Camping around Athens, Pennsylvania takes place in the glaciated region of northern Pennsylvania at elevations ranging from 750 to 2,000 feet. The area's rural landscapes combine hardwood forests, open farmland, and river valleys with seasonal temperature variations that impact camping conditions. Most campgrounds operate from April through October with limited winter availability at select state parks.
What to do
Water activities at Pine Cradle Lake: The 18-acre lake offers fishing without requiring a state license. Visitors can rent non-electric boats including rowboats and paddleboats for exploring the water. According to a camper, "You can rent non electric boats and they offer catch & release fishing without a PA license in the lake. My son caught 2 sunfish."
Swimming at Park Station Campground: Located 30 minutes from Athens, the campground features a sandy beach area with lifeguards during summer months, though water depth is limited. A camper reports, "This campground has a nice small beach area with sand for the kids. Water is very shallow however, so not the best place for swimming for older kids and there is no pool, but there are life guards and plenty of depth for young kids."
Hiking at Watkins Glen State Park Campground: About an hour drive from Athens, the park offers interconnected trail systems of varying difficulty. A camper advises, "The gorge trail is a MUST. Definitely go check this campsite out!" Another notes, "I stay here usually once or twice a year and spend my weekends hiking the various gorge trails nearby."
Waterfall viewing at Robert H. Treman State Park: The park features multiple waterfall viewing opportunities along hiking trails. During summer months, visitors can swim at the base of a waterfall in a designated swimming area. "You can swim in the waterfall area here... the hiking trails are awesome. Don't let the beginning steps fool you, the rim trail can be very strenuous."
What campers like
Quiet riverside settings at Riverside Acres Campground: Located in Towanda, this campground offers peaceful sites along the Susquehanna River. A camper describes, "The river in front of first row sites is 200 m broad. Eagles fish here. You can too. Good beginning or end for a canoe trip."
Private bathroom facilities at Pine Cradle Lake: The campground features individual bathroom units rather than communal facilities. A camper appreciates, "The restrooms were fantastic too, the buildings held two complete rooms with a toilet sink and shower in each. It's the only shower camping this year my 4yr old wasn't afraid of because we had the whole room to ourselves."
Wooded tent sites at Hickories Park Campground: This campground in Owego offers tent sites in more secluded areas, with easy river access. A camper notes, "I pulled in at about 6pm mid week, the ranger station was closed. Drove around & found tent site 79 open, it's next to the river. I was able to pull directly into the camp site."
Digital disconnection: Several campgrounds have limited or no cell service, creating opportunities for unplugged experiences. One camper at Newtown Battlefield State Park remarked, "It was a rainy weekend and the kids still had a blast... Not great cell phone service but it was great to disconnect."
What you should know
Reservation planning: Popular waterfront sites book quickly, especially at Pine Cradle Lake. A camper advises, "Get your reservations in early though weekends for lakeside sites are booked super fast!"
Limited amenities at some locations: Hickories Park operates on a first-come, first-served basis with varying levels of facilities. A visitor notes, "The campground is well maintained, the porta potty in the tent area was very clean, i felt very safe. The only draw back to this campground is the close proximity of the noisy highway."
Site conditions at Worlds End State Park: The campground offers two distinct camping areas with varying levels of privacy. "The sites are spaced a decent amount apart and are generous in size. The pet-designated sites are close to the road (154), although there was not a lot of traffic."
Weather considerations: The region experiences notable temperature variations, particularly in fall months. A camper at Worlds End State Park shares, "I usually come in the fall in October/early November. It's my favorite time to come because it's not extremely packed with campers and the leaves are beautiful. If you come in the fall, make sure you bring a cold weather sleeping bag or heater because the temp does drop."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Park Station Campground features playground facilities near camping areas. "There is also a newer and good sized playground in the day visit area... Overall my family loves a day visit to park station and the camping is equally enjoyable."
Fishing opportunities for kids: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground offers fishing access through private docks for campers, with catch-and-release fishing. A visitor mentions, "Great fishing in pond (cant use live bait or keep fish)."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds provide swimming areas specifically designed with children in mind. A camper at Pine Cradle Lake highlights, "We enjoyed fishing and kayaking in the lake, the heated pool and splash pad, spacious sites and clean amenities."
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds schedule family-oriented events, particularly during summer weekends and holidays. A visitor to Pine Cradle Lake noted, "We had the Moms due that paint and sip event for Mother's Day and it was well planned and enjoyed!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection at Watkins Glen: The campground roads can be challenging to navigate with larger RVs. A camper advises, "The sites are quite wooded with plenty of space in between. We stayed in a 30 ft. motorhome, and the roads within the campground were kind of tight to get through with trees and curves."
Hookup availability: Pine Cradle Lake provides various hookup options including full-service sites for larger rigs. A visitor reports, "Nice, pull-through on gravel pad with full-hookups that can take large rigs. Larger pull-through sites don't get a lot of shade, but there are back-in sites for shorter campers in wooded sites and shaded lake front, as well."
Leveling requirements: Some campsites in the region require significant leveling for RVs. A camper at Robert H. Treman State Park notes, "Electric sites are not the best though. Rocky and unlevel. Not made for large campers."
