The Bethlehem area sits at the northern edge of Bucks County within the Lehigh Valley, where elevations range from 200 to 1,000 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-85°F during the day with nighttime lows in the 60s, creating comfortable camping conditions from April through October. Most campgrounds in this region are situated within 30 minutes of downtown Bethlehem, making them convenient bases for exploring both natural areas and cultural attractions.
What to do
Bouldering adventures: At Ringing Rocks Family Campground, campers can explore the unique musical boulder field just minutes away. "We went to Ringing Rocks county park and the kids were having so much fun making music they didn't want to leave," shares Justin B., who noted the campground is "2 minutes up the road" from this geological oddity where rocks ring when struck.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Towhee County Park offers fishing in a quiet woodland setting just 20 minutes from Bethlehem. "Day use area with playground is walking distance," notes Roger W., who appreciated the "trails from the campground to the lake." The park maintains 13 primitive campsites in a secluded wooded area.
Hiking and wildlife viewing: Hickory Run State Park provides extensive trail networks spanning 44 miles. "Many hiking trails... They are rated from easy to difficult. We found the 2 trails we hiked - Hawk Falls and Shades of Death trails - were not bad to hike at all," reports Shirley M., adding that "this area has a high bear population and all campers are required to keep food items in their vehicles or trailers when not at the site."
Disc golf course: Boulder Woods Campground features an extensive disc golf course popular with enthusiasts. "They also have a disc golf course and they rent and sell discs. That's where we fell in love with disc golf," shares Erik W. The course attracts tournaments and day players throughout the season.
What campers like
Yurt camping options: Mountainview Campground in Little York offers yurt accommodations less than 30 minutes from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. "This place was actually fantastic, I don't really have anything negative to say about it. The whole scene was exactly what I love about camping, a nice little remote campground in the mountains," writes Christina H., who also noted the "beautiful, quaint little towns and go over aged bridges, along mountain streams and though open valleys."
Private tent sites: For those seeking traditional tent camping with privacy, Ringing Rocks Family Campground delivers. "Great secluded sites with clean facilities for when you need some civilization," says Keith, highlighting the balance between wilderness and comfort. The tent sites are set apart from the RV section, providing a more natural camping experience.
Clean facilities: Allentown KOA, about 25 minutes from Bethlehem, maintains well-kept facilities that receive consistent praise. "Bathrooms very clean and stocked with stuff you might need," notes Kelly J., who also appreciated that "sites were huge!" Another camper, Becky M., described the campground as "cozy, friendly, and has a sweet sounding creek that you camp near."
Family activities: Colonial Woods Family Resort organizes regular events for families. "They did a few activities - the one we did go to was the casino night where they had separate play areas for kids and adults. All the money made is donated to Shriners Children's Hospital," reports Nicole S., who visited with her family during summer.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds near Bethlehem operate from April through October, with limited options in winter months. Tohickon Family Campground specifically notes they're open "April 1 to October 31," according to their listing information.
Drainage issues: Some campgrounds experience flooding during rainy periods. "Don't come if you're in a tent and it has been or will rain. It becomes flooded or turns into a mudpit," warns one reviewer about Tohickon Family Campground. Similar comments appear for several area campgrounds.
Site variations: At Quakerwoods Campground, the experience varies significantly based on site selection. "The place was clean with basic working amenities. Not necessarily a go-to destination but would work as an ok layover spot," notes Don, while another camper observed "too many seasonal setups" and that "the camp sites are very close together."
Limited bathhouse access: For tent campers at Little Red Barn Campground, bathroom proximity can be an issue. "The primitive sites are very private, friendly staff, clean grounds... only one bathroom and it's very far from the primitive sites," explains Kelsey K., highlighting the trade-off between privacy and convenience.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Boulder Woods Campground offers multiple play areas for children. "They have so much to do for kids!" exclaims Shannon C., while another reviewer noted a "playground, construction digging area, and a bunch of activities for the kids to do."
Swimming amenities: Quakerwoods Campground features both adult and children's pools. As one reviewer noted, the campground includes "Adult & kid swimming pools" among its many amenities, making it suitable for families with children of different ages.
Activity scheduling: Colonial Woods Family Resort runs organized events throughout the summer. "The campground is in the mountains of PA close enough to the Delaware River that we took a trip down using Bucks County river tub company. We didn't have to go tubing because there was so much to do," shares Nicole S., who visited with her family.
Wildlife encounters: At Mountainview Campground, natural experiences enhance family camping. "Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!" recounts Christina H., adding "this is what camping is all about" for nature-loving families.
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: Several campgrounds have narrow access roads challenging for larger rigs. At Colonial Woods Family Resort, one RVer noted: "The roads are very narrow, pretty sizable boulders on both sides, trees are very low and need to be trimmed (almost took my ac out with a huge limb)."
Hookup variations: RV sites at Tohickon Family Campground have recently been updated. "Nice new gravel and hook ups. Spacious sites. Large stream with fishing. WiFi good. ATT poor," reports Stephen W., providing a concise assessment of the amenities.
Pull-through availability: Allentown KOA offers convenient pull-through sites for easier setup. "We had a nice pull-through site and enjoyed our stay. Nice stream running through camp," shares Craig C., highlighting features important to RV campers. Another reviewer added that "a host had me follow him to a super convenient pull-through site, and stayed to make sure I was all set."
Dump station access: Colonial Woods Family Resort's dump station location can be problematic during busy periods. As Nathan R. notes, "Dump station location isn't ideal on a busy morning. I heard they might work on a second dump location and was told to ask if it's ok to stick around until it dies down if our site isn't needed soon."
