Carbondale, Pennsylvania camping features several family-friendly sites within a 25-mile radius of the city. Situated in the Lackawanna River Valley at 1,060 feet elevation, the area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F. Many campgrounds remain open from mid-April through mid-October, with a small number offering year-round accommodations for visitors seeking Pocono Mountain outdoor experiences.
What to do
Hiking trails: Hickory Run State Park Campground offers 44 miles of trails rated from easy to difficult. According to a visitor, "The park has several well-marked trails, and pets are welcome! If you can't get a campsite here because it books up fast, I'd suggest Worlds End State Park, 20 minutes away."
Waterfall viewing: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground features 22 waterfalls accessible via a moderate 4-mile hike. "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. The trails are very well marked," shares one camper.
Lake activities: Tobyhanna State Park Campground provides a lake for swimming and fishing. A visitor notes, "The lake is nearby and doesn't get crowded. There's a separate shore for kayaks and canoes to enter the lake. We even got to see an eagles' nest near our campsite."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Lackawanna State Park Campground maintains well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. A camper mentioned, "Bathrooms were fairly nice" while another stated, "The bathhouses were clean, water pressure is good, and the hot water is actually hot."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Valley View Farm and Campground provides a peaceful environment. According to a visitor, "The owners are very nice and helpful. Very clean sites and bathrooms. Quiet and peaceful at night and the other campers were very friendly."
Spacious campsites: Secluded Acres Campground offers varied site sizes throughout the property. One camper noted, "The size of the spaces would depend on where you are. We saw primitive sites that are ginormous. Also saw RV sites that were very close to each other. Our tent site is perfect."
What you should know
Bear activity: Wildlife encounters require proper food storage. At Tobyhanna State Park Campground, "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. Do not leave any food out."
Seasonal water issues: Some parks experience water quality problems during certain periods. At Ricketts Glen State Park Campground, "The water had been tested earlier in the season and unsafe levels of manganese were detected. All water spigots were shut off and covered but we were told it was safe to wash our dishes and brush our teeth."
Site selection matters: Research specific campsites before booking. A visitor to Ponderosa Pines Campground noted, "Well kept and peaceful. They have some entertainment, but nothing rowdy. Very nice people that are working hard on bringing it back to its former splendor."
Tips for camping with families
Planned activities: Honesdale-Poconos KOA offers structured recreation for children. A visitor shared, "Activities for the kids like movies (it was Moana), a pool, mini golf and a bounce area. We had a fantastic first camping experience for the kids (and dogs)."
Swimming options: Multiple swimming areas provide family water recreation. One camper observed, "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake. The beach was a little more than a half mile walk from our site."
Wildlife watching: Morning and evening wildlife viewing opportunities abound. "We were on the lookout for bear, but only saw 3 deer," mentioned one visitor, while another noted spotting eagle nests near their campsite.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete RV services. According to one RVer at Keen Lake Resort Campground, "We had a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch."
Site spacing considerations: Some campgrounds provide better separation between RV sites. A visitor noted, "The RV sites are spaced out nicely. There are plenty of things to do; paddle boats, row boats, swimming pool, snack bar/campstore, activities, etc."
Electrical capacity awareness: Older campgrounds may have limited electrical capacity. At one campground, a visitor reported, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
