Stephen R.
Guide
GuideRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
Tent Camping near Clarks Summit, PA
5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campsites near Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania range from forested state land sites to streamside primitive camping areas. The Manny Gordon Recreation Area in Pinchot State Forest offers tent-specific sites with electric hookups, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. Oh! Pear Orchards provides walk-in tent camping with peaceful sites located against a creek, featuring some of the most well-constructed fire pits in the region according to visitors.
Most tent campgrounds in the area have basic amenities, though facilities vary considerably between established and primitive sites. Manny Gordon Recreation Area includes toilets and allows pets, while walk-in sites at Oh! Pear Orchards offer drinking water, firewood, and picnic tables but require a short hike to reach. Campers should note that many sites have exposed tree roots and rocky terrain, particularly at locations like Mauch Chunk Lake Park, making extra padding advisable for tent floors. Ticks are prevalent at several campgrounds, with one visitor to Manny Gordon Recreation Area noting "lots of ticks, so get your spray."
The surrounding landscape provides tent campers with diverse outdoor experiences within reasonable driving distance. Sites beside creeks and streams offer pleasant background sounds and water access. One camper shared that Oh! Pear Orchards features "spacious tent sites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool." Tent-only areas typically provide more seclusion than mixed-use campgrounds. From most tent camping locations, visitors can access nearby state parks for day hiking, including Lackawanna and Salt Springs State Parks, which are within a half-hour drive of several campgrounds. Many tent sites are situated to provide shade during summer months, though tree cover varies by location. Walk-in sites generally offer more privacy and natural settings than drive-up camping areas.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Clarks Summit (42)
1. Half Baked Homestead
2. Oh! Pear Orchards
"Campsites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool, magical setting, firewood easily accessible, close to state parks and lots of wide, open undeveloped"
"We're excited to have this property on our platform. This listing has peaceful tent sites located against the creek."
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $45 / night
3. Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground — Pinchot State Forest
"Very open, plenty of space. most campgrounds have previously stocked wood from other people, makes setting up very convenient. lots of ticks tho so get your spray"
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. Hillside Campgrounds
5. 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
6. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
7. Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"There is a ten dollar fee per day to park your car so bring cash as the parking area is not always manned and you’ll have to leave the fee in an envelope that is available just past the entrance."
"They are a first come, first camped, set up, but I have not once in 6 years, (multiple trips per year), ever found anyone in the site ahead of me."
8. Caffrey Recreation Area
9. Belden Hill Campgrounds
"Fantastic animal preserve zoo nearby which is a must visit. Pretty golf course with full bar and food right across the street. Overall one of our favorite stops on our New England trip."
Check Availabilityfrom $53 - $65 / night
10. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
Drive Time
- 11 min from Scranton, PA
- 47 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 16 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 35 min from Elmira, NY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Clarks Summit, PA
48 Photos of 42 Clarks Summit Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Oh! Pear Orchards
Hillside Campgrounds
Second District Brew FarmS
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Private Campsite on 50 AcresC
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Mauch Chunk Lake Park
Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Ratcliff's River Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
BMR Operations, LLC dba Blue Mountain Resort By: BM Resort Management, LLC its Authorized Agent
Tent Camping Reviews near Clarks Summit, PA
795 Reviews of 42 Clarks Summit Campgrounds
- RRussell A.
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!
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!
- WWill W.Guide
Lackawanna State Park Campground
Car camping
Stayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
- 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.
Daniel C.ScoutHillside Campgrounds
Stay away... Unless you like 70 y/o men acting like high schoolers
This clothing-optional campground has a highly toxic, intrusive, and vindictive environment. During my stay, the seasonal permanent residents('perms') subjected me to intense harassment, inappropriate sexual advances, and severe social retaliation/rumor-spreading when those advances were rejected. The situation escalated to the point where an employee had to intervene for my safety. Furthermore, despite management allowing my photo to be taken in costume at a party, I was intentionally blocked from the community group where the photos were posted, leaving me unable to monitor how my image was being used. Avoid this place if you value your privacy, personal boundaries, and safety.
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!
Guide to Clarks Summit
Tent camping near Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania offers sites at elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet, with summer night temperatures often 10-15 degrees cooler than nearby urban areas. The region's mixed hardwood forests provide natural windbreaks at most campsites, though rainfall averages 45 inches annually, making waterproof gear essential from April through October.
What to do
Water activities at Mauch Chunk Lake Park: The 330-acre lake provides excellent paddling opportunities with rentals available onsite. "The lake was beautiful. Very clean and picturesque and perfect for swimming," notes one Mauch Chunk Lake Park visitor. Another camper mentions, "You can launch my paddle board from my site and the water is so clean and clear."
Wildlife observation near Pinchot State Forest: Early mornings offer prime bird-watching, with multiple hawk species and migratory songbirds present from April through October. The forest edges near campsites provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. One visitor to Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground notes the area is "very open, plenty of space" for observing nature.
Whitewater rafting excursions: Several campgrounds serve as bases for adventure sports on the nearby Lehigh River. "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing," reports one camper at Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center. Guided rafting trips run primarily May through September, with higher water levels in spring months.
What campers like
Privacy at walk-in sites: Tent campers frequently mention the seclusion of walk-in camping areas compared to drive-up options. At Oh! Pear Orchards, one camper describes "spacious tent sites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool, magical setting." The walk-in distance is manageable with provided carts.
Island camping experiences: For adventurous tent campers, boat-accessible sites offer unparalleled seclusion. At Namanock Island, accessible only by canoe or kayak about 4 miles downriver from Milford, PA, "the absence of light sources beyond your camp remind you that you are truly alone in the wilderness." Sites must be reached by water, with typical paddling time of 1-2 hours from launch points.
Family-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds near Clarks Summit balance natural settings with facilities that make tent camping more comfortable. One camper at Mauch Chunk Lake Park shared, "The campground was spacious and while it was likely full, it still felt secluded. Beautiful lake beach and canoe and kayak rentals."
What you should know
Weather considerations: The higher elevations near Clarks Summit experience significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, often dropping 20+ degrees after sunset. Sites at Scrub Mountain Retreat provide good tree cover but require proper sleeping gear rated for temperatures 10 degrees below forecast lows.
Insect protection: Beyond standard mosquito concerns, ticks are prevalent throughout the region. One visitor specifically warns about ticks at certain sites, advising to "get your spray."
Terrain challenges: Many camping areas feature uneven ground with natural obstacles. One camper at Mauch Chunk Lake Park noted, "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters." Bringing additional sleeping pads is advisable for tent camping Clarks Summit sites, particularly for back or side sleepers.
Firewood regulations: Most campgrounds restrict bringing outside firewood due to invasive species concerns. At Oh! Pear Orchards, "firewood [is] easily accessible" for purchase, and many sites maintain honor system firewood sales ranging from $5-10 per bundle.
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: For first-time tent campers with children, select established sites with nearby facilities. One family reported about Mauch Chunk: "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."
Activity planning: Many families recommend structuring days with a mix of water and land activities. "GREAT first trip! The campgrounds were nice and there was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals," explains a visitor to Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Group site selection: Families camping with multiple tents should target specific campgrounds with spacious sites. "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," notes one experienced group camper.
Tips from RVers
Space considerations for tents and vehicles: RVers who also set up tents note that many sites offer ample space for both. At Belden Hill Campgrounds, sites are "level, spacious. Room for pop up canopy and games." Sites typically accommodate both a vehicle and a 2-4 person tent with additional space for dining areas.
Shared facilities with RV areas: Tent campers utilizing campgrounds that also serve RVs benefit from access to more developed facilities. "Clean bathrooms and laundry rooms," reports one Belden Hill camper, which are particularly valuable amenities for tent campers on extended stays of 3+ nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Clarks Summit, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Clarks Summit, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clarks Summit, PA is Half Baked Homestead with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Clarks Summit, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 tent camping locations near Clarks Summit, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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