Pennsylvania campsites in hot demand after NPS cuts
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A waterfall at Hickory Run State Park in the Poconos Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Pennsylvania is seeing a spike in state campsite bookings as the Trump administration's large-scale firings play out at national parks.
Why it matters: State parks are preparing for what they say could be a record-breaking summer.
The big picture: More than 750 U.S. national park workers have been laid off this year, including dozens in the Keystone State, per an unofficial tally shared with Axios by a park ranger.
- Some affected parks are already making changes, including limiting hours.
- DOGE's cost-cutting also led to the closure of hundreds of campsites at a popular federally run Pennsylvania destination, Raystown Lake, Axios Pittsburgh's Ryan Deto reports.
Driving the news: Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says in a news release it has seen a nearly 30% year-over-year increase in people booking campsites across the state.
- Roughly a quarter of 7,100 state-run campsites at Pennsylvania's 124 parks and 20 forests are already booked up for peak season, which runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
State of play: DCNR has launched a new campaign to remind travelers that Pennsylvania-run campsites are "Still Open, Still Awesome."
- DCNR says the Shapiro administration's $5 million investment in Outdoor Corps has allowed it to add staff for conservation efforts.
What they're saying: More people are "embracing the outdoors like never before," DCNR secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a statement.
Zoom in: Philly's closest state park, French Creek State Park, saw a 28% increase in reservations last month compared with the same time last year.
- Meanwhile, the state regional park area that includes Philadelphia and the Poconos has seen a nearly 37% increase in reservations compared with this time last year.
Zoom out: Trough Creek State Park in Huntingdon County leads the state with a 189% spike in reservations.
- Bald Eagle State Park has added campsites to accommodate demand.
If you go: You can book state campsites and lodging at state parks here or by calling 888-PA-PARKS.