Cabins near State College, Pennsylvania range from primitive to fully equipped with variable access to electricity, plumbing, and heating options. Located in the Appalachian Mountain region where elevations range from 800 to 2,600 feet, most cabin facilities experience four distinct seasons with winter temperatures routinely dropping below freezing. Many park cabins require campers to navigate unpaved roads and varying terrain to reach their accommodations.
What to do
Kayaking and fishing: Black Moshannon State Park offers water activities on its distinctive dark-colored lake. "Nice campground with quiet 250 acre lake for kayaking. Good birding," notes Matthew U. about the park's water recreation options. The lake's unusual coloration comes from natural elements. "Red Mo has nice campground, wooded sites... The Iron Ore mines from the past have left the creek water stained red which is why its called the Red Mo with the locals," explains Travis S.
Hiking access: Multiple trails connect directly to cabin areas at Bald Eagle State Park. "Beautiful campground, nice hiking trails and a beautiful lake. Clean grounds and bath houses," shares Chris G. The park provides varied terrain for different hiking abilities.
Wildlife viewing: Waterside Campground (formerly Locust Campground) provides riverside cabin options with natural observation opportunities. "Absolutely beautiful if you are riverside. Staff was friendly and helpful. Typical overall, but clean and pretty. Stay on the waterside! Sites 48-53," recommends Matthew S. The riverside setting attracts various wildlife species.
What campers like
Private wooded settings: Seven Mountains Campground provides cabin accommodations with natural surroundings. "Nice, clean, friendly/accommodating staff and the prices were reasonable for the accommodations," shares J K. who appreciated the rustic atmosphere with modern conveniences.
Overnight convenience: Some travelers value cabins for convenient overnight stops. "We stayed here one night during a motorcycle trip. We rented 1 of the cabins they have on the property and it was great all of us fit comfortably we were able to have a campfire out front and sit at a picnic table," reports Danielle W. about Black Moshannon State Park.
Multi-day base camp: Cabins serve as effective base camps for extended area exploration. "Great camping area stop a mountain...nice unique lake that is incredibly dark in color. Lilly pads abound with great flowers," notes Clay P. about Black Moshannon's cabins as staging areas for local exploration.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most State College area cabin facilities operate on limited schedules. "Open 4/6/2020 - 11/8/2020," states Bellefonte-State College KOA seasonal information. Weather conditions impact facility access during winter months.
Site selection matters: Location within a campground significantly impacts the cabin experience. "We wanted a waterfront site but even trying to reserve the first day we could for this weekend, they were all taken. So we stayed in Senoia loop in site 236 which was spacious, private, and with a nice breeze!" explains Laure D. about site selection at Seven Points.
Popularity requires planning: "Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early. It has sites to accommodate any R.V. and lot of tent sites," advises Denise D. about Black Moshannon. Holiday weekends and football game weekends require particularly advanced planning.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Seven Points provides family-friendly amenities. "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," shares Jennifer D. about activities available for children.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer structured learning experiences. "Rangers were wonderful to work with in setting up teaching opportunities for the girls. We will definitely go back," explains Nicole F. at Prince Gallitzin State Park about educational programming.
Recreation variety: Multiple activity options keep children engaged. "Great place for kids! We love staying at crooked run campground. Has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. Bmx track for kids," notes Jackie W. about Prince Gallitzin State Park's diverse recreation options.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: RV sites at cabins near State College vary in grading. "One backup attempt into the site and it was perfectly level...that was definitely a first for us. We set our chocks and started our setup," reports Tim J. at Seven Points about site conditions for RV camping adjacent to cabin areas.
Water pressure considerations: Utility quality varies significantly between facilities. "Saying it trickled out would be generous. Though there was a lot about the campground that I liked, I won't go back again just based on the water pressure alone," warns Gayle B. about challenges at Buttonwood Campground.
Utility hookups: Electric and water connections vary by location. "We had to cut some of it smaller to fit into the GrubStick basket. It heated well and was delicious but we could've done the same in our microwave in the RV or in foil over the fire," notes Laure D. about cooking options with RV utilities at Seven Points.
