Free camping near James, PA
Within 25 straight-line miles of James, PA there are 30 camps: 12 free, 18 fee. The closest is Twin Lakes Campground, 4.7 miles east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Twin Lakes Campground, 4.7 miles out.
Who manages them: 25 on the Forest Service; 5 on PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry - Clear Creek State Forest.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes Campground | 4.7 | Free | — | 1.4 mi to Sergeant | — |
| Red Mill Pond | 6.0 | Free | Brush Hollow (stream) | 3.4 mi to Highland Corners | — |
| Nct-Cherry Run Shelter | 7.0 | Free | South Branch Tionesta Creek (river) | 0.9 mi to Cherry Run | — |
| Nct-Gibbs Spring Shelter | 7.6 | Free | Two Mile Run (stream) | 1.8 mi to Gibbs Hill | — |
| Red Mill Campground | 9.1 | Free | — | 2.8 mi to Montmorenci | — |
| Red Bridge Rec Area | 11 | Fee | — | 8.9 mi to Kane | — |
| Kiasutha Rec Area | 12 | Fee | — | 8.7 mi to Sheffield | — |
| Kelly Pines Campground | 12 | Fee | — | 5.7 mi to Marienville | — |
| Nct-Chappel Fork Shelter | 13 | Free | Chappel Fork (stream) | 3.7 mi to Elijah | — |
| Nct-Hunter Station Shelter | 13 | Free | Pell Run (stream) | 2.7 mi to Truemans | — |
| Morrison Boat To | 15 | Fee | — | 9.0 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Minister Creek Campground & Trailhead | 16 | Fee | — | 8.5 mi to Sheffield | — |
| Dewdrop Rec Area | 16 | Fee | — | 7.8 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Nct-Hammond Run Shelter | 18 | Free | Hammond Run (stream) | 3.5 mi to Klondike | — |
| Pine Grove Boat To | 19 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Loleta Rec Area | 19 | Fee | — | 5.0 mi to Marienville | — |
| Clarion River Campsites | 20 | Free | Clarion River (river) | 1.8 mi to Belltown | — |
| Nct-Big Boulder Shelter | 20 | Free | Twomile Run (stream) | 2.2 mi to Kellettville | — |
| Nct-Queen Creek Shelter | 20 | Free | Middle Hickory Creek (stream) | 2.1 mi to Hearts Content | — |
| Hopewell Boat To | 21 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Russell | — |
| Handsome Lake Boat To | 22 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Russell | — |
| Clear Creek State Forest roadside campsite 005 Spring Creek | 22 | Fee | — | — | — |
| Hearts Content Rec Area | 22 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Clear Creek State Forest roadside campsite 004 McNeil Station | 22 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Brockway | — |
| Clear Creek State Forest roadside campsite 003 Fire Tower | 23 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Brockway | — |
| Tracy Ridge Rec Area | 23 | Fee | — | 10 mi to University of Pittsburgh Bradford | — |
| Clear Creek State Forest roadside campsite 002 Clear Run 2 | 23 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Brookville | — |
| Clear Creek State Forest roadside campsite 001 Clear Run 1 | 24 | Fee | — | — | — |
| Nct-Tracy Run North Shelter | 24 | Free | North Branch Tracy Run (stream) | 5.8 mi to Stickney | — |
| Hooks Brook Boat To | 24 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Russell | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from James, PA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.