Camping
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This chart lists all camping locations in Pennsylvania State Parks. |
Whether you like sleeping close to nature in a tent or relaxing in style in an RV, camping in a state park gives you the inside view to explore history, natural areas and fun activities for the entire family. If you've never camped, or haven't camped in years, we've got two programs to help. Our First-time Camper program is for people who have never camped in a Pennsylvania State Park. Our Family Camping programs are for those who want guided, hands-on help camping.
Explore Recreation to see what types of recreational opportunities are available in parks.
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Types of Campsites Modern - nearby restrooms have flush toilets and hot showers Rustic - nearby restrooms have vault toilets Walk-in - are reached by a short walk Backpacking/Adirondack Shelters/Shelter Areas - sleep in the tent you carry or rent a lean-to Camping Cottages - wooden walls, electricty, bunk beds Deluxe Cottages - wooden walls, electricity, cooking stove Yurts - round, canvas/wooden walls, electricity, cooking stove Walled Tents - built on platforms, electricity Amenities Electric - at specific sites for a fee, amp varies at each park Pets - at designated sites for a fee Most campsites in Pennsylvania state parks can be reserved 11 months in advance to noon of the day of arrival. How do I make a reservation?
Make an online reservation or call 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on the Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays. Reservations can be made using MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover credit cards or personal, traveler’s and cashier’s checks. To receive a confirmed reservation, full payment must be received by the Bureau within ten days of making the reservation. What if I arrive without a reservation?Unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Campers without a reservation arriving after noon should check at the contact station or near the campground entrance for instructions. If an employee is not available, read posted instructions and check the "After Hours Posting Report." The appropriate fee must be paid to a park employee or deposited in a supplied honor system envelope before setting up on a campsite. Proceed to an available site and set up. Transfers and changes to a reservationChanges to a reservation (even ones made online) must be made by calling the Pennsylvania State Parks Reservation Center at 888-PA-PARKS, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. CancellationsCancellations can be handled via the Internet under "My Account" or by calling the call center. Cancellations made up to the close of business seven days prior to your scheduled arrival date will incur a $10 cancellation fee. If you cancel six days or less prior to the arrival date, you will forfeit the first night’s fee or $75, whichever is the lesser amount. There is a $10 fee assessed for all changes made to your reservation, except adding nights to the reservation. Changes to a reservation can be made at the call center, but not via the Internet. Any cancellation or change on the day of arrival must be made through the state park that you have the reservation with. Charges apply to each reservation that has been requested to be cancelled or changed. DiscountsPeople with a disability can receive a $4.50 discount from the base campsite price upon request. Senior citizens, 62 years of age or older, can receive a discount on the base campsite fee at a Pennsylvania state park by showing proof of age.
Campsites, Cottages, Yurts and Walled TentsSenior citizens and people with disabilities can get a reduced campsite price. Peak season is generally the second Friday in June to the day before the third Friday in August and at designated sites during periods such as the Friday before Thanksgiving to the first Friday in March. Non-peak season is generally the third Friday in August to the day before the second Friday in June. Backpacking/River Camping
Camping
Peak season is generally the second Friday in June to the day before the third Friday in August and at designated sites during periods such as the Friday before Thanksgiving to the first Friday in March. Non-peak season is generally the third Friday in August to the day before the second Friday in June.
Make online reservations anytime. Call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757) for state park information and reservations, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday except on the Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays.
Please be familiar with all state park rules and especially the following rules and regulations. Minimum staySummer Season (Memorial Day to Labor day) Non-summer Season Maximum staySummer Season (Memorial Day to Labor day) Non-summer Season Maximum number of sleeping unitsA maximum of two sleeping units are permitted per campsite, of which only one may be wheeled. Tents must be placed on the designated tent pad or the established stone/gravel camping area in order to protect the resource. If a designated pad or gravel area is not provided, the tent(s) must be contained within the campsite in an area that least disturbs the resource. Maximum number of people per siteSite occupancy is limited to one family unit (persons living under one household) or one non-family unit limited to five persons per site. Anyone renting a campsite must be 18 years of age or older and must be present at the campsite. ParkingOnly one vehicle per campsite is allowed unless otherwise posted. Park only in designated areas. Alcoholic beveragesAlcoholic beverages are prohibited in all Pennsylvania state parks. Check-in timeCheck-in time is 3 p.m. Check-out timeCheck-out time for campsites is 3 p.m. Camping cottages and yurts must be vacated by 10 a.m. Visitors, quiet hours and noiseVisitors are welcome to campsites from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Campers must not disturb the sleep of others between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. Electric generators that create excessive noise are prohibited. FiresFires are permitted only in provided fireplaces or grills. Gas and propane camp stoves are permitted. Please be careful with fire. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished before leaving the campsite. FirewoodFirewood is not provided. Cutting live trees or standing trees and the operation of chainsaws are prohibited. Firewood advisoryFirewood may contain non-native insects and plant diseases. Bringing firewood into the park from other areas may accidentally spread pest insects and diseases that threaten park resources and the health of our forests. Campers should use local firewood. Do not take wood home and do not leave firewood - Burn It! HandwashingHandwashing and dishwashing are permitted only where appropriate facilities are available. Hand-washing and dishwashing are prohibited at water spigots, hand pumps, springs, lakes and streams. HuntingFirearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner’s car, trailer or leased campsite. The only exception is that law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms may carry said firearm concealed on their person while they are within the park. Pets in CampgroundsPennsylvania State Parks allows pets in designated campsites in most state park campgrounds. Specific pet camping guidelines govern this program and are listed below. The designated campgrounds and campsites are listed below. Other state parks will continue to prohibit pets in overnight areas. No more than two non-caged pets are allowed to stay on any one campsite. For reservations, call toll-free, 888-PA-PARKS, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. These parks have limited pet sites so be sure to specify to the call center operator that you desire a campsite that permits pets. Explore Where to Camp for a listing of parks that allow pets campgrounds. What is a Pet?A house pet is limited to any dog or cat commonly kept in household captivity, or a caged pet. A caged pet is an animal that will not be released from its cage for the duration of its stay in the state park, like birds and hamsters. A pet is not livestock, like horses, cows, pigs, sheep and goats. A pet is not a vicious or dangerous animal, like any animal with a history of attacking without provocation. Pet Camping Guidelines
More information is available at any Pennsylvania state park office or by calling 888-PA-PARKS. Senior citizens, 62 years of age or older, can receive a $4.50 reduction on the base campsite fee at any campground operated by the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks. To receive the reduced price, a senior citizen must be the occupant and responsible party identified in the camping reservation. The state park regulation pertaining to the maximum number of people per site still applies. Identification For Senior Citizens To receive the reduced campsite price, a proper form of identification may be requested at the time of registration or at any time during the visit for verification. These are some suggested forms of ID:
Camping Supplies ChecklistPrint this list then check-off each item as you pack it for your camping trip to a Pennsylvania State Park. You may want to bring more stuff or less stuff, but this is a pretty complete listing for a camping trip. Reservations __ Make reservations online or call toll free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757) up to 11 months ahead of arrival date. To insure that you get a campsite, reserve a campsite or walled tent in advance. Packing __ Backpack, daypack, and/or fanny pack __ Bags - Tent bag, grocery bags, etc. __ Cardboard boxes if needed __ Ice chest with ice Lighting - Check batteries! __ Flashlight __ Spare batteries and bulbs __ Lantern (gas or electric) __ Spare lantern fuel and mantles __ Matches (preferably water proof) Shelter/Bedding __ Tent __ Tent rain tarp __ Extra tent stakes __ Dining fly __ Plastic ground cloth for under the tent __ Sleeping bag __ Mattress or pad - Inflator for air mattress __ Pillow __ Space blanket Medical __ Sunscreen __ Insect repellent __ Poison ivy block __ Poison ivy remedies __ Allergy medicines __ Pain relief pills like aspirin __ Tummy medicines (for diarrhea etc.) __ Tweezers for splinters __ Antiseptic __ Band-Aids and bandages __ Itch cream for bug bites __ Mole skin (to prevent blisters if you hike a lot) __ First Aid Kit (may include all the above items) __ Prescription medicines (if prescribed by your doctor) __ Extra pair of prescription glasses Cleaning & Personal Items __ Bar soap (biodegradable) __ Washcloth __ Shampoo (biodegradable) __ Toothpaste (biodegradable) __ Toothbrush __ Comb or hair brush __ Razor (shaving cream) __ Toilet paper __ Case or bag to carry the above items to the shower house __ Bath towel Equipment __ Ax (do not cut any living or standing trees) __ Bow saw __ Extension cord (if at campsite with electric hookup) __ Duct tape and/or electrical tape __ Hammer for pounding in tent pegs __ Rope __ Clothesline __ Clothes pins __ Whiskbroom to clean table and tent site Miscellaneous __ Pocket knife __ Compass and area map __ Fishing pole and gear (+ license & bait!) __ Beach chairs __ Camping chairs __ Safety pins __ Cellular phone w/extra battery and car adapter __ Camera w/good battery and extra film __ Camcorder w/good battery and extra tapes __ Money, credit card, ID __ Books, radio, cards, games, toys, etc. __ Sports equipment __ Citronella candles __ Binoculars __ Field guides for identifying wildlife __ Park mini-map (get one when you arrive) Clothing Dress for the season Bring warm clothes in case the weather turns cold Don't forget these special items __ Wide-brimmed hat to block the sun __ Jacket - As weather dictates; Eskimo style, mackintosh, windbreaker, etc. __ Rain gear __ Poncho - Doubles as emergency tent/lean-to __ Shower shoes __ Hiking boots __ Work gloves __ Swim suit Repair Kit __ Hammer __ Pliers __ Duct tape __ Screwdriver set Cooking __ Stove with fuel & lighter or charcoal and lighter fluid & grill for BBQ __ Newspapers for lighting a campfire __ Firewood __ Frying pan with lid __ Cooking skewers (for hot dogs, marshmallows, etc.) __ Pot or sauce pan with lid __ Can opener __ Tongs __ Coffee maker & filters __ Pot lifter and/or pot holders __ Tablecloth Dishes __ Plates - Partition tray/plate is nice __ Mugs/cups __ Knifes, forks, spoons __ Kitchen knife __ Mixing bowl __ Spatula __ Scrub pad __ Dish pan for washing dishes __ Container for water Consumables __ Paper towels & napkins __ Trash bags __ Plastic Bags __ Aluminum Foil __ Dish soap (biodegradable) __ Water bottle, to carry while hiking __ Water jug to fetch water from the pump or faucet Food & Drink Bring whatever food you wish, but remember that you will have limited space for food that needs to be refrigerated. Make sure that you have adequate cooking dishes and utensils to prepare what food you bring. Outdoor appetites are usually large so be prepared! Be sure to store food in a safe location to keep animals from your food. Keep food in a car trunk or in the interior under a blanket, or hang your food between two trees. Fresh fruit and vegetables do not need refrigeration and need minimum preparation Kids will want to cook over the campfire so bring hotdogs and marshmallows (and graham crackers and chocolate for s-mores) Don't forget condiments; Salt, pepper, spices, sugar Ketchup Mustard Mayonnaise Have a safe and enjoyable camping experience! |
