164 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near University Park, Pennsylvania range from state parks with full amenities to more primitive tent-only areas, providing options for different camping styles. Several established campgrounds, including Black Moshannon State Park (40 miles northwest) and Greenwood Furnace State Park (25 miles southeast), offer mixed-use sites accommodating tents, RVs, and in some cases, cabins or glamping facilities. Penn Roosevelt State Park provides a more rustic experience with tent-only sites and minimal facilities, while commercial options like Bellefonte-State College KOA and Seven Mountains Campground supplement the state park system with additional amenities for both RV and tent campers.
The camping season in central Pennsylvania generally runs from April through October, with some facilities extending into November or December. Most state parks require reservations, particularly for weekend stays during summer months. "Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early," noted one visitor about Black Moshannon State Park. Terrain varies considerably, with some campgrounds featuring level sites suitable for larger RVs while others have more rugged, uneven grounds best for tent camping. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountainous areas, with cooler temperatures at night even during summer months. Cell phone coverage is limited at several of the more remote campgrounds, with Penn Roosevelt State Park and Greenwood Furnace noted for their lack of connectivity.
Campers frequently mention the natural beauty of the region's forested landscapes and water features. One reviewer described Black Moshannon as having a "nice unique lake that is incredibly dark in color. Lilly pads abound with great flowers." The state parks provide access to hiking trails directly from campgrounds, with several visitors highlighting the outdoor recreational opportunities available. Greenwood Furnace State Park combines camping with historical features, as it preserves an old iron furnace site. The more remote sites at Penn Roosevelt are described as "very secluded and you really feel like you're away from it all," making them popular with campers seeking quiet and privacy. Several campgrounds feature amenities like clean shower facilities, electric hookups, and sanitary dump stations for RVs, though tent-only areas typically offer more basic facilities with pit toilets and water spigots.
"Electric motorboats are permitted on Moshannon Lake. Boat rentals are available in season."
"Great hiking and a beautiful lake for kayaking. Site 22 is a full hookup. Utilities worked nicely. However, our picnic table had seen better days. "
from $24 - $159 / night
Check Availability"You can also buy firewood at the entrance. Sites have a picnic table + fire ring. There is little to no phone service here and it's not super close to town, so come prepared."
"Well maintained bathroom and firewood plus ice available at the entrance (this is a great plus for those car/tent camping. extremely close to the rothrock forest mountain biking trails."
from $24 - $33 / night
Check Availability"Very peaceful and quite, but close to State College (a must since we were in town for a Penn State game). I also loved historic Bellefonte (I highly recommend eating at the Governors Pub)."
"The section in the front of the park is open with spotty trees; whereas, sites in the back of the park are tucked in the woods and are a lot more private."
"The site itself was fairly uneven and rocky so we had to always use caution when walking around the site but it added to the rugged experience."
"The rustic section was located around a large loop with each site ranging in a few feet from the car-friendly loop to about the 50 foot walk where our site was located."
from $20 - $22 / night
Check Availability"Get a site on the outside towards the water. They are spaced out and peaceful. Has restrooms (no shower), picnic table, and fire pit at each site. Short walk to creek and beautiful pond."
"went there for a picnic with the young ones and it was quite a fun evening. there were not many people around so the kids could frolic and be slightly loud without bothering any other people."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to camp ground. The check in process was just to drive to the site and set up which was different but very easy. The sites are private on the sides with some green space to play on."
"If you are not the camping type you can stay at the Nature Inn and enjoy the beautiful lodge in an amazing location! Definitely tops on our list of state parks in Pennsylvania!"
from $26 - $113 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We got a nice one tucked back in the trees, but a few of them are pretty close to the road - not like it's terribly busy."
"There is a trail head near the entrance of the park for hikers and a geocache showed up close to the trail on a road on my geocache tracker if you are into that."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"Far enough away from cities that it's nice and quiet"
"We did take the hunter's path, off the beach parking lot, to the mid state trail but it was straight up the mountain and quite difficult. The beach was nice, not crowded, soft sand, and warm water."
from $24 - $108 / night
Check Availability
GuideIts was great, we stayed in new area, sites had ample room, not many trees at our spot so summer there wouldnt be much shade but we were next to a retention pond/drainage. We brought our dig whole loved running through there.
Not much to say besides it was clean, not crowded (in November) and decent spacing between sites
GuideIt was overall good, Nice amenities, pool was clean (3ft-5ft) Splash pad, air pillow, playground, pond, etc
It has nice wooded areas but very compact, if you have a large camper id be concerned with trying to make some turns on the upper area
ScoutMicheal met us with a welcome packet, delivered campwood at a very reasonable price (and loaned us a hatchet), clean facilities and hot shower were a bonus!
Very responsive to messages and an overall delightful experience. Great bird watching and a huge herd of deer came to visit too.
GuideStayed for 2 nights with my pup. Nice, private, walk up tent sites maybe 50 yards or so from the road. Didn’t find too much to do trails wise at the campground but the pond nearby has some lovely views and the park across the bridge has a nice beach for swimming.
RangerFabulous campground, off the beaten path. Stayed here 2 nights and enjoyed walking to the beach and hiking some of the extensive trail system. Campsites are well spaced and private. Although most are on on a slight hill, our parking spot was level and it appeared most others were as well.
ScoutSuper nice owner and its a privately owned farm. Went above and beyond clearing out a spot for us with only 4 hours if advance
ScoutOther campers are nice and welcome. The river is close and just a great location.
RangerWhat a gorgeous area. Camp site has a path down to Medix Run (which seems quite clean) with a perfect spot to set out camp chairs and watch the water. Beautiful sounds of birds and spring wildflowers all over the site. Sites are well spaced. The road is surprisingly busy day and night, which did take away from the experience. Unfortunately that issue was dwarfed by other behavior.
Imagine you're sitting by the water on your campsite at 6pm, and a man is suddenly standing next to you. On your dispersed, state forest camp site. With a path only accessible by walking through the site. He tells you a beaver dam used to be here and goes into the water to fish. Weird things happen, but THREE different fishermen at different times used our campsite as their fishing base. Not the area next to it, the campsite. Even parked down the driveway next to our car.
Maybe you're not bothered by this. Maybe it's because you've read this and now had the chance to consider the possibility. However, I'd be willing to bet you'd rather not be surprised. Especially when there are no amenities and as a woman, you need to get partially undressed just to take a leak in the morning.
This is unacceptable behavior. There were other unoccupied campsites, turn offs and places to stop and fish. In all my life camping, no one has ever done this sort of thing. You stay off campsites when other people are there, unless you need help or want to pass on information.
If one person had done this, I wouldn't be writing such a cranky review but three instances warrants a warning for other campers. Good luck, folks.
RangerGreat park, alittle close together than I like. I wish I had picked 1-12 sites by the creek, but I don’t think I had much choice when I booked anyway. Bathrooms were clean. My site was more of an rv and I felt like I was at the neighbors for supper.
Camping spots near University Park, Pennsylvania range from tent-only primitive areas to full-service campgrounds with RV hookups. The region sits in the Ridge and Valley section of the Appalachian Mountains at elevations between 1,000-2,000 feet. Night temperatures can drop into the 50s even during summer months, requiring proper sleeping gear for tent campers in all seasons.
Fishing in quiet waters: Poe Valley State Park offers a tranquil lake for anglers. "Great campground! Lots of fishing, swimming and you can rent kayaks or paddle boats. Beach had a concession stand and camping was very shaded and secluded," notes one camper at Poe Valley State Park Campground.
Blacksmithing demonstrations: Visit the historic iron furnace at Greenwood Furnace State Park to learn about Pennsylvania's industrial past. "The blacksmith shop was very educational! Great trails to hike! You can pick up a compass at the ranger station and complete a compass course," shares a visitor to Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground.
Night sky viewing: The remote camping areas offer minimal light pollution for stargazing. "We saw the Milky Way!" reports a camper at Greenwood Furnace State Park. Multiple campgrounds in the area have limited or no cell service, creating ideal conditions for astronomical observation without electronic distractions.
Geocaching: Several parks in the area maintain geocaches for treasure hunters. "There is a trail head near the entrance of the park for hikers and a geocache showed up close to the trail on a road on my geocache tracker if you are into that," mentions a visitor to Reeds Gap State Park.
Secluded sites: Penn Roosevelt State Park offers tent-only camping in a peaceful forest setting. "Beautiful primitive campground (tent only). Get a site on the outside towards the water. They are spaced out and peaceful," states a review of Penn Roosevelt State Park Campground.
Pet-friendly options: Many campgrounds welcome dogs with designated pet-friendly areas. "My Outdoor Adventure Algorithm is:(Drink+Fire+Lean-To)-(Rules+Regulations+Fees)/(Crowd-Privacy)(IsolationAcceptability of loud, primal, Forest-Man behavior)=Camping," explains a humorous reviewer at Seven Mountains Campground, noting the campground accepts pets.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses. "The bathroom was VERY clean and heated, which was glorious considering it was quite chilly at night," notes a camper at Greenwood Furnace. Another at Reeds Gap praises "a super clean, eco-shower" with timed water and solar lights.
Honor system payment: Some smaller campgrounds use self-registration. "Stayed here on a Sunday night without a reservation. We were the only ones there. Pay by honor system at the park office," shares a visitor to Reeds Gap State Park Campground.
Limited cell service: Multiple campgrounds have poor or non-existent connectivity. "Put your phone away cuz there's no cell service here!" advises a camper at Reeds Gap. Similarly, at Poe Valley, a reviewer notes, "No cell service but you won't even miss it."
Temperature fluctuations: Mountain elevation causes significant temperature drops at night. "It was a bit chilly at night and warm during the day - bring layers + raincoats as the PA mountain weather can be iffy!" advises a Greenwood Furnace camper.
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. At Bellefonte-State College KOA, a visitor notes, "Campground was packed 10/16-10/18," indicating even shoulder season weekends can be busy.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons and bears inhabit the area. "The raccoons were a fun surprise on our last night! We left the grease trap from the Blackstone out and they found it. We did not see any bears though we heard they are there," reports a camper at Bald Eagle State Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "There's a nice park for the kids to play. The blacksmith shop was very educational! Great trails to hike!" mentions a Greenwood Furnace visitor.
Biking opportunities: Paved roads at some campgrounds accommodate young cyclists. "Paved roads so they can ride their bikes," notes a Greenwood Furnace camper about family-friendly features.
Beach activities: Bald Eagle State Park provides swimming areas with sandy beaches. "Beach is beautiful, very calm, warm water for early July, soft sand and nice large trees for shade," reports a visitor, making it ideal for families with children.
Educational programs: Park rangers often conduct informative sessions. "We discovered one of the evening talks about the eagles nesting in the park and the ranger set up binoculars for us to try and see the nest," shares a Bald Eagle State Park camper.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Sites are sloped a bit as most are in the mountains. We were able to decently level our motorhome with blocks," explains a visitor to The Bellefonte Campground.
Access road considerations: Some campgrounds have tight turns and narrow roads. "Despite the cold wet weather this trip, we had a wonderful weekend!" notes a Black Moshannon camper, while another advises, "We suggest avoiding heading south from I80 on Casanova road."
Site selection strategy: Review site maps and photos before booking. "Definitely look at pictures of your site before reserving. The distance between spots was good. Roads were a little narrow but manageable," recommends a Bald Eagle State Park camper.
Limited hookups: Not all sites provide full connections. "We stayed in the modern camping section. The sites are private on the sides with some green space to play on," reports a visitor to Bald Eagle State Park, noting the importance of confirming specific amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near University Park, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, University Park, PA offers a wide range of camping options, with 164 campgrounds and RV parks near University Park, PA and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near University Park, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near University Park, PA is Black Moshannon State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near University Park, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near University Park, PA.
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