Looking For: Secluded Campsites in PA

[BrendaLeeFree]

My husband and I love our Scamp, but are finding it difficult to discover secluded campsites in PA. Most RV/trailer sites are on top of one another with little to no privacy. We deeply value our privacy when camping and enjoying the quiet and peace of nature. We are open to going electricity free, with possible use of a generator or solar. Do any of you have any suggestions? I'm especially interested in South-Central PA locations.

[Roy in TO]

We often camp on "tent only" sites. To do so, you will have to become familiar with each campground and their rules.

One of our favourite sites up here in Ontario is set up for online booking and we can't select a trailer as equipment to register online. We can book by calling the campground directly and let them know we are bringing a trailer that we know will fit onto the site.

[Brian M. in NY]

Last September we camped at Laurel Hill State Park in the Laurel Highlands. It was the week after the Labor Day Weekend and schools were back in session. I think there were less than a dozen sites occupied in the entire park. Easy drive from there to the Frank Lloyd house "Falling Water", the Flight 93 memorial and many other sights. Or just lounge around camp, it was a beautiful park and we had our choice of electric sites.

[Briantb]

allegheny national forest

Sent from my XT1028 using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[frank_a]

Boy, no kidding Brenda! We camped at two full service sites on the way home from NC weekend before last, and both we were like sardines! North340 in Waynesboro VA was particularly bad (though a nice campground), as was Lehigh Gorge near White Haven PA. We have found NYS campgrounds outside the Adirondack and Catskill State Parks to be the best, as they will have at least power. None of the state campgrounds in the state parks have power. We've had good sites at state campgrounds at Allegany and Keuka.

Good luck!

Frank

[Craig D. Thompson]

Black Moshannon State Park is now one of our favorites. Central PA near State College. Sites are fairly large (many PA State Parks have tiny sites).

Pine Grove Furnace State Park, near Gettysburg is small (number of camp sites) but a gem. Located at the center of the Appalachia Trail with a trail museum.

Locust Lake State Park, near Pottsville (central PA) is quite nice. Reasonable sized sites if I recall correctly. There is a hiking path up a mountain (ok,a hill by most measures) with a beautiful view of the lake.

Gifford Pinchot State Park has a few very enjoyable sites. Sites 114, 115 and 116 are out on a point next to the lake with very nice sunset views.

PA State parks seem to generally have small to very small sites so they will not feel like you are all alone in the woods.

Craig T.

[RogerDat]

Can't speak directly to those specific areas but rustic (vault toilet, hand pump water) campgrounds are generally much less densely populated. Not sure a generator would be terribly welcome but I would guess a solar panel would start some interesting conversations.

Many National Forest lands have access roads if you don't mind getting very rustic. Same with State Forest lands. No amenities, not even water or even sites just rough access roads and find a place to camp. Fire regulations, waste (human) and trash disposal rules need to be known.

You might want to get a site near an interesting area of State or National Forest, then drop the camper and check out the access roads in the TV just to find out the road conditions. Much better to have to back up just the vehicle for a mile if the road turns out to be impassable.

Google Earth satellite view can be a good source of maps and the respective services may also provide them.

[David B.]

TRY USING THIS SITE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO CAMP.

Campgrounds for Camping RV Parks, State Parks USA

DAVE & PAULA

[frank_a]

I use the RV Parky app. It is amazing!

Frank

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by BrendaLeeFree

My husband and I love our Scamp, but are finding it difficult to discover secluded campsites in PA. Most RV/trailer sites are on top of one another with little to no privacy. We deeply value our privacy when camping and enjoying the quiet and peace of nature. We are open to going electricity free, with possible use of a generator or solar. Do any of you have any suggestions? I'm especially interested in South-Central PA locations.

I'm not sure what part of the State this is in but here's a good place to start looking LINK

[BrendaLeeFree]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!