Allegheny National Forest Dispersed Camping and Pennsylvania DNCR Motor Vehicle Camping 🏕

Please see also information on dispersed, roadside and back-country camping in New York State, Vermont and West Virginia.

Allegheny National Forest Dispersed Campsites (shown on this map with a round Yellow Camp logo) are free-to-use with a 14-day stay limit in any 30 day period. Many of these campsites are informal areas used for camping, others like along Forest Road 160 and 259 near Jake’s Rocks and along Lolita Grade have enhanced gravel pads/parking areas. Unlike New York State, they do not have formal markings at the sites. More detailed map.

PA DCNR Motor Vehicle Campsites (shown on this map with a Blue Camp logo) are free to stay at with a permit which can now be obtained online, 3 days in advance.

Download a spreadsheet with the coordinates of Allegheny National Forest Dispersed and Motor vehicle campsites.

More About Allegheny National Forest Camping …

In the Allegheny National Forest there are a variety of back country roads, offering primitive roadside camping.

• Campsites are free to use, and have no facilities except for a fire ring and a pull-off from the road, and sometimes a site reinforced with gravel.
• As noted below, some campsites have additional facilities.
• Don’t make a mess of campsites, pack out any garbage left over.
• Burn only dead and down trees, don’t bring in wood from out of state.
• You can camp up to 14 days per 30 day period in Allegheny National Forest — no permits are required.

Forest Road 160/259 is the most popular dispersed camping area near Jakes Rocks and the Allegheny Reservior. Above are some campsites in this area. Many of these campsites have gravel parking areas and hardend campsites.

There are several campsites along Loleta Grade, south of Lamonaville (FR 131).  This is on the backside of Buzzard Swamp Wildlife Refuge, and is a much more wilderness experience. Many of these campsites have gravel parking areas and hardened campsites. Some of the campsites along the Gurgling Run can be buggy during the summer month, but get much less use then the Jakes Rocks area. Be aware that Forest Road 131 from Loleta Recreation Area to Forest Road 288 is permanently closed due to damage after Superstorm Sandy.

There is a handful of campsites along Fire Road FR 137 along the Dry Run and Whitney Creek near the Willow Creek ATV Area.

There are a handful of campsites along the East Tionesta Creek south of Kane/Shefield.

There are many other roads that have camping but these are some of my favorite locations.

More About DCNR Motor Vehicle Camping …

On Pennsylvania State Forests there are a variety of back country roads, offering primitive roadside camping.

• Camping is by free permit which can be requested online

I have not done a lot of DCNR Motor Vehicle Camping, but above is a picture from 2012 when I spent half a week truck camping at Painter Run in the Tioga State Forest near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. There are many other opportunities as can be seen above, if you plan ahead and get your permit.

Also, see the DCNR Interactive Map if you are interested in fee campgrounds. They have several “rustic” campgrounds which are inexpensive at $10 night, and do not require reservation. These are traditional campgrounds with hand pump water, pit privies and no electricity but often are well maintained and quiet — although the campsites aren’t spread out like back country camping. Many of these campsites are lightly used off-season and are often a good place to spend a night when traveling.