Campgrounds and RV parks near McClure, PA

Fishing is the headline activity. Poe Paddy State Park sits at the confluence of Big Poe Creek and Penns Creek, a trout angler's paradise featuring the nationally recognized green drake mayfly hatch in June. Hikers use the Mid State Trail, which passes through the park. Cave tours are the other regional draw. Woodward Cave holds a consistent 48 degrees Fahrenheit and the grounds are open year-round, though cave tours run from May to September only. Guided tours last about 50 minutes and include all five of the cave's rooms, including the Hall of Statues and the 14-foot Tower of Babel, believed to be the largest stalagmite in Pennsylvania. Boat rentals at Shady Brook Campground and Boat Rental, plus creek access at Sunsational Family Campground and Buttonwood Campground, give families reliable options along Penns Creek without long drives.

The main camping window in this part of Pennsylvania runs from mid-spring through late fall. At Poe Paddy State Park, five Adirondack-style lean-tos and 34 tent and trailer sites are open from the second Friday in April until mid-December, with access via unpaved mountain roads only and no guarantee of winter access. Sunsational Family Campground advertises year-round camping, while other private parks in the area typically run a spring-to-fall season. June brings the green drake mayfly hatch on Penns Creek, which is the busiest fly-fishing period of the year and fills nearby sites quickly. July and August are peak family season, with warm days, thunderstorms, and full hookups in demand at private parks. Fall delivers cool nights and hardwood color through mid-October, then quickly thins out. Winter maintenance is not performed on park roads or the state forest roads that access Poe Paddy. RV renters planning shoulder-season trips should confirm road conditions before departure and verify that dump stations and water are still active.

Expect a rustic setting at the state park and more developed facilities at the private campgrounds. Poe Paddy offers 38 sites in total, including 17 rustic electric sites, 14 rustic non-electric sites, 5 Adirondack-style lean-to shelters, and a group tenting area. The campground has non-flush toilets and drinking water; campers can use the sanitary dump station at nearby Poe Valley State Park, and for a fee, the showers at Poe Valley. No paved roads lead to Poe Paddy State Park, so larger rigs should plan the route carefully and check clearance and turning room. Private parks in the area typically offer level sites, water and electric hookups, showers, and family amenities such as game rooms, snack bars, and creek access. Cell service is patchy across the valleys and ridges.