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.
Camping near Mount Carmel, PA
26 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Campgrounds surrounding Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania include a mix of established facilities catering to various camping styles. Knoebels Campground stands as a primary destination with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options located near a popular amusement park. Other nearby options include Lake Glory Campground, Trailhead Campground, and J&D Campground, creating a network of mixed-use campgrounds within approximately 30 minutes of Mount Carmel. Most facilities offer electric hookups, with many providing water and sewer connections for RVs alongside more primitive tent sites and cabin rentals.
Seasonal operations impact camping availability throughout the region, with most campgrounds operating from April through October. Lake Glory Campground runs from April 15 to October 15, while Camp A While maintains a similar schedule. Several campgrounds feature amenities such as showers, toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though quality and maintenance vary by location. Road conditions can present challenges at some properties, particularly at Trailhead Campground. A review mentioned: "The road coming in is ROUGH, if you're towing or driving a motorhome, be prepared. The grounds are unkept, no mowing, weeds as tall as I am."
Family-oriented facilities dominate the camping landscape near Mount Carmel. Knoebels Campground receives consistently positive feedback for its proximity to the adjacent amusement park, making it particularly popular for families with children. While the sites tend to be close together with limited privacy, the convenience often outweighs these drawbacks for many visitors. As one camper shared: "It was nice for our family of five. Very convenient for the amusement park. Everyone was nice." The campground options in this area generally prioritize amenities and location over wilderness experience, with most properties featuring developed infrastructure rather than remote or primitive camping areas. Travelers seeking more secluded experiences may need to venture further from Mount Carmel to find less developed camping options.
Best Campgrounds near Mount Carmel (172)
1. Knoebels Campground
"Knoebels campground is situated next to Knoebels amusement park and offers sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as cabins. There is electricity at every site but not water."
"In addition to the campsites you have access to the campsite bathrooms which also have showers. They’re nothing special but they get the job done and are cleaned daily by staff."
Check Availabilityfrom $59 - $160 / night
2. Locust Lake State Park Campground
"We had lake front access to put kayaks in and fish which was awesome. Great walking path around lake for kids to ride bikes to parks or beach. Beach area was nice."
"Had a site close to the lake. Many sites (including mine) were not level. The sites sizes were a bit small and i would book during peak season. I would definitely return again off season."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $47 / night
3. Lake Glory Campground
"This campground is only minutes away from Knobels Amusement Park. The campground itself was clean but not a lot of amenities being it’s part of the amusement park."
"It’s a nice spacious campground next to the park."
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $80 / night
4. Indian Head Campground
"Not much to do at the campground but it is 20 minutes away from Knoebles. The fees are fairly cheap."
"Good location, right on the river. The campground overall is very pretty. A few old, junk trailers around the property need to be hauled off."
5. Camp A While
"Not to much to do in the area but it is somewhat close to the Appalachian Trail if you’re into that. It seems like the camp ground always has something fun going on."
"The only reason for not giving five stars is because it’s very close to a freeway. There’s quite a bit of truck and car noise from the freeway."
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $26 - $44 / night
6. J&D Campground
"Very well maintained campground very close to Knoebels. This was the last weekend they were open. Kind of upset you do not get to choose your site."
"Close to Bloomsburg Fair too. One of our favorites- no activities for kids, but nice pool& mini golf!"
Check Availabilityfrom $53 / night
7. Trailhead Campground
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $90 / night
8. Echo Valley Campground
"There are gardens with walkways to walk to the pool or the office. Our site 24B was a pull through with full hook up. We had cable and WI-FI. There wasn't any shade yet were only here one night."
9. Twin Grove RV Resort
"There are 2 dog parks right next to each other, which is great for your furry friend to be able to run around and play off leash."
"Needs a pond and more shade but still is one of the nicer parks around. Twin Grove is also one of the cheaper ones, and that is hard to believe because of all the offer."
10. Jonestown/Hershey KOA
"Love the close proximity to the highway and gas. We didn’t eat there but they had a restaurant! Lots of activities for the kids. Wooded sites and very clean bathrooms."
"Pet friendly and you can access the Appalachian trail from campground. Lots of great food and places to go in the area. They have a river that is great for kayaking or tubing."
Drive Time
- 54 min from Lebanon, PA
- 55 min from Harrisburg, PA
- 1 hr 1 min from Williamsport, PA
- 1 hr 7 min from Reading, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Mount Carmel, PA
345 Photos of 172 Mount Carmel Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Knoebels Campground
Lake Glory Campground
Camp A While
Breezy Acre Campsites
Breezy Acre Campsites
Indian Head Campground
Locust Lake State Park Campground
Tentrr Signature Site - GoldMine Hideaway
Tentrr Signature Site - The Algonquin Gitigaan
Splash Magic RV Resort
Twin Grove RV Resort
Tuscarora State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Mount Carmel, PA
834 Reviews of 172 Mount Carmel Campgrounds
- ssorcha A.
TravelerShady Oak Campground
Easy access to Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch areas. Friendly, welcoming staff and plenty of colorful trees in the autumn. The only RV park in the area that is open year round.
- 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!
Roger V.TravelerBake Oven Knob
solid parking place for vans and RVs. road is dirt gravel but not terrible. nice hike nearby
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.
Guide to Mount Carmel
Camping spots near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania range from state-managed parks to privately-owned facilities scattered throughout Pennsylvania's coal region. The terrain features rolling hills and varied elevation changes between 800-1,500 feet, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Fall camping brings temperature drops into the 40s overnight, requiring appropriate clothing and gear.
What to do
Swimming and water recreation: Lake Glory Campground offers a stocked fishing lake where campers report the fish are "always hungry." One visitor noted, "Kids can wade in the water to cool off while parents are chatting and cooking just few feet away" at the creekside sites.
Amusement park access: Knoebels Campground provides direct access to the adjacent park, with a camper mentioning, "Connected to the park, a great way to visit! If you're an early to bed kinda person it'll be tough, the roller coasters are right there!"
Hiking and biking: Jonestown/Hershey KOA connects to regional trails, with a camper highlighting that "Campground is connected to the Swatara Rail trial which is great for biking. The Swatara creek runs right next to it so it is great for kayaking, tubing, etc."
What campers like
Quiet, spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the lower density at certain campgrounds. At Lake Glory Campground, visitors mention "Big campsites so you don't feel crowded" and note it's "so much quieter than Knoebels campground and so much more room."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks high on camper priorities. A visitor to Twin Grove RV Resort reported, "Spotless. Plenty of room for whatever size tent or RV you have. Always lots of activities. Nice arcade and mini golf in an area set off to the side."
Family entertainment options: Beyond amusement parks, on-site activities matter to families. One camper at Twin Grove noted, "There is a pool and fun activities through the day. At night they have a merry go round, train, giant slide and ferries wheel you can ride."
What you should know
Site conditions vary dramatically: At Trailhead Campground, a camper warned about accessing the property: "The road coming in is ROUGH, if you towing or driving a MH, be prepared. The grounds are unkept, no mowing, weeds as tall as I am."
Weather considerations: Temperature swings can be significant. A Knoebels visitor advised, "We went in late august and although it was pool weather during the day time the temperatures dropped somewhat dramatically into the evening hours so bring clothes for both 70-80 degree weather and 40-50 degree weather overnight."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly. A camper at Knoebels recommended, "Book early as they sell out fast!" while another at Lake Glory advised, "Book early....these sites fill fast!"
Tips for camping with families
Cabin options for non-tent campers: Tuscarora State Park Campground offers alternatives to traditional camping. A visitor explains, "The cabins and yurts have electricity and running water. They are great if you want the outdoor experience while getting the option of a bed."
Bathroom proximity matters: When traveling with children, consider location within the campground. A Lake Glory camper noted, "I do have to say I love the bath houses here. They are each their own individual rooms split into shower/changing room. I like the privacy and it made it much easier when my daughter was small."
Age-appropriate amenities: Different campgrounds cater to different age groups. At Twin Grove, "There is a pond to fish from, a dog park for your furry friend to play at and a few playgrounds for the kids."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Not all RV sites are created equal. At J&D Campground, a camper advised, "Kind of upset you do not get to choose your site. We would have preferred a site near the giant open field that backs up to the road, whereas people that were actually put there preferred the site we had instead."
Leveling challenges: Pay attention to site terrain. A camper at Knoebels noted, "The site was plenty spacious for our pup and TV, but was not level at all. In fact, none of the surrounding sites looked very level."
Utility options: For those needing full hookups, Indian Head Campground provides "Full hook ups, large pull through spots but no trees. Full timers are in tree line." A visitor noted the "pull through site was grass/gravel and level" though "a little muddy due to several days of rain."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mount Carmel, PA?
What camping is available near Mount Carmel, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mount Carmel, PA offers a wide range of camping options, with 172 campgrounds and RV parks near Mount Carmel, PA and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mount Carmel, PA?
Which is the most popular campground near Mount Carmel, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mount Carmel, PA is Knoebels Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mount Carmel, PA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mount Carmel, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Mount Carmel, PA.
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