Camping sites near Tarentum, Pennsylvania offer diverse terrain from mountaintop vistas to lakeside settings, with campsites typically situated at elevations between 900-1,200 feet. The region experiences moderate seasonal temperature changes, with summer highs averaging 80-85°F and overnight lows around 55-65°F during peak camping season. Most campgrounds maintain gravel roads with varying degrees of incline that can challenge larger rigs during wet conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Crooked Creek Lake, kayakers and small boat owners can access both lake and creek areas for fishing. "The lake is great for kayaking or small boats. We fish and kayak the creek opposite the lake," notes Jennifer P. from Crooked Creek Lake.
Swimming options: Keystone State Park Campground features a large lake with a designated swimming area that attracts numerous visitors in warmer months. A camper observed, "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."
Hiking trail access: Several campgrounds connect to trail systems suitable for day hikes of varying difficulty. At Raccoon Creek State Park Campground, "the hiking trails are in excellent condition and the park keeps them clear of fallen debris. A trail leads down from the tent loop to the beach which is cool but very very steep (not for too young or old)."
Winter activities: Some campgrounds remain open year-round, offering opportunities for winter recreation. One visitor to Raccoon Creek mentioned, "Got out for a couple hours hiking in the snow. It was great. Just what we needed to stretch the legs and enjoy some family time. We did the Palomino Loop. It also was quite interesting getting to the trail. Some nice snow covered back roads."
What campers like
Privacy variations: Campgrounds offer different levels of privacy depending on location and site selection. At Keystone State Park, a camper advises, "There are 2 campgrounds in the park, the hillside one and the one on the lake. The lakeside one is a glorified trailer park and is packed during the summer with no privacy... The hillside one doesn't get near the crowds and it set in the woods. There are some very secluded sites."
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds provide scheduled events for guests. At Bear Run Campground, "Tons of activities always planned on the weekend. Family Friendly Friendly!" Another visitor noted, "Every weekend there are activities, there is a heated pool and Friday night Bingo."
Proximity to small towns: Several campgrounds offer access to nearby towns with additional amenities. At Indian Brave Campground, campers appreciate being "walking distance to harmony and all the live music and nightlife that Harmony and Zelienople have to offer."
Shower quality: Bathroom facilities vary widely between properties. One camper at Mountain Top Campground stated, "Bathhouse was clean. Only disappointment was that the showers were coin operated, so you not only needed cash on hand but then had to turn those into special coins for the shower."
What you should know
Water tank limitations: Smaller cabins with showers have limited hot water capacity. A visitor to Madison-Pittsburgh S.E. KOA advised, "If you stay in one of the smaller kabins with a shower, just know there will be a flood and you should wet, turn the water off, lather, then rinse. Also don't think everyone is showering one after the other or you can do dishes and wash hands as much as you want before showering because it's very small water tank, it goes lukewarm to cold quick."
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring leveling equipment. At Fox Den Acres Campground, "Each site was very spacious and well shaded. Fire ring and table at each sight." However, at other locations, campers report difficulty with leveling: "I couldn't get it level with my Anderson levelers it was pretty slopped."
Highway noise factors: Location relative to major roads can impact campsite quietness. One camper noted, "Quiet in the camp but lots of highway noise at night if the breeze is just right."
Seasonal timing considerations: Facilities and amenities vary by season, with some features unavailable in shoulder seasons. A visitor commented, "We stayed early in the season so many of the amenities were not open yet."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds position family sites strategically near play areas. At Bush Recreation Area, one camper shared, "We rented space 16 late August 2020 and our friends (and their kids) rented #17 on the inner circle, right next to us with the playground right behind us. Great spots! Our kids were within easy eye and earshot of the playground."
Swimming options: Smaller campers enjoy designated swimming areas with varying features. "The lake is manmade and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. There is a small beach and picnic tables," reports a visitor to Crooked Creek Lake.
Family-friendly sites: Certain campgrounds specialize in accommodating families with children. Bear Run Campground visitors consistently report, "This is a great campground for families," with one adding that "It's got everything: a large store with gifts and supplies, a swimming pool, horseback riding, games, a laundromat, even the occasional class or two."
Site selection strategy: For families with young children, strategic site selection enhances the experience. "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 where they HAD some toddler play stuff), and pool (clean and small but does the job)."
Tips from RVers
Access route considerations: Mountain roads can challenge larger rigs, requiring advance planning. A visitor to Mountain Top Campground advised, "The hardest part is finding it. The roads get narrow so if in an RV call them for the easiest way in. If you are Overlanding like us just follow the map. Great scenic routes and close to the spot you want to see in Pittsburgh."
Grey water management: Some campgrounds offer creative solutions for longer stays without full hookups. At Mountain Top Campground, "Since they sit atop the mountain, the grey water hookup is a long hose that has an adapter which hooks up to your black and grey tank outlet and it runs down the hillside of the mountain into the grassy area. This means that unless you are a very active user of the commode (or have 3 kids like us), your black tank should not need to be flushed for 1-2 weeks at a time!"
Site size awareness: RV sites vary considerably between campgrounds. At Bear Run, "The nightly RV sites are close to the park entrance and are relatively flat." Whereas at Indian Brave Campground, first-time RVers appreciated that staff "escorted us to our campsite (which was larger than most) and made sure we had plenty of help getting backed in and set up!"
Cell coverage variations: Coverage depends on location and carrier. One camper at Mountain Top Campground reported "full verizon coverage lte" while others at different campgrounds mention limited or no service with certain carriers.
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