You can camp at Raystown Lake in two ways: at the on-lake U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds and resort on the water (Seven Points, Susquehannock, and Lake Raystown Resort), or at full-hookup private RV parks and campgrounds a short drive off the water. On the lake’s west side, James Creek RV Resort is the closest full-service RV resort, with 207 RV sites, 5 furnished cabins, a heated pool, and a camp store, minutes from the water.
Raystown Lake is Pennsylvania’s largest lake at 8,300 acres, tucked into Huntingdon County in the state’s south-central ridge-and-valley country. The on-lake Corps campgrounds put you right by the boat launches and beaches, but they skew rustic and book out fast on summer weekends. The private parks around the lake add the hookups, pools, and cabins that the Corps sites do not. This guide compares your Raystown Lake camping options and shows where James Creek RV Resort fits.
Where to Camp at Raystown Lake
On-Lake Corps and Resort Camping
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs the campgrounds right on Raystown Lake, including Seven Points and Susquehannock, and Lake Raystown Resort operates a large waterfront resort near Entriken. These put you closest to the water and the boat launches. The trade-off: the Corps sites skew rustic, Susquehannock is non-electric, and everything on the lake books out fast on summer weekends. The Corps manages the lake’s roughly 8,300 acres and 21,000 surrounding acres, and camping reservations open several months ahead.
Full-Hookup Private Parks Minutes Off the Water
A short drive from the lake, private campgrounds and RV parks add what the Corps sites do not: electric and water at the site, pools, camp stores, and cabins. James Creek RV Resort is the closest full-service RV resort on the lake’s west side, and campgrounds near Raystown Lake like Pleasant Hills and Raystown Ridge round out the near-lake options. If you want hookups and amenities on a Raystown Lake camping trip, this is the group to look at.
How to Choose
Pick on-lake camping if being steps from the water matters more than hookups, and book early. Pick a near-lake full-service park if you want power, water, a pool, cabins, and a hot shower with a short drive to the boat launch. Many Raystown Lake regulars land on the second option once they have kids, a bigger rig, or a longer stay in mind.
Raystown Lake Camping Comparison
Here is how James Creek RV Resort compares with the on-lake Corps campgrounds, the on-lake resort, and the other private campgrounds near Raystown Lake. Availability and rates change, so confirm details with each campground before you book.
| Campground | On-lake or near-lake | Hookups | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Creek RV Resort | Near-lake (minutes west) | 20/30/50-amp electric and water at every site, dump station on site (no site sewer; pump-out for long-term guests) | Full-service RV and cabin stays near the water |
| Seven Points Campground (USACE) | On-lake | Electric hookups, hot showers, dump station | Being right on the lake near the marina and trails |
| Susquehannock Campground (USACE) | On-lake | Non-electric, primitive; some waterfront sites | A quiet, rustic on-lake tent or small-rig site |
| Lake Raystown Resort | On-lake | Full-hookup RV and tent sites, cabins, yurts, villas | A large waterfront resort with lodging variety |
| Trough Creek State Park | Near-lake | Rustic campsites, no full hookups | Hikers who want Balanced Rock and Rainbow Falls |
| Pleasant Hills Campground | Near-lake | Full hook-up RV and tent sites (seasonal) | Families near Seven Points Marina and the trails |
| Raystown Ridge Camp | Near-lake | Seasonal RV sites (no nightly camping) | Seasonal campers who want a ridge-top view |
When to Camp and Booking Reality
Summer is peak at Raystown Lake, and on-lake sites and weekends go first. If your dates land on a summer weekend or a holiday, reserve as early as you can, especially for the Corps campgrounds and Lake Raystown Resort, which fill months ahead. Shoulder-season trips in late spring and early fall are quieter, with easier availability and cooler nights. Several of the private campgrounds near the lake run on a seasonal calendar, so confirm open dates before you plan. For James Creek RV Resort, check current rates and season dates directly with the park.
Explore More Around James Creek
Browse all RV camping in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania RV parks & campgrounds.
More Raystown Lake and James Creek guides:
- Raystown Lake Cabins
- Best RV Parks Near Raystown Lake
- Best Campgrounds Near James Creek, PA
- Pet-Friendly RV Parks Near James Creek, PA
Learn more about the lake from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Raystown Lake page.
James Creek RV Resort
James Creek RV Resort sits minutes west of Raystown Lake, off the water, in James Creek, Pennsylvania. It is the closest full-service RV resort on the lake’s west side, and it is built for travelers who want hookups, a heated pool, and cabins rather than a rustic on-lake site. You are a short drive from the James Creek boat launch, Tatman Run beach, Seven Points marina, and Trough Creek State Park, so you get quick water access without giving up the amenities.
The resort has 207 back-in RV sites, plus 5 furnished cabins for guests traveling without a rig. On-site you will find a heated swimming pool, a playground, a camp store with a sandwich shop and ice cream, bathhouses, coin laundry, and gated entry. It is a practical home base for a Raystown Lake trip: you camp near the water, then come back to real hookups and a hot shower at the end of the day. Check current rates and availability before you book, since summer weekends fill early around the lake.
Sites & Hookups
Every RV site at James Creek RV Resort comes with 20/30/50-amp electric and water at the site, plus a dump station on site. There are no individual sewer hookups at the sites, and a pump-out service is available for long-term guests. All 207 sites are back-in, so big rigs and smaller trailers both have a fit.
For a Raystown Lake campground with hookups, this is the setup most travelers want: power and water at the site, a dump station on the way out, and a short drive to the boat launch. Check current rates and availability for the site type you need.
What's On-Site
James Creek RV Resort packs in the amenities that on-lake Corps campgrounds do not have. A heated swimming pool, a playground, and basketball and volleyball courts keep kids busy on downtime. A camp store with a sandwich shop and ice cream handles the small stuff, bathhouses and coin laundry cover the basics, and gated entry adds a layer of quiet. Boat and RV storage, on-site propane fill and firewood sales, and on-site fishing round it out. After a day on Raystown Lake, the heated pool and a lounge chair reliably earn their keep in summer.
What Guests Say
4.3 stars across 119 Google reviews. Guests consistently call out the clean bathhouses, the friendly staff, and how well-kept the sites are, and families mention the heated pool as a reason the kids want to come back. For a Raystown Lake campground with full amenities and gated entry, that steady feedback is the story: people book it for a base near the water and return for the consistency.
Other Campgrounds Near Raystown Lake
<p>James Creek RV Resort is the closest full-service RV resort on the lake’s west side, but several other campgrounds serve Raystown Lake, from on-lake Corps sites to nearby private parks. Availability and policies change, so call ahead before you plan.</p>
Seven Points Campground
The largest on-lake campground at Raystown Lake, with over 260 sites for tents, RVs, and trailers, hot showers, water hydrants, and a dump station, plus quick access to boating, swimming, and the Allegrippis trails. Sites book months ahead for summer weekends. Visit website.
Susquehannock Campground
A primitive on-lake campground with more than 60 newly renovated non-electric sites, including over 20 tent-only sites and some waterfront spots, with a central bathhouse and hot showers. Good for campers who want to be on the water and do not need hookups. Visit website.
Lake Raystown Resort
A 400-acre on-lake resort with full-hookup RV and tent sites plus cabins, yurts, and villas, a marina, and a full slate of family activities and events. It is the biggest on-water resort option at Raystown Lake and a genuine alternative if you want to stay right on the water. Visit website.
Trough Creek State Park
A 541-acre state park bordering Raystown Lake and Rothrock State Forest, with rugged hiking trails and natural landmarks like Balanced Rock and Rainbow Falls. Camping is rustic, so it suits tent campers and hikers over big rigs. Reserve through Pennsylvania State Parks. Visit website.
Pleasant Hills Campground
A family-owned campground near Raystown Lake with full hook-up sites for RVs and tenters, less than three miles from the Allegrippis biking and hiking trails and close to Seven Points Marina. It runs a seasonal calendar, so confirm open dates when you book. Visit website.
Raystown Ridge Camp
A seasonal RV campground on 84 ridge-top acres near Raystown Lake with 91 sites laid out for privacy and views, plus a gate and security cameras. It rents seasonal sites rather than nightly stays, so it fits campers looking to park for the season, not a weekend. Visit website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp at Raystown Lake?
Yes. You can camp on the lake at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds like Seven Points and Susquehannock and at Lake Raystown Resort, or at full-hookup private RV parks and campgrounds a short drive off the water, such as James Creek RV Resort on the lake’s west side.
What campgrounds are on Raystown Lake?
The main on-lake campgrounds are the Corps of Engineers sites, including Seven Points and Susquehannock, plus Lake Raystown Resort near Entriken. Near-lake options a short drive off the water include James Creek RV Resort, Pleasant Hills Campground, Raystown Ridge Camp, and Trough Creek State Park.
Does James Creek RV Resort have full hookups?
Every site has 20/30/50-amp electric and water, plus a dump station on site. There are no individual sewer hookups at the sites, and a pump-out service is available for long-term guests.
How far is James Creek RV Resort from Raystown Lake?
James Creek RV Resort is minutes west of Raystown Lake, off the water, in James Creek, Pennsylvania. It is the closest full-service RV resort on the lake’s west side, a short drive from the James Creek boat launch, Tatman Run beach, Seven Points marina, and Trough Creek State Park.
Are there cabins at Raystown Lake?
Yes. James Creek RV Resort rents 5 furnished cabins on site, and Lake Raystown Resort offers cabins, yurts, and villas. Cabins are a good option if you want to camp at Raystown Lake without an RV or tent. See our Raystown Lake cabins guide for details and check current availability.
When is camping season at Raystown Lake?
Summer is the busy season, and on-lake sites and weekends book months ahead. Late spring and early fall are quieter with easier availability. Several private campgrounds near the lake run a seasonal calendar, so confirm open dates. For James Creek RV Resort, check current season dates and availability with the park.
Check Availability at James Creek RV Resort
James Creek RV Resort by RJourney gives you a full-service base for a Raystown Lake camping trip: 207 back-in RV sites with 20/30/50-amp electric and water, 5 furnished cabins, a heated pool, a camp store, and gated entry, all minutes west of the lake with a short drive to the boat launch. Check current rates and availability before summer weekends fill.
See all site types, cabins, and live availability on the James Creek RV Resort page.
Check Availability (878) 978-2531