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So a few friends and I are planning a camping trip in the first week of August. We live in western PA, so we're looking for places towards the middle of the state, and the far right side of Ohio. The whole point of the question is that we don't want any old campground. We want to be somewhere that is in deep woods, not next door to some family in a pop up. Basically a place that will let us "rough it" with lots of tent sites. Any good suggestions?
Answer
The only way you will find quiet deep woods camping in PA in the summer is if you are willing to hike at least a few miles into the forest. Anyplace you can drive up to will be occupied by others. So a place with "lots of tent sites" may be problematic if you are looking for solitude.
That said, there are many places in the Allegheny National Forest to your north and in Monongahela National Forest in WV, to your south. Both are about a 4 hour drive from Pittsburgh. The West Virginia mountains will tend to be more rugged and less populated. Due to increased logging and gas well development in the Allegheny Forest it is getting harder to find your way away from people and roads.
I've backpacked and camped extensively in both areas. As the previous answer mentioned, the PA department of Natural Resources has excellent state maps and guides on line to all the camping areas in the state. Some of the more spectacular and remote areas in WV are Cranberry Backcountry, Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Spruce Knob and you can find info on line from the state of WV on those.
Even closer to Pittsburgh, there are nice campsites along the Laurel Highlands Trail that runs roughly north-south 50 miles to the east. And the John P. Saylor Trail near Johnstown has several loop trails with great campsite areas for multiple tents. Go on line and check the reservation requirements for any place you are headed to make sure you comply with location restrictions and that areas are not already overbooked. There are published guides to both National Forests available in outfitter shops and book stores. I recommend taking a book -- easier access than on on-line when you're beyond "civilization".
The closest really deep roadless wilderness is the Adirondacks in upstate NY.
The only way you will find quiet deep woods camping in PA in the summer is if you are willing to hike at least a few miles into the forest. Anyplace you can drive up to will be occupied by others. So a place with "lots of tent sites" may be problematic if you are looking for solitude.
That said, there are many places in the Allegheny National Forest to your north and in Monongahela National Forest in WV, to your south. Both are about a 4 hour drive from Pittsburgh. The West Virginia mountains will tend to be more rugged and less populated. Due to increased logging and gas well development in the Allegheny Forest it is getting harder to find your way away from people and roads.
I've backpacked and camped extensively in both areas. As the previous answer mentioned, the PA department of Natural Resources has excellent state maps and guides on line to all the camping areas in the state. Some of the more spectacular and remote areas in WV are Cranberry Backcountry, Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Spruce Knob and you can find info on line from the state of WV on those.
Even closer to Pittsburgh, there are nice campsites along the Laurel Highlands Trail that runs roughly north-south 50 miles to the east. And the John P. Saylor Trail near Johnstown has several loop trails with great campsite areas for multiple tents. Go on line and check the reservation requirements for any place you are headed to make sure you comply with location restrictions and that areas are not already overbooked. There are published guides to both National Forests available in outfitter shops and book stores. I recommend taking a book -- easier access than on on-line when you're beyond "civilization".
The closest really deep roadless wilderness is the Adirondacks in upstate NY.
My family and i want to take a simple vacation with our 8 mo old baby we just dont know where to go.?
katweenie
We want to stay near the indiana,ohio, Illinios area.
Answer
I cant believe the people that say camping is great with a baby. They may be right, but I wouldnt try it with my kids (ages 2 and 3 weeks). Why? Because when we take my son to a new place to sleep, it bothers him- be it grandma's house, a hotel, a condo, whatever. So he gets fussy, he doesnt want to go to bed, he cries a lot, etc. And this is a laid-back kid that started sleeping through the night when he was 10 days old. I can only imagine how much worse it would be, being stuck in a tent with him.
When my son was 9 months old, we took him down to Hilton Head in SC. We left at like, 3AM, so when he woke up around 8:30 AM, we were already almost halfway there. We're thinking about maybe going back later this summer, after the baby is a few months older. We get a 2-3 bedroom condo. That makes it seem more like home to the kids. And they get their own rooms, which means they dont see us if they wake up a little bit at night, so they go back to sleep, rather than screaming to get our attention.
That being said, it sounds like you want to stay closer. Cedar Point is great, but an 8 month old would hate it, and would make it no fun for parents too. Same with Kings Island. I'd suggest someplace more laid back- like rent a couple bedroom cabin at Hocking Hills. You're still in a nice, quiet, natural area, but you've got a house which will make your baby a lot more comfortable. If you are willing to consider Tennessee/North Carolina, then you could also get a cabin on the Smoky Mountains. Its a very straight shot down I75, so its an easy and relatively short drive- shorter than many parts of Illinois and around the same as going to Chicago.
You could also consider renting a place on Put-In-Bay up on Lake Erie.
Or make the drive to the beach at Myrtle, Hilton Head, or Virginia. Kids like the beach a lot more than mountains anyway, stop halfway and spend the night if 8-12 hours driving is too much for your little one. Just be sure to get a place with 2 bedrooms if you can, you will all be a lot happier.
I cant believe the people that say camping is great with a baby. They may be right, but I wouldnt try it with my kids (ages 2 and 3 weeks). Why? Because when we take my son to a new place to sleep, it bothers him- be it grandma's house, a hotel, a condo, whatever. So he gets fussy, he doesnt want to go to bed, he cries a lot, etc. And this is a laid-back kid that started sleeping through the night when he was 10 days old. I can only imagine how much worse it would be, being stuck in a tent with him.
When my son was 9 months old, we took him down to Hilton Head in SC. We left at like, 3AM, so when he woke up around 8:30 AM, we were already almost halfway there. We're thinking about maybe going back later this summer, after the baby is a few months older. We get a 2-3 bedroom condo. That makes it seem more like home to the kids. And they get their own rooms, which means they dont see us if they wake up a little bit at night, so they go back to sleep, rather than screaming to get our attention.
That being said, it sounds like you want to stay closer. Cedar Point is great, but an 8 month old would hate it, and would make it no fun for parents too. Same with Kings Island. I'd suggest someplace more laid back- like rent a couple bedroom cabin at Hocking Hills. You're still in a nice, quiet, natural area, but you've got a house which will make your baby a lot more comfortable. If you are willing to consider Tennessee/North Carolina, then you could also get a cabin on the Smoky Mountains. Its a very straight shot down I75, so its an easy and relatively short drive- shorter than many parts of Illinois and around the same as going to Chicago.
You could also consider renting a place on Put-In-Bay up on Lake Erie.
Or make the drive to the beach at Myrtle, Hilton Head, or Virginia. Kids like the beach a lot more than mountains anyway, stop halfway and spend the night if 8-12 hours driving is too much for your little one. Just be sure to get a place with 2 bedrooms if you can, you will all be a lot happier.
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