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 Germansville, PA
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Tent camping in the rural area around Germansville, Pennsylvania centers on the Appalachian Trail corridor and nearby Lehigh Gap, with several primitive tent sites established along ridgelines and wooded areas. The AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap and the George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter offer tent-specific sites with minimal amenities but scenic locations. Riverview Park Campground provides accessible tent camping along the Lehigh River with more developed facilities.
Most primitive tent sites in the Lehigh Gap area require hikers to pack in all supplies, as drinking water is unavailable at most locations except the George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter, which has a nearby spring. Fire rings are established at nearly all tent sites, though campers should practice proper fire safety, especially on the exposed ridge areas. The tent sites along the Appalachian Trail are free to use but lack amenities like toilets or picnic tables. A camper noted that "you might want to keep moving to one of the next sites" if looking for flat tent areas, as some locations have limited level ground for setting up.
Tent campers at higher elevations along the AT ridge enjoy remarkable views from their sites. According to one visitor, the AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap allows you to "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." Pine-needle covered forest floors at several sites create natural padding for tents, particularly at the AT Group Campsite which provides a "padded comfortable area perfect for a large group backpacking in the area." For those seeking more developed facilities, Mauch Chunk Lake Park in nearby Jim Thorpe offers tent sites with drinking water, showers, and toilet facilities, though it tends to be busier, especially on summer weekends. Most backcountry sites require hikers to thoroughly mark their maps, as some camping areas sit back from the main trail and can be difficult to locate, particularly during lush summer months.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Germansville (34)
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. 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."
3. 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."
4. 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."
5. 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."
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. 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."
8. AT/Bypass Trail Split Primitive Campground
9. Lehigh Gap Woodpecker Trailhead Primitive Campground
10. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
Drive Time
- 24 min from Allentown, PA
- 45 min from Reading, PA
- 1 hr from Lebanon, PA
- 1 hr 9 min from Scranton, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Germansville, PA
61 Photos of 34 Germansville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
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Tent Camping Reviews near Germansville, PA
1049 Reviews of 34 Germansville 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.
Maria Mercedes M.LegendRound Valley State Park Campground
Peaceful Wilderness Escape for Adventurous Families
There's something wonderfully special about escaping into nature where the only sounds are rustling leaves, birds singing and the gentle movement of water along the shoreline. Nestled among the wooded hills surrounding the beautiful Round Valley Reservoir, this rustic SP campground offers families a chance to disconnect from everyday distractions and enjoy a little wilderness adventure together. Unlike traditional campgrounds, the campsites are accessible only by hiking or boating, so getting anywhere here requires some planning and a willingness to travel light. Once you've arrived, you'll find secluded, wooded campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Amenities are basic, with pit toilets and no showers, but the beautiful reservoir, scenic hiking trails, fishing and kayaking opportunities more than make up for the lack of modern conveniences. Our kids loved exploring the woods, spotting wildlife and gathering around a crackling campfire at night to share stories beneath the stars. For families comfortable with the hike, I'd recommend choosing one of the campsites along the reservoir shoreline for the lovely water views and peaceful surroundings. Just remember that swimming is limited to the park's designated beach area. Round Valley isn't your typical family campground, but for adventurous families who enjoy hiking, camping under the stars and making wonderful memories together, it's a beautiful place to experience nature at its finest!
- 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.
Thomas B.
RangerTohickon Family Campground
Simple, peaceful FHU
We stayed just a couple nights here on our way north. The camp host was helpful before our stay and during check-in. Our site was pretty isolated from the others, so it was very quiet (no complaints here). There is a decent mix of sunny sites by the river and shady sites under the trees. The weather was perfect mid September. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was a good experience and it was a nice taste of fall PA scenery. Beware that the roads are tight for a big rig. Side note, it did seem like most campers lived there.
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!
- KKelly B.Guide
Stephens State Park Campground
Great last min getaway
Booked the day before—even on the holiday weekend! Just 1.5 hours outside of NYC, site was a bit close to the neighbors (fire pit was very far back and basically in the neighbors’ campsite, but we put up a “privacy clothesline” and hung a tarp over it for a bit of extra coverage.
The staff was friendly and helpful, they said it was the busiest they’ve seen the campground all year (there were lots of large groups but everyone seemed to settle down by 9:30pm
Poison ivy was EVERYWHERE at our site so make sure to stick to the open areas and the paths. Lots of families around, we felt very safe Bathrooms were fine—it was my impression they’re usually cleaner but the high traffic of the weekend left a bit to be desired, (lots of families around=dirty diapers in the bathroom trash bin) but it’s camping! I’m not gonna argue w a flushing toilet!
Guide to Germansville
Germansville's tent camping options concentrate on the Appalachian Trail region, situated within the Blue Mountain ridge at elevations between 1,000-1,600 feet. The area experiences moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season, with cooler nights at higher elevations. Primitive sites dominate the landscape, with most requiring significant hiking access from trailheads.
What to do
Water activities at Mauch Chunk Lake: Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers numerous water-based recreation options including swimming at the beach and boat rentals. "Our first time tent camping was here and it set a great tone. We set up the tent, kayaked on the lake, cooked up some dinner, watched a strawberry super moon rise over the lake," reports Emma T. The park provides kayak and canoe rentals seasonally from May through September.
Mountain biking access: The D&L Trail runs parallel to the Lehigh River near Riverview Park Campground, offering 26 miles of crushed stone surface ideal for casual cycling. "The park itself is located along the D&L biking trail that is on the bed of an old railroad," notes a visitor. Trail access is free, with multiple entry points along the route.
Whitewater rafting: Several sites provide access to the Lehigh River's whitewater sections. "You are in beautiful Jim Thorpe that has white water rafting in town, plus great restaurants and bars," explains Lisa S. The Lehigh Gorge section offers class II-III rapids, with commercial outfitters operating from April through October, depending on water releases from Francis E. Walter Dam.
What campers like
Ridge views: AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap delivers panoramic valley views without requiring extensive hiking. A visitor reports, "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 site includes a stone fire ring and handmade stone seating for optimal view enjoyment.
Natural padding at pine sites: Specific camping areas feature pine needle ground cover that improves tent comfort. One camper at AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap noted, "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area." This natural feature provides insulation from cold ground and added cushioning.
Lake proximity: Several sites at Mauch Chunk Lake Park allow campers to position directly along the water. "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm," writes Lisa S. These waterfront sites typically fill 2-3 months in advance during summer season.
What you should know
Variable site conditions: Tent platforms differ significantly across the area, with some requiring extra preparation. At Lehigh Gap Woodpecker Trailhead Primitive Campground, "When I was here it had recently rained and the site was overall pretty boggy. The ground was relatively soft but without a good ground tarp, you might get a little wet," reports one camper.
Limited water availability: Most backcountry sites lack reliable water sources, requiring hikers to carry supplies. One exception is the George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter, where a visitor notes, "There is also a spring nearby for filling up water." Campers should plan to carry 2-3 liters per person when accessing ridge sites.
Crowds at developed campgrounds: The more accessible sites with amenities become heavily populated during peak times. A visitor to Mauch Chunk Lake Park observed, "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 the LOUDEST campground I have ever been to."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly locations: When planning the best tent camping near Germansville, Pennsylvania with new campers, certain sites offer gentler introduction. "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," reports Mackenzie B. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Activity options for children: Sites with recreational facilities keep younger campers engaged. "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. Children can typically access beach areas for swimming from late May through early September.
Reservation planning: Book developed sites months ahead for family-appropriate accommodations during peak periods. One camper recommends, "Note for next time: we will definitely be getting a lake front site for the awesome view!" Lake-view sites should be reserved 4-6 months in advance for summer weekends.
Tips from RVers
Tent-only sections: Most primitive sites near Germansville accommodate only tent camping, with no RV access on the Appalachian Trail. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, separate tent and RV camping areas exist, with "very wooded and quiet at night. Has many sites right along the lake edge, some very large," according to Amber M.
Surface considerations: Ground conditions affect both tent and RV setup. "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters," advises an experienced camper. These conditions typically worsen after heavy rainfall, with July and August being the wettest months in the region.
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campsite near Germansville, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Germansville, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Germansville, PA is Mauch Chunk Lake Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
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