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Best Tent Camping near Vicksburg, PA

551 Reviews

Several state forests and parks near Vicksburg, Pennsylvania offer tent camping in secluded natural settings. Tiadaghton State Forest provides multiple tent-specific campgrounds including East Run Road Site, Fourth Gap Road Sites, and Elimsport CCC Campground. Ravensburg State Park Campground, located in Jersey Shore, features walk-in tent sites along a creek with tent pads and private, wooded settings.

Most tent sites in the area provide basic amenities with varying levels of facilities. Ravensburg State Park offers clean bathrooms and water access points throughout the campground but no electricity at tent sites. According to one visitor, "It's rarely busy and it's first come first serve. They have tent pads which are nice." Many sites feature picnic tables and fire rings, with fires permitted at most locations. The state forest sites generally have more primitive setups with limited facilities, while some park campgrounds like Reeds Gap State Park provide hot showers—a rare amenity for tent campers in the region.

Tent camping experiences vary considerably across the area's backcountry and established campgrounds. Sites in Ravensburg State Park feature bushes and trees between campsites creating natural privacy screens. A camper wrote, "There are few hiking trails, short and long, that take you to beautiful views along the creek with places deep enough to swim." Tent sites at Reeds Gap State Park offer a peaceful experience with Honey Creek running through the campground and abundant wildlife sounds creating a natural backdrop. Penn Roosevelt State Park provides more secluded tent camping with sites spaced farther apart near water features. Most tent areas become very quiet after dark, with minimal light pollution offering excellent stargazing opportunities for backcountry tent campers.

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Best Tent Sites Near Vicksburg, Pennsylvania (40)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Vicksburg, PA

20 Photos of 40 Vicksburg Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Vicksburg, PA

551 Reviews of 40 Vicksburg Campgrounds

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Locust Lake State Park Campground

    Serenity on the lakes

    Pretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.

  • Joann&WellsThePup I.
    Jul. 14, 2021

    Penn Roosevelt State Park Campground

    Quiet camping

    Beautiful primitive campground (tent only). 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.

  • Cam N.
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Primitive Camping Area — Bald Eagle State Park

    Watch for trains

    I throughly enjoyed my time at Bald Eagle State Park. We stayed at a tent site, I believe 58 in the rustic camping section. 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. While this is a primitive site, planning ahead you can place yourself near the vault toilets. If there was running water in the bathrooms– we didn’t find it! There are several water pumps located around the loop and we used that for washing dishes. Our site had space for two tents with a nice fire ring and picnic table. The fire ring was actually one of the best I have experienced– featuring a grill grate with adjustable levels for exposure to heat. The site also had a hook for keeping food or garage elevated from critters. Hammock lovers: we had plenty of trees to easily string our hammock near the picnic table/fire ring. Now the trains. An active railroad sits about 75 feet away from several of the rustic sites. We noticed the 7 p.m. train on Saturday evening. What we didn’t expect was being awoken at 5 a.m. to a freight train blowing through full steam– really gets your heart pumping– did not need coffee that morning. The rustic area also has access to a trail that loops about two miles near the lake and rustic campground. It was a fun place!

  • V
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Knoebels Campground

    Clean, quiet, inexpensive, fun place to camp!

    Knoebels campground is situated next to Knoebels amusement park and offers sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as cabins.

    There is electricity at every site but not water. There are fill stations throughout the campgrounds. Most sites are level and shaded. There are nice sturdy wooden platforms for tent campers.

    The bath houses are clean and well maintained. There are outside sinks with mirrors, laundry facilities, shower stalls, and toilet stalls. Or if you prefer there are also traditional bathrooms with showers.

    Quiet hours are enforced between 10p and 8a.

    Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Wood is available by the bucket near the check in building. Sites are inexpensive and are all a short walk, or free shuttle ride, to the park!.

  • T
    Aug. 18, 2022

    Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

    Impromptu trip that we don’t regret!

    This trip was a bit impromptu so we assume most of the good sites were picked over. The site we stayed at was the perfect size for two people, not the biggest site in the campground but we had a bit of a buffer between our neighbors so we weren’t on top of other people. We were located at a bit heavily trafficked area because we were near the entrance of the campground and the restrooms. The state park was beautiful and had a lot of things to do. I recommend doing the Falls trail and to get onto Lake Jean. They have a concessions by Lake Jean that doesn’t only sell food and drinks but some ice and bundle of wood. Definitely bring a hammer because it’s near impossible to stake down your tent by hand because the turf is hard. Would definitely come again and do the primitive group camp option if I can. No cell service (Verizon) but if you drive 10 miles north up towards Lopez we were able to get a signal. This was a nice way to end summer!

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    Russell P Letterman Campground — Bald Eagle State Park

    Park Mowers Trashed Our Campsite

    PROS

    Senior discount $18 

    Able to reserve 334 days prior to arriving

    Campground quiet but can hear PA 150 road noise 

    Great night sky viewing 

    Nice privacy from side neighbor's campsite 

    Asphalt parking pad 

    Large gravel around pad to include firepit and utility hook up 

    Grass around gravel, but was mid-calf high 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon arrival 

    Lantern pole 

    8 miles off of Interstate 80 

    Firewood for sale at the campground; $6 bundle 

    Park is good proximity to Penn State University and Central Pennsylvania 

    Country Pride Restaurant Milesburg (TA truck stop off of Interstate 80) has some terrific food! 

    4 bars Verizon 

    CONS

    $6.50 reservation fee for self made online reservation 

    One day while away from our campsite, park personnel mowed  mid-cafe high grass at and around our site and the mowers threw grass all over our table with a table cloth, chairs, trailer, driveway...you name it...it was covered with grass. Why the mowers didn’t direct the mowed grass AWAY from our items is beyond me. What a mess!!! 

    Check-in clerk at park office was disturbed we checked in with her. Told us just to go to site. Could not tell us if site was vacated. We had to ask for a park map and directions to campground/campsite since this was first time visiting 

    Site MO45 unlevel from side to side 

    Site MO45 NO shade as was the case with most of the FHU campsites

    Metal frame wood top table in bad condition 

    Need pathway from upper campsite to toilet/shower building…have to wade thru mid-calf high grass if you don’t walk on the roadway 

    Toilet/shower facility lit up like a Christmas tree 

    Toilet/shower facility cleaned on Wednesdays only, according to sign on door 

    No WiFi

  • J
    Sep. 19, 2021

    Poe Paddy State Park Campground

    Great little campground

    I’ve stayed here twice for camping trips. It’s a great small campground that has basic amenities. The experience is likely highly site dependent, as there are a few distinct areas to stay depending on your needs and luck. There is NO cell service and park rangers do “rounds” but aren’t stationed at the site. There are a couple of water pumps, several well-maintained pit toilets, and an emergency phone. It’s about 20-30 min to gas. There’s no camp store here but about 3.5 miles away at Poe Valley there’s a store, real bathrooms and showers, kayaking rentals, etc. There’s a guy that sells firewood just past Poe Valley. The Poe Paddy sites I prefer are well-shaded, fairly large, surrounded by trees, and private (but you’ll be able to hear a couple neighbors). Dogs are only allowed in the RV loop, which is intense gravel, so be sure you have a good sleeping pad if you’re tent camping. The campground is in the middle of the dense Bald Eagle State Forest with lots of hiking opportunities. The creek that runs through Poe Paddy is awesome for wading and people also tube it when conditions are right. Get a Purple Lizard map for best enjoyment of the area.

  • Danielle
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Bald Eagle State Forest

    Dispersed Site #13; Pretty, loud, not accessible for pop up campers

    Husband and I set off for a weekend of boon docking at Bald Eagle State Forest in our little pop up camper. We stayed at site #13, which is a dispersed site- not in the campground. 

    Picture a lovely large, round grassy meadow surrounded by trees at the end of a long gravel road. Picnic table, fire ring, one pretty tree in the center, and a babbling brook down below the site. It looks so perfect! Now picture large boulders preventing any wheeled vehicle (including a light little pop up) from rolling into said field. Add in that the I-80 interstate is so close that you can see trucks through the trees in some places- not to mention hear them all.night.long. Would we camp here again? Nope. We would not. Would this be right for some? Probably yes- especially tent campers, loud groups, and those who feel safer with road noise in the background. 

    This site was not listed as"tent only", and I suppose being able to set up on the gravel road did work. But I was majorly bummed we couldn't set up at the back of the actual site itself. The road set up was not nearly as nice. You can see in my photos the size of the site, and the boulders, and where we ended up setting up. 

    I will also mention that the road getting here involved a hairpin turn (from Long Run Rd. onto Ransaires Rd.) that large set ups would not be able to make. We made it work and we had a great trip.

    Not what we expected, but we still had a good time. We will try again at Bald Eagle State Forest, but would not choose this site again.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2019

    Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

    Waterfalls!!

    The biggest draw to this state park (which no one in Pennsylvania I spoke with seemed to know about) is the 22 waterfalls! We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike. The trails are very well marked. 

    We stayed in the large loop, which is a peninsula on Lake Jean. Many of the sites have lake views. The bathhouse was clean but not adequate for 73 sites. The campground was about ¾ full and there was often a wait in the bathroom. Showers looked reasonable but I did not use them.

    There were many tent campers in this loop, which does not allow pets (the other, smaller loop does allow pets). There are no hookups at all in the park. The water had been tested earlier in the season and unsafe levels of manganese were detected. All water spigots were shut off and covered but we were told it was safe to wash our dishes and brush our teeth. However, the water for the dishwashing sink was turned off as well as the water in the restroom at the trailhead. Since we had a reservation, we received a phone call in advance of our stay letting us know about this.

    There are trails to the beach, but we woke to rain the next morning, so we did not explore this. 

    One trash/recycle area a distance away from the campsites which seems typical for PA state parks. Alcohol is strictly forbidden– we were warned that if a ranger saw any alcohol outside of our vehicle, we would be cited. Quiet hours are 9 pm– 8 am, which is more restrictive than other state parks, however, some did not observe these quiet hours (a guitar-playing singing camper thought he was talented, but I disagree!)

Guide to Vicksburg

Tent camping options near Vicksburg, Pennsylvania extend beyond established campgrounds into backcountry areas. The region sits within the Ridge and Valley section of the Appalachian Mountains, creating diverse camping terrain with elevations ranging from 600 to 2,100 feet. Weather patterns typically bring moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season, though nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in summer months.

What to do

Creek exploration: Reeds Gap State Park features Honey Creek running through the campground with opportunities for wildlife watching. According to one camper, "There's a nice creek that runs through it, picnic pavilions and a playground for the kids! They used to have a swimming pool but they removed it a few years ago."

Hiking trails: Ravensburg State Park offers multiple trail options for different skill levels. As one visitor noted, "We've camped here couple times, and we just keep coming back. There are few hiking trails; short and long that take you to beautiful views along the creek with a couple of places deep enough to swim."

Digital detox: Many camping areas have limited or no cell service, creating opportunities for unplugged relaxation. A camper at Reeds Gap State Park advised, "Put your phone away cuz there's no cell service here! Nice and peaceful with a dozen or so tent only sites."

What campers like

Natural privacy: Tent sites often feature natural screening between campsites. At Ravensburg State Park, a reviewer observed, "This state park is beautiful and I consider it a semi-hidden gem. It's our favorite place to tent camp. There are bushes and trees between the sites and it feels very private."

Hammock opportunities: Many sites have suitable trees for hammock setups. One Ravensburg State Park visitor mentioned, "There are plenty of trees that are good for hammocking. And in a few sites, you can set them up right by the creek, which is my favorite part."

Clean facilities: Shikellamy State Park provides well-maintained amenities for day use and picnicking. A visitor commented, "Had a great time walking the trails and enjoying a picnic at the cliff-side pavilion."

What you should know

Self-registration systems: Many campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served systems with honor-based payment. A visitor to Reeds Gap State Park explained, "Stayed here on a Sunday night without a reservation. We were the only ones there. Pay by honor system at the park office."

Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds require careful attention to directions. As one Ravensburg camper warned, "Park is easily accessible from I-80, just be aware of your directions and make sure they're taking you to the park via Rocky Road. Mine did not, and I ended up down a seasonal road that did not end at the park entrance."

Seasonal availability: Walters Road Site in Tiadaghton State Forest and other forest service sites typically operate under different seasonal restrictions than state parks, with more limited facilities but often longer seasons.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. Reeds Gap State Park includes family-friendly amenities as noted by a visitor: "There's a nice creek that runs through it, picnic pavilions and a playground for the kids!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Vicksburg, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Vicksburg, PA is Shikellamy State Park Campground with a 3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Vicksburg, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 40 tent camping locations near Vicksburg, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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