More people are noticing that the Laurel Highlands region, which includes Somerset County, is a great area for outdoor recreation in every season of the year.
The area consistently earns high marks among voters in USA Today’s annual 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards in outdoor and travel-related categories, earning recognition in Best Summer Travel Destination, Best Small Towns, Best Recreation Trails, Best Fall Foliage, Best Bike Tour and Best River for Fly Fishing, among others.
Readers’ choice: Great Allegheny Passage named one of the best recreation trails in the country
There are also lots of festivals and places to visit around Somerset County while they’re here: History sites like the Flight 93 National Memorial, the Somerset Historical Center and the county’s 10 covered bridges; nature trails to hike or ride a bike and birdwatch; farmers’ markets; wineries, distilleries and craft breweries, amusement parks and more.
And there are plenty of places around Somerset County to pitch a tent, pull in a camper, RV or motorhome, or to reserve a cabin for a night or longer, depending on your camping comfort level.
A view of some seasonal campsites at Woodland Campgrounds in Somerset.
State park campsites
Camping at Pennsylvania’s state parks is growing in demand, with campsite reservations up by 10% in 2025, according to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
Several state parks around Somerset County offer camping facilities: Laurel Hill State Park and Koozer State Park, in Somerset; Laurel Ridge State Park, in Rockwood (backpack/tent camping only along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail) and Ohiopyle State Park, which added 20 more full-service hookup sites to its campground in 2025.
In addition, Forbes State Forest offers primitive backpack, motorized or roadside camping in six specific locations: Rector, Somerset, Farmington (two sites), Rockwood and Meyersdale.
Somerset campground reopens: ‘Great for this area:’ Woodland Campgrounds reopens, reaches out to camping community
Privately owned campgrounds
Boyers Pond Campground, 165 Boyers Pond Road, Central City. 814-754-5702 or 800-757-0535. Offers sites for tent and RV camping, as well as seven rental cabins in various sizes. Reservations accepted by phone; more information available at boyerspondcampground.com.
Quemahoning Family Recreation Area, Hollsopple. 814-233-9512. Open May through October, with tent camping, RV and motor home sites available (no water hookup). Four rustic cabins on site can be reserved with a two-night minimum stay. Reservations should be made online; more information at quefamilyrec.com.
Woodland Campgrounds, 291 Gilmour Road, Somerset, offers sites for tent camping, RVs and class A motor homes. Open from April 1 to Oct. 31, with daily, monthly and seasonal rates available. Visit woodlandcampgrounds.com or call 240-215-9210 to make reservations or for more information.
Somerset Resort & Campground (formerly Rainbow Woods Campground), 1252 Coleman Station Road, Friedens. 814-445-4093. Open year-round, with luxury modern cabins, luxury log cabins, glamping pods and transient RV sites available for daily or monthly bookings. For reservations and information, visit somersetresort.com.
Pioneer Lakes RV Park (formerly Pioneer Park Campground), 273 Trent Road, Somerset. 814-445-6348. Open April 11 to Oct. 19 (weather permitting), with rustic tent sites, RV sites (with water and electric or full hookup) and onsite cabin rentals available. Booking and more information can be found at pioneerlakes.com.
Lost Mountain Campground, 195 Lost Mountain Lane, Rockwood. 814-352-7310 or 888-238-6686. Open April 15 to Oct. 21, with cabin rentals and transient RV sites available. Seasonal rates also available. Reservations accepted by phone only, call for availability. More information at lostmountaincampground.com.
Summertime fun: Which western PA campground was voted one of the nation’s best for RV camping?
Posey Corners Campground, 116 Middlecreek Road, Rockwood. 814-442-1281. Offers sites for tents and campers, with daily and annual rates available. Reservations accepted by phone; more information on the camp at poseycorners.com.
Hickory Hollow Campground, 176 Big Hickory Road, Rockwood. 814-926-4636. Open April 15 to Oct. 31, with tent sites and RV sites for daily and weekly camping, as well as seasonal campsites. Cabin rentals are available with a two-night minimum stay required. Reservations can be made online or by phone. More information at hickoryhollowcampground.com.
Scottyland, 1618 Barron Church Road, Rockwood. 814-926-3200. Offers primitive camping sites, pull-through, full hookup and seasonal sites and a cabin to rent for up to eight adults. Reservations can be made by phone; more information at scottylandcamping.com.
ICC Family Summer Campout
While not an actual campground, the International Conservation Center in Fairhope is offering a Family Summer Campout experience on July 12 and Aug. 8 and 16. Guests can rent a private cabin or rustic tent campsite on the ICC grounds, go on a nature hike with ICC educators, spend an evening under the stars and then go on a morning wagon ride to see the elephants. Reservations must be made online; more information and the reservation site are at pittsburghzoo.org/icc/icc-experiences.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County PA campgrounds offer options for all comfort levels
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