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 Conyngham, PA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campsites scattered across the Lehigh Gap area provide primitive camping options near Conyngham, Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Trail corridor features several backcountry tent sites including the AT Ridge Campground and AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap, which offer more established tent camping experiences. Mauch Chunk Lake Park in nearby Jim Thorpe also provides tent sites in a more developed setting with lake access.
Most tent campgrounds near Lehigh Gap require hiking in, with limited or no road access. The primitive AT sites have stone fire rings but lack potable water, so campers must plan to carry in their own supplies. Tent-only sites at Mauch Chunk Lake Park offer more amenities including drinking water, toilets, showers, and picnic tables. While these sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, making extra padding advisable for tent campers. Sites vary from ridge-top locations with expansive views to more sheltered pine forest settings with soft beds of pine needles.
Backcountry tent sites along the ridgeline offer exceptional views and solitude. According to one visitor, "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." The pine forest group site provides excellent protection from weather with its natural canopy and comfortable ground cover. Tent campers at Mauch Chunk Lake Park can access lakeside sites, with some visitors noting the advantage of launching paddle boards directly from their campsite. The sites at Riverview Park Campground are tent-only and positioned along the Lehigh River with picnic benches and fire pits, making them ideal for those planning river adventures. Most primitive sites accommodate multiple tents, with the group campsite areas featuring larger cleared spaces for several tents.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Conyngham (21)
1. 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
2. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
3. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
4. 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."
5. 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."
6. Riverview Park Campground
"The sites are each tent only and located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit. They also have a bathroom facility up alongside the road."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $30 / night
7. 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."
8. 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."
9. 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
10. Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite (group)
"This site appears to be well-used and has several established areas for sitting and setting up a fire."
Drive Time
- 34 min from Scranton, PA
- 1 hr 3 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 6 min from Reading, PA
- 1 hr 7 min from Lebanon, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Conyngham, PA
37 Photos of 21 Conyngham Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Conyngham, PA
770 Reviews of 21 Conyngham 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!
- 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.
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!
Guide to Conyngham
Primitive camping options near Conyngham, Pennsylvania center on the Appalachian Trail corridor through Lehigh Gap. The area sits at approximately 1,000 feet above sea level where the Lehigh River cuts through Blue Mountain. Seasonal variations affect camping conditions significantly, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter dropping to 20-30°F.
What to do
Whitewater rafting excursions: Book a trip with Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center which combines camping with river adventures. "Stayed here for Riverfest and it was great. Bands throughout the night with beer and food. Nice showers," notes Emma T.
Paddleboarding on Mauch Chunk Lake: The clean water conditions at Mauch Chunk Lake Park make it ideal for water sports. "I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear," says Lisa S.
Biking the D&L Trail: Access the converted railroad bed trail from Riverview Park Campground. "The park itself is located along the D&L biking trail that is on the bed of an old railroad," explains Asher K.
What campers like
Protected forest camping: The pine groves at AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap provide natural shelter from weather. "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area. The pine trees also provide a nice cover to make this a well-protected site in case of bad weather," reports Asher K.
Lakefront tent sites: Campers appreciate the direct water access at Mauch Chunk Lake Park. "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm," shares Lisa S.
Nearby attractions: The Jim Thorpe area offers additional activities. "There's much to explore in the town Jim Thorpe and beautiful hiking close by," writes Katie S.
What you should know
Varying site conditions: Many established campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters," advises Amber M.
Weekend crowds: Popular sites get busy during peak times. "Our site was for the most part clean, the fire pit was so full of ash and trash and giant rocks that we had to clean ourselves right when we arrived... It's a busy place, a lot of weekenders with excited kiddos," notes Corbin.
Water availability: Primitive sites on the Appalachian Trail require water planning. "There is no water access at the site so make sure to fill up before coming up the mountain," warns Asher K. about Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite.
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: First-time campers can ease into the experience. "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," suggests Mackenzie B.
Activity-packed areas: Look for campgrounds with built-in recreation. "GREAT first trip! The campgrounds were nice and there was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals," shares Danny M.
Evening entertainment: Some campgrounds offer organized activities. "There was a movie shown at night, as well as music played late into the night," mentions Katie S.
Tips from RVers
Tick prevention: Insect protection is essential in wooded areas. "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," advises Gavin S. at Manny Gordon Recreation Area.
Reservation requirements: Plan ahead for the best tent camping near Conyngham, Pennsylvania. "Just make sure if you are going to stay here that you reserve a site in advance since they will charge you an additional $10 if you show up without planning," warns Asher K.
Noise considerations: Campground atmosphere varies widely. "It was not just 1 group; there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight. There are supposed to be quiet hours, but they were not enforced," reports Danielle F.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular tent campsite near Conyngham, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Conyngham, PA is Mauch Chunk Lake Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
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