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 Covington, PA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers the most accessible tent camping options near Covington, Pennsylvania, with numerous primitive backcountry sites scattered along the Delaware River. Namanock Island provides tent-only camping on a peaceful island setting that requires paddling access, while Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground in Pinchot State Forest offers more traditional established tent sites. Most sites in the region feature natural settings with minimal development and basic amenities focused on tent campers rather than RV accommodations.
Sites across the Delaware Water Gap region primarily require water access, with boat-in and canoe-in tent sites being particularly common. Primitive tent setups predominate, with most areas offering fire rings but few other amenities. The Sandyston and Namanock sites feature designated camping areas with established fire pits but no potable water sources. Tent campers must pack in all necessary supplies, including drinking water. The terrain varies from riverside flats to slightly elevated forest settings with natural ground surfaces. A review mentioned that "the sites were very large and while covered by 40+ ft trees were open enough to make you wish you brought more gear and people just because it would fit."
Walk-in tent sites throughout the area provide an exceptional level of solitude, particularly at the boat-in locations that separate campers from day visitors. The Delaware River tent campgrounds serve as ideal staging points for paddling adventures, with many campers using these sites as part of multi-day river journeys. Wildlife sightings are common, with reports of bald eagles and various river species enhancing the backcountry tent experience. Most sites remain clean and well-maintained despite their primitive nature. A camper noted that Namanock Island offers "lots of peace and natural all around. Saw tons of bald eagles flying near the site and while paddling birds playing and baby geese with their mommas!" The separation from vehicle access creates a true wilderness camping atmosphere that draws tent enthusiasts seeking authentic outdoor experiences.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Covington (44)
1. 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
2. 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."
3. Caffrey Recreation Area
4. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
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. Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"It had 5-6 platforms, privys, big fire ring, a grill, a beatbox, a large pavilion w/picnic tables and a real full sized bathroom only 100 yards away."
"You can rent kayaks and canoes and swimming is allowed on Catfish Pond -- plenty of fish, snapping turtles, and other wildlife."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 - $75 / night
7. Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
"This spot is right next to a beautiful view on the side of Kittany Mountain and just off the Appalachian trail. There is 4 spots to set up at all of which have a spot for a fire."
8. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
9. Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"This camping site is a set of 6 sites on the New Jersey border maintained by the National Park Service."
"There is no public road access to the campsite. Secondly, the site is maintained by the NPS,(National Park Service) within the DWGNRA, (Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area)."
10. Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"There is no public road access to the campsite. Secondly, the site is maintained by the NPS, (National Park Service) within the DWGNRA, (Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area)."
Check Availabilityfrom $16 / night
Drive Time
- 14 min from Scranton, PA
- 1 hr 3 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 4 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 22 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Covington, PA
59 Photos of 44 Covington Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Ratcliff's River Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Second District Brew FarmS
Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Hornbeck's River Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Wooded Campground
BMR Operations, LLC dba Blue Mountain Resort By: BM Resort Management, LLC its Authorized Agent
Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Tent Camping Reviews near Covington, PA
1013 Reviews of 44 Covington 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.
Thomas B.
RangerNeversink River Resort
Cool Riverside Campground
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Guide to Covington
Primitive tent camping options dot the landscape near Covington, Pennsylvania, primarily concentrated in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Tent campers can access sites like Manny Gordon Recreation Area in Pinchot State Forest, offering spacious tent sites with previously stocked firewood. The region features numerous boat-in primitive campsites along the Delaware River, including Namanock Island and Sandyston Boat In Campsites, providing secluded tent camping experiences without road access.
Most tent sites in the area require minimal equipment and self-sufficiency. The Delaware Water Gap primitive sites are exclusively accessible by canoe or kayak, with no public road access permitted. These sites typically include basic fire rings and occasionally primitive toilets but lack amenities like drinking water, showers, or trash service. Tent campers should prepare for variable terrain and implement proper food storage, as local wildlife including raccoons frequently visit campsites. During peak summer months, securing these first-come, first-served primitive sites can be challenging, particularly on weekends. A review noted that "it's first come first serve so we were definitely anxious to make sure we got a spot."
Walk-in tent sites throughout the region offer exceptional privacy and natural immersion. The backcountry camping experience on Namanock Island provides rare solitude, with campers reporting the feeling of having "the entire world is yours and yours alone." Sites are generally well-maintained and clean, with fire rings suitable for both cooking and warmth. Tent campers frequently encounter wildlife, including bald eagles along the Delaware River. The surrounding area offers numerous hiking opportunities to nearby waterfalls, including Raymondskill Falls about a half-hour paddle upriver from Namanock Island. A camper described the experience as "stunning waterfalls and local wildlife surround you with too many local points of interest to even try to list them all."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Covington, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Covington, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Covington, PA is Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground — Pinchot State Forest with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Covington, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Covington, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 44 tent camping locations near Covington, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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