Where is a good place to camp in this state? (Harrisburg: rent, home)

[Lital_The_Best]

Me and some friends want to go camping, which we have slated for next year in the summer. Around June-July. However, they don't really want to do anything real hardcore or roughing it out, nor do they want anything too cookie cutters with all the amenities back home. They are looking for a balance, of something that's outdoors and with nature where they can feel like they are away from the big city but they also don't want to be totally caveman and primitive like (which I prefer but the majority decision is against me).

So I am looking for something that would be good for all us, where we can all enjoy. Doesn't matter where in the state.

Thanks

[ki0eh]

Drive or walk to? Flush toilets or no?

[Lital_The_Best]

Hhhhmm I would like to say no toilet flushing but they would probably prefer something that has some shower of sorts but not one where there's thousands of other happy campers with their high-end trailer park home and satellite TV. We want to try and feel as separate from other company as possible on the same token. I hate to make everything complicated but we're looking for a medium.

If I was the only one going, I know exactly where I would throw myself. Since I am not, and I am with a bunch of wimps, we must find a balance.

[ki0eh]

Most of the state parks have some space between wooded sites. Pennsylvania State Parks - Find a Park Alphabetically - PA DCNR Greenwood Furnace, Parker Dam, Poe Valley (if it reopens by then), R.B. Winter, Little Pine are all relatively quiet with modern facilities, in the north-central portion of PA.

Similar to state park accommodations, some of the Corps of Engineers lakes also have camping, see Corps Lakes Gateway: Pennsylvania Tompkins Campground at Cowanesque Lake is quieter and less crowded than Ives Run campground at Hammond Lake. Seven Points at Raystown Lake is fairly modern.

What do you want to do while camping? Are you more into hiking, boating, swimming? What part of the state are you looking towards?

[Icy Tea]

It depends on your area and where you want to drive. Southeast pa has some small private campgrounds which I'm not familiar with. It also has the Hopewell lake area which at least is woodsy with hiking and real, but kinda low, mountains.
Kioeh had some very good suggestions, I'll add Black Moshannon and Rickett's Glenn to the list. Rickett's Glenn in particular has great hiking trails as well as lake swimming.

[Hopes]

There are tons of great places to camp. Which part of the state are you wanting? It's silly for me to recommend Eastern PA when you live in Western PA and vice versa.

[Dawne]

I would agree to check out some of the state parks. I live fairly near R. B. Winter and they have a wonderful little campground where you can sometimes have deer right in your campsite. They have "modern" facilities in rustic buildings so your friends will have their amenities. There's a small swimming/fishing lake with a nice sandy beach within a reasonable walking distance. There are trails for hiking the woods, and there's even an interesting nature center building you can check out.

Little Buffalo State Park is more centrally located north of Harrisburg near Newport. They have a huge lake where you can rent boats. There's an old gristmill you can tour, and they have an actual swimming pool with two huge water slides, zero depth entry and a cool water feature (it comes out of the ground) for kids. They do charge a small fee ($4?) to get into the pool.

Another good state park is Ricketts Glen off of Route 118 between Hughesville and Dallas. They have great hiking trails with waterfalls, and Lake Jean (huge!) is at the top of the mountain near the camping area.

There is also Little Pine between Williamsport and Jersey Shore, and one near the Kinzua Dam in NW PA near Warren.

There are so many other wonderful state parks but those are the ones I am most familiar with.

[sunsetcliff]

bald eagles forest in union county! MUST!

[Lital_The_Best]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

Most of the state parks have some space between wooded sites. Pennsylvania State Parks - Find a Park Alphabetically - PA DCNR Greenwood Furnace, Parker Dam, Poe Valley (if it reopens by then), R.B. Winter, Little Pine are all relatively quiet with modern facilities, in the north-central portion of PA.

Similar to state park accommodations, some of the Corps of Engineers lakes also have camping, see Corps Lakes Gateway: Pennsylvania Tompkins Campground at Cowanesque Lake is quieter and less crowded than Ives Run campground at Hammond Lake. Seven Points at Raystown Lake is fairly modern.

What do you want to do while camping? Are you more into hiking, boating, swimming? What part of the state are you looking towards?

Thanks a ton for the info friend. While we are there, we're looking forward to mostly hiking, swimming, boating/white water rafting, making a camp fire and roasting marsh-mellows, star gazing and simply enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.

I'll definitely look into those places. Thanks.

[Lital_The_Best]

I'm also willing to travel pretty much anywhere in PA.