Camping sites near Upper St. Clair typically feature rolling hills and wooded terrain at elevations ranging from 900 to 1,200 feet. Winter camping options remain available at several locations despite seasonal closures elsewhere, with Mountain Top Campground operating year-round. Fall camping offers particularly vibrant foliage displays throughout the Allegheny foothills from mid-October through early November.
What to do
**Fishing access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated fishing areas with stocked ponds. At Pine Cove Beach Club RV Resort, campers can fish directly from the campground. "They have a few small non motor boats no peddle boats so don't let that mislead you with 'boat rental'. You do see things jump so I don't doubt there's fish and it's really pretty in the backdrop," notes John F.
Hiking on Palomino Loop: Winter hikers have excellent options at Raccoon Creek State Park Campground. "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," writes Jay R.
Bike-in camping: The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail connects to several campgrounds. Cyclists should consider Dravo's Landing Campground as a starting point when testing longer trips. "This campsite is a nice reward for west-bound riders on the GAP trail (it's the last one before Pittsburgh!), and a nice easy introduction to bikepacking camping for the east-bound (the closest to Pittsburgh). At 26 miles from Three Rivers Park, this makes a great place to get your head around what it might be like to ride and camp the whole way to Washington D.C.," explains Shari G.
What campers like
Mountain views: The region offers several elevated camping options. "You come up a winding road and emerge atop the mountain. It's cute. Wide open grass land with sites around the perimeter. Half a dozen of them (premium) are at the edge and have a nice view to the hills beyond," reports Jennifer H. about Mountain Top Campground.
Secluded tent sites: While many campgrounds cater primarily to RVs, tent campers can find private options. "I enjoyed my stay at this park. We had a tent site for the weekend. It was a beautiful area and I really enjoyed exploring. Looking forward to going back soon!" shares Alice M. about her experience at Raccoon Creek.
Pet exercise areas: Dog-friendly camping near Upper St. Clair includes options with dedicated pet facilities. "Very conveniently located off the interstate. Follow the signs to the campground NOT the GPS in order to avoid some narrow and sharp turn roads. Big open dog park! There are only a few shaded spots," notes Brandy S. about Madison-Pittsburgh KOA.
What you should know
Seasonal site variations: Some campgrounds undergo significant seasonal changes. At Whispering Pines Family Campground, one visitor notes: "Beautifully set in midst of a 360* view of mountains. Site are nicely spaced and are blessed with constant gentle breeze. Lovely wild flowers surrounded during my brief visit."
Train noise: Railroad tracks run alongside several campgrounds in the area, particularly those near rivers. "One thing to consider with these campgrounds next to the trail is the number of trains that pass by in the night. It's not the train horn but the number of turns in the track and the squealing breaks that keep you up – so bring good earplugs if you hope to sleep!" warns a camper at Dravo's Landing.
Site leveling challenges: Many sites in the area require leveling equipment. "A dozen or so of the sites are not level, not only that but they are narrow and where you sit is a slope making it very uncomfortable. This is overpriced for that simple issue, I guess ok for an overnight stay but I wouldn't plan a long stay," advises Kevin D. about Washington-Pittsburgh SW KOA.
Tips for camping with families
Check playground availability: Not all campgrounds offer dedicated children's facilities. "There is no playground or activities for children. I understand they have blue grass bands that come and play in the warmer weather and a large campsite fire, but since we were there at the beginning of Fall weather, there weren't any scheduled bands or fires," notes Dave about Mountain Top Campground.
Consider bath facility access: When camping with children, bathroom proximity matters. At Tomlinson Run State Park Campground, "Most of the sites were pretty private and ours was probably the most private and had a lot of space since we were on the very end of the road / cul-de-sac. I would definitely recommend this site if you like privacy but it is a longer walk to the bath house but we didn't mind that at all," reports Dusty R.
Weekend noise levels: Family groups should be aware of activity peaks. "If you're looking to hang a hammock and read a book. This is it. Nice fire holes with a view," mentions Jennifer H. about Mountain Top Campground's quieter atmosphere.
Tips from RVers
Grey water systems: Some campgrounds offer partial hookups with innovative solutions. "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!" explains an RVer about Mountain Top Campground.
Navigation challenges: Several campgrounds require careful planning for large vehicles. At Fox Den Acres Campground, RVers should note: "The sites in the lower field, where I was, were roomy and level and all pull-throughs. Very steep narrow roads to access campground and sites."
Overnight utility access: Many campgrounds accommodate overnight travelers. "Easy highway access great for overnight travel," notes Candi S. about Washington-Pittsburgh SW KOA, which maintains convenient pull-through sites with full hookups for travelers.
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