Berwick, Pennsylvania camping options spread across northeastern Pennsylvania's rolling hills and river valleys, with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,300 feet throughout the region. The Susquehanna River borders several local camping areas, creating opportunities for water recreation from May through September when average daytime temperatures reach 70-85°F. Most campgrounds near Berwick operate seasonally with varying terrain that impacts site drainage during the region's frequent summer thunderstorms.
What to Do
Waterfall hiking trails: Ricketts Glen State Park offers a 7-mile Falls Trail System with 22 named waterfalls. "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! and the hike back up was again steep but maintained!" notes Anne P. about Ricketts Glen State Park Campground.
Boulder Field exploration: Located 45 minutes from Berwick, Hickory Run State Park features a 16-acre field of boulders. As one camper describes, "The boulder field was the highlight of our camping trip. The campground has great playgrounds, several well-marked trails, and functional (if dirty and rustic) restrooms and showers" according to Shayna at Hickory Run State Park.
Creek wading: Multiple campgrounds offer direct stream access for cooling off. At Moyers Grove Campground, "There were plenty of sites with full hookup, some tent sites with electric, and a beautiful creek that ran along the lower sites," explains Debbie H. The shallow water depth makes this suitable for supervised children.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds maintain stocked fishing ponds. "The lake is stocked and the fish are always hungry," mentions Vince L. about Lake Glory Campground. Pennsylvania fishing licenses required for anglers 16 and older at all public waterways.
What Campers Like
Proximity to Knoebels Amusement Park: Free shuttle service available from several campgrounds. "It's a nice spacious campground next to the park. Lake Glory provides direct shuttle service to Knoebels, which eliminates parking hassles. "10 minutes to Knoebels with the mighty Phoenix. The best wooden coaster on the planet. Always a great time at Lake Glory," reports Vince L.
Wooded, well-spaced sites: Many campgrounds feature mature tree cover. At Whispering Pines Camping Estates, campers appreciate the generous spacing. "One of the quietest and most spacious campgrounds we've ever stayed in. As you'll see in the pictures, our campsite was probably a good 200-300 feet or more from the other sites on either side of us so we basically had a large front yard," writes Charlie & Danielle B.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Deer sightings common at multiple campgrounds. "We enjoyed our weekend stay at Moyer's Grove. The sites were a nice size and were well shaded. The campground was quiet and peaceful. We saw deer daily. There are 3 resident geese who wander around near the creek and lakes," reports Becca U.
Fall foliage: Several reviewers recommend autumn visits specifically. "Hooting owls and fall foliage. This was a very peaceful night in the woods," writes Jen about Hickory Run State Park. Most campgrounds report peak fall color from early to mid-October.
What You Should Know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by campground and provider. At Whispering Pines, "Really the only major con was the phone service. We have Verizon and my work phone is T-Mobile and at most would get 2 bars of LTE but it mostly stayed at 1 so if we weren't connected to the internet or our jetpack our phones were basically useless," notes Charlie & Danielle B.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Quality ranges from rustic to recently renovated. At Indian Head Campground, "The bathrooms are 'old' but were clean," according to Dave B. Meanwhile, Moyers Grove received higher praise: "The bathhouse (hooray) was great. Recently renovated, they were extremely clean and dry," says Jim B.
Site leveling challenges: Multiple reviews mention difficulty with uneven terrain. At Knoebels Campground, "The site was plenty spacious for our pup and TV, but was not level at all. In fact, none of the surrounding sites looked very level," reports Jen V.
Distance to amenities: Rural locations mean limited services nearby. "There's also not much in the way of grocery stores or restaurants nearby. There's one small grocery store and a couple restaurants about 9 minutes away but no big store or fast food place," explains Charlie & Danielle B. about the area around Whispering Pines.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground options: Several campgrounds maintain play equipment for children. Hickory Run State Park offers "great playgrounds" according to Shayna, while at Knoebels Campground, "There is a pool, camp store and small playground on-site" as noted by Jen V.
Swimming areas: Multiple options for water play exist throughout the region. "We were right next to the bath house, which was great for being able to send our 6 year-old by herself," reports Jen V. about Knoebels Campground. Lake Glory maintains a swimming pool, and Locust Lake State Park offers a beach area.
Multi-generational camping history: Several campgrounds have loyal return visitors spanning decades. "I've been camping here since I was 5. I now have a grandchild, so that's a long time. With the amusement park across the street, and the cool stream to splash in, it's a small kids dream," shares Bonnie T. about Knoebels Campground.
Family activities: Organized events at various campgrounds. "On weekends there are BINGO games, bands, karaoke and religious services held in the pavilion," notes Ken R. about Deihls Camping Resort. Check campground calendars for scheduled events.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup challenges: Bring extra-length hoses at certain campgrounds. At Moyers Grove, "Make sure you have a LONG water hose. We actually had to buy a 50 foot hose in the camp store to accommodate the distance to the spigot," advises Becca U.
Big-rig friendly sites: Several campgrounds can accommodate larger RVs but with varying levels of convenience. At Bodnarosa Campground in Berwick proper, "The sites are clean and well maintained" according to Debbie H., though limited grass coverage was noted by Paul J. who adds, "Nice site, not much grass, but they seem to be working on the place."
Pull-through site availability: Several campgrounds offer drive-through options. "Pull thru sites are large and have plenty of space. Location is crucial venues to I-80 but no traffic noise," reports Melissa F. about Indian Head Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Some RV sites may be unusable after heavy rain. At Locust Lake State Park, "We had 3 families and sites (2 campers & 1 tent) all sites were decent sizes. We had lake front access to put kayaks in and fish which was awesome. Only downside to our trip was poured every night and one whole day," notes Dawn R.
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