous with a large lake and designated swimming area," mentions one reviewer who enjoyed the facilities during summer months.
What campers like
Platform camping: Elevated views: At Breakneck Campground, platform sites offer unique perspectives. "The tent camping is either grassy, flat sites or on an elevated timber platform overlooking a gorge," explains a camper who appreciated the different options available.
Privacy: Secluded creekside sites: Mountain Top Campground provides spacious sites around the perimeter. "It's cute. Wide open grass land with sites around the perimeter. Half a dozen of them (premium) are at the edge and have a nice view to the hills beyond," notes a visitor who enjoyed the layout.
Evening activities: Community gatherings: Many campgrounds host regular weekend events. "Every weekend there are activities, there is a heated pool and Friday night Bingo," shares a seasonal camper at Bear Run who enjoys the social atmosphere.
What you should know
Grey water options: At Mountain Top Campground, a unique grey water system helps extend stays. "Since they sit atop the mountain, the grey water hookup is a long hose that has an adapter which hooks up to your black and grey tank outlet and it runs down the hillside of the mountain into the grassy area."
Shower preparations: Bring quarters: Some facilities require coins for hot water. "Only disappointment was that the showers were coin operated, so you not only needed cash on hand but then had to turn those into special coins for the shower," warns a visitor at Mountain Top.
Campground terrain variations: Raccoon Creek State Park offers various camping areas with different attributes. "We stayed in sight 32 f loop. It is sunny so pick your spots. Clean rr's with good showers but a bit old," advises a camper who planned ahead for sun exposure.
Tips for camping with families
Playground availability: Not all campgrounds offer play equipment. A visitor to Breakneck noted, "There is no playground or activities for children," highlighting the importance of researching ahead for family amenities.
Sunday activities: Special offerings: Indian Brave Campground offers family-oriented weekend programming. "My son loves the horse rides on Sundays," mentions a regular visitor who appreciates the scheduled activities.
Swimming options: Pool vs. lake: Some families prefer one over the other. At Madison-Pittsburgh KOA, "They have a pool, fishing pond and a cloud pillow with the playground next to it," providing multiple recreation options in one location.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Be prepared with proper equipment at Smith Grove. "A lot of sites with plenty of room at each site," reports one camper, though others mention slope issues at various campgrounds in the region.
Hookup variations: Mountain Top Campground provides partial hookups with a workaround. "Since they sit atop the mountain, the grey water hookup is a long hose... your black tank should not need to be flushed for 1-2 weeks at a time! Otherwise, you can use your shower and faucets as if you were connected to a full hook-up site!"
Winter RV access: Some locations remain open year-round. "We're staying in the winter for a few nights to visit friends who live outside Pittsburgh. Friendly and cozy spot. They've done a great job in the winter despite the frigid weather by using heat tape on the spigots," notes a winter visitor to Madison-Pittsburgh KOA.
