Cabins near Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania can be found throughout the Pocono Mountains region at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,000 feet. The area receives approximately 46 inches of rainfall annually with summer temperatures averaging 68-80°F. Most rustic cabin sites near Clarks Summit require advance booking, particularly during peak season from May through September when weekend occupancy reaches 90%.
What to do
Lake activities: Swimming beach at Lackawanna State Park features designated swimming areas with clean shores. "The swimming beach looked nice. They do have boat rental," notes Amy V. The park offers kayak and paddleboard rentals from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Waterfall exploration: Hike to falls at Ricketts Glen State Park where 22 named waterfalls cascade along a 7.2-mile trail system. "The biggest draw to this state park is the 22 waterfalls! 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," reports Lee D.
Winter recreation: Ice skating available at Lackawanna State Park during winter months. "We would love to come back in the winter when they have an ice rink with a warming house," mentions Michael from Lackawanna. The park maintains a cleared ice surface when conditions permit.
Boulder field exploration: Take a scenic drive through Hickory Run State Park to witness the 16.5-acre boulder field. "We took a drive on 2 afternoons on a stone road through the woods to see the Boulder Field. It was a beautiful drive," writes Shirley M. The boulder field is a National Natural Landmark formed during the last ice age.
What campers like
Privacy in rustic settings: Campers appreciate well-spaced accommodations in wooded areas. At Pickerel Point Campground, "private lakeside walk-in sites" offer seclusion according to Alaina Z., who adds that "all sites have little trails down to the water."
Clean facilities: Bathhouses receive consistent praise. At Cozy Creek Family Campground, "The grounds, the little store/coffee shop and the facilities were pristine," according to Louis P. The tent sites positioned directly on the creek provide natural sound barriers between camping areas.
Lake views: Waterfront cabins and campsites allow direct water access. "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper," explains Kelly F. about Pickerel Point Campground, while Shannon C. at Keen Lake notes, "We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch."
Family programming: Organized activities keep younger campers engaged. "They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day!" Mike H. shares about Keen Lake Resort. Most state parks offer ranger programs during summer months focusing on local wildlife and ecology.
What you should know
Bear awareness: Wildlife encounters require food storage precautions. At Tobyhanna State Park, "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," recounts Erik M. Store food in vehicles when not in use.
Water conditions: Lake colors vary across parks. At Tobyhanna State Park, the water has "a little copper kind of like iced tea color but was very nice," according to Erik M. The tannic acid from surrounding vegetation causes natural coloration.
Site surface variations: Tent sites may have challenging surfaces. At Pickerel Point, Alaina Z. warns about "chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad!" This is common at state parks where gravel helps with drainage.
Water access: Pay attention to site location relative to amenities. At Keen Lake, "We were on the far side of the lake which is not really within walking distance of the beach, pool and store. We knew this going in and were totally OK with it," explains Emily Z. She advises, "If you don't want to drive during your stay, camp on the side with the beach and pool."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds: Variety of options at Highland Campgrounds where Jennifer R. describes, "Playground is also older but also gives off the vintage look with some of the older, older swings and sit spin." Many parks feature playground areas centrally located near bathhouses.
Swimming options: Pools and lakes at Keen Lake Resort provide alternatives for families. "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake," notes Emily Z. The pool offers a chlorinated alternative to natural swimming areas.
Cell service: Connectivity varies across parks. At Lackawanna State Park, "Cell service covers the area, if you care," mentions David, while at Promised Land State Park, Mara S. reports "almost no cell reception with Verizon." Download maps and activities before arrival.
Site selection: Consider location relative to facilities. "If you stay closer to those things it would be easy to walk & ride bikes to the different activities," recommends Emily Z. about Keen Lake. Families with small children may prefer sites closer to bathhouses.
Tips from RVers
Electrical capacity: Check amperage before booking. At Lackawanna State Park, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," warns David. Bring adapters to accommodate different electrical connections.
Pull-through accessibility: Site access varies between parks. At Highland Campgrounds, "Pull through site was spacious and easy to get to- though ours was not very wooded," reports Gayle B. She adds, "A little difficult to get out of the campground though. We basically had to wait in line for 20 minutes while a couple people in front of us were trying to get out of their sites."
Full hookup options: Newer loops offer more amenities. "Stayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers," shares Cheryl M. about Lackawanna State Park. Full hookup sites typically cost $5-10 more per night than standard electric sites.
