Duryea area campgrounds sit on elevated terrain ranging from 900 to 1,500 feet above sea level. The region's mixed hardwood forests create significant shade at most campsites, with summer temperatures typically 5-10°F cooler than nearby cities. Camping accommodations range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV pads, with most campgrounds operating from April through October's third weekend.
What to do
Kayaking opportunities: Frances Slocum State Park Campground offers direct lake access for paddlers with rentals available. "Good camping area. The park has great hiking spots, a local pool, and a lake that you can rent boats or kayak on!!" notes Lexi, highlighting water recreation options.
Hiking to waterfalls: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground features a 7-mile trail system with 22 named waterfalls. According to Lee D., "We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike. The trails are very well marked."
Boulder field exploration: A 20-minute drive through woods near Tobyhanna leads to unusual geological formations. As Mike M. describes, "Boulders everywhere! Big ones, small ones, run (carefully) across them all! Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown."
What campers like
Spacious waterfront sites: Pickerel Point Campground offers lakeside sites with direct water access. Kelly F. mentions, "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper. The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail. The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers."
Private wooded camping: Several campgrounds offer secluded options. Jackie F. from Frances Slocum State Park notes, "We had site 44 in the Stony Point loop and it was by far the largest campsite on the property. We had a thick covered wooded area to our right and a huge grassy area to the left."
Year-round options: Some locations remain open through winter months. According to Mara S., "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers. The park is large with many hiking trails and ice fishing."
What you should know
Wildlife considerations: Bears are common in these forests. Erik M. from Tobyhanna State Park Campground warns, "Just stayed 2 nights with my 7 yrs. old daughter... As soon as we got to our site one came right up as we were setting up our tent. Do not leave any food out be sure to lock up everything in car."
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. Katheryn H. notes: "The bathrooms were great and the place felt comfortable and secure. But not all the tent sites had a picnic table." Some parks have very limited or no connectivity.
Water quality concerns: Testing sometimes reveals issues with lake water. Jackie F. cautions, "DO NOT take your pups to the water. There is a weird bacteria or algae currently growing in the lake, it's completely visible. There are advisories around about it too."
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Keen Lake Resort Campground offers structured programs for children. Mike H. shares, "My boys absolutely love it and always have something to do. They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day!"
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds provide play areas. According to Shirley M., "There is a large open field in the loop we camped in with a swing set on it. This was nice for families with children."
Boat rentals: Many parks offer affordable canoe and kayak rentals for families without their own equipment. Shannon C. explains, "Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake. It was awesome. The kids had fun riding bikes on the road, which was off the main road."
Tips for RVers
Full hookup options: Highland Campgrounds offers comprehensive services for larger rigs. Jennifer R. notes, "Whether it's nature and back roads, or wanting to have a dip in the pool and lay in the sun, this campground is the best of both worlds. Office is clean and a combined country store with fresh produce."
Dump station access: Most state parks provide central sanitary facilities. John T. observes, "Nice level sites easy to back in rv and set up," indicating Duryea area campgrounds typically have well-designed access roads and parking pads.
Electrical considerations: Some older parks have limited electrical capacity. David mentions, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," suggesting bringing a surge protector and limiting simultaneous appliance usage.
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