R
Russell A.
Scout
Scout100 Mile View Camping
What a great place. So unique! Love the view, and a great experience! There are no hook ups, so be prepared but if you are looking for the dispersed camping experience you have found it. What a gem!
Tent Camping near Catawissa, PA
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Tent campers near Catawissa, Pennsylvania can find several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, including Ravensburg State Park Campground and Shikellamy State Park. The region offers a mix of walk-in tent sites and drive-in options, with most providing basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables. Several primitive sites along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap provide opportunities for backpackers seeking more remote experiences.
Most tent campgrounds in the area feature flat, cleared tent pads, though some sites have exposed tree roots and rocks that require extra padding for comfort. Ravensburg State Park offers raised tent pads with fire rings and picnic tables, while more primitive AT campsites typically have stone fire rings but no water access. Facilities vary significantly, with state parks providing clean restrooms and sometimes showers, while backcountry sites along the AT require campers to pack in all water and supplies. Several campgrounds like Mauch Chunk Lake Park require advance reservations, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Walk-in tent sites along the Lehigh Gap section of the Appalachian Trail offer varying levels of privacy and views. The ridge campgrounds provide panoramic valley views with established stone fire rings, while pine forest sites offer better protection during inclement weather. A review on The Dyrt noted that "sitting up on the mountain in this area is a very peaceful experience as you can hear the wind blowing through the trees while watching the ferns sway back and forth." Tent campers at Ravensburg State Park appreciate the privacy created by bushes and trees between sites, though some mention road noise can be noticeable, especially in the morning. Most walk-in tent sites require additional planning for water supply, as one camper advised to "make sure to fill up before coming up the mountain."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Catawissa (33)
1. Shikellamy State Park Campground
"Had a great time walking the trails and enjoying a picnic at the cliff-side pavilion."
2. Mauch Chunk Lake Park
"Our first time tent camping was here and it set a great tone."
"Easy drive from Philly area, courteous staff, very wooded and quiet at night. Has many sites right along the lake edge, some very large."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
3. Ravensburg State Park Campground
"It's our favorite place to tent camp. It's rarely busy and it's first come first serve."
"Nice and shaded! No one there but us in site 6, not even a ranger checked on us. Has modern toilets and shower. Most sites are spacious. They have nice raised tent pads."
4. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
5. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
6. Shambala at Mystic Hollow
"Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water. Check them out and share your experience on the Dyrt!"
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
7. AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap
"You can set up your tent to have a view of the valley right from your door and the space is flat, dry, and not too rocky."
8. AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap
"The only downside was my sleeping pad sprung a leak, so it wasn't the best night's sleep. But the site itself was great and I would camp there again."
"A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area."
9. AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap
"This site is really 2 separate sites that are a short ways apart along the trail. They are both excellent spots to set up a tent if you plan on camping up on the ridge."
10. George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter
"A single-level open-sided AT shelter near the Lehigh Gap trailhead. The shelter itself is well maintained and has a raised covered platform for sleeping with plenty of space for lots of hikers."
Drive Time
- 48 min from Williamsport, PA
- 1 hr 14 min from Lebanon, PA
- 1 hr 14 min from Harrisburg, PA
- 1 hr 25 min from Reading, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Catawissa, PA
17 Photos of 33 Catawissa Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Catawissa, PA
692 Reviews of 33 Catawissa Campgrounds
Nancy W.
LegendHickory Run State Park Campground
Peaceful State Park Camping in the Fall
This is a large campground with a wide array of campsites so be careful attention when you book online, especially if you have a pet because some sites are not pet-friendly. Some are 50-amp full hook-up and some are primitive with no hook-ups.
There is a nice nature center with interesting interpretive exhibits and lots of informational brochures including ones about the hiking trails, bears, scat and tracks of local animals, and fishing. Our site was at the edge of the campground and backed up to Route 534 which resulted in a bit of road noise at our site. Other than the road noise the campground was pretty quiet and was not very crowded when we camped there in October.
Not all sites are level and we happened to book one that was not and we had to live with a slant for our stay. The roads in the park are gravel/dirt and since it rained the day we arrived the roads were a muddy mess which made the roads slippery and there were lots of potholes. Unfortunately, some campers were disrespectful and left bags of trash in the fire pit and scattered around their site which was totally unnecessary because there were dumpsters plenty of dumpsters in the campground. Since we camped at Hickory Run late in the season, there were no camp hosts and the trash never got picked up.
The campground is open from mid-April to mid-December; however, the shower facilities and dump station are not available after the third week of October so plan accordingly. We really like the hiking trails which are of varying degrees of difficulty and lengths. The Hawk Falls is a nice easy walk (1.4 miles round-trip) to a waterfall but is extremely popular so don’t think you will be admiring the falls alone. The parking lot at this trail head fills up fast so you better get there early if you want to get a spot.
You can enter the park from two different directions. If you have a big-rig, it is best to approach from the east side. We made the mistake of coming in from the west side as we dropped down from I-80 and came down 534 and the road was really windy with no shoulder. Luckily, there was very little traffic so we could go 10 mph and safely navigate the roads.
Be aware alcohol is not allowed in PA state parks. This park does allow hunting in certain sections of the park. The no-hunting areas are clearly marked with white no hunting signs on trees and you can also pick up a brochure from the office that designates hunting and no-hunting sections.
Tony F.
Guide100 Mile View Camping
The best views
This is a hidden gem, as close to dispersed camping you can get with dirt, gravel roads, large stone fire pits, a amazing views with the added benefit of a five gallon jug of non potable water and very clean port-a-potties. The owner regularly patrols the site and makes sure everything is okay.
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.LegendRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Beautiful Falls!
What a great campground! We stayed here on a recommendation from a friend after the Overland Expo. Great hiking trails and the falls were absolutely breathtaking. Truly enjoyed our stay and plan to return!
Troy P.
TravelerShikellamy State Park Campground
meh
i mean meh with the most enthusiasm as you can live your entire life & be oki not going here. the trails are small & the overlook is fenced high for falls. it’s about as much scenery as going for a walk deer hunting. it’s beginner friendly if anyone wants to start getting into parks but i feel there’s more focus on pavilions & playgrounds than calling it a state park. for anything boating or canoeing on the river it’s a good place to be but your in town so it take it for what it is
- jjeanne A.Guide
Council Cup Campground
Better than nothing
Small campground with rude owner. Everything I asked about was putting her out. It was cheap though at $36 for water and electric with a military discount.
- jjeanne A.Guide
Echo Valley Campground
Big sites with lots of trees
We only spent the night and didn't look at the amenities. The manager was very friendly and accommodating.
Kathy L.
RangerHickory Run State Park Campground
Beautiful forest
Gorgeous forested area in the Poconos. We stayed on the Rattlesnake Loop which was lovely. Sites not super private but most nestled in trees. The only bummer was that that Campground Loop didn’t have any direct links to the trail network and was far from it. The other Campground Loop was closer to trails and office. Would return!
Richard P.ScoutCircle S Farm Camping
Grantville is great
The area is very nice and so are the people. The sites are clean and the livestock are a cool sight to see
Guide to Catawissa
Tent campers near Catawissa, Pennsylvania can find sites within the forested river valleys and ridges of the eastern Pennsylvania hills. The region straddles elevations from 500 to 1,500 feet, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping season from May through October. Most campgrounds require advance reservations during summer weekends, with holiday periods often booking 3-4 months ahead.
What to do
Paddling on Mauch Chunk Lake: The lake at Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers calm waters perfect for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. Lisa S. noted, "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm. I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear."
River access camping: Enjoy tent sites along the Lehigh River at Riverview Park Campground for easy water adventures. "This is the perfect place for camping if you are adventuring out on the Lehigh River and want to get an early start or stay the night. The sites are each tent only and located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit," according to Asher K.
Hiking from shelters: The Appalachian Trail section near Lehigh Gap offers hiking options with shelter camping at George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter. "The shelter itself is well maintained and has a raised covered platform for sleeping with plenty of space for lots of hikers. There is also a spring nearby for filling up water," reports Asher K.
What campers like
Protected sites for poor weather: During rainy conditions, campers prefer the pine forest sites at lower elevations. "The shelter itself can be found fairly soon after the split with the bypass trail and is down the mountain so both are protected from bad weather but also don't have much of a view," mentions Asher K. about the Outerbridge shelter area.
Lakeside camping: Many campers choose Mauch Chunk Lake Park for its waterfront tent sites. Emma T. shared, "Our first time tent camping was here and it set a great tone. We set up the tent, kayaked on the lake, cooked up some dinner, watched a strawberry super moon rise over the lake, went to bed, woke up to make some breakfast and then we were off to go rafting."
Established tent pads: For comfortable tent camping near Catawissa, Ravensburg State Park Campground provides solid platforms. Becky noted, "They have nice raised tent pads. It's very humid so many picnic tables have green moss."
What you should know
Water planning required: Most primitive sites require campers to bring water supplies. Asher K. advised about AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap, "Just be prepared to bring in your water since there is nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge."
First-come camping: Several campgrounds operate without reservations. At Ravensburg State Park, Becky shared, "First come first serve but still had to pay transaction fee! which was annoying for our one night stay."
Road noise concerns: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds. Sarah C. reported about Ravensburg State Park, "The road that park is on is busier than one would think, not bad at night, but busy in the morning."
Tips for camping with families
Group-friendly options: For families camping together, consider sites with space for multiple tents. Mackenzie B. recommends, "I've stayed here a couple times with groups. I believe it is a great spot to go with people who haven't camped much before. It has flat tent spaces, generally clean bathrooms, and access to tons of things to do on the campground and nearby."
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with recreational facilities. Danny M. shared about Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center, "The campgrounds were nice and there was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals."
Entertainment considerations: Some campgrounds offer structured activities for children. Katie S. noted, "There was a movie shown at night, as well as music played late into the night" at Whitewater Challengers.
Tips from RVers
Tent padding recommendations: Exposed roots and rocks at many campgrounds require extra comfort considerations. Amber M. advised about Mauch Chunk Lake Park, "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters."
Navigational cautions: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. Sarah C. warned, "Just be aware of your directions and make sure they're taking you to the park via Rocky Road. Mine did not, and I ended up down a seasonal road that did not end at the park entrance."
Weekend noise levels: Weekends can be crowded and noisy at popular campgrounds. Danielle F. shared, "We visited in the summer on a weekend when it was full. The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers. It was not just 1 group; there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Catawissa, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Catawissa, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Catawissa, PA is Shikellamy State Park Campground with a 2.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
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tent camping near
Catawissa, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Catawissa, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Catawissa, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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