New homebuyers looking to settle down in Pennsylvania are likely drawn to the area’s gorgeous scenery, incredible job opportunities, and the wide variety of year-round outdoor recreation activities. Natural landscapes showcase the state’s beauty for many visitors and residents alike. If you’re looking for the best place to buy a home while being close to abundant outdoor adventure opportunities, look no further than the Keystone State.
Before you set your sights on the perfect new home, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the natural surroundings. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, choose your next house in proximity to a state park or outdoor recreation area. It’s easier to make time for walking and exercising when a park is accessible at your leisure.
Before you seal the deal on your next home, take time to find your nearby outdoor recreation areas and green spaces that you might like to visit. To get you started, here are the top 10 state parks in Pennsylvania.
1. Presque Isle State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Number of visitors: 5,519,244
Known for being Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” Presque Isle State Park attracts residents and visitors alike to enjoy its year-round recreational activities. The 3,200-acre peninsula stretches into Lake Erie, making it the perfect place for boating, swimming, and fishing in the Presque Isle Bay. The peninsula is connected to the mainland just six miles west of downtown Erie, which is about 96 miles from Buffalo. It is also a popular spot for migrating birds and has a great amount of biodiversity. This is a day-use park with overnight accommodations nearby for out-of-town visitors.
2. Tyler State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Number of visitors: 1,545,816
Located a mere 33 miles from Philadelphia, Tyler State Park is a beloved gem of the PA countryside. The 1,711-acre park offers extensive trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The Neshaminy Creek winds through the area and divides the land into unique sections. Its woodland charm and peaceful scenery offer the perfect getaway for a weekend of outdoor fun with the family.
3. Ohiopyle State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Number of visitors: 1,478,004
Those seeking the rugged, natural scenery should look no further than the stunning 20,500-acre Ohiopyle State Park. Just 68 miles from Pittsburgh and situated on the southern edge of Laurel Ridge, the park offers fun attractions for year-round visitors. There are areas for overnight camping that can be reserved by contacting the park office, but day-use areas are open every day aside from state holidays. Visitors flock to the park every year to take in the incredible sights and sounds of the Youghiogheny River Gorge and enjoy some of the best whitewater rafting in the eastern United States.
4. Pymatuning State Park
Google Rating: 4.6
Number of visitors: 3,215,376
Located 92 miles from Pittsburgh is one of the largest and most visited parks in the Commonwealth. It holds the 14,000-acre Pymatuning Lake, which invites visitors and residents for boating, swimming, and some of the finest fishing year-round. Beautiful winding trails encircle the lake and offer a panoramic view of the gorgeous scenery. Overnight camping is available in cabins and tent sites, but reservations are required. Educational centers and wildlife viewing areas are also available.
5. Prince Gallitzin State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Number of visitors: 2,580,576
Nestled within the Allegheny Plateau, the forested hillsides of Prince Gallitzin State Park surround Glendale Lake to make an incredible landscape view. This 1,635-acre lake is perfect for boating, fishing, sunbathing, and swimming near the lake’s 26 miles of shoreline. Situated approximately 90 miles from Pittsburgh, the park is a well-known spot for watching migratory birds and catching a glimpse of diverse wildlife. Take a day trip to hike through the breathtaking forest or stay a little while longer at the park’s large campground.
6. Point State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Number of visitors: 2,374,464
Point State Park is perfectly situated at the point of Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle,” a confluence of three powerful rivers. The park holds natural and historical significance to the state by preserving the region’s historical context during the French and Indian War. It includes the 12,000-square-foot Fort Pitt Museum that commemorates Pennsylvania’s critical role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the Birth of Pittsburgh. Take your family to explore its beautiful green spaces and reflect on the regional importance of the state throughout U.S. history.
7. Nockamixon State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Number of visitors: 1,753,848
Nockamixon State Park is located only 51 miles from Philadelphia along the gentle hillsides of Bucks County. This countryside gem is perfect for a family getaway to spend a tranquil weekend in nature. The 5,286-acre park includes the popular 1,450-acre Lake Nockamixon, whose waters are fed by three rivers and are ideal for fishing and boating. Visitors enjoy camping, picnicking, hiking, hunting, biking, and disc golfing year-round.
8. Codorus State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Number of visitors: 1,641,540
Situated in southern York County and only 40 miles from Baltimore, Codorus State Park is a popular destination for sailboat and motorboat enthusiasts. The park holds the 1,275-acre Lake Marburg with 26 miles of shoreline for canoeing, swimming, and year-round fishing. The park is also perfect for camping and picnicking, whether you choose to make it an overnight trip or a simple day of fun in the sun.
9. Ridley Creek State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Number of visitors: 1,622,520
Only 24 miles from Philadelphia, Ridley Creek State Park is a popular destination for residents and visitors to stop by for a day hike or weekend stay. Woodland trails weave throughout the 2,600 acres of terrain and offer 12 miles for biking and hiking while sightseeing among some of the most beautiful natural views. There is also a 4.7-mile equestrian trail for those wishing to try their hand at horseback riding. Cross-country skiing is popular in winter, and fly fishing for trout in Ridley Creek is a fun springtime activity. The park has many kid zone areas and hands-on environmental education opportunities for the entire family to experience.
10. Moraine State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Number of visitors: 1,493,856
Whether it’s watching the boat races at the annual Moraine State Park Regatta or gliding through the snowy Sunken Garden Trail on cross-country skis, Moraine State Park has you covered for fun family adventures. Miles of winding hike and bike trails circulate the park and offer incredible views of the main attraction, the 3,225-acre Lake Arthur with 42 miles of shoreline.
Located 40 miles from Pittsburgh, this park is known for more than its vast year-round recreational opportunities. Today, the park’s lush, forested hills and healthy waters inhabit an area that endured the strain of prior mineral extraction, including coal mining and oil and gas drilling. The 16,725-acre park is an amazing testament to the achievement of hundreds of volunteers, environmental engineers, and policymakers to restore the park to its natural beauty. Today, the park offers a variety of environmental education programs to expand public knowledge and protection of natural and cultural resources.
The Keystone State
Interested in buying a new home in Pennsylvania? Learn more about the area by viewing some of our other articles, including the best places to live and the safest cities in the state. And when you’re ready to choose your new home, you can find new listings every day at NewHomeSource.com.
All parks have been ranked based on the criteria of popularity, distance from the closest major cities, violent crime, property crime, google ratings, and the number of google reviews.
Melanie Theriault is a writer, counselor, and lifelong learner. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Southwestern University, where she discovered her passion for fostering human connection through storytelling.
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