Cabins near Farmington, Pennsylvania offer access to the Laurel Highlands region with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,800 feet. The area experiences all four seasons with summer temperatures averaging in the 70s and winter temperatures often below freezing. Local forests consist primarily of oak, maple, and pine with numerous streams feeding into the Youghiogheny River system.
What to do
**Water activities at Yough Lake: 53-foot Muddy Creek Falls provides dramatic backdrop for swimming and boating at Tub Run Recreation Area. "Tub Run Road is a rough (but pretty) ride to the campground. Once you hit the property, everything is well-maintained. Roads are easy to navigate and equipment all works well," notes a visitor at Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run.
**Rock climbing opportunities: Coopers Rock State Forest features rock formations with pitches up to 50 feet high. "I have been going her for years and I always love to climb this area. The pitches arent too high (50ft) but great just to get out there an enjoy life!" says a Coopers Rock State Forest visitor.
**Waterfall exploration: Several cabins provide proximity to multiple waterfalls within short hiking distance. A camper at Swallow Falls notes, "The largest falls in Maryland, Muddy Creek Falls, 53 feet. Several other falls on the Youghiogheny River. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs camped on the site in 1918, and 1921."
**Biking the GAP Trail: The Great Allegheny Passage trail runs through the region, accessible directly from some campgrounds. "The GAP trail rolls right through the middle of this traditional KOA campground. The seasonal RVers and weekend warriors have long claimed their sites, but for through riders on the trail there is a special place to camp," reports a visitor at The Blue Canoe RV Resort.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Coopers Rock State Forest offers well-spaced sites within forested settings. "We stayed here 9/2018 at site #10 and can't wait to return. There is a small campground just by the entrance that has a small store and electric sites with RV hookups. Site 10 was at the campground at the top of the hill, sparsely populated, and had beautiful views beyond the trees," notes a camper.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness consistently earns positive mentions at several campgrounds. "The bathhouse was meh, but it didn't matter much to us since we had hookups," notes a reviewer at Swallow Falls State Park Campground, while another visitor reports, "The bathrooms were quite possibly the cleanest camp bathrooms I've ever come across."
Winter availability: Some cabin rentals operate year-round in the Farmington area. According to a reviewer at Laurel Hill State Park Campground, "Camp site was pretty small and close to each other. The forest where the camp site was situated was beautiful. We were lucky enough to witness a spectacular light show put up by thousands of fireflies at night."
Multiple water features: Lakes, streams, and waterfalls provide diverse water-based recreation. "I stayed in a tent site, but had friends that brought their 5th wheel camper. I had my son and nephew with and we all had a great time at both sites. I will definitely be back," shares a camper from Ohiopyle State Park.
What you should know
Reservations required: Most cabin rentals fill quickly during peak season (May-October). "Book early for holidays," advises a camper at Benner's Meadow Run.
Bear awareness: Some campgrounds provide bear boxes at each site. "We were told there were regular bear sightings and there were bear boxes at each site; we saw many deer but not a single bear, keeping our zero bear sightings record intact," notes a Deep Creek Lake State Park visitor.
Road closures impact access: Seasonal road maintenance can cause unexpected detours to campgrounds. "No one - not either website or the woman whom I spoke to - mentioned that the main road to the campground from Ohiopyle was also closed due to a separate paving project," cautions an Ohiopyle visitor.
Site characteristics vary significantly: Some sites feature level gravel pads while others present challenges. "Some sites feature level gravel pads while others present challenges. "Sites can be a bit small or awkward for campers. Our neighbor had a bit of a rough time accessing our shared electric box and we had to put our tent right on the edge because the rest of the campsite was a little muddy," advises a Laurel Hill camper.
Tips for camping with families
Water park amenities: Some campgrounds feature extensive water recreation facilities. A visitor at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Mill Run shares, "Mill run by far the best yogi bear/campground we have been to. Second time we have been & they have upgraded the water slides 4 huge slides plus big splash pad with little slide for smaller kids & the original 2 big water slides in woods."
Activity schedules: Organized programs keep children engaged throughout the day. "We ended with a very private tent site with no amenities but around the corner from a pavilion with an outside washing station and flush toilets. This is a great RESORT type location for families with store, restaurant, pools, slides, mini golf, picnic basket wagon rides, yogi bear fire truck rides, and snowless snow tubing!" notes a Jellystone camper.
Playground access: Most family-oriented campgrounds feature play areas. "They have a playground for the kids and plenty of room for them to play. My only complaint is the firewood available to purchase. It's a small bundle for the price," reports a Coopers Rock visitor.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to see deer and other wildlife. "There are a multitude of fun activities to do in the area. I feel fortunate to live only about 2 hours from this beautiful place, with the Montour biking/hiking trail running right through it," explains an Ohiopyle camper.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have significant slope issues. "Our site was sloped pretty bad side to side and there is a drop off on the one side of the fire ring so we could not sit completely around the fire," reports a Benner's Meadow Run RV Campground visitor.
Hook-up variations: Electrical service varies across campgrounds from 30-amp to 50-amp. "The electrical hookups are not played out well like an expensive RV park with the shared power post on the entrance side of the camper. You may want to have an extension for your power cable," advises a Laurel Hill camper.
Off-season advantages: Visiting after Labor Day provides quieter experience with more space. "We stayed here late October and we arrived fairly late in the day and to our surprise someone was in the store when we got there. Campground was in great shape, the RV lots were well maintained and all the asphalt seems to have been redone recently," shares a Coopers Rock reviewer.
Sanitary dump availability: Most campgrounds with cabin rentals also offer dump stations. "Just returned from our first weekend here. The new section is open and ready. Water and Electric Only. Dump station on the way out," notes a Coopers Rock visitor.
