Free Camping in Pennsylvania

200 sites across 6 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Park Service sites

2 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alosa Campsites
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

23 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • 008 Tar Kiln Road
    Developed· Indexing
  • 064 Baker Branch
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • 065 Left Asaph
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • 12 Mile (Horsey Hilton) Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Adventure Bound Camping Resort Oak Creek
    Developed· Indexing
  • Adventure Bound Camping Resorts - Shenango Valley
    Developed· Indexing
  • Adventure Bound Eagles Peak Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aikens Cabins at Bear Meadows
    Developed· Indexing
  • Allegheny River Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alverthorpe Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Antiochian Village Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Appalachian Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Armenia Mountain Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Artillery Ridge Campground & Gettysburg Horse Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Austin Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beacon Hill Camping
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Ridge Campground & RV Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Run Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Meadows Recreational Area Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Valley Campgrounds
    Developed· Indexing
  • Benner's Meadow Run Camping & Cabins
    Developed· Indexing
  • Birch Tree - Michaux Campsite #4
    Developed· Indexing
  • Birchview Farm Campground
    Developed· Indexing

State Parks sites

170 sites. State Parks camping rules →

  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M001(H)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M002
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M003
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M004
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M005
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M006
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M007
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M008
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M009
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M010
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M011
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M012
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M013
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M014
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M015
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M016
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M017
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M018
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M020
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M021
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M022
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M023
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M024
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle State Park — Modern Campground (Russel P. Letterman) #M025
    Developed· Indexing
146 more State Parks sites in Pennsylvania.

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

3 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • Allegheny Reservoir
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aylesworth Creek Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beltzville Lake
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

1 site. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Allegheny National Forest
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

1 site. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Allegheny National Fish Hatchery
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Pennsylvania

How long can you camp on public land in Pennsylvania?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Pennsylvania is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Pennsylvania have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Pennsylvania right now?
Fire restrictions in Pennsylvania change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Pennsylvania state office page and the USFS Pennsylvania forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Pennsylvania?
Dispersed camping in Pennsylvania means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in Pennsylvania allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Pennsylvania?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Pennsylvania with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Pennsylvania prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Pennsylvania?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Pennsylvania when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Pennsylvania are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Pennsylvania in winter?
Winter access in Pennsylvania depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Pennsylvania often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Pennsylvania?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Pennsylvania do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Pennsylvania?
Coverage in Pennsylvania varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Pennsylvania sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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