121 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Sproul, Pennsylvania region encompasses a range of camping experiences from full-service resorts to rustic tent sites, with several established campgrounds located throughout the nearby mountains and valleys. Lake Raystown Resort provides waterfront camping with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and yurts approximately 30 miles southwest of Sproul. Shawnee State Park Campground, situated about 25 miles south, offers mixed-use camping with both primitive and developed sites. Many of the area's established campgrounds, including Blue Knob State Park Campground and Prince Gallitzin State Park, feature tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, while also providing RV hookups and cabin rentals for those seeking more comfortable accommodations.
Camping seasons vary significantly across the region, with many state park campgrounds operating from April through October, while a few facilities like Friendship Village Campground remain open year-round. Access to developed campgrounds generally requires no special vehicles, though some forest roads leading to more remote sites may become challenging after rainfall. Cell service varies considerably, with stronger coverage near developed resort areas and limited connectivity in state forest campgrounds. Permits and reservations are highly recommended for weekend stays during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. A review from The Dyrt notes that "Prince Gallitzin State Park is perfect for people looking to get away from busy city life or just want to relax next to a lake. There is little to no cell service and there are some local stores/restaurants around the lake within 5-10 miles of the campground."
The mountainous terrain surrounding Sproul creates numerous opportunities for scenic camping experiences. Several visitors specifically mentioned Raystown Lake as a standout destination, with one camper noting, "The sites here are some of the nicest we have ever seen. They are all big and private with stunning views of Raystown Lake." Mixed-use campgrounds in the area typically provide amenities such as clean bathhouses with hot showers, playgrounds, and hiking trails. Campgrounds in the region vary in privacy levels, with some offering spacious, well-separated sites while others feature more closely arranged camping areas. Many campgrounds provide recreational opportunities beyond camping, including swimming beaches, boat rentals, fishing access, and extensive trail systems for hiking and mountain biking—activities frequently highlighted in positive reviews.
"it’s small, with shaded sites around the perimeter and two walk in sites just left of the entrance."
"The hiking here is really spectacular with lots of scenery, overlooks, and side trails that extend many miles out into state forest lands which are adjacent to the park."
from $20 - $108 / night
Check Availability"Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private. Has wood vending machine at entrance for firewood."
"The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride."
from $20 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Fantastic lake side camping resort. Best for campers or using their cabins but it has freeway access to the lake and beautiful views."
"Beautiful lakeside sites."
"The campground is nestled on the outskirts of Bedford Pennsylvania and is a very easy location to travel to regardless of your rig size."
"One of the best campgrounds I have stayed at so far the pond is nice and has a 1/2 mile walking path around it with trees and beaches to stop and sit dog park is big and has a place for small or large"
"It’s close to bathhouse and playground if you want those. There is parking at every bath house. There is trash receptacles at the entrance to the loop as well as firewood or sale."
"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!"
from $28 - $200 / night
Check Availability"The pavilion where all those activities happened were right next to our site (22 with the doggie den)."
"The staff here at Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA are great. They a friendly, willing to help anyway they can, and keep the place spotless."
from $100 / night
Check Availability"We had easy access to things around us but a quick walk along a path brought us to a beautiful spot by the creek. We set up camp right along the creek, as shown in our pictures."
from $25 - $50 / night
"Adjacent huge cemetery site is accessible via a goat path at the back of the campground and provided a great place to walk our dog every day."
"This campground is perfect for people who are looking to get away from busy city life or just want to relax next to a lake."
"The site was roomy enough, but next time I know to try to reserve on the outside perimeter for more room. Dogs are permitted in this area of the campground and honestly they were all well behaved."
from $20 - $57 / night
Check Availability"We wanted to be close to Raystown Lake. Trough is quiet and small. It's really great if you're looking for a spot to "rough" it (not really, but closer than most!) with the kids. Awesome sites."
"Nice small park with gravel drives/roads and plenty of room for big rigs. All sites level with partial shade. Open, but with plently of space between sites. The trails are nice and very sceinic."
from $23 - $25 / night
Check Availability
ScoutWow, the weekends were fun. They were quite a bit of people there and my kids had a good time. The weekdays were different story we were told we had to be quiet. We had a lot of craziness go on
GuideThis campground's foliage is interesting, I saw fernes growing and trees that looked older than me. I also noticed the campground has some history shown by the rust of the firepits. There is Billy's Pizza and general store which sells firewood if you go a little further down the road that maps takes you and take the second left instead of taking the first left. I think the campground also sells firewood on site. You can order Billy's Pizza and I saw them deliver to the campsites, which is amazing, havent seen that before. I'm a light sleeper and could hear truck engine braking sounds echo through the forest from the nearby highway, so the proximity to the road ruins the feeling of seclusion and the quiet. There's a restroom with a large sink outside which is nice.
TravelerThis is one of six campsites that can be reserved through PA's DCNR website. The six campsites are spread throughout the Laurel Highlands. This is the only one at Mt. Davis. We camp with three dogs, so we really appreciated the privacy. There were occasionally the sounds of distant ATVs or farm equipment, but, overall, this is a peaceful site. The campsite does not connect to the trails at Mt. Davis and there is no vault toilet here, but both vault toilets and a trailhead are just a few minutes away at the Mt. Davis picnic area. There is only one obvious tent site, so, if you need more than one tent site, you will have to get creative. The site is along a gravel road that leads to a field which you can use to walk your dogs. There are no water features here which our dogs enjoy, so that is the only reason for the 4 out of 5 stars. We will be reserving this site again!
TravelerWe stayed one night here (didn't even unhook from the truck). Arrived in the rain and were leaving early the next morning, so I didn't want to disconnect. Our gravel pad was over 6" out of level, requiring me to use leveling pads and a leveling jack to get trailer level. All the short-term gravel sites looked like they needed some love!
Campground is about 80% seasonal, and apparently has no housekeeping restrictions on residents - some sites were pretty full of old dead golf carts and various debris. Not sure I would want to stay for a destination camping experience, but it was cheap and fine for a one night stay.
TravelerThis campground (now named "Orchard Station Campground" is under new management, and is open all year (I think). They are in the process of upgrading sites with new utility lines and level gravel pads.
Owner was very friendly & helpful.
Allowed me to charge my Rivian onsite (I paid him for the extra power).
Adjacent huge cemetery site is accessible via a goat path at the back of the campground and provided a great place to walk our dog every day.
We were attending the Alleghany Ukulele Soiree at the Altoona Grand Hotel, and this was a perfect spot (less than 5 minutes away).
Will definitely return!!
TravelerWe came up here in our Roadtrek campervan. Quiet woodsy forestland. Went for a walk in the morning, lots of birdsong. A bit of road noise from the nearby highways but didn’t hear anything at night.
TravelerNice campground, level site, very clean. (Here early in season though!) $40/night. Lost a star for the long and steep incline walk to the bathrooms. Accessibility note: Careful if you have mobility issues. Many of the sites are terraced and require using steps.
TravelerI want to preface by saying that I believe this is a fairly nice and accommodating campground, it just missed the mark on some of my personal preferences this time around.
I had a two night trip the opening weekend at the Elm Loop, site 118. I actually came to this campground amidst a wind advisory, will definitely not make that mistake again because it was a beast. The grounds were easy to navigate even during the night. Putting up the tent was a bit frustrating as the tent pad was very rocky and it was difficult to get the pegs into the ground.
One of my biggest qualms was that I arrived expecting to be able to buy firewood from the camp store, especially since the provided flyers and maps listed the store being open until 9pm. I got to the store only to find out that it had been shut down last year. A bit disappointing as we couldn’t have a fire that night, would’ve been nice to know ahead of time. Thankfully firewood was available the next day but at the registration office at the entrance of the park. Not sure if they plan on opening the store again, but just be aware if you do plan to go and are expecting it to be open.
Other than that, it’s a well versed site. Plenty for any group to do. I went fishing towards the dam while the other half of my group hiked the lake trail. Bathrooms were available and in usable condition. Sites are a good distance apart, the ones along the lake are pretty. Not sure if I’d return again but it was a nice to try.
GuideTLDR: this is a horrible campsite in a horrible campground. You should reserve somewhere else and leave it open for me. ;-)
My family has a wide variety of preferences. My husband is a water guy. I'm a mountain girl. My kids want a paved campground road so they can scooter and a nearby playground. This place is all of those things - a mountain lake with paved roads and heavy on amenities.
We stayed in site 11, which has a direct path to the lake-loop trail, which is also a straight shot to the beach/playground. We were there in March, so we weren't swimming/boating, but in the summer this would be a prime spot for those reasons too. It's a liiittle far from the bath house. But we RV, so it's not a huge deal. It had a great view of lake and mountains (though once the leaves come in, probably less so).
Sites are nice and private, well spaced. The fire pit was nice and deep, which was slightly inconvenient, but is probably intended to combat the mountain winds. The campground store and other peak season amenities were closed, so I can't speak to those, but it looked like they had very nice facilities. The playground was really nice. (We didn't go onto resort/casino property)
The Sproul region's mountainous landscape stands between 1,200-2,400 feet elevation, creating distinct microclimates that affect camping seasons. Temperatures often run 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding lowland areas, with early morning fog common in late summer and fall. Campgrounds near Sproul are distributed across ridge tops and valley floors, with site selection affecting both temperature and humidity levels.
Mountain biking on Allegrippis trails: Seven Points Campground at Raystown Lake provides direct access to an extensive trail system. "The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack," notes camper Travis S. Ridge Camp, the uppermost camping loop, puts you closest to trailheads.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Crooked Run Campground offers both shoreline and boat fishing on its lake. "Great camp sites and friendly staff," reports Joseph H., adding that the park has "good trails, kayak rentals, and a private beach for the campgrounds."
Waterfront activities: Boating options range from kayaks to larger motorized vessels. "Lake Raystown Resort offers tent sites, RV Sites, cabins and hotel accommodation. The campground is relatively flat and on the shore of Lake Raystown," writes Britt B. "There is a boat hire place located on the grounds that rents pontoon boats and jet skis in season."
Hiking scenic trails: Blue Knob State Park offers varied terrain on Pennsylvania's second-highest peak. Brian S. describes it as "possibly the best car-camping in Western PA" with "really spectacular" hiking featuring "lots of scenery, overlooks, and side trails that extend many miles out into state forest lands."
Unique tent sites: Seven Points offers distinctive waterfront camping options. "The sites here are waterfront and view. Four are wide open sites with space in between," notes one reviewer. Some sites even allow for "boat tie ups right at your site so you could have both your camper/tent and boat at the same site."
Clean facilities: Friendship Village Campground maintains high standards. Christopher R. reports the campground is "very clean and family friendly" with "multiple ponds on the property" and "two pools at each end of the campground that are very well-maintained and have lifeguard supervision."
Reliable weather preparations: Blue Knob State Park campers should prepare for unique weather patterns. "Clouds blowing east from the Midwest tend to break on the mountains here at Blue Knob, so short little bursts of rainfall are frequent, and they don't always show up on weather apps," warns Brian S. "Come prepared for short rain showers, chilly air even in the summer."
Privacy options: Pat's Primitive Place offers secluded camping with creek access. Sarah C. reports: "We set up camp right along the creek. There was a mixture of rocks and sand, so we had our tent on the dirt area and the fire pit near the rocks. Right around the corner from our site was a great spot along the river for sitting out in the sun and fishing for trout."
Site topography varies significantly: Shawnee State Park Campground has varied terrain. "There are a fair amount of awkwardly-placed sites that sit on a hill and are difficult to place a tent, equipment or gear," notes Kaley R., who adds, "We ended up putting our tent basically on the neighboring site in order to string a tarp up to block the rain."
Seasonal considerations: Some campgrounds operate limited schedules. Trough Creek State Park runs from "mid April to mid December," according to their listing, while Blue Knob operates from "2nd Friday April to 3rd Sunday October." Water availability changes seasonally.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies across campgrounds. At Blue Knob, Olivia L. mentions to "be prepared for extremely limited cell service (Verizon)," while at Pat's Primitive Place, Sarah C. reports "We had great phone service at the site and nearby (Verizon)." Always check current conditions.
Reservation requirements: Seven Points fills quickly, especially waterfront sites. One camper notes, "The campground is small and fills up pretty fast, so check out an online map and book in advance." Weekend dates from May-September often book 6+ months ahead.
Playground options: Lake Raystown Resort offers numerous family-friendly amenities. Dawn N. confirms it's "Great for family park! Both RV sites and lots to rent to pitch your own tent, fishing, huge lake with beach, lots of activities for the kids throughout the summer, one of the nicest parks we have camped at! Kid and pet friendly."
Educational opportunities: Prince Gallitzin State Park provides learning activities. Nicole F. shares: "Rangers were wonderful to work with in setting up teaching opportunities for the girls. We will definitely go back." The park offers organized events throughout summer.
Recreation beyond water: Friendship Village Campground includes land-based options. Tasha M. reports: "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing." Steve K. adds there are "3 play grounds all different and all well kept."
Weather preparedness: Blue Knob's elevation means cooler temperatures. "It was chillier than surrounding areas due to being on the mountain," notes Laura. Pack extra layers even in summer months, as temperatures can drop significantly after sunset.
Site selection critical: Trough Creek sites offer varying sizes. Gary P. notes the campground has "gravel drives/roads and plenty of room for big rigs. All sites level with partial shade." However, Michael L. suggests it's "a great spot to 'rough' it (not really, but closer than most!) with the kids."
Water access points: Seven Points provides convenient water. "Water is available in the campground loop and actually tasted good enough to use for hydration needs during our rides," mentions Travis S. However, Trough Creek has had issues, with one camper reporting "water hookup was BROWN."
Dump station quality: Seven Points features exceptional facilities. "We filled up the fresh water tank at the ultra-cool 4 lane dump station. The signage was very well marked and the fresh water spigot was more like a little tank, super-solid, clean and modern," Tim J. explains. This facility allows multiple RVs to service simultaneously.
Leveling challenges: Shawnee State Park requires careful site selection. Lee D. advises: "I 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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Sproul, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Sproul, PA is Blue Knob State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.
Keep Exploring
