The best camping in Bucktail State Park Natural Area, PA

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Discover the scenic splendor of Bucktail State Park Natural Area.  

The best camping in Bucktail State Park Natural Area, PA

Public campgrounds here are often sold out.

4. The Bellefonte Campground

97%
(18)
24mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 11 sites · Lodging
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.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from 
$180
 / night

5. RV Hook Up at The Barn

100%
(12)
28mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 1 site · Tent, RV
You won’t forget the peaceful surroundings of this rustic destination. This ad is for an RV hook-up only, located behind a beautiful rustic barn and silo. Perfect for a restful night's sleep in your RV with all the hookups. Power, (30 amp 120). water and septic. This location is 45 minutes from the Penn State football stadium. 20 minutes from Pine Creek Rail Trail. And only 5 minutes off of Interstate 80. NOTE: RV NOT INCLUDED. The space This RV hook-up is a perfect quiet place to park your RV for the night or however long you want to stay. Parked behind a beautiful rustic Barn you’ll have the whole place to yourself. Guest access The area around the RV Hook up. Other things to note Local attractions: Penn State Beaver Stadium. 45 minutes Pine Creek Rail Trail. 20 minutes Ravensburg State Park. 8 minutes Local Amish farm country. Hardwear stores and markets. Penns Cave: 30. Minutes
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$62
 / night

6. Meadow View Near PSU

100%
(14)
29mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Enjoy the private back acre of our 2-acre parcel. RV parking is separated from the main house by a barn and Morton building. Set up camp overlooking what used to be a grassy yard, but is now a walkable wildflower meadow. Enjoy the meadow paths and entire property's yard. Pets are welcome, but must be leashed at all times - our dog is friendly, but will also be leashed when outside. The house and barn were built in the late 1800s and are currently being restored. There will be no construction activity during your stay, but there may be assorted projects in process visible near buildings. Please do not enter buildings unless accompanied by a property owner. Many restaurants, breweries, distilleries and parks are just minutes away in Bellefonte! When visiting them, we recommend going straight out of our driveway onto Clemens instead of turning right onto Valentine Hill. Valentine has tight turns that are a challenge to navigate in an RV or with a trailer.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
$128
 / night

7. Austin Dam Memorial Park

98%
(804)
31mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 56 sites · Tents, RVs
Just outside the quaint town of Austin sits a vivid reminder of one of Pennsylvania's worst disasters – the Austin Flood. In 1909, the dam was constructed on Freeman Run to power the Bayless Papermill downstream. Many wondered if the dam was safe. On September 30, 1911, Austin found out. Poor construction, coupled with torrential rain, resulted in the dam's collapse. Nearly 400 million gallons of water were released, destroying everything for 8 miles. At least 78 people perished in the tragedy. It was the second worst flood disaster in Pennsylvania's history and sixth worst dam failure in U.S. history. The tragedy sparked new legislation to improve dam safety, and the Austin Dam was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The ruins of the dam still stand, surrounded by a 76-acre park, as a tribute to the lives lost in the Austin Flood. Don't miss one of Potter County's best kept secrets!
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$20
 / night

8. Elk Run Maples

97%
(16)
31mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 1 site · Tent, RV
A gorgeous property at the foot of Elephant mountain with the Elk Run creek edging the back private area, provides hours of relaxation listen to the stream, fishing and wading in the creek. Huge maple trees where a maple sugar shack was once on the property provides a wooded area by the stream where you can set up a tent or sleep in hammocks and listen to the stream. We are renovating a barn into a large beautiful house will be available soon. We provide a picnic table, and a fire ring. Fire wood available for additional fee. There could be two sites, one has electric and both have water. If you are camping together, contact me for additional information and fee for more than one RVs. Bring a water filter, water is safe but has the sulfur smell. A charcoal filter is recommended. The circular driveway provides easy access. Toy hauler or horse trailers welcome. ATV can get in the DCNR connector trail right from the driveway. Hunters are welcome to hunt the many acres of public land in the area. Not permitted on our property. There is wildlife including bear, deer and Turkey we often see ducks, eagles, gross beaks, and cardinals just to name a few. This is the place to come to park you RV and retreat to the creek in back of property if you want time to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. There may be other people on the property if we are there or if the house is rented. There is plenty of space for all.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
$28
 / night

13. Stargazing Field at Olga Farm

99%
(360)
39mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 5 sites · Tents
Olga Farm is a working organic vegetable farm with a Stargazing Field for primitive camping & it also offers a number of glamping options. Please contact us if you're interested in glamping at Olga Farm. The Stargazing Field at Olga Farm is perfect for camping, breathtaking sunrises, peaceful meditation, & you guessed it...stargazing in some of the darkest skies in the northeastern United States. It's adjacent to a working organic vegetable farm. Olga Farm is 4.4 miles from the charming town of Coudersport & its shops & eateries, including Olga Gallery, Cafe, & Bistro which is only 5.9 miles away. There's a great swimming hole less than 5.5 miles away. Cherry Springs State Park, a stargazing Mecca is 21 miles away. Olga Farm is a great base to explore the Pennsylvania Wilds. We are 36 miles from the Kinzua Skywalk & 46 miles from Leonard Harrison State Park, one of our favorite places to view the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. We're only 14 miles from the Austin Dam Ruins & 37 miles from Rock City Park just over the border in New York State.
Pets
Campfires
Toilets
from 
$63
 / night

16. Triple Dream Farm

100%
(117)
43mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Hipcamp hosts since 2017 on a 99 acre farm, we are located approximately 2 hours south from either Erie, PA or Buffalo, NY, 3 hours north of Pittsburgh, PA and just west of Potter County, PA. We offer 2 camping experiences on the farm - Open Pasture Campsite (May 1st - October 31st) AND Boondocking RV Camping (year-round, but dependent on weather and availability). Please chose the camping experience/site that will suit you and your groups needs. We are close to the Kinzua Bridge Skywalk with breathtaking views and beautiful year-round hiking, the Kinzua Dam for boating and water activities abundant outdoor activities at the nearby Allegheny National Forest will insure that you will have plenty to do during your stay! We are 30 minutes from Bradford, PA, home of the Zippo/Case Museum and Flag Ship Store and Penn-Brad Oil Museum. Lumber Museum, Rock City Park & Jakes's Rocks/Allegany National Forest are all a short drive. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is nearby for day trip for additional hiking and other outdoor activities along with wondrous views and activities. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) equine rescue and all fees go directly to the daily care of rescued equines and related activities as well as community outreach and education.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$25
 / night

18. Bald Eagle Campsite

96%
(1614)
47mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 33 sites · Tents, RVs
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.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$30
 / night

19. Endless views & star filled nights

97%
(51)
47mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
ALL PROFITS FROM CAMPING ARE DONATED TO SECOND CHANCE ANIMAL SANCTURIES ! Over $2,000 has been donated since August 2024! They thank you for your support. Please note the hot tub is closed to campers until we add an outdoor shower. Open year round but message before booking in winter months to check for driveway conditions. The best views in the area and super dark for night star watching! Very dog friendly, naturalist friendly and 420 friendly... plenty of privacy to enjoy freely. Ask bout renting the entire outdoor property (I can easily camp over 100 people). I am minutes from Route 15 in the center of 45 acres 240 feet above the road at 1680 feet with 30 mile views. My nearest neighbors are a half mile away. Get a 360 degree view from the lookout tower. Plenty of room for your dogs to run. All 3 sites have elect extention cords strung to them providing 15 amp 115v electric Wood fire pits at each site with wood available for purchase. All sites have string lights and picnic tables. There is sold ground for a small size camper or any size tent. The lookout tower us for all to use. I am 25 minutes from Wellsboro PA and the Pa Grand Canyon with a 62 mile rail trail, bike and kayak rentals are 40 minutes away, one hour to Finger lakes, locally there is lots of hiking, fishing and exploring. 4 wheel drive maybe needed in winter for my driveway.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
$10
 / night

20. Wilson’s Boondock Hollow

100%
(39)
47mi from Bucktail State Park Natural Area · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
***We are closed for the winter, we will open back up sometime in April or beginning of May*** Latest updates on weather, local events, photos and videos can be found on our Instagram @wilsons_boondock If you're in search of a primitive camping location that's perfect for unwinding, offering privacy and seclusion, then we are the destination for you. We have many extras that you can add to your stay like fishing our private spring fed pond. PSU Football fans we can accommodate your group, just send us a message about your group size first. We do welcome drones. Tucked away in the heart of the Stone Valley Forest a secluded 150+ year old family farm bordering Penn State University Forest and near Rothrock State Forest. Abundant wildlife and scenic hiking, biking trails on site and nearby with Greenwood Furnace and Whipples Damn State parks only a few minutes away. The area has some of the finest trout fishing with the streams and lakes nearby such as Standing Stone Creek, Juniata River, Little Juniata and the famous Spruce Creek. We are centrally situated between State College PA, and historic Huntingdon PA home of Juniata College, and Belleville PA (Home to the second oldest Amish community in the country) where you can attend the famous sale every Wednesday. Local Restaurants: Doan's Bones BBQ (eat in & carry out, 5 min drive) Couch's Subs and Groceries (eat in & carry out, 10 min drive) McMurtrie's Tavern (eat in & carry out, 15 min drive) Local churches: Manor Hill Methodist, service every Sunday at 11am to noon (3 min drive) St. Stephens Lutheran Church (5 min drive)
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$28
 / night

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The best camping in Bucktail State Park Natural Area, PA guide

Overview

About

Embark on a journey through the serene Bucktail State Park Natural Area, where a 75-mile scenic drive unveils the rugged beauty of Pennsylvania's landscapes. From the lush greenery of spring to the vivid hues of fall, this park offers a tranquil escape into nature. While camping facilities are not available, the park's myriad activities, including kayaking, fishing, and wildlife watching, promise an unforgettable outdoor adventure.

When to go

The ideal time to visit Bucktail State Park Natural Area is during the fall, when the foliage transforms into a tapestry of color, especially during the Flaming Foliage Festival in October. Spring also offers a spectacle of blooming mountain laurel. Winter months can be challenging due to harsh weather, making some areas less accessible.

Know before you go

  • Verify access permissions, as much of the land within the park is privately owned.
  • Facilities are limited, so plan accordingly for your visit.
  • The park is ADA accessible; contact the park for specific accommodations.
  • In case of an emergency, dial 911 and notify park staff immediately.
  • For the latest updates and information, check the park's official website before your trip.

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