Campgrounds and RV parks near Aaronsburg, PA

Fishing draws many RV travelers to this valley. Penns Creek is a trout angler's paradise featuring the nationally recognized green drake mayfly hatch in June, and the water is easily reached from Poe Paddy State Park. Paddlers can launch a non-motorized boat on Penns Creek directly from the park. Hikers can pick up the Mid State Trail, which passes through Poe Paddy, or explore forest roads and single-track in the surrounding Bald Eagle State Forest. Mountain biking is well established on nearby ridges. Families often build a day around Woodward Cave, formed in limestone bedrock roughly 400 million years old and one of the largest caverns in Pennsylvania. Penn's Cave, with boat tours through an all-water cavern, is a short drive west, and Penn State's Arboretum in State College works well for a low-key afternoon.

The main camping season in this part of Pennsylvania runs from mid-April through mid-December. The Poe Paddy campground opens on the second Friday in April and closes in mid-December, and access is not guaranteed in the winter months. Winter maintenance is not performed on park roads or state forest roads that access Poe Paddy, and caution is advised when traveling there in winter. Camping at Woodward Cave runs from mid-April to mid-October, while Seven Mountains Campground has an extended season. Late spring brings the green drake hatch on Penns Creek and heavy angler traffic in early June. Summer weekends fill quickly across private campgrounds, and Penn State home football weekends in the fall push properties near State College to book out well in advance. Fall foliage in the ridge-and-valley country typically peaks in mid-October and pairs well with quieter mid-week stays. Bat conservation shapes the shoulder season at Woodward Cave, which serves as one of the largest bat hibernation sites in the state; guided cave tours run only from May through September.

Expect a rural, forested setting with narrow valley roads and limited cell coverage in the state forest. Private campgrounds near US 322 offer the fullest hookups and amenities; state park sites are more rustic. The Poe Paddy campground has non-flush toilets and drinking water, campers use the sanitary dump station at nearby Poe Valley State Park, and showers at Poe Valley are available for a fee. Roads matter here. No paved roads lead to Poe Paddy State Park, and the same is true for Poe Valley. Drive slowly, watch for oncoming traffic on blind curves, and avoid the approach in wet or icy conditions. Pet rules vary. At Poe Paddy, pets are permitted only on designated campsites for a fee. Private campgrounds in the area are generally more pet-friendly, but confirm rules before booking.