Located approximately 35 miles east of Pittsburgh, Saltsburg sits at the confluence of the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek. The area features forested, rolling terrain within the Allegheny Plateau, with elevations ranging from 860 to 2,300 feet. Many campgrounds near Saltsburg remain open April through October, with some sites offering winter accommodations for cold-weather camping.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Yellow Creek State Park Campground features a 720-acre lake with abundant fishing opportunities. One visitor noted, "Very clean and helpful camp. Too bad the fishing isn't the best at yellow creek national park."
Hiking exploration: Ohiopyle State Park features numerous trails of varying difficulty levels surrounding the campground. A camper shared: "Great place to go white water rafting!!!" The park also connects to the Great Allegheny Passage multi-use trail.
Water activities: Silver Canoe Campground offers a small fishing lake with boat rentals. According to a recent visitor: "You can rent paddle boats or canoes to paddle around the lake." The campground maintains clean facilities and well-shaded sites.
What campers like
Privacy options: At Keystone State Park Campground, campers appreciate the hillside camping area for its seclusion. One camper explained: "There are 2 campgrounds in the park, the hillside one and the one on the lake. The hillside one doesn't get near the crowds and it set in the woods. There are some very secluded sites."
Family activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Mill Run offers extensive amenities for families. A visitor shared: "With 2 swimming pools, 4 water slides, tractor rides, fire truck rides and a train ride alongside the free activities for the kids there is always something fun to do."
Clean facilities: Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA maintains excellent bathrooms and common areas. A camper noted: "Very peaceful and friendly place, bathhouse are extremely clean." The campground also features two pools, allowing visitors to choose between relaxation and more active water play.
What you should know
Site selection: At Laurel Hill State Park Campground, site quality varies significantly between loops. A camper advised: "There are two main loops in this campground. One that is pet friendly and more of a pitch-your-tent-in-the-yard thing and another that is pet-free and wooded. We didn't realize and stayed in the first one. Dogs were barking at all hours and there's no privacy."
Reservation timing: For glamping near Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, book well in advance for summer weekends. Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season, especially for premium sites.
Seasonal considerations: Fox Den Acres Campground operates May through October with limited facilities early in the season. A visitor mentioned: "We stayed early in the season so many of the amenities were not open yet. We did watch kids fishing and pulling fish out as soon as they put their line in!!"
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Mirror Lake RV Camping & Fishing offers excellent recreational options for children. One family noted: "We had 8 kids and 8 adults who all had a blast playing on the playground, floating down the creek, swimming in the pool, riding bicycles etc."
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds offer water activities beyond just lake swimming. Consider campgrounds with pools for additional water recreation when lake conditions are unfavorable.
Creek play: Several campgrounds feature small creeks that provide safe water play for younger children. At Mirror Lake, a visitor shared: "Alot of their sites are along a small creek which the kids play in and can float down."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven sites at Laurel Hill State Park. A recent visitor advised: "All sites are gravel; most appeared level, but some did not. All sites are wooded but some have more separation than others."
Hookup placement: At Laurel Hill, electrical connections may require extra equipment. An RVer noted: "The electrical hookups are not played out well like an expensive RV park with the shared power post on the entrance side of the camper. You may want to have an extension for your power cable."
Off-season opportunities: Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA remains open year-round with winter camping available. A visitor in winter commented: "They've done a great job in the winter despite the frigid weather by using heat tape on the spigots and leaving lots of information at the office."
