Tent Camping In Pennsylvania In Autumn

Pennsylvania campgrounds offer autumn camping opportunities for tent campers depending on weather conditions. Seasonal campgrounds may be open only from April through the end of October or November. However, availability of winter facilities often overlaps seasons, giving campers virtually unlimited access to finding campsites in the fall. Most facilities, particularly state-run parks, have modern facilities such as hot showers and flush toilets for tent campers.

Glacier Deposit

Amateur geologists will find the Blue Rocks glacier deposit formed during the ice age 350 million years ago a must-see venue at the Blue Rocks Campground. An abundance of pine an oak trees over 125 acres offer myriad fall colors and mountain streams begin to cool as the weather changes. The campground specifically serves tent campers. The campground is open April through October with winter camping available with a permit. Nearby French Creek State Park offers similar features and is open year-round. Tours at the Crystal Caves in Kutztown is open in the fall.

Migration

You might catch a glimpse of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl in the autumn before the 3,452-acre Codorus State Park in southern York County closes in November. Fall tent campers still have time to hike the 26 miles of shoreline along the 1,275-acre Lake Marburg or fish for trout in Codorus Creek. The lake may be too cold for swimming, but sailing and motor boating are available before the park closes for the winter. Trails include the Mary Ann Furnace and LaHo pathways. There also is a mountain biking trail over 195 acres north of the lake.

Patchwork Farm Fields

Open through the early autumn is the 339-site Gifford Pinchot State Park, not far from Codorus State Park. Gifford Pinchot covers 2,338 acres of colorful wooded hillsides, farm fields and the 340-acre Pinchot Lake. The massive 448-site Drummer Boy Camping Resort in Gettysburg offers 95 acres of camping area and access to the expansive fields of the Gettysburg Civil War battlefield.

Perfect Hiking Weather

Keystone State Park, which covers 1,200 acres and is within driving distance of Pittsburgh, features 100 tent sites through October. The park exhibits rich fall colors as trees begin to drop leaves and birds begin their migration south. Keystone's numerous hiking trails are easy to moderate to navigate comfortably in the cooler weather. The trails allow expansive views of the foliage and wildlife. Ohiopyle on the southern tip of Laurel Ridge covers 20,500 acres and offers views of the rugged landscape similar to Keystone. Ohiopyle's Kentuck campground has 200 campsites through mid-December. Whitewater rafting the area is still available in the fall.

Family Camping

Lake Raystown Family Camping Resort in Huntingdon and Pleasant Hills Resort in Hesston offer family-oriented tent camping in autumn. At Raystown, there are more than 250 campsites, including numerous primitive tent camping areas that put campers in the middle of a lively, colorful wooded area. For water sports enthusiasts, activities include boating, water skiing and riding personal watercraft on the 21,000-acre Raystown Lake. Pleasant Hills also is at Raystown Lake and offers 146 camping sites.