Johnstown is a city in southwest Pennsylvania's Cambria County. It is located 76 miles east of Pittsburgh at the meeting point of Stony Creek and the Conemaugh River. With over 60 townships and boroughs, Johnstown serves as the geographic center of this metropolitan area. The town was established in 1800 by a Swiss Mennonite named Joseph Johns. It was formerly the location of a Shawnee and Delaware Indian village. Before being renamed in 1834 to honor the founder, it was first known as Conemaugh. The Kelly converter's use in converting iron to steel in 1861 fueled the development of Johnstown's steel industry. This conversion built the country's first blooming mill and the first steel rails made in the United States. Johnstown had established itself as a major hub for American steel production by 1873.
Flooding devastated the city in 1889. After the South Fork Dam failed due to heavy rain, a massive wall of water rushed down the Conemaugh River valley. The water wall hit Johnstown, located on the Conemaugh floodplain. The flood submerged most of the city's northern half, killing thousands of people and destroying 1,600 homes. You can visit the Grandview Cemetery, which contains the graves of over 700 unidentified victims. The site of the old dam is preserved by the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, which was established in 1964. The city is home to the Johnstown Flood Museum. Following another disastrous flood in 1936, a flood-control program was completed. However, this did not prevent another disaster in July of 1977, when another flood killed more than 80 people.
Visit the Cambria City Historic District, where you can learn about the immigrant heritage and artistic community. You can go whitewater rafting in the Stonycreek Canyon, bike on the back roads, and mountain bike on single-track trails. Enjoy recreational activities such as hiking along the verdant ridges, fishing, and swimming in the lakes. Additionally, the picturesque Allegheny Mountains serve as a beautiful backdrop for all of the attractions in the Johnstown region.
Four Seasons Resort at Raystown Lake has 38 RV back-in and pull-through sites with full hookups. During the hunting season, the site is close to state game lands where you can hunt for deer and smaller game. You can swim in the pool that is located at the campground. Additionally, you will discover cable, Wi-Fi, and good cell coverage at the campground. Other amenities include a children's playground, boat parking, and large rigs. They charge a minimum of $53 per night.
Waterside Campground has 200 RV-friendly back-in and pull-through sites with full hookups. You will enjoy the fully heated swimming pool, which is ideal for late-fall camping. The campground provides water sports rentals, movie rentals, and water skiing. You can also go hiking with your pet. A shower and a strong cell signal are available as additional amenities. The cost of each night at the campground is $38.
Hemlock Hideaway in Todd Township, Pennsylvania is a pet-friendly campground with 100 back-in and pull-through sites that include full hookups. They charge a minimum of $40 per night, and pets are permitted. The campground has a fishing pond, recreational trails, playgrounds, and a boat pavilion, and Raystown Lake is just a mile away. This RV campground also boasts good internet access.
Blue Knob State Park has 6,128 acres of woodland and is 27.9 miles from Johnstown. Explore the towns of Imler, Johnstown, and Portage, which are all located near the state park and offer various amenities. You can anticipate finding eight distinct hiking trails in Blue Knob State Park, with easy, moderate, and advanced difficulty levels. You can cool off in the swimming pool after a strenuous hike. Mountain biking is permitted on several of the park's multi-use trails for all experience levels. Enjoy outdoor pursuits like horseback riding, picnicking, wildlife watching, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
Explore the four acres of artificial Kooser Lake located 41.1 miles from Johnstown. You might come across bluegill, bass, and trout when fishing at the lake. Kooser Lake does not allow swimming, but a beach on the state park's property does. You can go hiking on the 1.5-mile Kooser Trail or the one-mile Kincora Trail. In the winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing on either of the trails mentioned above.
You will adore Laurel Hill State Park, located 40.4 miles from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Explore hiking trails that lead through the forest, mountains, and Laurel Hill Creek. Visit the magnificent and historic Jones Mill Dam. The park rents a wide range of watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, hydro bikes, paddle boats, and stand-up paddleboards. Kayaking is especially beautiful in the fall when the colors light up the shoreline of the sandy beach. Fish for trout and bass in the lake or stream, then return to ice fish in the winter. The hills provide fantastic sledding and snowmobiling opportunities when it snows.
The Johnstown Flood National Memorial is 12.1 miles from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The South Fork Dam remnants and a portion of the former Lake Conemaugh bed are preserved within the park's nearly 165 acres. Begin your visit to the Johnstown Flood National Memorial by watching a documentary in the visitor center about what happened on that fateful day. Hike around the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club cabins to see the outside. A wreath-laying ceremony and luminary lighting are held every year on May 31. This ceremony is in memory of everyone who died when a flood the size of the Mississippi River swept through the neighborhood.
Johnstown is a one-hour drive from the Flight 93 National Memorial. Look at the phone messages left on the plane before beginning your visit to the visitor center. This will enable you to connect with passengers and crew through their biographies. You can ask park rangers or volunteers questions in the forecourt and visitor shelter. By strolling along Memorial Plaza, you can view the impact site and a grove of eastern hemlock-harmed trees due to the Flight 93 crash. More than 80 damaged trees were removed, and a noticeable gap in the tree line left a permanent "scar."
The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is about a half-hour drive from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. You will want to explore nearby hiking trails and fantastic bike-riding areas. Explore the Skew Arch Bridge, built using stone from the first railroad. Visit the Staple Bend Tunnel the first tunnel designed specifically for trains in the United States, and the third tunnel overall. Visit the Lemon House, which displays what this farmstead might have looked like in 1840 using reproduction furniture.
The 517,000-acre Allegheny National Forest is only about two hours drive from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. You will see black birch, cherry, red maple, and sugar maple that have taken the place of the previous beech and hemlock forests. There will be many opportunities for you to see some of the more than 300 different animal species that inhabit the forest. Gray squirrels, raccoons, snowshoe hares, beavers, mink, red and gray foxes, muskrats, black bears, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys are a few examples of these creatures. There are also numerous opportunities to observe the night sky with little light pollution.
Drive for about four hours to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. You will see oak trees, the most prevalent tree species in most forests. The 23 wilderness-designated areas in this forest frequently provide one-of-a-kind locations to view flora and fauna. Enjoy fishing in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area's more than 50 miles of streams. On the Fenwick Mines Day Use Area, you can frequently see woodpeckers, Eastern box turtles, dragonflies, and damselflies on the short trail.
The Monongahela National Forest has 919,000 acres of diverse habitats and is about two hours from Johnstown. You will be able to see over 75 different tree species, 225 different bird species, and a variety of other wildlife. In the park, you might see whitetail deer, woodcock, rabbits, squirrels, wild turkeys, and squirrels. In the forest, you can discover a lot of geocaches, and on clear nights, the park provides fantastic views of the night sky. Explore several multi-use trail and road networks.
Enjoy the 148-mile drive from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to Shenandoah National Park. You can explore the park's forests, waterfalls, and peaks rising to over 4,000 feet in elevation. Take a hike along the extensive Appalachian Trail to get a better look at these breathtaking park vistas. Take advantage of the various outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing, and horseback riding. Pets are allowed on the trails, but they must always be on a leash no longer than six feet. You can learn more about this region's distinctive history and landscape by participating in special events and ranger-led programs.
Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, only an hour's drive from Johnstown. You will see the landscape, which is made up of rivers, wetlands, rolling hills, and lush forests. There are many things to see and do in the Northeast Ohio cities of Akron and Cleveland, located next to the park. Enjoy fishing on a river that is 100 miles long and hiking on the more than 125 miles of trails available. You can also go bird watching, kayaking, picnicking, stargazing, golfing, and enjoy other recreational activities.
The 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park is about a four-hour drive from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. You will be greeted by the recognizable steel arch bridge, which was once the longest in the world. The New River passes through extensive geological formations that provide a habitat for various flora and fauna. You will frequently see a few bald eagles and peregrine falcons that call this park home while touring. Explore the hiking trails that lead to breathtaking vistas and pass by the remains of former coal mining towns.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Johnstown, PA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Johnstown?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Johnstown from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Johnstown?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.