Campgrounds near Sutersville, Pennsylvania cluster along the foothills of the Laurel Highlands at elevations between 900-1,200 feet. Most sites offer seasonal access from April through October, with limited year-round options. Water access is prevalent, with the Youghiogheny River providing both scenic views and recreation opportunities at several area campgrounds.
What to do
Hiking trails at Ohiopyle State Park: Located 30 miles from Sutersville, this park offers numerous trails for all skill levels. "We went in late October and arrived fairly late in the day and to our surprise someone was in the store when we got there," notes a visitor at Coopers Rock State Forest. The forest offers similar hiking experiences with "trails well maintained, but be warned that the overlook is crowded."
Water activities on the Youghiogheny River: Fishing and boating opportunities abound within 20 minutes of Sutersville. At The Blue Canoe RV Resort, one camper mentions, "Located on the Youghiogheny River. Many full hookups, great play ground for the kids." Another adds, "The ramp for entering/exiting with your kayak stopped before getting to the river's edge. It was very muddy after the ramp."
Star gazing platforms: Several campgrounds feature designated viewing areas. At Benner's Meadow Run RV Campground, guests can enjoy "a nice secluded spot to camp in the wooded area that had amazing mountain views and the star gazing platform." Though another visitor notes, "The star gazing platform leaves a lot to be desired and is in need of repair."
What campers like
Spacious, wooded sites: Many campgrounds feature private camping spots with natural separation. At Laurel Hill State Park Campground, "All sites are gravel; most appeared level, but some did not. All sites are wooded but some have more separation than others." Another camper adds, "There are two main loops in this campground... the pet-free and wooded one has campsites more spread out with trees in between and way quieter."
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain quality bathhouses and common areas. A visitor at Fox Den Acres Campground reported, "They have a new bath house which is personal bathroom style and very nice," while another noted the "very relaxed, wooded, and quiet" atmosphere despite proximity to urban areas.
Winter camping options: Some sites remain open year-round with adaptations for cold weather. At Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA, a winter camper shared, "We're staying in the winter for a few nights to visit friends who live outside Pittsburgh. They've done a great job in the winter despite the frigid weather by using heat tape on the spigots and leaving lots of information at the office."
What you should know
Terrain challenges: Many campsites have uneven ground or steep access points. At Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park, one camper observed that "Sites are pretty close together and we couldn't use our fire ring because it ended up being very close to our rig." At Fox Den Acres, "The site was sloped pretty bad side to side and there is a drop off on the one side of the fire ring so we could not sit completely around the fire."
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. At Coopers Rock State Forest, campers report "The camp Wi-Fi isn't the best but we did have cell service with Consumer Cellular (AT&T Towers) and were able to work while we camped." Laurel Hill has "Fleeting cell at best on Verizon."
Access road considerations: Some campgrounds have seasonal road closures or rough access roads. A camper at Keystone State Park noted, "Park itself is gorgeous with a large lake and designated swimming area. Place attracts a lot of people in the summer as its basically in the Pittsburgh suburbs along a major road artery."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas with gentle entry points. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Mill Run offers a "large waterpark area, large pool, monster truck rides and many activities. You don't have to leave to find something to do." A guest commented, "They have upgraded the water slides 4 huge slides plus big splash pad with little slide for smaller kids."
Weekend programming: Many sites organize structured activities for children. At Fox Den Acres Campground, a visitor mentioned it's a "Wonderful campground. They provide activities almost every evening, making sure every age range is catered to throughout the week." The campground includes "a predictably overpriced store where you can buy some essentials, and a few luxuries."
Playground accessibility: Look for campsites near play areas for convenience. At Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA, a parent suggested: "If you HAVE KIDS young enough to have to keep an eye on the kabins and spots facing the pillow ARE PRIME (kids wait for it to blow up every morning), play ground (basic-not toddler friendly, there's a sand pit that's not covered up at night)."
Tips from RVers
Hookup location challenges: Many sites have awkward utility placement. At Laurel Hill State Park Campground, "The electrical hookups are not played out well like an expensive RV park with the shared power post on the entrance side of the camper. You may want to have an extension for your power cable."
Reservation timing: For prime glamping opportunities near Sutersville, Pennsylvania, book well in advance of holidays. A visitor at Benner's Meadow Run advised to "Book early for holidays" while another noted, "We went to Benner's meadow the end of September. Not many people were there and the seasonal campsites were mostly closed up for the winter."
Water fill stations: Many sites lack full hookups but offer central water access. At Coopers Rock State Forest, "the site we were in had electric hookup for 50a/30a/20a but no water at the site but there was water near the bathroom area." This arrangement is common at luxury glamping sites around Sutersville.
