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Best Tent Camping near Butler, PA

401 Reviews

Several tent campgrounds exist within a short drive of Butler, Pennsylvania, providing varied experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Mountain View Camps offers tent camping with drinking water, electric hookups, and reservable sites near hiking trails and fishing spots. For those seeking free camping, Dravo's Landing Campground provides walk-in tent sites with amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets along the Youghiogheny River and GAP trail.

Tent campsites in the Butler area range from established campgrounds with basic facilities to more primitive options. Several locations provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between sites. Water access is available at most established campgrounds, but primitive sites may require campers to bring their own supplies. Toilets are available at most locations, with vault toilets being common at more remote sites. Seasonal considerations apply, with some campgrounds operating primarily from spring through fall, while others remain accessible year-round, weather permitting.

Tent camping areas near Butler offer distinct advantages for outdoor enthusiasts seeking immersion in nature. Many sites provide access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and other recreational activities. One visitor noted, "We camped out overnight with a group of 14 people, and there was plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars." Sites along the GAP trail are particularly popular with cyclists, serving as waypoints during longer journeys. Some locations like Danner Primitive Campground require hiking or paddling to access, creating a more secluded experience. Most tent campsites maintain a natural setting with trees providing shade and privacy between sites, though proximity to water features may increase mosquito activity during warmer months.

Best Tent Sites Near Butler, Pennsylvania (8)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Butler, PA

401 Reviews of 8 Butler Campgrounds

  • Kathleen B.
    May. 25, 2021

    Breakneck Campground

    Nice little campground

    Our first visit to this campground and we actually found from using this website! We wanted a secluded site and close to Pittsburgh. 

    We arrived around 7pm and there was no check in, we drove around for a while trying to find a spot with a fire ring per some helpful campers. There are two really nice spots by the water which were taken, and we only saw one other in the woods (the other 2 were hidden by a large group of people).

    We ended up finding a flat spot with some tree cover what was far enough from our neighbors but about as close as a bigger campground. Would be good for larger groups. Ton of flat land for tents but saw some people with smaller campers. Firewood is $5 a bucket and clean and dry. Bring a table cloth for the tables. 

    Portapot close by but full bath rooms and showers by main lodge. Lots of tent platforms that overlooked into the woods which would be fun, for a smaller 4 person tent though. 

    As another reviewer stated, there was a super loud group Friday night but Saturday was very peaceful and quiet and we met the owner who checked us in and apologized for the loud group and said he was still getting the campground ready for the season. The price is the same for either spots. 

    Short walk down cheeseman road to trail entrances to McConnells Mills State Park. Short drive to hells hallow or the covered bridge. 

    Overall we had a great time and will be back!

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Tomlinson Run State Park Campground

    Camping in the trees

    Electric Site 37 - pad is pretty level, plenty for our small camper and truck, on a slight hill to get to fire ring but lots of space to spread out. You could tent but not really a flat spot. We were near the non-electric cul de sac and a neighbor right across but not on top of each other. Trees are everywhere and wonderful during the fall season. We had a big night of rain and with the wind it dried up pretty quickly.

    Camp store - small, not a lot in it but may be end of the season items only. Mostly shirts and mugs and very little snack food. The camp store staff were all very friendly and helpful and the store has limited WiFi if you stood in the right spot. There is a laundry room available there as well.

    Dump station- 2 way and potable water on the other side of it. The only place to drop your trash too.

    Trails - lots of trails to choose from. Some were pretty easy some were a little hilly. My favorite was the fern trail - lots of ferns and a very pretty stream. Hiking poles are recommended especially if it rains.

    Playground - is available for kids and a huge shelter house too.

    Firewood is $6 a bundle and burns well, no slab cut.

    Water - have to go up to entrance as the water spouts are still shut off.

    Showers - in womens the shower on the left never got warm, other two were fine. There are 4 flush toilets.

  • Britt B.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Breakneck Campground

    Perfect Spot to Explore McConnell's Mill

    Breakneck is a private campground on the edge of the McConnell’s Mill State Park. They offer RV sites, tent camping and cabins. The tent camping is either grassy, flat sites or on an elevated timber platform overlooking a gorge. They also offer walk-in tent sites down by the creek which are beautiful. 

    We were lucky enough to be able to to camp down by the stream. There are designated fireplaces. It is quite a walk up the hill to the campground amenities, but worth it to feel secluded down by the creek. From our campsite we walked along the creek into McConnells Mill State Park and joined the covered bridge trail. Approx. 30min walk along the creek down into McConnells Mill State Park. 

    The campground sells firewood and has great amenities. Note: there is no phone reception at the tent sites by the creek. They welcome fury friends!

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 24, 2022

    Shenango Campground

    Huge COE

    After getting off I80, our RV GPS wanted to take us on a wonky route, so we followed Waze and the campground’s(CG) web instructions that took us across the causeway on N. Hermitage Rd, then a right turn off on Birchwood Rd, which led us to take a left turn back across N. Hermitage Rd to get back to the Shenango Rec Area turn. Once we got to the CG, check in was quick and very easy. Just happened, our next door neighbor/camp host checked us in and told us we could get water off their site so we proceeded straight to site 199 that’s a back in with electric(50/30 AMP) only plus one of the better spaced sites in the CG. We had to maneuver a couple of times to get into the 90 degree site but the road was wide with no obstacles to prevent swinging into the site. We quickly found out that our 50 AMP connection had issues and after reporting it, a maintenance crew came within 20 minutes and fixed a bad breaker. We got 3 bars on Verizon and a handful of OTA channels. Due to the amount of mature trees, satellite would be iffy depending on your site. There are no FHU sites(camp host sites have electric& water). Electric sites are centrally grouped within the loops and spaced closer together than most COEs. The majority of the sites within this CG are dry camping and they too are fairly close together. The sites right on the lake were all dry camping. With all the dry camping sites in this CG, its nice that they allow generator use during non quiet hours. Quiet hours here are 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. There are water spigots periodically located within the loops and the CG map identifies where they are. There’s also a two-lane dump station located near the entrance but there is no potable water. There are signs stating no alcohol in the park, but people were openly drinking. We also noted that the contractors who clean the restroom/shower facilities start early in the morning and close the facility while cleaning, which was inconvenient for the dry campers just waking up. If we were to stay at this CG again, we’d come during the week and get a dry camping site on the water.

  • Casey L.
    Apr. 11, 2022

    Danner Primitive Campground

    Nice Primitive Campground

    I have not yet camped here but passed it on my hike the other day and knew I hadn’t seen it in the Dyrt yet, so I wanted to add it for others. This is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also. This is meant more to be a stop along a paddling or hiking trip than a destination camping trip - you must get a permit to stay more than one night. They are first come first serve. There are 8 sites spread out along the edge of the river, some being closer together than others. They are level and clear, each with a new picnic table and nice fire rings with adjustable grates. A few of the sites had stairs to the water for paddler access. The first 2 sites had wheelchair friendly picnic tables, so I'm not sure if you can arrange to be able to drive back for that situation or what other reason they would put them there. That's nice if the case, I'm just not sure as there is a gate locked at the trailhead that's only opened during hunting season. Plus there's no pavement or gravel down at the sites so I imagine it could be difficult to access. But something to investigate. There are vault toilets that were clean and well maintained, with hand sanitizer. There is a spring for water which says to boil before drinking. There is also a big display board with state forest info and maps. Another thing to note, while the travel in makes it feel very remote, there are cabins all along the opposite site of the river, including directly across from the campsites.  This could be a positive or negative depending on your thoughts, I personally would like it because it would make me feel a little safer. All in all, it’s a nice little campground, in better shape than some of the regular bigger campgrounds I’ve seen.

  • Dena L.
    Apr. 26, 2022

    Fox Den Acres Campground

    Review for tent campers

    Mostly an RV campground, but several tent sites. Each site was very spacious and well shaded. Fire ring and table at each sight. Restroom were a short walk away. Firewood available for purchase. I would stay again.

  • Nicole L.
    Nov. 1, 2024

    Cook Forest State Park Campground & Cabins

    Beautiful

    Cooks forest is absolutely gorgeous. I look forward to returning as there are a lot of hiking opportunities we missed. We stayed in the pet friendly area, which was nice. There is a pet trail through the woods that was really great to take our dog rather than walking around the campground. Our site was right next to a drinking water spigot and a path to the bath house. The sites near ours were in a wooded area, which felt more private than many of the other sites we saw. There was a fore pit and a picnic table. Our fire pit was behind where the camper was parked, which also felt more private. There is no alcohol permitted in PA state parks, so alcohol is prohibited in the campground as well. It was a great spot, and we look forward to returning.

  • Kassie F.
    May. 25, 2019

    Bush Recreation Area

    Not too shabby

    My husband & I recently purchased our first 20ft. pull-behind camper. Having made reservations for a tent site for Memorial Day weekend back in February, there were slim pickings when it was time to find a site w/an electric hookup mere weeks before the 3 day weekend. I stumbled upon Bush Recreation Area on recreation.gov (FYI- the website has been redesigned & is still working out kinks) and it was the only campground w/availability. It’s located east of Pittsburgh and is tucked alongside a large boat dock/launch on the Loyalhanna Creek. Motorized boating is allowed and there’s access for fishing from the shore. Some of the sites are more open & exposed (see picture) but others are back in a more wooded area further away from the water. There wasn’t a map for the facility on the website; we stayed at site 18 & noticed the higher the site number (starting at about #25), the further back in the wooded area it was, where there’s more privacy. It’s definitely a great choice for families, especially those w/young children- there’s a nice playground and green space. Reservations are required (recreation.gov) and as of 5/25/19 the dump station is closed & undergoing construction. My husband and I prefer places w/easier access to hiking & biking trails and more privacy, but for our first weekend in our new camper, it worked out well!

  • Rachel K.
    May. 28, 2019

    Outflow Recreation Area (PA)

    Very low key!

    My husband and I stayed at Site 030 for the weekend and it was beautiful! No electricity and the sites are most tent sites, but the sounds of the creek, birds, and frogs really immerse you in nature! If it rains, it does get quite wet, so be prepared for that. There is opportunity for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and hiking in the area!

Guide to Butler

Butler, Pennsylvania camping options range from primitive tent sites to full-service campgrounds. Located in western Pennsylvania near Moraine State Park, the area offers tent campsites accessible by vehicle, hiking trails, and waterways. Campers find opportunities in all seasons, with most facilities operating between April and October when temperatures range from 45°F to 85°F.

What to do

Hiking trails: Mountain View Camps provides access to nearby hiking paths where campers can explore local wilderness. As Richard C. notes, it's a "great place to stay close to hiking trails and fishing spots. Hit the mountain bike track, explore the ruins on the game lands, and might even see an albino fawn."

River paddling: Danner Primitive Campground offers sites along the water, ideal for kayakers and canoeists. According to Casey L., "This is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge. This is meant more to be a stop along a paddling or hiking trip than a destination camping trip."

Biking the GAP Trail: For cyclists, Dravo's Landing Campground provides free bike-in campsites along the Allegheny Gap trail. Lauren C. mentions it's a "Free bike-in camp site with water access along the Youghiogheny River. Access from the Allegheny Gap trail. There were a few shelters, nice campsite."

What campers like

Spacious sites: Dravo's Landing receives praise for its generous camping areas. Sarah Q. reports, "We camped out overnight with a group of 14 people, and there was plenty of room for everyone to pitch their tents and spend a relaxing night under the stars. We made friends with a few other folks who were stopping at Dravo during their bike trips along the GAP."

Private camping: Quiet and Secluded offers a peaceful experience away from crowds. Tom J. described his stay as a "Beautiful place. Host was very accommodating. Great time." Another camper, Clyde A., noted it was a "Lovely Stay at Quiet and Secluded. Rolled up on the later side but was welcomed kindly by the owner Bill. Beautiful spot. Clean amenities!"

Premium facilities: The GAP Trail Campground provides exceptional amenities for tent campers near Butler, Pennsylvania. Shari G. describes it as "More like a Spa than a Campground! The outdoor shower/toilet block is such a divine sight, it makes you crave one whether you're stinky or not. The spacious and lush lawn has lots of space for tents."

What you should know

Permit requirements: Some campgrounds have specific rules about length of stay. At Danner Primitive Campground, "you must get a permit to stay more than one night. They are first come first serve. There are 8 sites spread out along the edge of the river, some being closer together than others."

Train noise: Campgrounds along rail trails often experience nighttime disturbances. Shari G. warns about The GAP Trail Campground: "With all this luxury comes an active train too...that's the nature of this trail. Bring those earplugs for a good night's sleep!"

Wildlife considerations: Local wildlife may visit campgrounds. Sarah Q. advises, "Just be sure to secure your food overnight - if you don't, the raccoons will make quick work of it!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Butler, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Butler, PA is Mountain View Camps with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Butler, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Butler, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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