Camping opportunities near Transfer, Pennsylvania center around the region's lakes and reservoirs, with sites ranging from primitive to fully-serviced options. The area sits at approximately 1,200 feet elevation in northwestern Pennsylvania's glaciated plateau region. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, making seasonal camping restrictions common throughout the area.
What to do
Fishing access points: Shenango Campground provides waterfront sites with convenient lake access. One camper notes, "Great place to camp, fish, boat, and do much more. I love the fact that you can tie your boat or wave runner right at most of the sites."
Wildlife viewing: Pymatuning State Park Campground offers opportunities to observe diverse bird species. According to a visitor, "We saw big Blue Herons, Oriels, Robins, and lot's of little song birds. There are some groundhogs there too."
Family-oriented swimming: Goddard Park Vacationland Campground maintains two swimming pools for campers. A reviewer mentioned, "2 pools great food at the snack sack min golf live bands nice little camp store and so much more."
Outdoor sports: Several campgrounds in the area feature playground facilities and open spaces for recreation. A camper at Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground states, "It is beautifully set up with a small lake for swimming, playgrounds, pavilions, games, events, music etc."
What campers like
Waterfront access: Shenango Campground features numerous lakeside sites popular with boaters. As one camper describes, "Overall this is a pretty nice campground. There are a small handful of electric only sites(30a), but the bulk of them are dry. A large number of them are on the lake providing a nice area to beach your boat or kayaks."
Secluded sites: Jamestown Campground at Pymatuning State Park offers more private camping options. A visitor shared, "We really enjoyed camping at Lake Pymatuning. We had site J522, which is tucked back in a quiet loop."
Family-friendly amenities: Mercer-Grove City KOA provides extensive facilities for families. One camper noted, "They have too many amenities to list. Of note, the pool water was decently warm and they had an outdoor exercise area in addition to the playground."
Natural settings: Several campgrounds maintain wooded environments with shade coverage. A visitor to Rocky Springs Campground commented, "This is the place to unwind and relax. Large sites... in the middle of Amish country."
What you should know
Varying site sizes: Campground layouts differ significantly across the region. At Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground, "Level gravel sites with really great grassy areas. We stayed memorial weekend and it was quiet by 9 every night."
Water conditions: Lake quality varies by season and location. At Mosquito Lake State Park, a camper reported, "The algae was kind of thick, which made fishing impossible, so we stopped bringing the kayak."
Shower facilities: Bathroom and shower access varies between campgrounds. Regarding Jamestown Campground, one visitor noted, "The showers do not have a changing area within the shower unit or an area to store your towel/clothes within the shower unit."
Generator policies: Different campgrounds have specific rules about generator use. At Shenango Campground, "With all the dry camping sites in this CG, it's nice that they allow generator use during non quiet hours. Quiet hours here are 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Select sites near recreational facilities for convenience with children. A camper at Pymatuning State Park mentioned, "If you have younger kids, this site is for you. The playground is right there as is the beach."
Pet restrictions: Mosquito Lake State Park features a dog park, but verify pet policies before booking. A visitor noted, "The sites are huge. The dog park is amazing. Theres so much to do here. Swimming, boating, fishing."
Non-water activities: During inclement weather, look for campgrounds with indoor facilities. A camper at Mosquito Lake State Park shared, "They offer activities up by the marina with some concession stands, but bring your bike or second vehicle - marina's a trek."
Loop selection: Different camping loops offer varying experiences for families. At Jamestown Campground, "I didn't like that pets are not allowed in the non-pet area as that was where the playground and swimming beach was. Made it difficult to swim and play as a family."
Tips from RVers
Access routes: Several campgrounds have specific approach recommendations. For Mercer-Grove City KOA, a camper advised, "After getting off I80, our RV GPS wanted to take us on a wonky route, so we followed Waze and the campground's web instructions."
Site leveling: Prepare for varied terrain across the region's campgrounds. At Quiet and Secluded, "Rolled up on the later side but was welcomed kindly by the owner Bill. Beautiful spot. Clean amenities!"
Electrical connections: Check amperage availability when booking. At Shenango Campground, "We quickly found out that our 50 AMP connection had issues and after reporting it, a maintenance crew came within 20 minutes and fixed a bad breaker."
Utility placement: Some sites require special setup considerations. At Shenango Campground, a camper reported, "You need to maneuver a couple of times to get into the 90 degree site but the road was wide with no obstacles to prevent swinging into the site."
