THE BEST Dispersed CAMPING IN
Pennsylvania
Top Pennsylvania Dispersed Campgrounds
About Pennsylvania Camping
Fireflies illuminate Pennsylvania summer nights. Cricket song fills the air. In Autumn, a motley blaze of red and yellow leaves streaks the hillsides as a rich, earthy scent permeates the woods. Through all seasons, gurgling brooks and creeks weave their way through the countryside. Secret glens and mossy pools await. For centuries this landscape has attracted lovers of the outdoors, and there's no limit to opportunities for camping in Pennsylvania.
An indescribable yet unmistakably ancient energy fills Pennsylvania's wildernesses. It can be felt clearly in places like Bushkill Falls. There, in the "Niagara of Pennsylvania," explorers of all ages find fun and discovery.
A broad network of trails leads to and around eight beautiful waterfalls. The Twin Lakes wait for anglers. Curious travelers can explore three different historical exhibits, sluice for gemstones, or try their luck in the Bushkill Falls Mining Company Maze. Some people claim that if you stand still, close your eyes, and listen, you can feel the history ebbing and flowing around your feet at Bushkill Falls.
Pennsylvania's enormous population of majestic whitetail deer offer great surprises for nature-lovers camping in Pennsylvania. With a closely monitored population ranging from 1 to 1.5 million, Pennsylvania's white tail are famous for their size, grace, and beauty. Alert hikers and campers will likely catch a glimpse of these wonderful animals.
The Pennsylvania landscape is diverse and full of variety. With the Appalachian Mountains bisecting the state, the eastern and western halves are distinctive both culturally and geographically, but neither is lacking for natural wonders.
To the east, you can find camping near popular destinations like the Delaware Water Gap at the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To the west, there's the fantastic Laurel Caverns, where visitors can experience a three-hour-long tour that goes 46 stories deep into the mountainside.
Pennsylvania has plenty of rivers for the aquatically inclined. Chief among them is the Susquehanna, the longest East Coast river draining into the Atlantic Ocean. This impressive waterway offers many opportunities for fishing, boating, and exploration. Folks camping in Pennsylvania may enjoy pitching their tent or parking their camper on the Susquehanna riverside.
All of this is just a small part of what the Keystone State offers to explorers of all kinds. Many more secrets wait nestled in the countryside, waiting to be discovered.
Recent Dispersed Reviews In Pennsylvania
1112 Reviews of 159 Pennsylvania Campgrounds
Scout
ScoutGood Family-oriented Campground
This campground is a good campground to go to if doing all the things is what you’re after. There is so much to do. A splash pad, a lake with rentals, several playgrounds, hiking nearby, disc golf, and lots of activity. The campsites themselves however are fairly close together and open with…
GuideNice large sites
Sites are on 2 loops. The sites have a decent amount of space between them so you are not on top of each other. Picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Not a lot of trees so many sites are in the direct sun. There is a mix of 50 and 30 amp, some sites with water, some without. Very quiet. I…
TravelerArmy Corp of Engineers Site at Youghiogheny Lake Dam
September 2020 Stay
This was a 1-night stay. We stayed here because the nearby state parks we were interested in were full for the weekend. It was OK given the circumstances, but I would prefer a state park. The location was on the edge of town. The campground is right up against some…
TravelerSmall Campground at 2nd Highest Mtn in PA
September 2020 Visit
This was a 1-night stay. The campground is pretty small with <50 sites. They're not a cramped together as some campgrounds, but there isn't really anything between sites for privacy. It was chillier than surrounding areas due to being on the mountain. Since it's…
TravelerForested State Park in the Laurel Highlands
August 2020 Stay
We camped for 1 night. We chose site 102 because it looked decent in the picture and seemed a little apart and more private than other areas. Unfortunately, it was not great for tent camping as there wasn't really a spot to set up our 4-person tent. We squeezed it in by the…
GuideGreat staff, not very secluded
I had a decent time camping here, they deliver wood right to your campsite. The site itself isn't bad, a lot of woods to tuck into if you camp rite. The tent pad and fire pit area is right next to the road so it almost feels like your campsite is open to passerbys if you are into that. Overall a…
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GuideGreat staff, not very secluded
I had a decent time camping here, they deliver wood right to your campsite. The site itself isn't bad, a lot of woods to tuck into if you camp rite. The tent pad and fire pit area is right next to the road so it almost feels like your campsite is open to passerbys if you are into that. Overall a…
- (6) View All
GuideNo pets
Only knock is this section of the campground is not for pet owners, but it’s not completely obvious when making a reservation. So, we stayed with our pups and didn’t get in trouble but felt weird for breaking the rules that we didn’t know about before arriving 🤷♂️
TravelerSmall, quiet and dispersed
Limited sites. Must call District office for permit, but still free. Vaulted toilets. There is a swimming hole in the small creek that’s great! Kids loved it! Also the river is just down on 555 with a kayak launch. An elk viewing plot is just across from the kayak launch site/ parking lot. Not far…
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TravelerFun for a weekend
We tent camp here on weekends. Usually check to see what bands are playing or fun activity going on. We live 5 minutes away so it’s a nice “getaway”.
Only downside is the walk to the bathrooms if you tent camp. A long walk if you really got to go.
GuideFamily-friendly with lots of activities
It would be very difficult to be bored at Driftstone-- games, activities, swimming, boating, plenty of open field for the kids. It is a very family-friendly campground where the staff and other campers are very personable. A group of us stayed in the back,"west" area. The sites were large and…
ScoutNice little camping community in the Poconos
We had a great time despite cold wet weather. Our site was probably one of the worst in the place but we were able to scope out others that we would prefer for our next visit. We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well…
GuideDecent
Camp site was a little awkward when tent camping. We stayed in Birch so not sure about the other sites but it seemed better suited for an RV. Our site had hardly any space for a tent if you didn’t want to sleep on rocks it was nice to be near the lake but glad we had a shaded spot. The showers…
ScoutHead to the back!
Great camping sight! We were lucky to have a back sport that was perfect!
The boys loved swimming and having the freedom to playing at one of the great playgrounds.
