The best camping in Raystown Lake, PA

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87% (15)

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Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Stay at a public campground in Raystown Lake

Top-rated campgrounds

Grouseland Hospitality

98%
(316)
42mi from Raystown Lake · 6 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Clearville, PA
Grouseland's Private Campsites are located on top of our ridge offering a unique scenic overlook and a near virgin sky perfect for stargazing. We have 4 sites ready for you here at Grouseland! Please read their descriptions and book the one best for you! We encourage guests to bring dogs, however dogs must be kept on leads when on site or on leashes when on walks. There are no exceptions to this rule to ensure the safety of all of our guests. All sites include an allotted amount of free firewood, miles of hiking trails, and use of communal facilities including a hot shower and flush toilet. Tall Oaks Campsite: A small private site and is our only rustic style site, so no water or electricity, designed maximum 6 people with parking for 3 cars on site and space for 4 average size tents. This site has a picnic table, portable toilet, scenic overlook, hammock, fireplace, a bench and charcoal grill. Twisted Oak Campsite: A medium-sized luxury private site includes potable water and electricity on site, designed for maximum 8 guests with parking for 4 cars on site and has space for several tents. This site has a picnic table, portable toilet, scenic overlook, hammock, fireplace, benches, charcoal grill, and on-site string lights. Red Maple Campsite: A large luxury private site that includes potable water and electricity on site, designed for a maximum 10 guests with on-site parking space that is 90ft long and 20ft wide, for an RV or 6-8 cars and overflow parking for several more cars. It is designed to be backed into with an RV and then pulled out of. This site can handle several tents and has two picnic tables, two portable toilets, a scenic overlook, hammock, fireplace, benches, a charcoal grill, and on-site string lights. Aspen RV Campsite: A medium private luxury drive through site great for RVs, rooftop tents, pop ups or camper vans. This site includes potable water and electricity on site, designed with water and electric hookups for a single camping vehicle, maximum 6 people. This site is a drive through site, so guests don’t have to back in or out. This site also has a picnic table, portable toilet, scenic overlook, hammock, fireplace, charcoal grill, and a bench.
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$44
 / night

Scenic Altoona Camp

18mi from Raystown Lake · 1 site · RV · Altoona, PA
Located between the 17th Street and Pinecroft I-99 exits in Altoona, this spot makes for an easy pit stop while traveling through. We’re about 45 minutes south of State College and 35 minutes north of Bedford. The property includes a 100-foot-long parking space below our garage. Our quiet neighborhood sits on a dead-end street, adjacent to hundreds of acres of wooded watershed land. The wide, mile-long street is a popular place for a leisurely stroll. Please note that you will hear traffic from I-99, as the lower end of the property borders the highway. Nearby Adventures Canoe Creek State Park – 911 acres of natural beauty with a 155-acre lake for fishing and boating, plus hiking trails, swimming, and picnic areas. Bells Gap Rail Trail – A multi-use trail offering both easy, flat sections for walking or biking and rugged stretches for mountain biking and hiking. Valley View Park – A 45-acre green space in Altoona with wooded paths, open fields, and family-friendly picnic spots. Chimney Rocks Park – Near Hollidaysburg, featuring striking limestone formations and overlooks with sweeping valley views.
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$25
 / night

Montside Orchard Camp, Cabin&Sauna

100%
(18)
40mi from Raystown Lake · 2 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Chambersburg, PA
The Cabin, Wood-Fired Sauna, and Meadow campsites at Montside Orchard boast one of the most magical sunset views in the Cumberland Valley. You can also expect to see a daily show of wildlife—herds of white tail deer, wild turkeys and hundreds of wild birds make Montside Orchard their home! Bring your binoculars--it's a wooded wonderland! The Cabin is hugged by woodlands at the back and bucolic green hills dotted with orchards and small farms out the front. Yet within 15 minutes you will have arrived in quaint, well appointed downtown Chambersburg-- a small town bursting with good art and good food! We are also conveniently located 10 minutes from I-81, a major North/South interstate and 10 minutes from Rt 30. While we don't allow hiking on the property Rt 30 takes you into Micheaux Forest, the Appalachian Trail and Caledonia State Park within 15 min and the historic Gettysburg National Park within 35. White Tail Ski Resort is 40 minutes South and Ski Liberty is 40 miles East.
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$45
 / night

The Bellefonte Campground

97%
(15)
46mi from Raystown Lake · 11 sites · Lodging · Bellefonte, PA
Bellefonte Campground is situated on close to 40 acres in the heart of central Pennslyvania, just minutes from State College and near some of the best fishing spots in Pennsylvania, including Fisherman's Paradise on Spring Creek. At Bellefonte Campground, you'll have plenty of space to enjoy! Our expansive campground offers lots of wide-open Pennsylvania acreage for you to explore. Each site features a picnic table and fire ring, providing the perfect setting for family gatherings. And don't forget: We are a pet-friendly campground. Bellefonte Campground is your gateway to a host of exciting local attractions. Experience the thrill of a Penn State football game: Beaver Stadium is about 15 minutes away. Looking for something a little more relaxing? Nearby Spring Creek offers excellent fly fishing opportunities. Or head out to Bald Eagle State Park, where you'll find an abundance of scenic trails and fascinating wildlife. With such an array of activities, your stay at Bellefonte Campground promises to be a truly unforgettable one.
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$180
 / night

Estes Place

98%
(32)
46mi from Raystown Lake · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Hancock, MD
Nestled within 45 acres of wooded hills and valleys, Estes Place offers a tranquil retreat just 5 miles from the Town of Hancock. Situated near the scenic C&O Rail Trail, ideal for paved walking, running, and biking, our location also boasts proximity to popular eateries such as IHOP, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and a variety of local dining options. With capacity for over a dozen tent sites, each offering unique accessibility, seclusion, and amenities, Estes Place caters to a range of camping preferences. Our two main sites feature fire rings for campfires (weather permitting), along with a porta-potty for convenience. Site one is accessible to small campers and pop-up trailers, while sites 3 and beyond are accessible by walking, backpacking, ATV, or very small compact 4WD vehicles. Explore approximately 2 miles of moderate to intense loop hiking trails and gravel roads, meandering past half a dozen year-round streams and foot-long waterfalls teeming with salamanders, frogs, and crayfish. Experience the vibrant wildlife that inhabits our surroundings, from daily sightings of deer and squirrels to nightly visits from barred owls and bats. Keep an eye out for occasional appearances by turkey, sapsuckers, woodpeckers, porcupines, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes, with the possibility of encountering a black bear annually and even a rare sighting of a mountain lion. During March through June, lucky visitors may stumble upon up to 8-inch black morel mushrooms, while certain years bring the elusive cicada and their deafening buzz. Summer nights are illuminated by enchanting displays of lightning bugs (fireflies) amidst the warmer temperatures.
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$21
 / night

Cosey Cabin

100%
(21)
47mi from Raystown Lake · 3 sites · Lodging · Greencastle, PA
This is a 160 square foot tiny house/cabin in a small wooded area at the rear of my 2 acre property. A separate 90 square foot bath house is also provided. Both are primitive, ie, no electric or running water. The are some solar lights and candles for nighttime. Enjoy laying in the hammocks with a nice camp fire in the evening. The house is heated with a small wood stove but there is no air conditioning. Cook either on the wood stove or over the fire outside. In the summertime it is nice and private with the surrounding vegetation Please keep in mind. This is a primitive setting in the woods. It will be hot in the summer and temperature must be maintained in the winter with the wood stove or Buddy Heater. While I do spray for bugs to the best of my ability, there is a good chance you will encounter at least a few. We are in a residential country setting, so you may experience other wildlife as well. In the summertime while the foliage is up it is quite private, although you can still hear the neighbors. In the winter you will be able to see the neighbors as the trees are bare.
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$88
 / night

Bald Eagle Campsite

96%
(1614)
25mi from Raystown Lake · 33 sites · Tents, RVs · Tyrone, PA
Originally opened as a family campground owned and operated by Denis and Kay Snyder in 1964. Bald Eagle Campsite has been owned and operated by the Snyder family to this day! Come join us in the beautiful forested landscape of Central Pennsylvania. Located a mere 20 miles south of Penn State University, we are surrounded by the many amenities Central PA has to offer. We are welcoming to LGBTQ+ campers as well as all ethnicities. Pitch a tent on a quiet site and drop a line into one of our two trout streams crossing the campground. Hang a hammock between two towering poplar trees surrounded by flowering rhododendron. Or pull up in your camper and relax before and after a Penn State Football game under the blue and white sky. We have small, secluded sites to get away from it all, as well as conjoined sites to accommodate larger groups. On property we have bathrooms, hot showers, and a recreation hall with free ping pong, board games, and billiards. For a fee, we also have firewood, electricity, and a large event tent for rent. Campers must be less than 25 feet. Generators are not allowed. Music should not reach outside your own site after 9pm. There are no water hookups. Vehicle noise is audible from route 350, especially on Friday afternoons. Noise is diminished at sites further back from route 350. Our sites are wheelchair accessible, but the bathrooms and showers do have one step up into them. Walk to Snappy's 24-hour convenience store to use their free Wi-Fi, buy bags of ice, or to pickup snacks and a sub in the attached Snappy's Grille. An ice cream stand and restaurant are within walking distance. We require a minimum two nights stay for the recognized holiday weekends for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
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$30
 / night

Slice of Solitude

100%
(37)
39mi from Raystown Lake · 1 site · Tent, RV · Windber, PA
Our property was once an overgrown field that in the past was strip mined for coal. This area was purchased by a local church congregation and has been transformed into a fun, peaceful picnic/recreation area. We enjoy using this area for picnics, birthday/graduation parties, family reunions and other fun, meaningful events. We have even had a few weddings here. Recently we decided that we want to give more people the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful, serene area. We hope you choose to come and relax and enjoy a "Slice of Solitude" Learn more about this land: Rustic camping area not far from town. We have a sand volleyball court, horseshoes, children's playground, tether ball, corn hole. A walking trail, running water, electricity (we do now have two 30 amp outlets), a fire pit, and a few other options. A nice quiet area. In 2024 we add a very nice shower house/restroom.
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$36
 / night

Ridge Top Retreat

100%
(26)
42mi from Raystown Lake · 5 sites · Tents, Lodging · Westover, PA
We are located in beautiful Clearfield county Pennysalvina. Our farm is on over 150 acres. It’s has been in the family for generations. It has beautiful farm views with wooded areas. There is lots of wildlife to see. Including bear, bobcat, deer, eagles, fishers, and many other species. We have lots of hiking trails and our property also boarders state game lands. It’s a short drive to the Susquehanna River and other parks. You can also enjoy the cows, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, and turkeys at the farm. Contact the host and set up a time to visit and feed the animals. Learn more about our family farm and the animals. We also have a sawmill and wood shop. Nearby is Bilgers Rocks, Rock Run Atv Park, Prince Gallitzin State Park, the Susquehanna River, and many other fantastic outdoor activities. It’s a place to unwind and relax. And connect with nature. This is in a very rural part of Pennsylvania and camping in the winter weather can be difficult. So please prepare yourself with additional sleeping bags for winter. The tent is heated but because of the unpredictable and sometimes dangerous weather you need to be prepared. The bathroom is also outdoors so there will not be a shower provided till after the freezing weather. And the loo is not heated. It is also recommended that you have all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive to get to the campsite in the winter. It is possible to walk from road to site. But you should consider this when booking. RTR is a very beautiful place in the winter but it can also be dangerous if you’re not prepared.
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$25
 / night

The best camping in Raystown Lake, PA guide

Overview

About

The 8,300-acre Raystown Lake is the largest lake within Pennsylvania’s borders, fringed by lush oak-hickory forests and sandy swimming beaches. With 12 public access areas, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the lake, whether camping at a lakeside campsite, launching your boat from a marina, or taking to the water to swim, kayak, or even scuba dive. Fishing is big business at Raystown Lake, so bring your fishing gear and hook a striper, trout, bass, or walleye to cook up over the campfire. Need a break from the lake? Escape to the woodlands to explore miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. 

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for boaters: Nancy's Boat to Shore Campground has secluded tent sites by a swimming beach, reachable only by boat.
  • Best for RVs: Seven Points Campground has six camping loops and spacious sites with electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire grills.
  • Best for lake views: Susquehannock Campground has more than 60 tent-only and RV sites, with vault toilets, drinking water, and easy access to the lake.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. You can reserve the park’s campsites in advance via the Recreation.gov website. 
  2. Campsite reservations open six months in advance, and same-day bookings are possible. 
  3. Weekend bookings require a minimum 2-night booking; holiday weekends require a minimum 3-night booking.
  4. Campsites can book up fast on summer and holiday weekends, so reserve your site as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

When to go

Lake lovers flock to Raystown Lake from April through October, which is the best time for fishing, boating, and outdoor activities. Come in July and August to cool off at the lakeside beaches and enjoy water sports, or in fall to admire the fall foliage around the lakeside. Some marinas and services close down in the low season but don’t write off a winter visit—several campgrounds stay open year-round.

Know before you go

  • Raystown Lake is in Huntingdon County, 14 miles south of Huntingdon or about a 20-minute drive away.
  • Facilities at Raystown Lake include a visitor center, several boat launches, picnic areas, and restrooms. Grocery stores, bait shops, and gas stations can be found in the nearby villages, but Huntingdon has the best selection of shops and restaurants. 
  • There are accessible campsites, restrooms, and picnic areas at Raystown Lake.
87%
15 ratings · 5 reviews