Where We've Been
When we started this blog, we had already been weekend-RVing for a summer season. So before we set out on the 2018 travel season, we shared what we had experienced in our Top 3 PA State Parks to Visit list.
Once that season wrapped up, we had some changes to make to our list. We updated it be our Top 5 PA State Parks to Visit list.
Now before you go thinking we’re headed to the Top 7 or Top 10, we’re not! When the 2019 season actually wrapped up, we looked back at our Top 5 and agreed- those were still the Top 5.
It wasn’t that we didn’t enjoy all the parks! To review, in 2019, we visited:
We also took day trips to:
But none of those compared to the amazing hiking and wildlife we experienced at Worlds End or Cowans Gap State Parks, so the Top 5 list stands!
This means we’ve now visited 28 of the 51 state parks that offer overnight RV accommodations in Pennsylvania.
Out of the total 121 PA state parks, the remaining 70 do not have campgrounds. We’ve seen between 15-20 of those, too.
Why Should YOU Visit PA State Parks?
Convenient
As you can see from the map above, if you live in Pennsylvania, you are likely less then an hour’s drive of a state park (or two)!
Even if you are visiting a major city like Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, you can take a quick side trip to explore the outdoors and visit a park.
Want some help locating the nearest state park (or even park in general) to you? Go to DiscoverTheForest.org, enter your zip code, and decide which green space you’ll visit next!
Affordable
Did you know none of the PA state parks charge an admission or use fee for the day? You can visit whenever you’d like and enjoy the scenery, waterways, and trails at no cost.
For an RV weekend, 51 PA state parks have camp sites with electricity – and some even have water hook-ups – plus picnic tables, fire pits, and bath houses with flushing toilets and hot showers.
You can reserve an RV spot for just around $30 per night. If you’d rather go more rustic and pitch a tent, spaces are only $15-20. If glamping is more your thing, some state parks also have inns, cabins, cottages, and yurts – all at very reasonable prices – that can be reserved up to 11 months in advance.
Check out the entire pricing matrix for PA state parks– you won’t find a better deal!
Pet-Friendly
There are 56 PA state parks that have dog-friendly campsites and 26 with designated dog cabins. You can read up on pet rules & regs to see the typical things like stay in designated areas, clean up after your pet, and keep them on a leash at all times.
To see which pet options are available at which park when you visit the Reservations website, select the type of camping you’re “Interested in” and then the type of site you’re “Looking for”.
The prompt under that drop down menu asks “Number of Occupants”. If you click “more options”, you’ll see the check boxes where you can choose “Pets allowed” to filter your reservation options.
Once you’ve completed the form by selecting an “Arrival date” and “Length of stay”, simply hit “Search” to reveal a list of pet-friendly campgrounds with campsites available for your date range.
You can find even more details on the Pet Camping Fact Sheet and the Dogs in Cabins Fact Sheet.
Trail-Side
We have found that well over half of a park’s trail network is easily accessible from the campground.
If you are a fan of hiking or have brought your 4-legged friends along, this means less time getting to and from trail heads and more time hiking, creek walking, relaxing, and roasting s’mores.
Combine the convenience and low price of PA state park campgrounds with their easy access to hiking trails and the most beautiful scenery in Pennsylvania, and you have the perfect camping weekend!
Where We’ll Be Next
Now that we’ve convinced you to visit a PA state park, maybe we’ll run into you this travel season!
Here are the places we plan to visit- as the season rolls on, we’ll update each with a Trip Report link:
- Ohiopyle (again) (of course)
We can never get enough of our favorite. The campground is so large, there are still sections we haven’t stayed in!
- Ohiopyle (again) (of course)
- Little Buffalo
This park has a covered bridge and takes us through Central PA past some of our favorite ice cream stops and the shelter where we found Hazel.
- Little Buffalo
- Clear Creek
Few campsites compare to the waterfront ones along the Clarion River at Clear Creek! - Cowans Gap
Third time’s charm at one of our favorite PA state parks!
- Clear Creek
- Ricketts Glen (pet-friendly cabin- first try!)
Since this park is a little over four hours away, we’re trying a pet-friendly cabin. The hiking and waterfalls are supposed to be epic. We’ll dish. - Deep Creek State Park in Maryland
OK, OK, it isn’t a PA state park…but it’s not too far from the border! - Cook Forest State Park
Also along the Clarion River, we couldn’t wait to hike the Forest Cathedral again. - Cedar Creek State Park in West Virginia
Take advantage of some late leaf peeping in the wild and wonderful state of WV!
- Ricketts Glen (pet-friendly cabin- first try!)
See you at the parks!
