USDA Forest Service · Pennsylvania

Buckaloons

USDA Forest Service · Pennsylvania, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Official page Directions
Sites
101
Hookups
63 electric, 27 no hookups
Season
May 1 to October 25
Cost
Cancellations must be made through Recreation.gov
Max RV length
45 ft
Group sites
Yes
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Showers
Yes
Dump station
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
1,188 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 4
Cell coverage
T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road
BUCKALOONS LAUNCH (NFSR 319) · asphalt · high degree of user comfort
Lake
Allegheny National Forest
Nearest town
BRADFORD
Address
ALLEGHENY SITE MANAGEMENT, BRADFORD, PA, 16701
Phone
814-368-4158 (ALLEGHENY SITE MANAGEMENT, CAMPGROUND CONCESSIONAIRE)
Activities
Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Kayaking

51 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

Buckaloons Campground sits at the confluence of the Allegheny River, Brokenstraw Creek and Irvine Run in northwestern Pennsylvania. This 61-site campground offers access to the Allegheny Wild & Scenic River and opportunities for boating, fishing, wildlife watching, and relaxing in a quiet, country atmosphere.

Recreation

Water activities are a big draw to Buckaloons Recreation Area, including canoing, kayaying, rafting, and boating. The boat ramp provides easy access to the river. Buckaloons is the beginning of the second designated National Wild and Scenic RIver segment of the Allegheny River. The first segment is from Kinzua Dam to the Route 6 Glade Bridge on the east side of Warren, PA. The second segment runs from Buckaloons campground to Alcorn Island just upstream of Oil City, PA, a distance of nearly 50 miles. In this segment are the 6 islands of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness as well as many other publicly and privately owned islands. Several public boat launches are located within this segment to help you decide on the length of trip that's right for you. The Allegheny is a "family-friendly" river, with little to no whitewater - perfect for beginners or a lazy day of floating.

Hunting, fishing, and trapping are permitted in the areas around the campground, subject to rules of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Fishing includes walleye, trout, and bass.

There is also hiking along the Seneca Interpretive Trail within the campground or at nearby Anders Run Natural Area.

Facilities

Buckaloons Recreation Area offers family campsites, double sites and a group tent site. Amenities include both flush and vault toilets, a pressurized water system, hot showers, a dump station and electric hookups.

There is a one-lane concrete boat launch, a picnic area with tables and charcoal grills, pavilion, basketball court and playground. Hardened paths lead to fishing opportunities on the Allegheny River, Brokenstraw Creek and Irvine Run.

Natural Features

Once the site of an Indian trading post, the Buckaloons Recreation Center has numerous apple trees through the area, as well as mixed hardwoods. Water-loving species such as sycamore, willow, alder, silver maple, and butternut are frequent components of the riverine forest. Blue and green herons, bald eagles, egrets, and a variety of smaller birds can be seen along the Allegheny RIver. The Allegheny is classified as a warm-water fishery, but some cold-water species thrive as well. Freshwater mussels are abundant in species and number and indicate the high water quality of this river. Deer, bear, turkey, and squirrels are common, along with a variety of smaller mammals such as raccoon, opossum, and muskrat.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (814) 363-9090.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January31°17°-6°60°11 of 11
February35°21°-10°63°11 of 11
March44°29°9°69°10 of 11
April61°37°19°82°6 of 11
May69°52°32°85°0 of 11
June73°57°45°86°0 of 11
July80°64°55°92°0 of 11
August78°63°53°88°0 of 11
September74°58°45°86°0 of 11
October58°43°34°77°0 of 10
November44°32°11°62°10 of 10
December36°27°7°60°10 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in Pennsylvania · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.