The northeastern Pennsylvania region around Duryea features several campgrounds within forested terrain at elevations ranging from 600-1200 feet. The area experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs averaging 80-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Campgrounds in this region often have limited availability from November through March due to Pennsylvania's cold winters, with some sites experiencing muddy conditions during spring thaws.
What to do
Kayaking at Lackawanna State Park: Launch directly from lakeside sites for easy water access. "The lake is nice, a little copper kind of like iced tea color but was very nice," notes one visitor to Tobyhanna State Park, which offers similar water activities within 30 miles of Duryea.
Hiking trail exploration: Many campgrounds connect to extensive trail systems. At Hickory Run State Park, campers appreciate the accessibility: "Clean, great camp store, dog friendly loop, great hikes accessible from campground!!" The park maintains 44 miles of trails ranging from easy to difficult.
Volleyball and field games: Several campgrounds provide dedicated recreation areas. As one guest at Highland Campgrounds described, "Office is clean and a combined country store with fresh produce in the outdoor fridge and bug spray and essentials in the office area. Rec room and bathrooms are older, but vintage. Playground is also older but also gives off the vintage look."
Winter camping: Unlike many seasonal facilities, a few parks remain open year-round. A camper at Ricketts Glen State Park reported, "This was a very peaceful night in the woods. The office staff was helpful with info about the camp and surrounding area. The bathroom and showers were clean and adequate."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Some campgrounds offer particularly generous camping spots. A visitor to Frances Slocum State Park shared: "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."
Clean facilities: Consistently maintained bathrooms are frequently mentioned in reviews. One guest noted about Highland Campgrounds: "Nice place to camp. Office is clean and a combined country store with fresh produce in the outdoor fridge and bug spray and essentials in the office area."
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse animal populations. Campers at Tobyhanna State Park mentioned, "We were warned at check in that there have been a lot of bears in the area but never really thought that we would see one. As soon as we got to our site one came right up as we were setting up our tent."
Waterfront access: Several parks provide direct water access from campsites. A visitor to Pickerel Point Campground shared: "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."
What you should know
Varied water quality: Some lakes in the region have seasonal water conditions. A camper at Frances Slocum State Park cautioned: "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."
Site terrain challenges: Not all camping spots have level ground or good drainage. One visitor reported: "This campground is beautiful and has great cell service (Verizon). Bath houses are okay, showers are button showers and are freezing come prepared. The site we stayed on was a swamp! It was terrible."
Coin-operated showers: Several parks have pay showers. A camper at Tobyhanna State Park mentioned: "The bathrooms are large and well kept. The lake is nearby and doesn't get crowded. There's a separate shore for kayaks and canoes to enter the lake."
Early morning noise: At some campgrounds, noise can be an issue. A visitor to Cozy Creek Family Campground observed: "The seasonals that seem to be there year round are all pipeline workers. So their diesel trucks start up around 6am. Also, the road in (Vacation lane) is dirt, rough and narrow."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Many parks offer swimming and boating options. A camper at Keen Lake Resort Campground shared: "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake. Wildlife sightings are common, with bears reported in several parks."
Playgrounds and recreation: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated children's areas. As one visitor noted: "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."
Educational programming: Some parks offer structured activities. A camper at Pickerel Point Campground wrote: "Was pleasantly surprised they have programs for kids. Can never go wrong here."
Dedicated family bathrooms: Certain facilities provide family-friendly restrooms. One visitor to Tobyhanna State Park mentioned: "They have a few hiking trails we didn't get to do, also have a horse shoe pit volleyball ball area and a little play area in the camping area. Bathrooms were immaculate even had a family bathroom."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some parks. A camper at Ricketts Glen State Park observed: "Our full hookup site was large with table and fire ring, and required some leveling. Not much shade in the full hookup loop, so was happy to have electricity for A/C."
Limited hookup options: Electric services vary between campgrounds. One visitor noted: "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging entry points. At Cozy Creek Family Campground, a visitor cautioned: "The road in (Vacation lane) is dirt, rough and narrow. There is presently no gate as well so the public can just drive in."
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer full sanitation facilities. Keen Lake Resort Campground provides "sanitary dump, sewer hookups" according to their amenities list, which receives positive comments from RV campers visiting the area.
