Looking for the best campgrounds near Reading, PA? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Reading is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Reading camping trip.
In Pennsylvania, the once industrious geography of North Coventry and Warwick now serves as home to 7,730 acres of protected wilderness known as French Creek State Park. Right in the heart of the Schuylkill Highlands, the park’s boundaries make up the largest mass of forested space between anywhere in Washington D.C. and New York City. The diverse land consisting of forests, wetlands, marshes, and sleepy bluffs throughout have become a top destination for the people of southeast Pennsylvania to hike, fish, camp, and bike.
At a point long ago, before the industrial revolution, the land was once dominated by ancient forests of American chestnut. Sadly, in 1771 foresters started to clear these trees, in order to create charcoal for the furnace at nearby Hopewell Furnace. However, the forests were still allowed to regrow, with routine clearing scheduled every 25 years thereafter. The furnace was in operation for 112 years until 1883, and its impact on the regional environment was undeniable. The once wooded hillsides, towering trees, and babbling brooks that once existed now appeared as a barren wasteland in many areas. The ecological outlook was looking dim, that is until President Roosevelt started the CCC in 1993 as a response to economic turmoil created by the Great Depression.
During the same time, Governor Gifford Pinchot invited the CCC to assist in reclaiming this special land, and they subsequently worked to clear the forests and streams of brush. To commemorate the work, they began the restoration of the historic Hopewell Furnace as well as the creation of many of the facilities still in use today at the park. Among these facilities are several tent camping areas, two group camps, picnic shelters, two small dams and lakes, and even the extensive network of roads and trails that snake throughout the park.
Today, the second growth has brought with it a rebirth of life and wonder to the region. This massive expansion of protected land is now home to a multitude of rare animals and plants, not commonly found in the region. For example, French Creek State Park is an Important Bird Area as designated by the National Audubon Society, and an Important Mammal Area as designated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Pine Swamp is a State Park Natural Area. The park is now known for its diverse fishing, large abundance of wild game for hunt, and it’s plethora of outdoor recreation activities available within.
Visitors to the park have a few options for overnight accommodations. The campground itself is well suited for both large and small groups, as well as individuals. In total, 201 modern sites accommodate thousands of visitors annually. The campground also boast a range of amenities, including a centrally located shower and toilet facility. Additionally, there are ten cozy cabins with heat and electricity. Finally, there are two historic group camping CCC Cabins available. The facilities include dining halls, central washhouses, and cabins for campers and staff.
$23 / night
In the heart of the Eastern Pennsylvania wilderness, there’s an exciting escape for RVers, campers, and hikers of all ages. Blue Rocks Family Campground occupies over 100 acres of beautiful forest divided by mountain streams and is surrounded by miles of hiking trails that offer incredible views of the Pennsylvania countryside. Topped off with our breathtaking Blue Rocks boulder field that gives our camp its name, Blue Rocks Family Campground is truly the definition of an amazing outdoor Pennsylvania experience. We can’t wait to see ya!
Lake In Wood Camping Resort is “home to the gnomes” because it is a friendly place, built to suit the lifestyles of today’s campers (even the knee-high ones). From a weekend in your tent to a beautiful cabin rental, this resort becomes a treasured “Home Away from Home!”
The resort features a magnificent entertainment hall with a beautifully restored pipe organ for hosting grand parties and resort gatherings. Other pavilions are available for smaller groups (the Gnome Bridge Club are regulars). Adults can enjoy the picturesque views and intimate setting of the lake-view terrace.
Spring Gulch Campground and RV Resort is not just a campground—it's a full-amenity outdoor lifestyle RV experience nestled on 115 acres in the Amish Farmlands and Welsh Mountains of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Our RV park in Pennsylvania Dutch Country provides a relaxing and exciting RV vacation complete with activities and themed weekends for all ages, information provided for historic tours & sightseeing, bicycling through the scenic Amish Farmlands, and full facilities designed for your enjoyment and convenience. Spring Gulch RV Resort offers lots of water fun with two Olympic-size heated swimming pools, a stocked fishing lake, and a spring-fed lake with a white sandy beach where children build sandcastles. At this RV park in Pennsylvania Dutch Country , some visitors stay for a week's vacation, some for a weekend break, and others enjoy our consecutive weekend package or remain on a premier seasonal site. One thing is certainyou'll return year after year to Spring Gulch RV Resort! RV park in Pennsylvania Dutch Country with an outdoor lifestyle Whether you're planning a retreat for the whole family, a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Spring Gulch RV Campground. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.
The 15,990-acre Hickory Run State Park, Carbon County, lies in the western foothills of the Pocono Mountains. This large park has over 40 miles of hiking trails, three state park natural areas and miles of trout streams. Boulder Field, a striking boulder-strewn area, is a National Natural Landmark. Hickory Run Campground is open year round.
Are you daring enough to hike the Shades of Death Trail? This is just one of the hiking trails available to visitors at Hickory Run State Park. Not to worry though, the trail is not nearly as ominous as its name. Hickory Run was established as a state park in 1945 following a long and storied history of devastation and restoration. The first settlements in the area occurred following the American Revolution, when landowners began building mills on the local creeks. By the mid-1800s, the area was clearcut, then experienced several incidents of fire and flooding. In 1935 the area was purchased by the National Park Service (NPS) for use as a recreation area, and many of the roads, campgrounds and trails were developed. Ten years later, the NPS transferred the land to the state of Pennsylvania for use as a state park.
Just 30 miles south of Scranton, Hickory Run State Park is a 16,000-acre natural area in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. The area features numerous trout streams, boulder fields, wetlands and restored forests. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, from birds to black bears. The park’s large campground features more than 300 tent, trailer and RV sites, as well as a few walk-in sites and camping cottages. Some campsites are ADA accessible. Park facilities include restrooms with showers, drinking water, two playgrounds, amphitheater, fishing pier, dog-walking area, and a camp store. There’s also recycling and dump stations. The Shades of Death and Beach trails are accessible right from the campground. Campsite rates range from $15–$40/night; cabins and cottages range from $38–$105/night.
There is no shortage of outdoor play to be enjoyed on your visit to Hickory Run. On warm days, cool off with a dip in Sand Spring Lake, or go wading below Hawk Falls; cast a line for brook and brown trout in Hickory Run or Mud Run; or test your precision at the park’s disc golf course. There are also several geocaches hidden in the park if you’re up for a little treasure hunting. If you’re packing hiking boots, you have 44 miles of trails to wander. Choose from short, family-friendly nature and wildlife-watching trails, to the more strenuous Boulder Field Trail, which traverses a 16.5-acre field of sandstone boulders that predate several of North America’s ice ages. In winter, many of the park’s trails are open for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
Set on 200 acres of rolling farmland in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Hershey RV Camping preserve is enclosed in a natural valley of grassy fields, sloping down to a small fishing lake. Six miles away is Hershey's Chocolate World (rides and live entertainment), ZooAmerica, plus many golf courses and 3 major outlet centers. Nearby our Thousand Trails Pennsylvania Dutch Country RV campground are also Amish settlements and the Indian Echo Caverns. Hershey RV Camping has something for everyone, from the amusement park enthusiast to the history buff! Hershey RV campground near Chocolate World Whether you're planning a retreat for the whole family, a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Hershey RV & Camping Resort. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.
$50 - $60 / night
In Pennsylvania, the once industrious geography of North Coventry and Warwick now serves as home to 7,730 acres of protected wilderness known as French Creek State Park. Right in the heart of the Schuylkill Highlands, the park’s boundaries make up the largest mass of forested space between anywhere in Washington D.C. and New York City. The diverse land consisting of forests, wetlands, marshes, and sleepy bluffs throughout have become a top destination for the people of southeast Pennsylvania to hike, fish, camp, and bike.
At a point long ago, before the industrial revolution, the land was once dominated by ancient forests of American chestnut. Sadly, in 1771 foresters started to clear these trees, in order to create charcoal for the furnace at nearby Hopewell Furnace. However, the forests were still allowed to regrow, with routine clearing scheduled every 25 years thereafter. The furnace was in operation for 112 years until 1883, and its impact on the regional environment was undeniable. The once wooded hillsides, towering trees, and babbling brooks that once existed now appeared as a barren wasteland in many areas. The ecological outlook was looking dim, that is until President Roosevelt started the CCC in 1993 as a response to economic turmoil created by the Great Depression.
During the same time, Governor Gifford Pinchot invited the CCC to assist in reclaiming this special land, and they subsequently worked to clear the forests and streams of brush. To commemorate the work, they began the restoration of the historic Hopewell Furnace as well as the creation of many of the facilities still in use today at the park. Among these facilities are several tent camping areas, two group camps, picnic shelters, two small dams and lakes, and even the extensive network of roads and trails that snake throughout the park.
Today, the second growth has brought with it a rebirth of life and wonder to the region. This massive expansion of protected land is now home to a multitude of rare animals and plants, not commonly found in the region. For example, French Creek State Park is an Important Bird Area as designated by the National Audubon Society, and an Important Mammal Area as designated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Pine Swamp is a State Park Natural Area. The park is now known for its diverse fishing, large abundance of wild game for hunt, and it’s plethora of outdoor recreation activities available within.
Visitors to the park have a few options for overnight accommodations. The campground itself is well suited for both large and small groups, as well as individuals. In total, 201 modern sites accommodate thousands of visitors annually. The campground also boast a range of amenities, including a centrally located shower and toilet facility. Additionally, there are ten cozy cabins with heat and electricity. Finally, there are two historic group camping CCC Cabins available. The facilities include dining halls, central washhouses, and cabins for campers and staff.
$23 / night
In the heart of the Eastern Pennsylvania wilderness, there’s an exciting escape for RVers, campers, and hikers of all ages. Blue Rocks Family Campground occupies over 100 acres of beautiful forest divided by mountain streams and is surrounded by miles of hiking trails that offer incredible views of the Pennsylvania countryside. Topped off with our breathtaking Blue Rocks boulder field that gives our camp its name, Blue Rocks Family Campground is truly the definition of an amazing outdoor Pennsylvania experience. We can’t wait to see ya!
Lake In Wood Camping Resort is “home to the gnomes” because it is a friendly place, built to suit the lifestyles of today’s campers (even the knee-high ones). From a weekend in your tent to a beautiful cabin rental, this resort becomes a treasured “Home Away from Home!”
The resort features a magnificent entertainment hall with a beautifully restored pipe organ for hosting grand parties and resort gatherings. Other pavilions are available for smaller groups (the Gnome Bridge Club are regulars). Adults can enjoy the picturesque views and intimate setting of the lake-view terrace.
10% offSpring Gulch Campground and RV Resort is not just a campground—it's a full-amenity outdoor lifestyle RV experience nestled on 115 acres in the Amish Farmlands and Welsh Mountains of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Our RV park in Pennsylvania Dutch Country provides a relaxing and exciting RV vacation complete with activities and themed weekends for all ages, information provided for historic tours & sightseeing, bicycling through the scenic Amish Farmlands, and full facilities designed for your enjoyment and convenience. Spring Gulch RV Resort offers lots of water fun with two Olympic-size heated swimming pools, a stocked fishing lake, and a spring-fed lake with a white sandy beach where children build sandcastles. At this RV park in Pennsylvania Dutch Country , some visitors stay for a week's vacation, some for a weekend break, and others enjoy our consecutive weekend package or remain on a premier seasonal site. One thing is certainyou'll return year after year to Spring Gulch RV Resort! RV park in Pennsylvania Dutch Country with an outdoor lifestyle Whether you're planning a retreat for the whole family, a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Spring Gulch RV Campground. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.
