DCNR Home : Pennsylvania State Parks : First-time Camper in PA State Parks


First-Time Camper Program


There has never been a better time to try camping for the first time! Award-winning Pennsylvania State Parks has teamed up with Gander Mountain to offer camping to first-time campers at participating parks.This is the logo of Gander Mountain: We live outdoors.

For just $20, a weekend’s worth of fresh air, family memories and fun are yours to be had.  

Campers get two nights of camping, equipment rental and hands-on instruction on how to camp by state park expert campers. You won't be able to keep the gear, but you'll receive great discounts on everything you're trying out, plus more!


Call the following participating Pennsylvania state parks to make a reservation.

Black Moshannon814-342-5960
Caledonia717-352-2161
Chapman717-352-2161
Clear Creek717-352-2161
Colonel Denning717-776-5272
Cook Forest717-352-2161
Gifford Pinchot717-432-5011
Hills Creek717-352-2161
Keystone724-668-2939
Lackawanna717-352-2161
Laurel Hill814-445-7725
Little Pine570-753-6000
Locust Lake570-467-2404
Ole Bull814-435-5000
Parker Dam814-765-0630
Promised Land717-352-2161
Pymatuning724-932-3141
Raymond B. Winter570-966-1455
Ryerson Station717-352-2161
Sinnemahoning717-352-2161