123 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Windber, Pennsylvania span from state parks to family recreation areas, offering diverse camping experiences across western Pennsylvania's mountains and lakes. Quemahoning Family Recreation Area in Hollsopple, just 12 miles from Windber, provides tent, RV, and cabin camping with both wooded and lakefront sites. Other notable options include Blue Knob State Park Campground, situated on Pennsylvania's second-highest peak, and Shawnee State Park Campground, both within a 45-minute drive. These mixed-use campgrounds accommodate tent campers, RVers, and those seeking cabin stays, with varying levels of amenities and hookups.
Camping facilities throughout the region operate primarily from April through October, with limited year-round options. "Very nice campground. We've stayed in 2 different spots. Super quiet and relaxing place. Clean bathrooms," notes one visitor about Blue Knob State Park. Many campgrounds in the Windber area feature electric hookups but varying levels of water access, making advance planning essential. Cell service can be spotty, particularly at higher elevations like Blue Knob. The region experiences typical Appalachian weather patterns with cooler temperatures at higher elevations even in summer months. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak summer weekends and holiday periods, with many state park campgrounds booking through Pennsylvania's reservation system.
Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the region. The Quemahoning Reservoir provides popular waterfront camping, with one camper describing it as offering "great fishing, some nice trails and generally wonderful weather during the summer season." Visitors consistently mention the peaceful, quiet atmosphere at many campgrounds in the area. Several campgrounds balance proximity to natural features with reasonable amenities like showers and restrooms. Reviews indicate campground experiences vary significantly between state parks and private facilities, with state parks generally offering more spacious sites and natural settings. Campers commonly note the hiking opportunities, particularly at Blue Knob State Park, where trails extend into adjacent state forest lands. Noise levels remain minimal at most campgrounds except those near the Pennsylvania Turnpike, where some visitors report highway sounds disrupting the wilderness experience.
"Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private. Has wood vending machine at entrance for firewood."
"The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride."
from $24 - $122 / night
Check Availability"Easy walk to beach area and boat launch. Very clean."
"The location on the water adds for a great view. Electric only."
from $20 - $50 / night
Check Availability"it’s small, with shaded sites around the perimeter and two walk in sites just left of the entrance."
"The hiking here is really spectacular with lots of scenery, overlooks, and side trails that extend many miles out into state forest lands which are adjacent to the park."
from $24 - $117 / night
Check Availability"The campground is nestled on the outskirts of Bedford Pennsylvania and is a very easy location to travel to regardless of your rig size."
"One of the best campgrounds I have stayed at so far the pond is nice and has a 1/2 mile walking path around it with trees and beaches to stop and sit dog park is big and has a place for small or large"
"The lake is separate from the campground, but it is less than a mile away and a reasonable distance walk."
"The site numbering is a bit wonky on the door loop so make sure you look at your map before you start driving the loops."
from $20 - $64 / night
Check Availability"5 firewood bundles at the entrance. -Cleanest bathrooms/showers -Crystal clear stream with beautiful trail to the lake. Both stocked with fish. -Lots of picnic tables at the lake."
"Kooser State Park sits on the border of Forbes State Forest in the Laurel Highlands. It has a mix of camper & tent sites around a central clearing, and offers a few cabins."
from $26 - $117 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Ohiopyle is located in a beautiful area of Pennsylvania we've camped there a couple of times and have been able to get last minute tent sites. Lots of outdoor activities nearby."
"Very close to two Frank Lloyd Wright properties– Kentuck Knob and the more widely known Falling Waters."
from $24 - $72 / night
Check Availability"We stayed in cabin 170 in Fir loop and the site was incredibly spacious, heavily shaded, close to the bath house, path to the beach, and well distanced from other sites."
"Our friends were in the site next to us (17) which was also nice and there was a wide walking path between them. Family also stayed in one of the rental cabins (21)."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability"It has a huge back yard and easy access to the creek. Close by is Ligonier, Idlewild, and St. Vincent (where the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp takes place.)"
"Not only were the staff super friendly and helpful, but we were lucky enough to get a full-hookup site right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, everything you want on a spring trip."
LegendThis quiet campground has plenty of wooded campsites that offer privacy to campers. We were in the electric loop and it can be a bit tight if your rig is larger, and also you need to be prepared to level your rig in several different directions. But all in all, it was a great spot for an overnight day and we even got to check out some of the trails. Very nice park overall.
TravelerStayed one night. Close to Fallingwater and Fort Necessity. The campsite was terrible; close to water and buggy, steep grade required lots of blocking to level the camper and challenging to hook up to the vehicle. Thick canopy kept Starlink from working. The worst part was the bathrooms. The one closest to our spot had no hot water. So we had to walk about a half a mile to two other restrooms and showers within 100 yards of each other. Makes no sense. Anyway, both bathrooms were filthy, had paint peeling everywhere, lots of black mold growing on the ceilings, growing everywhere. No place to hang clothes while taking a shower. One of the two toilets in each of the men’s room was probably 3 feet off the ground. Made for giants I guess! And good luck finding the visitor center. It’s hidden from view and parking is terrible. You’ll have to walk 150 yards from the nearest point of the parking lot to find it. To walk there from the bus and RV parking, add an additional 1/4 mile each way. Be aware that the visitor center store does not accept credit cards. Cash or check only. Who does that? It’s 2026 Pennsylvania!
RangerThe sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
ScoutAdvertised as a family camp but very far from it. I’ve watched this camp progressively get worse as the years go on, over priced camp with zero efforts to make anything worthwhile, run down play grounds, broken toilet paper roll holders in the bathrooms of the shower house, roads that make you feel like your off road. Owner plans “events” and then wants campers to pay for overpriced food. The owner complains nobody comes to events anymore but barely comes to them herself. The owner is VERY money hungry! And most importantly it’s home to a sex offender who the owner cherishes dearly.
It’s a shame to see how many people realized how terrible this camp was and are selling their camps because of it. The owner should open her eyes and realize she’s the reason people don’t want to be there anymore !!!
ScoutWe are here for a month and it feels like we have the place to ourselves!
ScoutCant have no fun or drink.kids get yelled at all the time..owner sneaks around looking in campers at night..they watch every thing you do. Then they throw you out because your having to much fun. Or your up after 10pm..what a joke....please dont do nothing wrong.because.youll be on the shitlist...they are very very racist ,dont ever take a black child or try to get a place to stay or even put a tent up ,cause if your Black ,they tell you their is no room for u or a tent..STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE,ITS A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES AND THEY DONT WANT NO BLACS IN THEIR CAMP GROOUND AT ALL..GO UP THE ROAD..THEY ARE NICER THERE...
ScoutPerfect little campsite with voting access fishing rod says and very clean showers
TravelerWe love it here so much we almost never leave. There is a creek, playground and games for the kids year round. The lake is great for fishing, boating, swimming and more from March-August usually but even longer this year it seems. They are INCREDIBLY strict about 5mph and I LOVE THAT! My 8 year old can run around and be a kid at camp like I was without me being panicked. They even have events once a month. They are constantly adding and upgrading around the campground. Everything from walk to primitive sites to full hook ups and dry cabins.
Highly recommend for a long or short get away.
Scout,
Camping options near Windber, Pennsylvania range from rustic tent sites to full-hookup RV areas, all within a 45-mile radius. The region sits at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 feet in the Laurel Highlands and Allegheny Mountains, creating temperature variations that can be 10-15°F cooler at higher elevations compared to Windber proper. Cell service can be limited or non-existent at several campgrounds, particularly those located in mountain valleys or state forest areas.
Trail hiking at Blue Knob State Park: Located 30 miles west of Windber, this park offers extensive hiking with trails extending into adjacent state forest lands. "Blue Knob State Park might be my favorite place to camp in Western PA. It sits on the flanks of the second highest peak in the state. The hiking here is really spectacular with lots of scenery, overlooks, and side trails that extend many miles out into state forest lands which are adjacent to the park," reports Brian S.
Mountain biking in Ohiopyle: About 45 miles southwest of Windber, Kentuck Campground provides direct access to biking trails. "Awesome campground right on the Great Allegheny Passage trail. We loved being able to access the GAP trail right from the campground. We were there in November with plans to visit Fallingwater. This campground was the perfect location for both activities!" shares a reviewer from Bounding Around.
Water recreation at Rocky Gap: Located 40 miles south of Windber in Maryland, this state park offers multiple water activities. "The campground beach is fun. There is a 5 mile trail that goes all around the lake. Lots of lake to paddle," writes one camper. Another adds, "Nice beach area with volley ball nets. Lots of paddle boards and canoes for rent."
Privacy at Laurel Hill State Park: Sites are well-separated with natural buffers. "All sites are gravel; most appeared level, but some did not. All sites are wooded but some have more separation than others. Our site backed up to the creek but surprisingly, there was not a lot of water flowing in the spring," notes Lee D.
Family-friendly atmosphere at Mirror Lake Campground: Located about 30 miles northwest of Windber, this private campground offers creek access. "Great place to stay! You will not find better campground owners, they are amazing. After office hours they can be commonly found hanging out with their campers. Pick up cornhole games, bonfires, are the norm at the community building. Alot of their sites are along a small creek which the kids play in and can float down," writes Mathew H.
Spacious sites at Shawnee State Park: Approximately 35 miles southwest of Windber, this campground offers diverse site types. "There are a few sites that are a bit close together that you can't really know until you're there. Overall it was a great time!" shares Casey S. Another camper notes, "Many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them."
Weather fluctuations: The higher elevation campgrounds experience unpredictable conditions. "Clouds blowing east from the Midwest tend to break on the mountains here at Blue Knob, so short little bursts of rainfall are frequent, and they don't always show up on weather apps. Come prepared for short rain showers, chilly air even in the summer, and great views," advises Brian S.
Noise levels: Some campgrounds experience unexpected noise. At Friendship Village Campground, "Nice campground, clean and plenty of activities for the kids. The only thing we didn't like was all of the road noise. This campground is located by 2 major highways and truck traffic and Jake brake are constant all night long."
Limited supplies: Many campgrounds are remote. "Bring everything you need, it's about 30 minutes to some supplies. Make sure you bring firewood and be prepared for extremely limited cell service (Verizon)," reports Olivia L. about Kooser State Park, 25 miles southwest of Windber.
Kids' activities: Friendship Village Campground offers multiple recreation options. "Friendship Village Campground has mini golf, fishing, and special events on weekends. The office staff are very friendly and helpful," shares Heidi K. Another camper adds, "There are many playgrounds spread out across the property as well as a jumping pillow and a very well-built gaga ball pit."
Fishing spots: Quemahoning Family Recreation Area, just 12 miles from Windber, offers good angling. "Great place for fishing kayaking. Very family oriented," writes Kyle K. Another camper adds, "Quemahoning Family Recreation Area offers great fishing, some nice trails and generally wonderful weather during the summer season."
Swimming options: Consider water access when booking. "There is a camp store where wood, ice and fishing supplies are available. There is no trash service; campers are expected to carry out their trash," notes Thomas G. about Quemahoning. At Rocky Gap State Park, "We love that the campground has their own beach so it's not over crowded with the public. Near the beach there is a nice playground near shade for parents to watch."
Site selection challenges: Research campsite layouts carefully. At Shawnee State Park, "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating!"
Hookup variations: Electric service differs between campgrounds. At Kooser State Park, "Stayed in one of 4 full hookup sites. My complaints...WAY too close to the neighbors and VERY little shade. It's a small campground though. Would probably stay at again. There is road noise, which really didn't bother me. I liked the good cell coverage since my oldest kid was at home."
Leveling requirements: Many mountain campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Many of the sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20' to 115'," notes one camper about Shawnee State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Windber, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Windber, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
What parks are near Windber, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Windber, PA that allow camping, notably Raystown Lake and Youghiogheny River Lake.
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