Allegheny National Forest, PA: Fall Camping Tips

This past weekend, I was able to spend time camping in one of my favorite places, Allegheny National Forest. Patrick and I first visited Allegheny last spring and enjoyed it so much we wanted to experience the forest during the fall season. We stayed at Red Bridge campground again, one of our favorite campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at. This time we were able to reserve a campsite in advance and choose a beautiful spacious spot surrounded by stunning fall foliage. Here’s a list of extra supplies we brought this time to prep for the chillier weather in the fall and to make the experience more cozy:

Fall Camping Tips & Cozy Supply to Pack

Tips:

Check the weather. Fall camping usually brings cooler temps at night and rain depending on where you’re located. While we were in Allegheny it did rain for most of the trip.

Pack lots of layers. There’s nothing worse then being cold and wet. Packing extra layers will provide options and extra warmth on the chilly nights.

Be flexible with plans. During our camp visit, it rained majority of the time which was challenging! Being able to make the most of the trip despite the weather is a must.

Reserve a camping spot in advance. If possible, it’s always reassuring to have a camp site reserved, especially in the fall season. Most seasonal campgrounds are only open through October so it’s usually more popular during the fall months depending on the location.

Supplies to pack for fall camping & for a cozy vibe while camping:

  • Tent with rain cover
  • Awning or area to cover from rain so cooking is accessible
  • Lights (string or lanterns) to help when it gets darker earlier
  • Comforter or extra blankets for sleeping
  • Supplies for hot beverages
  • Layers of clothing
  • Comfy camp chairs
  • Table cloth for picnic table
  • Cozy shoes and socks to wear around camp
  • Waffle maker for breakfast

Although some of these supplies aren’t necessary, it definitely made for a cozier experience while camping in the fall season.

breakfast at camp
morning coffee from the tent
our attempt at a family picture
breakfast spread
cozy tent
morning coffee
red bridge campground
tent at night
cozy layers
pumpkin waffles for breakfast
morning views from the tent
tent set up
prepping dinner

Camping in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Last weekend, Patrick and I spontaneously decided to go camping in Allegheny National Forest. Camping has always been something that helps ground us and provide the perfect reset when life feels stressful. We’ve always talked about going to Allegheny and we finally made the trip happen! Here’s some photos of our quick trip to Allegheny and the camping list we always use that gives us the most comfort while camping.

Our time in Allegheny was short and sweet but it definitely has me excited to visit again in the future. We found a couple campgrounds in the area that were open already for the season, most were first come first serve, which always makes me a little anxious but luckily we were able to find a great spot. We stayed at Red Bridge Campground and we loved it! This campground felt scenic and secluded but also had plenty of amenities which is always a luxury while camping. I would highly recommend this campground, we plan to stay here again during our next visit.

Our Camp List

This is our camping list that we use when we go on quick weekend trip or a long road trip. Some of these items were investments to ensure we had the most comfort, especially for our longer trips. Most of these items aren’t necessary especially for a quick weekend trip but they definitely make us feel more at ease and comfortable which is our goal while camping or traveling on the road.

Sleep

  • Tent, with rain cover
  • Air mattress
  • Sheets
  • Blankets
  • Sleeping bags
  • Pillows

Hygiene

  • Travel toilet
  • Biodegradable waste bags
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash bags
  • Body wash and shampoo
  • Tooth brush and tooth paste

Cook

  • Newair refrigerator or cooler
  • Cooking utensils
  • Eating utensils
  • Plates
  • Bowls
  • Coffee mugs
  • Pots and pans
  • Stove top and propane
  • Jetboil
  • Cutting board
  • Stanley pour over stand
  • Containers/bags to store leftover food
  • Water cooler
  • Collapsible sink
  • Campsuds dish soap
  • Sponge to wash dishes

Comfort

  • Rinse kit (helpful for a quick rinse off or to assist with washing dishes)
  • Camp chairs
  • Hammock
  • Quick dry towels
  • Jackery generator (we use this to keep our refrigerator powered and other things we need to charge)
  • Cameras
  • String lights
  • Journals/books
  • Card games

Safety

  • Medicine kit
  • Lantern
  • Garmen inreach mini satellite gps (helpful when there’s no service!)
  • Quick start car battery charge

Misc.

  • Fire starter supply
  • Citronella candle
  • Small hatchet/shovel
Tent set up
Morning coffee
Red Bridge Campground
Prepping dinner
Morning at camp
Starting a campfire for the evening
Camp breakfast
View of our setup
S’mores!
Walking around the campground