Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
155 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
32
Average
7
Poor
7
Terrible
8
Zumna
9 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
This place had no one of any sort of authority to enforce rules. The unruy crowd were all making other visitors' life difficult by playing loud music on SUV stereo, lots of motorcycles making loud vhrrm bhrrm noises unnecessarily. Hated the place!
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BoardingPass719026
1 contribution
Jul 2020
We came to the lodge on 7/5 to spend a night. The room was filthy. First, the bed looked like things weren't washed. I collected many hairs off the bed. There was a blood stain on one of the sheets on the bed. Bugs were everywhere in the room. Crawling into my suitcase and in the bathroom. The lamps were literally covered in dust. The staff was not wering masks when we saw them cleaning other rooms. The front staff was less then polite. We went to the Marina Cafe to eat. It was almost 100 degrees outside and the outer tables had no shade. We sat in the boiling sun trying to eat our hot food. We thought we would go to the private "Camper's Beach" and found that the water was off a cement ledge and floor that was covered in slime (VERY slippery). We managed to get in safely but watched as others fell and got hurt. Then the next morning we tried to find breakfast. The Marina Cafe or anything besides the quick mart was closed until noon. We asked the lady at the quick mart where we can go and she gave us a lecture about being in the PA countryside, when we are from PA! We ended up having to drive to Hundington, about a 25 min. drive one way to get McDonald's.
The only positive experience we had was watching the firework display which was AMAZING. Unfortunately, that won't bring us back to stay the night.
The only positive experience we had was watching the firework display which was AMAZING. Unfortunately, that won't bring us back to stay the night.
Written July 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pitt visitor
7 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
IMPORTANT TO KNOW!! If You are planning on operating a PWC on Raystown Lake it is the law in PA to have a boaters education certificate no matter what your age! They have officers on the lake that consistently check for this. The fine is not cheap. You can take the course at many places online and it takes hours. Very little of the course involves PWC operation, so it's a little annoying that they make you take an entire boating course just for operating a PWC. The Raystown Lake region is beautiful and the lake is wonderful to go boating on so it is worth taking the course so you don't get the fine!
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawn M
Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States13 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We’ve never done a houseboat trip and the reviews we read were very helpful. I’ll add my tips at the end. The views were incredible. They handle check-in and check out very well!
Our boat was perfect. We were surprised to arrive and find that it had been updated just before this season so everything was brand new!
The most relaxing and unique vacation I’ve ever had. I’d compare it to “water glamping”.
My tips are:
Oder your groceries from Walmart (about 25 min away) to be ready by noon to pick up.
In order to arrive at Marina by 12:30 - they say check-in is noon but it really was closer to one.
Take the thin easy dry towels. We had rain and with no dryer or sun it was hard finding dry towels.
Be ready to learn a lot really fast! Tons of info before you leave dock so better to have all adults watch the boat tour if you’re not experienced.
Bring lots of fun water toys/floats! I ordered an inflation device I could plug in that worked perfectly to inflate and quickly deflate my n last night.
Explore if you want to - we were so late getting out Monday that we moored at first cove. One of the boats in our group explored more on Thursday and found great spots to moor and walk from boat to boat. That said…we had NO ONE around us other than our group and it worked for us!
Have fun! Truly my most memorable and relaxing vacation ever!
Our boat was perfect. We were surprised to arrive and find that it had been updated just before this season so everything was brand new!
The most relaxing and unique vacation I’ve ever had. I’d compare it to “water glamping”.
My tips are:
Oder your groceries from Walmart (about 25 min away) to be ready by noon to pick up.
In order to arrive at Marina by 12:30 - they say check-in is noon but it really was closer to one.
Take the thin easy dry towels. We had rain and with no dryer or sun it was hard finding dry towels.
Be ready to learn a lot really fast! Tons of info before you leave dock so better to have all adults watch the boat tour if you’re not experienced.
Bring lots of fun water toys/floats! I ordered an inflation device I could plug in that worked perfectly to inflate and quickly deflate my n last night.
Explore if you want to - we were so late getting out Monday that we moored at first cove. One of the boats in our group explored more on Thursday and found great spots to moor and walk from boat to boat. That said…we had NO ONE around us other than our group and it worked for us!
Have fun! Truly my most memorable and relaxing vacation ever!
Written August 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robbie D
1 contribution
Jul 2021
Would not recommend staying here!
Booked two cabins side by side to visit family who are permanent renters. When we arrived, we were told another group was given one of our cabins. This group had apparently lied to the owners. The owners suggestion was to ruin their stay by being very loud and told us we would not be kicked out if they complained. We are not those type of people, so we did not attempt to ruin their stay.
We were not happy and made that known to the owners. No apology was given, only excuses.
Our cabin was dirty and falling down the side of the hill. This is a safety hazard and needs to be condemned.
A week later, they owners decided to kick this family out of their permanent campsite without notice or reason. A family who has been at this same site for many years and routinely spends their entire summer there. Bills paid on time, no past infractions or issues, site clean and grass always cut. A family who called this place home
Booked two cabins side by side to visit family who are permanent renters. When we arrived, we were told another group was given one of our cabins. This group had apparently lied to the owners. The owners suggestion was to ruin their stay by being very loud and told us we would not be kicked out if they complained. We are not those type of people, so we did not attempt to ruin their stay.
We were not happy and made that known to the owners. No apology was given, only excuses.
Our cabin was dirty and falling down the side of the hill. This is a safety hazard and needs to be condemned.
A week later, they owners decided to kick this family out of their permanent campsite without notice or reason. A family who has been at this same site for many years and routinely spends their entire summer there. Bills paid on time, no past infractions or issues, site clean and grass always cut. A family who called this place home
Written October 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cathy C
121 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Big mountain biking area, everyone in the campground has serious mountain bikes. There are lots of trails, very clean, big sites, beach for swimming and boating area. Will definitely come back.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelbug
Pittsburgh, PA441 contributions
Jul 2021
Great campsite! Level spacious lot with two picnic tables, shade tree and woods directly behind. Camp ground is clean and organized. Park Rangers were out patrolling keep an eye on what is going on. Lots of trails, bike skills park, visitor center with educational information, fishing spots and a swim area. So many other attractions near by.
Written July 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phrank-ritz
Redlion, PA106 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
beautiful area in general with plenty of woods with trails and the huge lake for swimming, boating, or fishing. great for getting away and relaxing or doing a family fun trip. there are state parks nearby and lots of little towns to explore most withing 20 to 30 minutes with side attractions. many campgrounds are close as well with cabins and trailers for rent if you don't have acamper.
Written June 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe
New Oxford, PA371 contributions
Oct 2021
My wife haven't been here for years and journeyed to the north part of the lake. We went to Ridenour's overlook and Hawn's overlook. Wow, what awesome views. It was fascinating reading the signage about the dam and all the good that came of it. T!he whole lake is awesome !
Written October 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe PA
Philadelphia, PA5 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
There was still alot closed, the beach the visitor center and 7 points. But that didn't stop people from grabbing a piece of lake and having a good time. Plenty of room to social distance too. It was fun for all.
Written July 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa
Dover, Pennsylvania
I would like to see if you have openning on memorial werkend for a conversion van everyone said its a nice place to go. I tried the number but no one answered if you could let me know I would appreciate it ty
Written April 1, 2023
Recommended places to eat in or near Raystown lake
Written September 7, 2020
We have a site near the lake but not right on the water. Site 119. We are bringing kayaks. Can we launch near there or do we have to drive to a boat launch?
Written August 8, 2019
Is there certain locations to swim? We are renting a cabin and there is a trail that leads to the lake and we didn’t know if we were allowed to swim there or not.
Thanks!!
Written June 12, 2018
There is a cordoned off area with a Sandy Beach to swim, but you can also just jump in anywhere you'd like. If you aren't using the beach area I'd recommend water shoes.
Written July 16, 2018
Hi, charleyb2018. What would you like to know about this attraction? Can you advise who I would contact to rent the Snyder Run Cottages? Also did you dock your boat or park it at the cottages? Thank you!
Written April 22, 2018
Is there any scuba diving on the lake
Written October 18, 2017
is there any scuba diving on the lake
Written October 17, 2017
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