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 Dalton, PA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campsites near Dalton, Pennsylvania range from primitive walk-in sites to more developed tent-friendly campgrounds with picnic tables and toilet facilities. Oh! Pear Orchards stands out with five walk-in tent sites positioned along a creek, featuring what reviewers describe as "some of the best fire pits around." Manny Gordon Recreation Area in Pinchot State Forest provides tent-friendly sites with more developed amenities including picnic tables, toilet facilities, and electrical hookups.
Access conditions and amenities vary significantly across tent camping areas. At Oh! Pear Orchards, campers must walk a short distance to reach their sites, though the property provides a cart to transport gear. According to one visitor, "It is a short walk in to the sites, but there is a cart provided which made it pretty easy." Tent campers should note that while fire rings are common at most sites, amenities like showers, potable water, and trash disposal are limited. The terrain at many tent campsites features exposed tree roots and rocks, particularly at sites like Mauch Chunk Lake Park, where reviewers recommend "extra padding for tenters."
The tent camping near Dalton emphasizes natural settings and peaceful environments. Tent-only sites at Oh! Pear Orchards are situated next to a stream, offering a secluded atmosphere with "just enough shade to stay cool" in a "magical setting." A visitor commented that these spacious sites provide "quiet and peaceful" camping with "lots of wide, open undeveloped space." Beyond the immediate Dalton area, walk-in tent sites at Mauch Chunk Lake Park offer wooded surroundings with many lakeside spots, though weekend crowds can sometimes create noise issues. For backcountry campers, tent campsites within the state forests and recreation areas serve as excellent basecamps for exploring nearby hiking trails, fishing spots, and outdoor activities in the greater northeastern Pennsylvania region.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Dalton (27)
1. 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
2. Half Baked Homestead
3. Hillside Campgrounds
4. 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
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. 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
7. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
8. Caffrey Recreation Area
9. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
10. Riverside Acres Campground
"Good tentable spaces on river. Second row has water/electric, shade trees and lawn frontage. Pavilion has tables, a braizer, and one electric outlet. Lawn big enough to play your sport."
Check Availabilityfrom $22 - $35 / night
Drive Time
- 17 min from Scranton, PA
- 50 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 26 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 38 min from Elmira, NY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Dalton, PA
28 Photos of 27 Dalton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Oh! Pear Orchards
Hillside Campgrounds
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Private Campsite on 50 AcresC
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Mauch Chunk Lake Park
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Ratcliff's River Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Tent Camping Reviews near Dalton, PA
722 Reviews of 27 Dalton 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 Dalton
Tent campsites near Dalton, Pennsylvania cluster within the Endless Mountains region at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,600 feet. Most sites sit within hardwood forests dominated by oak, maple and birch trees, creating natural canopies over campsites. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and August.
What to do
Hiking near Manny Gordon Recreation Area: The nearby trails range from easy 1-mile loops to challenging 8-mile routes with moderate elevation gain. A camper noted, "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."
Paddleboarding at Mauch Chunk Lake Park: The 330-acre lake offers calm waters perfect for beginner paddleboarders with rentals available for $15/hour. "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm. You are in beautiful Jim Thorpe that has white water rafting in town, plus great restaurants and bars," according to a reviewer.
Rafting excursions from Whitewater Challengers: Guided whitewater adventures operate on the Lehigh River from April through October with dam-release weekends offering the most exciting Class II-III rapids. As one visitor mentioned, "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing. The campground is definitely great for Girl Scout or school groups."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Most tent camping areas provide at least 30 feet between sites with natural undergrowth creating privacy barriers. "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," shared a Mauch Chunk Lake Park visitor.
Creekside camping: Several campgrounds feature sites positioned along small waterways, offering natural white noise and fishing opportunities. At Oh! Pear Orchards, a camper noted, "This is a special place! Campsites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool, magical setting, firewood easily accessible."
Weekend entertainment options: Some campgrounds organize scheduled activities like outdoor movies and live music during summer weekends. At Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center, "Stayed here for Riverfest and it was great. Bands throughout the night with beer and food. Nice showers."
What you should know
Summer weekend crowding: Many of the public camping areas fill to capacity between Memorial Day and Labor Day, especially those with water access. A Belden Hill Campgrounds visitor observed, "Great campground, majority is seasonal. The views for the pull through weekender sites are to die for. New owners are making some great updates."
Site terrain considerations: Many tent sites have uneven ground with natural obstacles that require careful tent placement. "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters," reports a camper about terrain at some locations.
Limited cell service: Cellular coverage is spotty throughout the region, particularly at campgrounds in valleys or heavily wooded areas. Belden Hill provides "Full hook ups and wifi but wifi wasn't working too well. Good enough for web surfing on phone but no streaming on TV. Great at&t service."
Tips for camping with families
Choose established campgrounds with amenities: Families with young children benefit from sites with bathroom facilities and organized activities. One visitor noted, "One of the best places we have stayed. The campground was spacious and while it was likely full, it still felt secluded. Beautiful lake beach and canoe and kayak rentals."
Plan for temperature fluctuations: Even summer nights can drop into the 50s in this region, requiring layered clothing and appropriate sleeping bags. A visitor to Scrub Mountain Retreat mentioned the importance of proper gear during their stay.
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds maintain strict quiet hours while others allow music and gatherings late into evening. "We visited in the summer on a weekend when it was full. The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers. It was not just 1 group; there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight."
Tips from RVers
Limited full-hookup options: Most campgrounds near Dalton offer minimal RV amenities, with many providing only water and electric hookups. At Hillside Campgrounds, "The dance club could be better, but overall, it's a great place to go hang out for a weekend. Wifi and internet coverage is decent."
Seasonal camping popularity: Many RV sites in the region are occupied by seasonal campers who maintain long-term residency. "Got in late, the new owners found a spot for me #81. Very nice couple, mostly older campers in year round RV's. Very quiet, good showers, very clean," shared a visitor.
Access road considerations: Several campgrounds have narrow approach roads with steep grades that challenge larger rigs. One RVer commented, "Easy access off I-88 friendly owner, friendly seasonal people. Pull thru full hookup, level, spacious. Room for pop up canopy and games. Great views of the mts."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Dalton, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dalton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dalton, PA is Oh! Pear Orchards with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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tent camping near
Dalton, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Dalton, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Dalton, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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