Best PA Campgrounds With Lakes for Family Camping

A family camping vacation is one of the best ways to spend summer and create lifelong memories. Even better, camping along lakes gives you and your kids so much fun and will keep them occupied for so long that they won't even miss their gadgets.

That's why you should add Pennsylvania to your camping trip list because of its beautiful lakes that will allow you some peace and quiet with nature.

Let's say Pennsylvania's parks and nearby waterways provide ample beauty to satiate one's pursuit of happiness.

We'll quickly go over how the state of Pennsylvania came to be and the best campgrounds here for you to have a great time.

A Brief History of Pennsylvania

The earliest native populations to live in what is now Pennsylvania did so thousands of years ago, and that is when the state's history began.

William Penn established Pennsylvania as one of the original 13 colonies.

Pennsylvania, known by its well-known nickname, the Keystone State, was founded in 1802, and it has some of the most fascinating outdoor adventures and natural experiences to keep any camper captivated.

You'll find the state of Ohio surrounded by Lake Erie in the north and the Appalachian Mountains in the center. This state is rich in natural beauty and history.

Best PA Campgrounds with Lakes

If you're already on your way to Pennsylvania with your entire family and you want to experience a beautiful view of the lake, here are some great campgrounds you should probably visit. They include:

1. Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground

Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground has lovely tent and RV sites, as well as cabins and cottages for rent.

You can come here if you're looking for a great place to relax and take in the scenery and the peace of the woods while still having lots of family fun.

Take advantage of the heated swimming pool, splash pad, game room, kiddie pool, volleyball, bocce ball, and horseshoe courts.

For some enjoyable fishing, large and smallmouth bass, perch, crappie, catfish, and sunfish are stocked in their 18-acre "catch and release" lake. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats to explore the open water and choose the ideal fishing spot.

However, camping in a tent here will cost you at least $50 per night.

2. Chestnut Lake Campground

This campground is situated in the middle of the Pocono Mountains on 100 acres of breathtakingly beautiful land with amazing views of the surrounding landscape.

You will find affordable tent sites as well as partial and full hook-up RV sites. With a full basketball court, recreation center, swimming, boating, and fishing in Chestnut Lake, this campground is an ideal place for a family vacation.

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3. Locust Lake State Park

The 52-acre Locus Lake State Park is tucked away at the foot of Locust Mountain, offering plenty of space for enjoying the outdoors as well as an abundance of water.

Here, you don't need to be concerned about seasonal closures because the park is open all year round. The beach and camping are subject to seasonal limitations, although access to the park is constant.

The free campgrounds are located on either side of the lake, provided you are willing to volunteer as a host.

4. Otter Lake Camp Resort

Situated near a shimmering 60-acre lake that's ideal for swimming, boating, and intense bass fishing, this campsite has both partial and full hook-up RV sites, making it the ideal place for having a nice retreat.

It has many recreational amenities, including hiking trails, a heated outdoor swimming pool with a diving area, a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, a game room, a children's splash park, lighted tennis, and a basketball court.  

You can always use this resort if you want to get up close and personal with the Poconos mountains while on vacation.

5. Pioneer Lakes RV Park

With three spring-fed lakes that are supplied every week with trout of every kind, Pioneer Lakes RV Park is a fishing enthusiast's dream come true.

If you camp there, you don't need a fishing license. Kids can actually fish and use paddle boats. You will get to choose from a spacious, well-kept campsite with grass to park your RV or set up your tent.

After that, create some memories by playing basketball, tennis, shuffleboarding, mini-golf, volleyball, horseshoes, and even treasure hunts and paddleboat races. You can even swim in the Olympic-sized pool.

6. Ricketts Glen State Park

Ricketts Glen State Park is a great place to camp for people who like a wide range of outdoor activities throughout the year. Situated on the eastern edge of the state, the park offers a lake for boating and fishing, a swimming beach, cottages for rent, and a range of campground options.

It's a nature lover's paradise with opportunities to explore old-growth forests, natural wetlands, and stunning geological formations.

The park is about two and a half hours away from Philadelphia and has 120 tent and trailer campsites, 10 modern cabins (two of which are ADA accessible), and five luxurious cottages.

You should pack appropriate hiking shoes because this park's well-known Falls Trail will draw you in. Twenty-one of the park's magnificent waterfalls, ranging in height from eleven to ninety-four feet, can be seen along this trek.

Within the park is Lake Jean, a great place to go boating, fishing, and swimming. Every year, trout are also delivered to the lake. If you enjoy winter outdoor activities like ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling, here is the place to be.

There are roughly 10,000 acres of approved land in the park, and there are state game grounds nearby if you enjoy hunting.

7. Lake Raytown Resort

The ideal camping experience is provided by the Lake Raystown Family Camping Resort, which has more than 200 tent and RV sites, bungalows, and a bunkhouse.

Situated centrally and beautifully atop Piney Ridge, this camping resort is a fun place for the whole family to enjoy activities like a weekly nature program, a catch-and-release pond, 60 acres of walking trails, basketball, horseshoes, soccer, disc golf, and pickleball, the newest sport!

 Since there are so many water activities to enjoy, be prepared to get wet. Play in the water park, do stand-up paddle boarding, go swimming at the beach, or take a lake boat ride.

You can try your hand at land-based geocaching. There are caches to find strewn across the area and six on the resort grounds. If you don't feel like cooking, you can get something to eat at the Marina Café.

To have a great time, visit the Wild River Waterpark. You know the beautiful thing? Lake Raystown Resort can host retreats, weddings, and family get-togethers.

8. Pymatuning State Park

This 17,088-acre lake is the ideal spot to go lost on a paddle board early in the morning after a satisfying cup of coffee for backpackers. Simply watch out for the boaters. This lake is covered in them all.

The great fishing, however, is a big part of the reason those boaters are there. Pymatuning State Park is among your greatest options in Pennsylvania for reliable fishing success because of the presence of a fish hatchery in the area.

For those who are willing to work as hosts for 40 hours a week for four weeks, camping is free.

9. Kettle Creek State Park

Kettle Creek is breathtakingly gorgeous. You will find a charming 167-acre lake tucked away in a little bowl surrounded by lush mountains.

It's really amazing. You can always take your kayak along with you. If you want to get away from the boaters, this is a great place to spend hours floating.

If hosts are willing to work at least 80 hours, they are eligible to camp for free. There are two campgrounds accessible: one beside Kettle Creek Reservoir and a primitive tent site by Kettle Creek.

10. Codorus State Park

If you love the green hills of Ireland, you'll definitely like the undulating hills of Codorus State Park. There are 3,500 acres to explore, with Lake Marburg tucked away at 1275 acres.

This State Park has beautiful views to immerse your mind and escape the loud noise in the world.  It also has 26 miles of shoreline to explore and great fishing nearby.

If you are willing to host for a minimum of two weeks, camping is free. Within the campground, there are only fifteen tent spots.

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11. Evergreen Lake

With its newly cut grass, proximity to the mountains, and a 25-acre lake, this beautiful campground provides ample space for relaxation. The tent sites are all nestled away deep in the woods, but there's also a putt-putt course, an arcade, and security personnel on hand.

Although Evergreen Lake is a privately owned campground, you can visit it for just $38.00 per night, and your kids are sure to love it.

12. Button Wood Campground

Nestled in the Juniata River Valley, this is one of the spacious campgrounds in Central Pennsylvania. For RV and tent campers, it has spacious, pet-friendly campsites and cabin rentals.

It is well known for both its size and the fun activities that it offers.

You will discover the natural splendor of the Juniata River while canoeing, kayaking, or tubing. There's a swimming pool, mini-golf, horseshoes, laser tag, and a jumping cushion.

Wine enthusiasts will enjoy the on-site winery, and Hazard's Distillery is conveniently located near the campground. Other nearby attractions include golf courses, flea markets, theme parks, the Midway Drive-In Theater, and opportunities for boating, hiking, and fishing.

It doesn't matter if you go with your family, a group of friends, or on your own; your needs can be satisfied by Buttonwood Campground's amenities.

13. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park

With a range of activities, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers an enjoyable holiday with a Yogi Bear theme. One of them is an aquatic playground called Yogi Bear's Water Zone. Mini golf is an additional choice, where you can play while admiring a Yogi Bear monument.

You can also work out on the basketball and volleyball courts, go for a run, or take a stroll along the hiking trails that border Stewart Run Creek. Actually, this is the perfect place for the 63-acre park's peaceful, wooded charm to flourish.

There's also an option of going to play laser tag and gem mining at an additional cost. However, you should be aware that the peak season is from mid-June to mid-August and that the campground is closed from early November to early April. Remember that bookings should be made at least six months in advance.

14. Pine Grove Furnace

If you visit Pine Grove Furnace during the summer, you will undoubtedly have the opportunity to exchange some food for a humorous hiking tale from a more experienced hiker.

You can visit the Appalachian Trail Museum and go mountain biking for a short while. The Appalachian Trail passes right through this park.

The camp store is approximately one mile away from the campgrounds, and there is one host position available, which entitles the host to free camping.

15. Hershey Resort

Hershey Resort is only three miles away from Hershey Park, which makes it the ideal spot for camping. The ambiance is like that of a chocolate theme park, and guests can enjoy special benefits like free parking and early and late entrances that are exclusive to Hersheypark.

Parents and kids are kept busy with a range of activities at the campground while they are camping. Special events are scheduled for almost every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as well as the first three weeks of the season, which starts on April 1 and ends on September 26.

The campsite is close to an active railway line, which is great for train enthusiasts but could be a turnoff for others because of the noise. Prospective renters should be aware of this, and those looking for a quiet campground.

16. Hickory Run State Park

Going to the Hickory Run State Park gives you an opportunity to explore this ancient ice-age natural history site on your own at your own pace.

The park's most notable feature is its 20,000-year-old boulder field, which is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. The park provides coordinates to follow so that you can learn about the historical terrain as you go.

Also, this park has more than 40 miles of hiking trails that were once historic roads leading to nearby communities in the 1800s. It is important for hikers to know that these pathways are both difficult and easy ones.

Here, about 300 tent and trailer spaces are available for campers. However, hang your food and be mindful of the area's active bear population. You can stay in one of the five cottages in the park if you're looking for something a little less adventurous.

17. Bald Eagle State Park

You will be surprised to learn to know what types of birds you can find here. For those who enjoy taking pictures of birds, there are many of these soaring high over the lake, searching for their next meal.

However, this location also has beach access, swimming pools, and boat launch. Meanwhile, pizza and camping go hand in hand, and Brother's Pizza, which is close by, will make your camping trip worthwhile.

if you want to be a host less than a mile from the lake, you can camp for free.

18. Iron Woodpoint Campground

Do you like to watch sailboats glide across calm waters? If yes, then you'll like Ironwood Point.

It will be lots of family fun if your family members love hiking, as there are lots of opportunities in the nearby woods and a wide variety of water sports.

Tent camping is $40 per night, though the cost goes up a little if you wish to stay next to the lake.

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19. Austin Campground

There's no way you could become bored at Austin Campground. A pig roast, ice cream making, giant checkers, horseshoes, bag toss, ladder golf, wine and cheese parties are a few of the outdoor activities you can find here.

You might even run out of time before you've had a chance to take advantage of them all. If that's not enough, they also have picnic tables, fire rings, clean shower houses, basic campsites, and full-service RV sites.

20. Splash Magic Campground

This campground is an ideal spot if you want to spend quality time with your family. If you want to have more family fun, there's an outdoor movie theater, bumper boats, miniature golf, and pedal bikes.

There are also indoor pools, a kiddie splash area, and a foam pit. Apart from the cozy cabins with hot tubs, flush toilets, fire rings, charcoal grills, and picnic tables to complement your stay, there are hundreds of roomy campsites and RV sites.

Now you know the best place to go camping in Pennsylvania if you want to enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. Always remember to book a reservation in advance so you won't get stranded with your family.