State Parks near Pittsburgh, PA

Encompassing over 500,000 acres of dense forest, Allegheny National Forest dominates much of Pennsylvania’s northwestern landscapes. While Interstate Route 80 and 79 run along the southern and western boundaries of the forest, respectively, the fantastic hiking trails, motorhome camping spots, and hidden waterways can all be easily accessed thanks to the developed network of asphalt roads that wind their way through the trees.

Those traveling through Pennsylvania will find the town of DuBois to be the last town of any substantial size before you enter the wilderness. Close to the borders of New York and Ohio, you can also reach Allegheny National Forest in less than three hours when you arrive from Cleveland, OH, and less than two hours …

Audra State Park in Eastern West Virginia lies about 11 miles from Philippi and not too far from Buckhannon. The 355-acre park is bisected by the Middle Fork River which is known for its crystal clear waters and excellent aquatic activities. The many activities available all year round makes this park an attractive RV destination for outdoors lovers. Fishing, hiking, and swimming are the most popular activities.

The hilly park terrain is covered with the rhododendron thicket. Search for an RV in Philippi and find your way to Audra State Park. This park is dotted with amazing scenic views. There are many beautiful natural attractions ranging from waterfalls, rock formations, and huge mountain laurels. The land on which the …

Hidden around 12 miles from Barnesville, and less than nine miles from Warnock is where you will find the 1005 acre Barkcamp State Park in Belmont County, Ohio. It sits under 10 miles from Egypt Valley Wildlife Area and is centered on Belmont Lake, a 117-acre water mass that has increased in size over the years. Smack in the middle of a mining village in Belmont, Ohio, Barkcamp state park is surrounded by valleys and rolling sandstone hills and is an ideal place to set up your rental RV.

The park sits where Barkcamp Creek once ran through, a spectacular location that makes for an exhilarating getaway camping at Barkcamp State Park. While in this breathtaking neighborhood, search for …

Planning a motorhome camping trip? Then consider Beaver Creek State Park in Ohio, one of the state’s most scenic parks nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Not too far from the cities of East Liverpool and Lisbon. These cities would make great day destinations while you are on your rental RV vacation to Beaver Creek State Park. With different habitats like bottomlands, a gorge, forests, and the Little Beaver Creek, there are quite a few interesting outdoor recreational activities to enjoy in the park that covers about 2,700 acres of land.

With a history that goes back some 10,000 years, the area was believed to have been inhabited by the Fluted Point Culture, and in later …

Big Run State Park is located in western Maryland, close to both the Pennsylvania and West Virginia borders and the towns of Frostburg, Cumberland, and Oakland, MD. The state park lies along the northern shores of Savage River Reservoir and is surrounded by the Savage River State Forest. Being on the fringes of both the reservoir and forest makes Big Run State Park an exceptional site for outdoor recreation. The reservoir offers visitors the chance to fish and boat in the idyllic surroundings of western Maryland and also hike and nature watch through the picturesque woodlands of Savage River State Forest.

This abundance of activities, combined with its closeness to three different states, makes Big Run State …

If you're searching for a remote wilderness escape in the heart of Pennsylvania, look no further than Black Moshannon State Park. Located just east of Philipsburg, this 3,394-acre park sits on the shores of Black Moshannon Lake and is surrounded by the 43,000-acre Moshannon State Forest.

The result is a beautiful, secluded park where campers can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities all year round. Boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, and winter sports are just some of the pastimes on offer, and with a 73-site campground located in the heart of this wilderness area, Black Moshannon State Park has everything you need for a memorable camping getaway.

Keep reading to find out what to do and where to stay …

Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, Blackwater Falls State Park is a wonderland of tumbling waterfalls, rugged peaks, tree-lined gorges, and deep valleys. The 2,000-acre park is a paradise for nature lovers, with a slew of outdoor recreation activities on offer. Hike to scenic lookouts, bask on sandy beaches, or enjoy a scenic paddle on Pendleton Lake. In fall, the park is one of the best places in West Virginia to admire fall foliage, with the forests exploding in a sea of reds, yellows, and golds.

A three-hour drive southwest, Charleston is a great place to rent a camper near Blackwater Falls State Park. The park is also popular with city dwellers from Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh. Planning a getaway to …

Near the center of Ohio lies Muskingum County, which is a great place to go camping with an RV. When you book an RV in Muskingum County, you’ll have easy access to Blue Rock State Park and all that it has to offer. This state park was made official in 1949 after the official formation of the Division of Parks and Recreation in Ohio. The park rests on bedrock that was formed millions of years ago under a shallow inland sea. This sea formed limestone, shale, and sandstone layers, and the blue-colored shale found in the Blue Rock State Park region is where its name is derived from.

Thanks to the regions poor soils and rough terrain it maintained …

Canaan Valley Resort State Park offers the perfect year-round getaway in West Virginia. This park will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the West Virginia Countryside while also making use of some exceptional amenities on offer. In the summer months, visitors can hike the slopes and take in the views, while in the winter the area is a popular skiing spot.

As one of West Virginia’s largest state parks, it is no wonder that it gets its fair share of visitors in every season. Explore it all when you book an RV in Tucker County. Tucked into a high plateau in the Allegheny Mountains, Canaan Valley Resort State Park offers stunning views and plenty to do. …

Located just outside of Glenville and less than two hours away from Charleston, Cedar Creek State Park covers 2,588 acres of dense forest in the central part of West Virginia. The combination of rolling hills and gorgeous valleys provide outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of recreational opportunities and allows them to fully enjoy the wilderness.

Cedar Creek State Park became a state park in 1955, and what makes it stand out is a strong emphasis on the history of the area, with two restored buildings that were used by pioneers back in the day. Visitors may step back into the fascinating past of West Virginia and explore the many hiking trails within the state park. Anglers also frequent Cedar Creek …

Located approximately 39 miles from Bradford and eight miles from Warren Chapman State Park is known for its tranquility. The park covers 862 acres of land and is home to 68-acre Lake Chapman. The lake is popular among Warren campers in part due to its great fishing, swimming, and boating. The lake provides a habitat for both warm and cold-water fish. Other than water recreation, there are a variety of activities, including hunting, hiking, and picnicking. For winter folks, the park offers cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing. There are five shelter pavilions and a huge picnic area overlooking the lake. Chapman State Park serves as a trailhead for several trails leading to the adjacent forest. In addition to park …

The beautiful Clear Creek State Park located in Jefferson County in the state of Pennsylvania is a wilderness oasis for outdoor enthusiasts. Located in the townships of Heath and Barnett, the Clear Creek State Park is in the borough of Brookville and stands at the confluence of the Clear Creek and Clarion River.

Occupying one of the most scenic parts of the Clarion Valley, the park covers over 1600 acres of forested area. Historically, the park has been open to the public since the Great Depression, with many of the recreational facilities being constructed around that time, and still in use today. The river and the excellent hiking trails are a major attraction for Clear Creek State Park campers.

Perched right on the state border of West Virginia and Maryland lies the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The park's headquarters are in Hagerstown, and the park itself is situated about 41 miles away from Frederick. This spectacular park is an ideal spot for camping with an RV when touring the Potomac River region. Ripe in beauty, this park lies along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on the Potomac River. To explore more about this region, search for an RV in Hagerstown and adventure the sights and sounds of the District of Columbia.

C&O Canal National Historical Park was established in 1961 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to neglected areas of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. When it …

As the story goes, a fugitive from the law hid in this part of West Virginia among the rock outcrops in the late 1800s. Before he went on the lam, he was a cooper, which is a barrel maker. To create a source of income so that he could purchase food and other supplies, he resumed making barrels and sold them to nearby communities. And that is the apparent origin of the park’s name, Coopers Rock State Forest.

Although it was officially established in the 1920s, due to a lack of funds, the state of West Virginia did little to develop it. In the 1930s, as a part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal program, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) descended …

Cowans Gap State Park has a surprisingly rich history for a tiny little piece of wilderness so far from civilization. Battles were fought, and settlers scratched out a living by farming, mining, and lumbering. The land was stripped bare, plundered of its natural riches. Cowans Gap was covered by a dense growth of oak, maple, and fir, but as of 1907, it was completely bare and exposed to the elements. After the Great Depression, as a part of the New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps and hired a cadre of young men to plant thousands upon thousands of trees, rebuild bridges, create new roads, and clear the underbrush to minimize forest fires. They also built a …

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is Ohio's only national park, is 33,000 acres in size. Nestled in between the bustling cities of Akron and Cleveland, this is one of the smallest and newest national parks in the United States. Located in northeastern Ohio, this park was initially designated as a Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area in 1974, and later on as a national park in 2000.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park's landscape is dotted with forests, rock formations, cliffs, and rolling hills. This national park gets its name from the 22-mile stretch of Cuyahoga River that weaves through the park. Cuyahoga Valley National Park provides varied outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, themed train rides, historical site visits, and wildlife …

When planning a trip to the Mid-Atlantic, be sure to stop in Western Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake State Park. The park is roughly two hours southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Garrett County. The lakeside community of McHenry is located on Deep Creek Lake’s northern shore around 15 minutes from the state park RV campgrounds.

West of the Allegheny Front and Eastern Continental Divide is the Tablelands plateau that serves as Deep Creek’s home. Deep Creek Lake is one of Maryland’s largest man-made lakes. It was created by The Youghiogheny Hydroelectric Company in 1925 as part of a hydroelectric project. The area’s rocky terrain presents a fun challenge for Deep Creek Lake State Park campers. You might even spot a …