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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Activities powered by Viator. Prices and availability come from each provider and are confirmed when you book with them.

  1. Home
  2. Pennsylvania
  3. Bush Recreation Area

Camping at Bush Recreation Area near Saltsburg

Public campground · Saltsburg · 39 campsites · 1 group

A forested campground near fishing, and hiking. Most campsites have no hookups, and RV fit varies by site.

About this campground

Bush Recreation Area sits on the western shore of Loyalhanna Lake in a valley formed by the rolling foothills of the Laurel Highlands, where the headwaters of Loyalhanna Creek begin. The setting is rugged and largely undeveloped, with open water and wooded ridges that attract songbirds and waterfowl good spots for wildlife viewing and bird watching from shore or a paddlecraft.

4.0 on Recreation.gov · 133 reviewsBook on Recreation.gov
View all 5 photos

At a glance

  • RV sites up to 22 ft

    Length limits vary by campsite.

  • Mostly no hookups

    Limited electric sites.

  • Pets welcome
  • Public land
OverviewCampsitesAmenities & locationReviewsPlan your stay

0 available sites

0 open of 39 sites
No sites offered for these dates.

We checked every night of your stay on Recreation.gov: no site is open for all 2 nights. Some sites are open on some nights.

Flexible dates

View the next available two-night stay.

Looking for the next open dates…
Fixed dates

Compare nearby campgrounds open for these dates. Your camping setup, rig size, hookups and dates stay applied.

Nearby campgrounds open for these dates
Check Recreation.gov directly ↗
View full availability calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov

Check dates on Recreation.gov.

SiteFr
13
Sa
14
Price
005
standard nonelectric
––$23
040
tent only nonelectric
––$23
010
standard nonelectric
––$23
006
standard nonelectric
––$23
009
standard nonelectric
––$23
003
standard nonelectric
––$23
043
tent only nonelectric
––$23
027
tent only nonelectric
––$23
031
tent only nonelectric
––$23
024
standard nonelectric
No site is open for every night of your stay

You book directly on Recreation.gov. Rates and availability can change until reserved. Campground page on Recreation.gov ↗

No sites offered for these dates
Book on Recreation.gov

Amenities & location

Check-in
2:00 PM
Checkout
11:00 AM
Pets
Allowed (per listing)
Maximum stay
14 nights

Hookups (individual campsites): 15 electric, 24 no-hookup individual sites · group site listed separately (1 no-hookup).

Location

440 Loyalhanna Dam Road
Open in Google Maps ↗

Bush Recreation Area: questions answered

What is the maximum RV length at Bush Recreation Area?
Longest RV site listed: 22 ft (3 of 31 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
Does Bush Recreation Area have RV hookups?
15 electric, 24 no-hookup individual sites · group site listed separately (1 no-hookup) (per the listing)
How do I reserve a site at Bush Recreation Area?
Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
Are pets allowed at Bush Recreation Area?
Allowed (per the listing)
Sources and details

At a glance

Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.

Max rig length
Listing Longest RV site listed: 22 ft (3 of 31 RV sites list a length)
Hookups & power
Listing 15 electric, 24 no-hookup individual sites · group site listed separately (1 no-hookup)
Pull-through / back-in
Listing 8 pull-through, 36 back-in
Pets
Listing Allowed
Cell signal
Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (63 reports), AT&T 3 (29 reports), T-Mobile 3 (19 reports)
Water
Listing Water at 10 sites
Shade
Listing 21 of 21 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
Booking
Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
Price
Listing Lowest listed rate $25/night (live price once you pick dates)
Stay limits
Listing 14 nights max
Getting there
Listing 440 Loyalhanna Dam Road (map in Location below)
Road & site access · Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite
Not listed — check with campground

Reviews

Themes from recent written reviews on Recreation.gov. Quotes are verbatim.

Friendly hosts and staff · 2 reviews

“Camp host Darlene is always wonderful and so helpful.”

Jaidlynne S · Oct 2025

Selected reviews

Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (133 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.

“Always a great time camping by the lake! Camp host Darlene is always wonderful and so helpful. We wish the camping season lasted longer though. We would’ve loved to come more in the fall to enjoy a fire.”

Jaidlynne S 5 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Host is amazing. Sites are not crowded. ”

Candy J 5 · Sep 2025 · Recreation.gov

“We always have a good time. Our campground host Darlene was very helpful as usual!! You can tell she likes to help people.”

PATRICIA S 5 · Sep 2025 · Recreation.gov
Nearby

Campgrounds to compare

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Prefer a roof over your head

All glamping →
  • Keystone State Park5.2 mi · DERRY
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  • Mountain Top RV Campground24.6 mi · Tarentum
  • Yellow Creek Campground - Penn Run, Pennsylvania24.9 mi · Penn Run
  • Mountain Pines Campground26.1 mi · Champion
  • Kooser State Park28.4 mi · SOMERSET

Explore nearby

  • Campgrounds near Saltsburg
  • RV rentals near Saltsburg
  • Glamping & cabins near Saltsburg
  • RV rentals in Pennsylvania
  • Glamping in Pennsylvania

Guides for this trip

  • How much does it cost to rent an RV?
  • Camping with dogs
–
–
$23
035
standard nonelectric
––$23
026
standard nonelectric
––$23
007
standard nonelectric
––$23
034
tent only nonelectric
––$23
036
standard nonelectric
––$23
004
standard nonelectric
––$23
037
tent only nonelectric
––$23
039
tent only nonelectric
––$23
008
standard nonelectric
––$23
025
standard nonelectric
––$23
038
tent only nonelectric
––$23
032
tent only nonelectric
––$23
019
standard nonelectric
––$23
033
standard nonelectric
––$23
028
rv electric
––$26
021
rv electric
––$26
022
rv electric
––$26
023
rv electric
––$26
041
rv electric
––$28
013
rv electric
––$28
020
rv electric
––$28
042
rv electric
––$28
015
rv electric
––$28
014
rv electric
––$28
017
rv electric
––$28
018
rv electric
––$28
016
rv electric
––$28
011
rv electric
––$28
012
rv electric
––$28
Kiski Nonprofit Group Campground
group tent only area nonelectric
––$50

✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released

Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every night

Keystone State Park

5.2 mi from Bush Recreation Area (straight-line)
Sites from $70/night
$140 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Pennsylvania State Parks · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights12 sites open for every night

Wheel-In Campground

18.5 mi from Bush Recreation Area (straight-line)
Sites from $53/night
$106 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Campspot · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights1 site open for every night

Don Huey Country Camp

21.3 mi from Bush Recreation Area (straight-line)
Sites from $67/night
$134 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
Trip idea

Ideas for your stay

An idea to start from, built from this campground's listing and real tours nearby. Times, openings and prices change, so check each before you go.

  1. Day 1 · Arrive and settle in

    • Check in and set up camp.
    • go fishing (per the campground listing)
  2. Day 2 · Get out and explore

    • Bike the Burgh Tour Pittsburgh area · 3 hr · from $59/person
    • Pittsburgh Segway Tour Pittsburgh area · 2 hr · from $58/person
  3. Day 3 · One more stop, then head home

    • Essential Pittsburgh Experience - The One Tour to Take Pittsburgh area · 2 hr · from $75/person
Ways to stay

Bring a tent or have an RV waiting

  • Tent camping here: 24 sites take tents. See open sites ↑
  • Electric sites: 15 sites have power.

Need an RV for your stay?

Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 22 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.

The Lil’ Lilu 2022 Dutchmen Coleman 21 ft.
The Lil’ Lilu 2022 Dutchmen Coleman 21 ft.

Travel trailer · 21 ft · sleeps 5 · 20 mi from campground

$109/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
2022 Winnebago Solis 59PX
2022 Winnebago Solis 59PX

Camper van · 21 ft · sleeps 4 · 37 mi from campground

$250/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
Theo
Theo

Camper van · 19 ft · sleeps 2 · 59 mi from campground

$100/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available

View rental
Things to do

Activities near Bush Recreation Area

Bookable tours nearby

Paid experiences on Viator. Distances are from this campground when the tour lists its own start point.

Pittsburgh Segway Tour
Pittsburgh Segway Tour

Pittsburgh area · 2 hr · from $58/person

Essential Pittsburgh Experience - The One Tour to Take
Essential Pittsburgh Experience - The One Tour to Take

Pittsburgh area · 2 hr · from $75/person

Best of the Burgh Walking Tour of Pittsburgh
Best of the Burgh Walking Tour of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh area · 2 hr · from $33/person

See 6 more bookable tours
Bike the Burgh Tour
Bike the Burgh Tour

Pittsburgh area · 3 hr · from $59/person

Best time to go

Seasons, rates and how booked it gets

  • Peak season May 7–Sep 14: Tent $25–$50, RV $30–$35, RV & Tent $25 per night

stays up to 14 nights (Recreation.gov rules).

Plan your stay

How far ahead to book Bush Recreation Area

For May weekends, book about 71 days ahead. Three in four May Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 18 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.

See booking patterns
Arrival monthFri/Sat arrivals: half booked at leastA quarter at leastOther days: half booked at leastA quarter at least
May18 days ahead71 days ahead8 days ahead74 days ahead
June10 days ahead40 days ahead6 days ahead43 days ahead
July8 days ahead32 days ahead8 days ahead52 days ahead
August7 days ahead27 days ahead5 days ahead25 days ahead
September8 days ahead24 days ahead8 days ahead31 days ahead

Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.

Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (3,992 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.

Black & Ghost Tour
Black & Ghost Tour

Pittsburgh area · 2 hr · from $33/person

Pittsburgh Signature Guided Brewery Tour
Pittsburgh Signature Guided Brewery Tour

Pittsburgh area · 3.5 hr · from $105/person

Whiskey Rebellion & Prohibition Tour
Whiskey Rebellion & Prohibition Tour

Pittsburgh area · 2.5 hr · from $49/person

Downtown Pittsburgh Hidden Gems Food Tour with 5 Food Tastings
Downtown Pittsburgh Hidden Gems Food Tour with 5 Food Tastings

Pittsburgh area · 3 hr · from $98/person

Pittsburgh Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Pastries, & More
Pittsburgh Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Pastries, & More

Pittsburgh area · 2 hr · from $70/person

Compare site types

39 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 7 · 1 group site listed separately. Rates are the listed nightly rates.

Standard sites (tent or RV)

Tent, van or small RV, no power

15 sites · $23/night

Loops: Loop 1 (15)

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15

RV sites with electric

RVs and trailers, with power

15 sites · $28, $26/night

Loops: Loop 1 (15)

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Tent-only sites

Tents only, no power

9 sites · $23/night

Loops: Loop 1 (9)

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Group tent only area nonelectric (group)

1 site · $50/night

Loops: BUSH RECREATION AREA (1)

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15