The best camping near Raccoon Creek State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Raccoon Creek State Park adventure.

The best camping near Raccoon Creek State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Raccoon Creek State Park adventure.
90% (10 reviews)

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Raccoon Creek State Park adventure.

Wildflowers, wetlands, and woodlands provide photo-worthy views through every season.  

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Raccoon Creek State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Public campgrounds in the park

Stay at a public campground in Raccoon Creek State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Raccoon Creek State Park

96%
(244)

Runnin Crazy Farm

5 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · New Brighton , PA
Growing up and building on the back of our Family Farm is the best goal I ever set for myself! My Off-Grid 20 acres has raised my 2 kids and all the animals we could rescue! We run a Horse Boarding Facility along with Freezer Meat of all sorts. It's a small Hobby Farm but we love it all the same! Family environment that's down to earth! Learn more about this land: Sites 1 and 2 are for campers/tents. Sites 3 and 4 are tent only spots. No shade. Top tent spots up in field (3 and 4) need a higher vehicle to get to them. A bit Off Road. 3 has privacy with Antique Trailer but 4 is wide open. Fire ring at all of them/with wood. Horse stalls/guided trails available for the campers bringing their own horses. If advanced notice, an hour Lesson or Ride can be scheduled. Our animals are friendly and love attention. Dogs welcome but need a leash. Our Family run Farm is willing to accommodate your needs. Book a stay with us as you pass on thru. (Totally Off Grid livin my dream. Remember to burn burnables and take non burnables with you. Generators welcome) Thanx!
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from 
$15
 / night
100%
(7)

Sycamore Island

1 site · Tent14 acres · Blawnox, PA
Camp on an island only accessible by boat/kayak/canoe or however you want to get across the river! Please read the full description. The island is open to visitors from dawn to dusk to enjoy the trails and wild scenery. Camp reservations secure your overnight visit to stay at the designated campsite area, which has a fire ring for cooking, a picnic table, and room for a tent or hammock. Sycamore Island can only be reached by canoe, kayak, or rowboat. You are required to have a permit for an overnight stay: Please sign this form before submitting your stay request. https://alleghenylandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Camping-at-Sycamore-Island-Rules-and-Regulations-4.5.16-Fillable.pdf Please plan your visit in advance- requests to camp the same day or day before may not receive a timely approval. Acquired and protected by Allegheny Land Trust in 2008, Sycamore Island is a floodplain forest with a ranking of “high significance” within the Allegheny River Biological Diversity Area (BDA) Natural Heritage Area. Before the island was protected by ALT, the island had periodic interludes of recognition and appreciation by humans as a natural refuge. In 1936, both Sycamore Island and Nine Mile Island were leased from the Pennsylvania Railroad by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, making these islands the first bird sanctuaries in the Pittsburgh region. The Harbor Isle Boat Club was in existence on the island during the late 1960s but was later abandoned leaving behind several significant features; including a barge that remains embedded in the sand at the island’s southern tip, a partially installed swimming pool, docking platform, and a series of offshore pilings in the back channel.
Pets
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from 
$10
 / night
98%
(64)

Sunnyday's Forest

2 sites · Lodging25 acres · Tarentum, PA
Sunnyday's farm and forest was  a Christmas tree farm in the 1950's. I've owned it for the last 30 years and it is now a horse farm with pastures and  woods.Rustic area of 25 acres of pastures and forest bordering a hundred of acres of railroad and municipal forest. Great for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking. 1.5 miles from Deer Lakes park which has fishing, hiking, mountain biking and a great playground. The Allegheny river, judged to be one of the cleanest in the country, is just 6 miles away.  Harrison Hills park offers great hiking along the river and an occasional river otter. The Rachel Carson Trail and Baker trail are just a few miles away. It is a secluded log cabin in the woods on top of a hill overlooking a pasture. It is a very primitive cabin with a fireplace, brick floor, large porch, fabric interior and no chinking in the logs.  We provide a bunk bed and cots and 2 picnic tables.. There is a large grassy area in front of the cabin for tents.  There is no vehicle access, no electricity and no water at the cabin, but LOTS of downed wood for fires. There are horses, goats, chickens, ducks and a pig that roam the pastures. The cabin is about 300 yards from the parking area up a fairly steep hill, but the location is worth the walk!   If you're stopping with an RV or trailer we have ample parking near the road and have overnight accommodations for horses Great place for a stopover. 
Pets
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$40
 / night
94%
(18)

Sterling Lake

8 sites · Tents10 acres · Smock, PA
PLEASE READ this information about the property and specific details regarding each site to ensure you book the site that fits your needs the best. -- Offering nature retreats, camping spots for tents, & fishing on the large stocked pond. Private area of approximately 15 acres consisting of flat areas for camping, a wooded area with nature trails, & a small stocked lake and pond. The efficient nature trails are easy to hike/walk and perfect for beginners -- Several flat areas are surrounded by wooded trees and shade which is perfect for pitching a tent. Fire pits next to each camping site. - The stocked lake/pond is within 15-50 feet of camping areas. Bring your own tent and supplies. --A very large open area away from woods can host a very large group or groups of campers. -- Campfires, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding are allowed. --This property is offset from rural roads. In spring and summer, there is lush vegetation, brush, and wildlife. No streetlights on the property. There is a small community situated across and up from the lake. **Please text via the HIPCAMP app your ETA approximately 24 hours prior to arrival to ensure that someone will be available to meet you. No check-ins after 6:30 PM unless previously arranged. **NOTE** Some GPS directions will say New Salem or Smock instead of Chestnut Ridge ** We support the "Leave No Trace" Best Practices to preserve nature. https://lnt.org/why/ --We do have occasional trespassers who fish (not next to campsites), so if you notice anyone before we do, please let us know so that we can ensure you have the best experience.
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$25.50
 / night
100%
(168)

Memory Park Campground

25 sites · RVs, Tents16 acres · Mineral City, OH
Memory Park is a primitive, beautifully maintained family-owned private campground located near beautiful Atwood Lake State Park. First developed in 1968, Memory Park offers peace, quiet, and tranquility for you and your family for that perfect weekday or weekend getaway . There are plenty of primitive sites to choose from, including Murphy Meadow, Outback Bend, Honeymoon Point, and Shady Rest, just to name a few. Each campsite includes a picnic table and fire pit. Firewood is available ($10 through hipcamp or cash on-site per full wheelbarrow load). Memory Park is the ideal rustic environment to restore the soul, including simple activities like sitting around a fire, reading or taking a nap, hiking, cooking over the fire, observing nature, and enjoying fellowship with friends. Memory Park can be your 'go to' camp spot, especially for Buckeye Trail hikers! Water is available from two hand pumps on the property. Electricity is not available. Quiet generators are welcome. A clean port-a-jon is maintained for our campers.
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$27
 / night
95%
(38)

Camp Presmont Camping

26 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents30 acres · Piedmont, OH
At Camp Presmont our Mission Statement is: Employing the beauty of creation, Camp Presmont exists to serve the church, nurture the family, and reach the lost with the gospel in the power of the Spirit to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. By offering individual site rentals we are able to reach even more people for Christ. We do have a no drugs or alcohol policy for our property, this includes smoking. We feel that we have a small slice of paradise out here, so please come and check us out. The camp is located right above beautiful Peidmont lake, giving you a great view and opportunity for activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming. We also have plenty of other activities available like basketball, volleyball, hiking, disc golf and more. (Bring own balls and discs). We would love to have you out and share with you the beauty that is our camp!
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from 
$20
 / night

The best camping near Raccoon Creek State Park guide

Overview

About

Blankets of bluebells, violets, and red and white trilliums set the landscapes ablaze each spring and summer at Raccoon Creek State Park. The 314-acre wildflower reserve is the park’s crown jewel, with 4.5 miles of trails and more than 700 plant species to spot, but the outdoor adventures don’t stop there. Head to Racoon Lake to boat, fish, or swim in summer, explore 27 miles of hiking trails, or bring your mountain bike, horse, or snowmobile—there are 11 miles of multi-use trails, too. Campers can choose from cabins, rustic camping, or modern electric hookup campsites.  

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for family campers: The main Racoon Creek State Campground has tent and trailer campsites, many with electric hookups, plus warm showers and flush toilets. 
  • Best for tent campers: Sioux Rustic Campground has primitive camping open through winter, but facilities are limited (non-flush toilets and potable water only). 
  • Best for backpackers: Pioneer Backpacking Area has walk-in tent-only primitive camping—bring everything you need with you, including drinking water.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. You can reserve one of 172 campsites and 10 cabins via the Pennsylvania State Parks website. 
  2. Campsite reservations open 11 months in advance, and sites can be reserved up until noon on the day of arrival.
  3. Campsites can book up fast, especially if visiting during peak season (April-October) or on holiday weekends. Aim to book at least three months in advance, especially for cabins.

When to go

The spring and summer wildflower blooms are the star attraction at Racoon Creek, and the season peaks in late April and late August. Fall foliage is equally spectacular, and typically peaks in mid-October. It’s warm enough to swim at the lake from late May through mid-September, while winter visitors can enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating. Camping is possible year-round at Sioux Rustic Campground, but the main campground closes from mid-October through mid-October.

Know before you go

  • Raccoon Creek State Park is west of Pittsburgh, about a 40-minute drive away. Entry points are located along PA 18, which runs through the park.
  • There are no admission fees for Pennsylvania State Parks, but campsite booking fees apply. 
  • Facilities in the park include restrooms, picnic areas, food concession stands, boat rentals, boat launches, an electric car charging station, and a playground. 
  • Fires are only permitted in grills and fire rings.
  • You can bring your own boats (electric motors only). Swimming is permitted at the swimming beach only.
  • There are ADA-accessible campsites, cabins, and restrooms at the park. The swimming beach is also accessible.

Top points of interest near Raccoon Creek State Park

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