Best Tent Camping near Selinsgrove, PA

Tent campsites near Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania are concentrated in several state parks and forests within a 30-mile radius. Shikellamy State Park offers walk-in tent sites along the Susquehanna River, while Ravensburg State Park Campground provides more developed tent camping options with 14 tent-only sites situated in a wooded valley setting. Both locations maintain primitive tent setups that appeal to campers seeking natural surroundings.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to vault toilets or restroom facilities. Ravensburg State Park operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations required, making it accessible for spontaneous weekend trips. Sites typically include raised tent pads to keep sleeping areas dry during wet weather. Drinking water is available at central locations throughout most campgrounds, though campers should bring their own supply during shoulder seasons when water systems may be winterized. The camping season generally runs from April through October, with some locations closing earlier depending on weather conditions.

The tent camping experience in this region offers genuine seclusion despite proximity to towns. "It's rarely busy and the bushes and trees between sites make it feel very private," noted one visitor about Ravensburg State Park. Tent sites at Reeds Gap State Park provide access to Honey Creek with opportunities for fishing and wading. Many locations feature dense tree cover providing ample shade during summer months. Several campgrounds in Tiadaghton and Bald Eagle State Forests offer more remote tent camping experiences with fewer amenities but greater solitude. Walk-in tent sites at Shikellamy provide views of the river valley, though feedback indicates some sites are positioned relatively close to roadways. Most tent campgrounds connect to hiking trail networks, making them suitable basecamps for day hikes or longer backpacking routes through Pennsylvania's forested landscapes.

Best Tent Sites Near Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania (27)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Selinsgrove, PA

644 Reviews of 27 Selinsgrove Campgrounds


  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Locust Lake State Park Campground

    Serenity on the lakes

    Pretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.

  • Joann&WellsThePup I.
    Jul. 14, 2021

    Penn Roosevelt State Park Campground

    Quiet camping

    Beautiful primitive campground (tent only). Get a site on the outside towards the water. They are spaced out and peaceful. Has restrooms (no shower), picnic table, and fire pit at each site. Short walk to creek and beautiful pond.

  • Cam N.
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park

    Watch for trains

    I throughly enjoyed my time at Bald Eagle State Park. We stayed at a tent site, I believe 58 in the rustic camping section. The rustic section was located around a large loop with each site ranging in a few feet from the car-friendly loop to about the 50 foot walk where our site was located. While this is a primitive site, planning ahead you can place yourself near the vault toilets. If there was running water in the bathrooms– we didn’t find it! There are several water pumps located around the loop and we used that for washing dishes. Our site had space for two tents with a nice fire ring and picnic table. The fire ring was actually one of the best I have experienced– featuring a grill grate with adjustable levels for exposure to heat. The site also had a hook for keeping food or garage elevated from critters. Hammock lovers: we had plenty of trees to easily string our hammock near the picnic table/fire ring. Now the trains. An active railroad sits about 75 feet away from several of the rustic sites. We noticed the 7 p.m. train on Saturday evening. What we didn’t expect was being awoken at 5 a.m. to a freight train blowing through full steam– really gets your heart pumping– did not need coffee that morning. The rustic area also has access to a trail that loops about two miles near the lake and rustic campground. It was a fun place!

  • Rick W.
    Aug. 15, 2022

    Colonel Denning State Park Campground

    Tent camping sites

    Walk in sites have picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are level and smooth. Showers and restrooms are close to sites. Strongly recommend...

  • V
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Knoebels Campground

    Clean, quiet, inexpensive, fun place to camp!

    Knoebels campground is situated next to Knoebels amusement park and offers sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as cabins.

    There is electricity at every site but not water. There are fill stations throughout the campgrounds. Most sites are level and shaded. There are nice sturdy wooden platforms for tent campers.

    The bath houses are clean and well maintained. There are outside sinks with mirrors, laundry facilities, shower stalls, and toilet stalls. Or if you prefer there are also traditional bathrooms with showers.

    Quiet hours are enforced between 10p and 8a.

    Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Wood is available by the bucket near the check in building. Sites are inexpensive and are all a short walk, or free shuttle ride, to the park!.

  • T
    Aug. 18, 2022

    Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

    Impromptu trip that we don’t regret!

    This trip was a bit impromptu so we assume most of the good sites were picked over. The site we stayed at was the perfect size for two people, not the biggest site in the campground but we had a bit of a buffer between our neighbors so we weren’t on top of other people. We were located at a bit heavily trafficked area because we were near the entrance of the campground and the restrooms. The state park was beautiful and had a lot of things to do. I recommend doing the Falls trail and to get onto Lake Jean. They have a concessions by Lake Jean that doesn’t only sell food and drinks but some ice and bundle of wood. Definitely bring a hammer because it’s near impossible to stake down your tent by hand because the turf is hard. Would definitely come again and do the primitive group camp option if I can. No cell service (Verizon) but if you drive 10 miles north up towards Lopez we were able to get a signal. This was a nice way to end summer!

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    Russell P Letterman Campground — Bald Eagle State Park

    Park Mowers Trashed Our Campsite

    PROS

    Senior discount $18 

    Able to reserve 334 days prior to arriving

    Campground quiet but can hear PA 150 road noise 

    Great night sky viewing 

    Nice privacy from side neighbor's campsite 

    Asphalt parking pad 

    Large gravel around pad to include firepit and utility hook up 

    Grass around gravel, but was mid-calf high 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon arrival 

    Lantern pole 

    8 miles off of Interstate 80 

    Firewood for sale at the campground; $6 bundle 

    Park is good proximity to Penn State University and Central Pennsylvania 

    Country Pride Restaurant Milesburg (TA truck stop off of Interstate 80) has some terrific food! 

    4 bars Verizon 

    CONS

    $6.50 reservation fee for self made online reservation 

    One day while away from our campsite, park personnel mowed  mid-cafe high grass at and around our site and the mowers threw grass all over our table with a table cloth, chairs, trailer, driveway...you name it...it was covered with grass. Why the mowers didn’t direct the mowed grass AWAY from our items is beyond me. What a mess!!! 

    Check-in clerk at park office was disturbed we checked in with her. Told us just to go to site. Could not tell us if site was vacated. We had to ask for a park map and directions to campground/campsite since this was first time visiting 

    Site MO45 unlevel from side to side 

    Site MO45 NO shade as was the case with most of the FHU campsites

    Metal frame wood top table in bad condition 

    Need pathway from upper campsite to toilet/shower building…have to wade thru mid-calf high grass if you don’t walk on the roadway 

    Toilet/shower facility lit up like a Christmas tree 

    Toilet/shower facility cleaned on Wednesdays only, according to sign on door 

    No WiFi

  • J
    Sep. 19, 2021

    Poe Paddy State Park Campground

    Great little campground

    I’ve stayed here twice for camping trips. It’s a great small campground that has basic amenities. The experience is likely highly site dependent, as there are a few distinct areas to stay depending on your needs and luck. There is NO cell service and park rangers do “rounds” but aren’t stationed at the site. There are a couple of water pumps, several well-maintained pit toilets, and an emergency phone. It’s about 20-30 min to gas. There’s no camp store here but about 3.5 miles away at Poe Valley there’s a store, real bathrooms and showers, kayaking rentals, etc. There’s a guy that sells firewood just past Poe Valley. The Poe Paddy sites I prefer are well-shaded, fairly large, surrounded by trees, and private (but you’ll be able to hear a couple neighbors). Dogs are only allowed in the RV loop, which is intense gravel, so be sure you have a good sleeping pad if you’re tent camping. The campground is in the middle of the dense Bald Eagle State Forest with lots of hiking opportunities. The creek that runs through Poe Paddy is awesome for wading and people also tube it when conditions are right. Get a Purple Lizard map for best enjoyment of the area.

  • Danielle
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Bald Eagle State Forest

    Dispersed Site #13; Pretty, loud, not accessible for pop up campers

    Husband and I set off for a weekend of boon docking at Bald Eagle State Forest in our little pop up camper. We stayed at site #13, which is a dispersed site- not in the campground. 

    Picture a lovely large, round grassy meadow surrounded by trees at the end of a long gravel road. Picnic table, fire ring, one pretty tree in the center, and a babbling brook down below the site. It looks so perfect! Now picture large boulders preventing any wheeled vehicle (including a light little pop up) from rolling into said field. Add in that the I-80 interstate is so close that you can see trucks through the trees in some places- not to mention hear them all.night.long. Would we camp here again? Nope. We would not. Would this be right for some? Probably yes- especially tent campers, loud groups, and those who feel safer with road noise in the background. 

    This site was not listed as"tent only", and I suppose being able to set up on the gravel road did work. But I was majorly bummed we couldn't set up at the back of the actual site itself. The road set up was not nearly as nice. You can see in my photos the size of the site, and the boulders, and where we ended up setting up. 

    I will also mention that the road getting here involved a hairpin turn (from Long Run Rd. onto Ransaires Rd.) that large set ups would not be able to make. We made it work and we had a great trip.

    Not what we expected, but we still had a good time. We will try again at Bald Eagle State Forest, but would not choose this site again.


Guide to Selinsgrove

Tent campsites near Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania range from roadside sites to more developed forest campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The region sits in the Ridge and Valley section of the Appalachian Mountains with elevations between 400-2,000 feet, creating varied camping conditions throughout the season. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, limiting camping availability at most locations to the warmer months.

What to do

Creek exploration: Reeds Gap State Park offers access to Honey Creek where visitors can wade or fish for native and stocked trout. "There's a nice creek that rund through it, picnic pavilions and a playground for the kids! They used to have a swimming pool but they removed it a few years ago," notes Rebecca G.

Hammock lounging: The dense forest canopy at many sites provides ideal hammock setups. "There are plenty of trees that are good for hammocking. And in a few sites, you can set them up right by the creek, which is my favorite part," reports Laura about Ravensburg State Park.

Hiking options: Several parks connect to trail systems of varying difficulty. "There is a trail head near the entrance of the park for hikers and a geocache showed up close to the trail on a road on my geocache tracker if you are into that," mentions Paula L. about Reeds Gap State Park.

Digital detox: Limited cell service creates natural disconnection from technology. "Put your phone away cuz there's no cell service here! Nice and peaceful with a dozen or so tent only sites," says Danielle C. about her camping experience at Reeds Gap.

What campers like

Roadside access: Many state forest sites provide convenient drive-up camping. Eastville Roadside Campsites and Hickernell Roadside Campsites in Bald Eagle State Forest offer accessible tent camping locations without requiring extensive hiking.

Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower facilities receive positive feedback at established campgrounds. "Bathroom with hot showers is nearby. One shower stall in each bathroom and the showers had a large dressing area," reports Cheryl K. about her stay at Reeds Gap State Park.

Self-registration convenience: Many campgrounds offer straightforward check-in processes. "Stayed here on a Sunday night without a reservation. We were the only ones there. Pay by honor system at the park office," mentions Cheryl K. about Ravensburg State Park, where first-come, first-served camping simplifies weekend plans.

Stream sounds: Creek-side campsites provide natural white noise, though some find it surprising. "The nature noise here is loud. If you camp on the sites by the river, be prepared for lots of noise from the rapids," cautions Sarah C. about her Ravensburg experience.

What you should know

Directional challenges: GPS often fails to provide accurate directions to campgrounds. "Park is easily accessible from I-80, just be aware of your directions and make sure they're taking you to the park via Rocky Road. Mine did not, and I ended up down a seasonal road that did not end at the park entrance," warns Sarah C. about Fourth Gap Road Sites.

Road noise: Some sites experience traffic sounds despite forest settings. "Only issue is the campgrounds are close to the road and therefore are loud at night occasionally," notes Andrew G. about his Ravensburg experience, while another camper mentions, "a few of them are pretty close to the road - not like it's terribly busy."

Tent pad conditions: Many sites include raised platforms that may restrict larger tents. "They have tent pads which are nice but we have a 10x20 tent so we pick a site that the pad is flush with the surrounding ground," explains Traci F.

Seasonal maintenance: Humidity affects site conditions throughout the season. "It's very humid so many picnic tables have green moss," reports Becky about her July visit to Ravensburg State Park.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Shikellamy State Park offers both camping and playground facilities. "2 parking lots and 2 trails. A pavilion and playground with many picnic tables also available," notes Alec P.

Bathroom proximity: Consider site location relative to facilities when camping with children. "Bathhouses were a little far away," mentions John Z. about Reeds Gap State Park, potentially important for families with younger children.

Educational opportunities: Stream access provides nature learning experiences. "Pearl Hunting...For example the beautiful stream (Honey Creek) running through it might be the pearl for a fisherman (It has native and stocked trout). Or the playground might be the pearl for a mom or dad," explains Paula L.

Weather preparedness: Valleys experience different temperature and moisture conditions than surrounding areas. "You will be driving down into the valley, which can feel very steep at times," says Sarah C., where temperature differences of 5-10 degrees from nearby towns are common.

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: Most forest camping areas accommodate tents only, with minimal RV options. Elimsport CCC Campground in Tiadaghton State Forest offers tent-only sites that might accommodate small trailers but lacks hookups or dump stations.

Seasonal road conditions: Forest service roads accessing campsites deteriorate during wet seasons. "I ended up down a seasonal road that did not end at the park entrance," warns one camper about navigating to campgrounds during shoulder seasons.

Transaction fees: Some first-come, first-served sites still require payment processing. "First come first serve but still had to pay transaction fee! which was annoying for our one night stay as if rather the state parks get that," mentions Becky about her Ravensburg experience.

Alternative parking: Larger vehicles may require creative solutions at smaller campgrounds. "We got a nice one tucked back in the trees," notes Danielle C. about finding suitable tent sites when larger vehicles cannot access camping areas directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Selinsgrove, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Selinsgrove, PA is Shikellamy State Park Campground with a 3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Selinsgrove, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Selinsgrove, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.