Lackawanna State Park sits at about 1,400 feet elevation in Pennsylvania's northeastern highlands. Winters see approximately 55 inches of snowfall while summer temperatures average in the 70s with moderate humidity. Camping options span from densely wooded tent sites with limited amenities to modernized spaces with full hookups and year-round accessibility.
What to Do
Hiking trails: Lackawanna State Park Campground features extensive hiking opportunities on maintained paths through diverse terrain. "The trails are very well marked. We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike," notes a visitor to Ricketts Glen State Park Campground.
Lake swimming: Most campgrounds offer designated swimming areas with varying amenities. "The swimming beach looked nice. They do have boat rental," reports Amy V. from Lackawanna State Park Campground. Some locations maintain separate areas for fishing versus swimming.
Wildlife observation: The region provides opportunities to spot native wildlife. "We took a drive on 2 afternoons on a stone road through the woods to see the Boulder Field. It was a beautiful drive. We were on the lookout for bear, but only saw 3 deer," mentions a camper from Hickory Run State Park.
What Campers Like
Large, private sites: Many campgrounds offer spacious accommodations. "Our site and the others we saw were nicely shaded. Look forward to visiting again in the sun for a longer period," reports a reviewer from Lackawanna State Park Campground. Some locations feature more separation between sites than others.
Water activities: The region's lakes provide multiple recreation options. "We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake," shares Shannon C. from Keen Lake Resort Campground.
Clean facilities: Maintained bathhouses rank high on camper priorities. "The bathrooms were the cleanest we've ever experienced at a campground. The showers are coin operated," notes Emily Z. from Keen Lake Resort Campground. Facility quality varies across parks with some offering modern amenities while others maintain more basic services.
What You Should Know
Bear activity: Wildlife encounters require proper food storage. "We were warned at check in that there have been a lot of bears in the area but never really thought that we would see one. As soon as we got to our site one came right up as we were setting up our tent," cautions Erik M. from Tobyhanna State Park Campground.
Water conditions: Lake quality varies by location and season. "The lake is very nice a little copper kind of like iced tea color but was very nice," observes one Tobyhanna State Park Campground visitor. Some parks restrict motorized watercraft while others maintain separate areas for different water activities.
Limited amenities: Remote sites often have fewer conveniences. "This place stated there was a fishing pond but it was a sad consideration for a pond," notes a camper from Honesdale-Poconos KOA. Research specific amenities before booking glamping in Abington accommodations.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Many campgrounds provide dedicated recreation areas. "There is a large open field in the loop we camped in with a swing set on it. This was nice for families with children," reports a Hickory Run State Park Campground visitor. Some locations offer more structured activities while others provide open spaces.
Educational opportunities: Look for parks with nature programs. "This is an amazing state park that has something for everyone. There is an environmental education center with programs," shares Janet R. from Lackawanna State Park. Planned activities vary by season and day of week.
Accessibility considerations: Terrain varies significantly between parks. "The hike is definitely not for the easily winded people, or anyone with bad knees, the hike down was pretty steep at some points but very well maintained," advises Anne P. from Ricketts Glen State Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Hook-up reliability: Check electrical service capacity before arrival. "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," warns David from Lackawanna State Park about certain sites.
Site leveling: Topography affects setup requirements. "Our full hookup site was large with table and fire ring, and required some leveling. Not much shade in the full hookup loop, so was happy to have electricity for A/C," reports James S. from Ricketts Glen State Park Campground.
Access challenges: Some luxury glamping in Abington area campgrounds have difficult approaches. "It is not very RV friendly as it can be challenging parking and setting up an RV at Oneida. Being that I am now an RV owner, it it a bit challenging to navigate the campground," notes Joe M. from Oneida Campground & Lodge.