Camping near Saxton, PA

Camping near Saxton, Pennsylvania centers around Raystown Lake, the largest lake contained entirely within Pennsylvania at 8,300 acres with 118 miles of shoreline. The region sits in the Ridge and Valley section of the Appalachian Mountains, with campground elevations ranging from 760 to 900 feet. Most campgrounds in the area have limited cell service, with stronger signals typically available at higher elevation sites.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Susquehannock Campground, campers can fish directly from their waterfront sites without a license. "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 the summer," notes one visitor.

Mountain biking: The Seven Points campground provides direct access to the Allegrippis Trail system, rated highly by mountain bikers. "This upper loop is also the quietest of the loops and although there were still plenty of boaters in the camp there were just as many bikers," explains a reviewer. "The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack."

Hiking exploration: Trough Creek State Park offers multiple scenic hiking trails leading to unique natural features. The Leaning Rock trail takes hikers above a creek to see an unusual geological formation. One visitor describes it as "a huge rock that appears ready to fall over the cliff with a simple touch. Very neat."

Swimming options: Several swimming areas exist around Raystown Lake beyond the main beach areas. "The lake is so clean and refreshing and we have such beautiful views from our camp site. We went down to the swim beach and our kiddo made sand castles and swam in the clear water," reports a family who stayed at Seven Points.

What campers like

Waterfront camping: Many campers prefer lakeside sites for direct water access. At Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA at Four Seasons, visitors appreciate the proximity to water recreation. "Great campground, Great people, super clean, the staff goes out of their way to ensure that you feel welcome!" notes one camper.

Peace and quiet: Some campgrounds offer more seclusion than others. Ridge Camp at Seven Points draws visitors seeking a quieter experience. "Ridge camp is the furthest away from the marina and the public swimming area. However it's the closest to the Allegrippis Trail system and from the entrance of the camp loop there is a trail head!"

Maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention cleanliness as a key factor. "Bathrooms are Soo nice... Staff was wonderful and just a great campground," writes a visitor to Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA. Another notes, "They have recently remodeled the bathrooms/showers (3 of the 4 look brand new), and the pool has been crystal clear."

Winter accessibility: While many campgrounds close during winter months, Shawnee State Park Campground remains open year-round. The park features a 293-acre lake that freezes over during winter, offering ice fishing opportunities when conditions permit.

What you should know

Site specifications: Many campgrounds have challenging terrain. At Lake Raystown Resort, one camper noted: "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. Very dangerous as you barely had enough room to walk around your unit."

Reservation timing: Waterfront sites are the most sought-after and fill quickly. "We wanted a waterfront site but even trying to reserve the first day we could for this weekend, they were all taken," reports a camper at Seven Points. For summer weekends, booking 6-11 months in advance is often necessary.

Access limitations: Some campgrounds have restricted access. Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground is only accessible by boat, creating a unique camping experience. "These campsites are accessible by boat ONLY! They are in an area of the lake that has a lot of boat traffic, the waterfront spots usually book a few weeks in advance."

Water conditions: Boat traffic can affect campsites near the water. "Expect to be woken by bass boats and subsequent wake at sunrise," warns a Susquehannock camper. Another mentions: "The speedboats on the lake make quite a lot of noise."

Tips for camping with families

Playground availability: Friendship Village Campground offers multiple play areas. "There are many playgrounds spread out across the property as well as a jumping pillow and a very well-built gaga ball pit," notes one reviewer. Another adds, "There is 3 play grounds all different and all well kept."

Organized activities: Some campgrounds schedule regular family-friendly events. "We went camping here for Halloween 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," describes a visitor to the newly renamed Timber Run Campground (formerly Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA).

Best family sites: Specific areas within campgrounds may better suit families with children. At Friendship Village, one visitor recommends: "For big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500. In my opinion, 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."

Swimming beaches: Many families appreciate the designated swimming areas. "We took a drive around through the other six campgrounds and decided Point was our favorite, but obviously crowded because it is right on the lake," notes a Seven Points camper.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Many RVers mention leveling issues at campgrounds around Saxton. At Cowans Gap State Park Campground, visitors note: "The tent pads could use some leveling and there was some trash around the site." Similarly at Trough Creek State Park, an RVer reports, "Nice small park with gravel drives/roads and plenty of room for big rigs. All sites level with partial shade."

Utility connections: Several campgrounds offer full hookups, but availability varies by loop. "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 (according to our LevelMatePRO app) it was perfectly level...that was definitely a first for us," shares an RVer at Seven Points.

Navigation considerations: Some campground roads present challenges for larger rigs. At Shawnee State Park Campground, a camper observed, "As we drove through the rest of the RV park area we noted that many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them."

Limited cell service: RVers requiring connectivity should be aware of service limitations. At Trough Creek State Park, a visitor mentioned, "No cell service at all, nor OTA TV." Similarly at Cowans Gap, "Cell service was limited, but had reliable (but low) signal with T-Mobile at my site."