Pennsylvania's mountainous terrain around Waterfall in Huntingdon County offers RV camping opportunities at elevations between 1,000-1,500 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons with fall temperatures ranging from 35°F to 65°F, creating ideal camping conditions during September and October. Winter camping requires preparation for occasional snow accumulation and temperatures that can drop below freezing.
What to do
Fishing access: Raystown Lake provides multiple fishing spots within 15-20 minutes of Timber Run Campground. "We fished at Tautman Run and Aitch - both were accessible and had lots of bluegill to steal our worms," notes a camper who visited during the off-season.
Weekend activities: Some campgrounds schedule themed weekends with family-oriented programming. At Timber Run Campground, "We stayed during Bigfoot weekend. It was super fun as our family likes bigfoot fun. We started out Friday night getting the offered $12 bbq plate that included pork burnt ends, beans and potato salad."
Educational programs: Several parks partner with state agencies for nature education. "Sunday we had pancakes and later a visit from RayCEP which is an education program that PA DNCR provides talking about various outdoorsy type things," reports a visitor at Timber Run, explaining that these programs primarily target children.
What campers like
Pool facilities: Clean, well-maintained swimming pools receive consistent praise at Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA at Four Seasons. A camper noted, "The pool has been crystal clear. This campground is a short drive to Raystown Lake in Saxton, PA which is beautiful and very big."
Clean bathrooms: Many RV sites near Waterfall, Pennsylvania feature recently renovated bathroom facilities. One Raystown Lake KOA visitor observed, "It looks like they have recently remodeled the bathrooms/showers (3 of the 4 look brand new)," while another mentioned, "Bathrooms are Soo nice."
Riverfront locations: Some parks offer direct water access. At River's Edge RV Park & Campground, "The campground offers direct access to the river for afternoon floats on tubes or kayaks and they're building a large dock for fishing. Beautiful sunsets on the river!"
What you should know
Site layout challenges: Some campgrounds feature hilly terrain requiring careful leveling. At Timber Run Campground, "The site wasn't hard to level our RV but overall the sites are hilly and in fact the whole park is on a hill."
Weekday quiet periods: Expect reduced activity midweek at many campgrounds. "After the weekend though, all the activity slows down. There are seasonal campers that stay around, and they're constantly working on improving and fixing up sites during the week."
Cell coverage: Many RV sites in central Pennsylvania have limited connectivity in valley locations. "The campground is in the middle of nowhere but if you like the outdoors, I recommend it," mentioned one visitor about Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA.
Campground improvements: Several parks in the region are undergoing renovations. A visitor to Nature's Getaway RV Park reported, "Whether your stopping overnight on the way to somewhere or staying the weekend, this is a great place to park. We got the pull through at the end of one loop so we could face the woods."
Tips for camping with families
Recreation amenities: Friendship Village Campground & RV Park offers extensive family-friendly activities. "There are many playgrounds spread out across the property as well as a jumping pillow and a very well-built gaga ball pit," notes one camper who recommends specific sites: "the best sites to stay at if you have kids are sites 145–171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit."
Swimming options: Multiple pools accommodate different age groups at some parks. "There are two pools at each end of the campground and they are very well-maintained and have lifeguard supervision," reports a Friendship Village visitor, adding that "the pool hours are a little later than most campgrounds as they open at 11 through the week and 12 on Sunday."
Entertainment schedule: Family movie nights provide evening activities. "The property had a movie showing in their barn on Saturday night (Despicable Me) and they also seem to schedule a lot of live entertainment, mostly Bluegrass."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For larger RVs visiting Friendship Village, "For big rig campers, you need to stay at the upper portion of the campground at sites 200-500." Another camper at Gettysburg Campground appreciated "decently sized sites long enough for my 32' coach and a toad."
Seasonal sites: Several campgrounds offer longer-term options. At River's Edge RV Park, a visitor reported, "We stumbled upon this brand new campground (was just built this spring) along the Juniata River in Mifflintown PA, fell in love with it, and purchased our first seasonal site!"
Utility considerations: Electric capacity varies between sites. A Gettysburg Campground visitor noted their site had "full hookups with cable, all working as expected," while mentioning that proximity to attractions was worth the trade-off of sites being "quite packed together."
