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Christopher P.
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TravelerBig Run State Park Campground
Generous sized sites, quiet, beautiful area.
Equestrian Camping near Schellsburg, PA
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Shawnee State Park Campground near Schellsburg allows pets but lacks specific horse corrals or dedicated equestrian facilities. The 319-site campground accommodates a variety of camping styles including tent, RV, cabin, glamping, and yurt options. The park reeks of horse manure 24/7 despite no formal equestrian amenities, suggesting nearby horse activity. Electric hookups are available at select sites, though many campers note the campground's awkward layout with several sites positioned on hills, making level placement challenging for both tents and trailers. The campground features clean restrooms, showers, a sanitary dump station, and fire rings at each site.
The park's trail system includes routes suitable for casual riding around the 451-acre lake, though no designated bridle trails are mentioned in visitor reports. Located approximately 10 minutes from Pennsylvania Turnpike exit, this campground provides reasonable access for vehicles with horse trailers, though no specific horse trailer parking areas are designated. The lake offers swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities for non-riding activities. For horse owners seeking dedicated equestrian camping, alternative locations with proper corrals and designated equestrian campsites may better serve their needs. The noise from the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike is audible throughout most of the campground, potentially affecting horses sensitive to traffic sounds.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Schellsburg (4)
1. Shawnee State Park Campground
"Foggy mornings are the best in the beautiful forest near Schellsburg historical sites. Nice lake too. Easy access from the PA Turnpike."
"Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."
106 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
2. Big Run State Park Campground
"The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $55 / night
3. Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
"This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. Vagabond Isle
Check Availabilityfrom $100 - $150 / night
Drive Time
- 36 min from Altoona, PA
- 41 min from Johnstown, PA
- 1 hr 14 min from Hagerstown, MD
- 1 hr 18 min from Chambersburg, PA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Schellsburg, PA
36 Reviews of 4 Schellsburg Campgrounds
Nancy B.
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
- SScott I.Traveler
Rothrock Roadside Campsites — Rothrock State Forest
Nice spot to camp in the mountains
First I'll just say that the Rothrock campsites should probably each be listed separately, rather than as a group; they are very spread out throughout the State Forest and each is a different experience. This review will be for site 002 Colerain Road.
This site is accessed by driving up a bit of a winding dirt road up the mountain. It's easy enough during the summer, though the road is narrow and you've got some sharp bends depending on which way you come from. This road is not safe to access in the winter in my opinion.
The parking is just right off the road, and there's a picnic table and large stone fire ring near the parking. There's a small path further up the hill into the woods where there is a tent pad, another fire ring and another picnic table. There are also a lot of flat spots nearby for additional tents to be set up.
Just behind the upper tent site is the top of the mountain, and the site has their own private overlook to the valley below. The site is pretty remote, though there were vehicles and the occasional biker coming up the road. Traffic may have been busier than usual the weekend we went because there was the Mid Atlantic Overland festival nearby at the same time. At one point a family parked in the campsite's parking to start a walk... (there's a better trailhead up closer to Indian Lookout they should have used).
No hookups, water, bathrooms, etc; its fully primitive camping here. Cell coverage was fine on Xfinity Mobile (Verizon).
These sites used to be totally free but they're now $10 a night. You still need to book a while out if you want to be here on a weekend, especially during the fall when Penn State is playing.
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Double check site booked
We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35’ TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.
Lee D.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Huge state park
General: 300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do.
Site Quality: Varies by type and location within the park. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. 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’ Most of the non-electric sites had no definable pads at all and as mentioned, were not level. Some roads in the campground were paved but a few were not.
Bath/Shower House: was clean. Did not use the shower.
Activities: A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season.
As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise. This was just an overnight stay for us. We’ve been to many stellar Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but this one was not as good as many others.
- JJennifer R.
ScoutShawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Rick G.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Met our Needs Perfectly
Booked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
- KKatie H.Scout
Big Run State Park Campground
Great primitive campsite
This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals
Christina V.
GuideShawnee State Park Campground
Large, accompdating campground- Quiet on the weekdays!
Shawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Guide to Schellsburg
Shawnee State Park Campground in Schellsburg offers 319 campsites spread across several loops in a wooded setting. The 451-acre lake serves as the centerpiece of this Pennsylvania state park, located approximately 10 minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Campsites vary significantly in terrain, with some positioned on hills that present leveling challenges for both tents and RVs. While formal equestrian facilities are not available at Shawnee State Park, several nearby state forests provide trail riding and primitive camping options for those seeking horse-friendly accommodations.
What to do
Lake activities: Shawnee State Park features a large lake with a sandy beach area for swimming during summer months. The lake provides multiple fishing and boating opportunities. "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating," notes Casey S. from Shawnee State Park Campground.
Hiking and biking: The trail system around the lake offers both hiking and cycling options suitable for various skill levels. "The trail around the lake was incredible for biking - highly recommended! Everything in this park and campground are extremely well marked and maintained," shares Kaley R. who camped at Shawnee State Park.
Stream exploration: At Big Run State Park Campground (about 40 miles southwest of Schellsburg), campers can enjoy stream-based activities. "Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish. So quiet and very little traffic," reports Nathan S., highlighting the natural water features common in this region of Pennsylvania and neighboring Maryland.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the size and separation between sites at regional campgrounds. "There is a ton of space between sites," notes Nathan S. about Big Run State Park Campground, located about 40 miles from Schellsburg. Similarly, at Shawnee, "The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage," according to Brittany V.
Clean facilities: The maintenance standards at campgrounds near Schellsburg receive consistent positive feedback. "Bathroom and showers were clean, bright, and there is a dish washing sink outside. Showers were push button but pressure was great and the water was hot," reports Danielle S. from Shawnee State Park.
Natural surroundings: The forested settings and water features rank high among visitor favorites. "Foggy mornings are the best in the beautiful forest near Schellsburg historical sites," shares Melanie Z. At Rothrock Roadside Campsites, Scott I. notes that some sites offer "their own private overlook to the valley below," providing unique landscape views.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Many campsites at Shawnee State Park present leveling challenges for both tents and RVs. "We heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time... Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level," explains Lee D. from Shawnee State Park.
Noise considerations: Despite feeling remote, some ambient noise exists. "As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise," reports Lee D. from Shawnee State Park. This is consistent across several campgrounds in the region due to proximity to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Seasonal variations: Facilities and services change throughout the year. "We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season," mentions Lee D. At Rothrock Roadside Campsites, Scott I. cautions that some access roads are "not safe to access in the winter in my opinion."
Tips for camping with families
Water play options: Lakes and streams provide natural entertainment for children. "The kids loved playing in the water. Very quiet and relaxing!" shares Andy C. about Big Run State Park, demonstrating the family-friendly water activities available in the region.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop" at Shawnee State Park, according to Lee D., providing an option for younger campers between nature explorations.
Site planning: Families should research site specifications carefully before booking. "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked," advises Brittany V. from Shawnee State Park.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Not all sites accommodate larger RVs despite being designated for RV use. "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," cautions Gerard from Shawnee State Park.
Hookup variations: Available utilities differ significantly between sites and campgrounds. "Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site," details Danielle S., highlighting the importance of checking specific amenities when booking.
Pull-through availability: RVers seeking easier access should target specific sites. "We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up," shares Gerard about his experience at Shawnee with a 32-foot trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Schellsburg, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Schellsburg, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Schellsburg, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Schellsburg, PA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Schellsburg, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Schellsburg, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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