Northeastern Pennsylvania's woodland ecosystem surrounds Clarks Summit, situated at 1,178 feet elevation in the Abington Highlands region. The area's climate features distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters that influence camping options. Several campgrounds within 25 miles of Clarks Summit offer primitive tent sites alongside premium accommodations for visitors seeking different outdoor experiences.
What to do
Lake activities: Try fishing and boating at Lackawanna State Park Campground, where the 198-acre lake provides multiple recreation options. "The sites were nicely shaded. The swimming beach looked nice. They do have boat rental," notes Amy V., highlighting the variety of waterfront activities available.
Hiking trails: Explore woodland paths that range from easy to challenging. Ricketts Glen State Park Campground features "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. The trails are very well marked," according to Lee D.
Boulder Field: Visit the unusual rock formation at Hickory Run State Park Campground. "Boulders everywhere! Big ones, small ones, run (carefully) across them all! Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown," explains Mike M. This geological feature makes a fascinating day trip from Clarks Summit.
What campers like
Secluded campsites: Find privacy at Valley View Farm and Campground, which receives consistent praise for its natural setting. "The owners are very nice and helpful. Very clean sites and bathrooms. Quiet and peaceful at night and the other campers were very friendly," shares Dawn C.
Lake views: Select waterfront sites at Keen Lake Resort Campground for direct water access. "I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake," writes Shannon C.
Multi-season options: Camp beyond summer at several parks. Ricketts Glen State Park offers year-round camping while most others operate from April through October. "We went in early spring midweek, it was very quiet and exactly the get away we wanted," says David G. about Lackawanna State Park.
What you should know
Bear awareness: Store food properly as multiple parks report bear activity. At Tobyhanna State Park, one camper warned: "Everyone was very nice, camp host and DCNR were very helpful. We were warned at check in that there have been a lot of bears in the area... 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, be sure to lock up everything in car."
Seasonal variations: Check availability as most campgrounds operate from mid-April through mid-October. Several sites close completely during winter months, though Ricketts Glen remains open year-round.
Bathroom facilities: Expect varying quality depending on campground and specific loop. "The bathhouses in this loop are non-flush/pit toilets. However, the other camping loops had shower houses and flush toilet restrooms," reports one visitor at Hickory Run State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose family-friendly sites at Mount Pocono Campground where amenities focus on kids. "There is a huge swimming pool and a toddler's pool. The game room has pool tables, ping pong, arcade games, library, gym, and so much more! The location is lovely and you are surrounded by the forests of the Poconos," recommends one reviewer.
Activity schedules: Check campground calendars for organized events, especially during summer and holidays. "We were there for July 4th weekend. They had a schedule for events all weekend," notes Nick L. about Mount Pocono Campground.
Weather preparation: Pack for temperature swings as mountain elevations can experience significant day-to-night differences. Bring additional layers even in summer months.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Reserve early for premium sites. At Lackawanna State Park, "Stayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers," shares Cheryl M.
Site size considerations: Check dimensions before booking. Some loops have tighter spacing than others. "Camped here for a weekend, and probably one of my least favorite sites so far. Hiking trails are good, the lake is nice, but there is no privacy at the campsites; they're all very small and packed tight," explains one RVer at Lackawanna State Park.
Electrical capacity: Monitor power usage at older campgrounds. "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 one Lackawanna camper.
