Cabins near Hazleton, Pennsylvania range from renovated facilities with modern amenities to rustic retreats with basic furnishings. The region sits within the Pocono Mountains at elevations between 1,600-2,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing from December through March, while summer days average 75-85°F with cooler evenings.
What to do
Boulder field exploration: Hickory Run State Park Campground features a remarkable 16-acre boulder field formed during the last ice age. "Boulders everywhere! Big ones, small ones, run (carefully) across them all! Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown," notes camper Mike M. The boulder field has National Natural Landmark status.
Hiking access: Blue Rocks Family Campground offers direct access to popular trails. "It's right at the base of one of the most popular hiking trail, The Pinnacle. It's nestled in the woods and is very rustic. Really gives you that camping feel!" shares Darrien K. The campground connects to the Appalachian Trail, just one mile away.
Water recreation: At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, visitors can enjoy paddleboarding and kayaking directly from lakefront sites. "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," reports Lisa S. The lake has designated swimming areas with lifeguards during summer months.
What campers like
Secluded sites: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground offers a camping experience surrounded by natural beauty. "We stayed in the large loop, which is a peninsula on Lake Jean. Many of the sites have lake views," explains Lee D. The park contains 22 named waterfalls along its trail system.
Clean facilities: Lakewood Park Campground maintains modern amenities in a natural setting. "Large sites, new buildings, including the office and all the bathrooms. Only thing missing is a pool. You're not allowed to swim in the lake although you're allowed to use floats," reports Brett L. The campground opened in 2021 with modern bathhouses.
Family activities: Jim Thorpe Camping Resort provides numerous recreation options. "There is a general store on site, an arcade, a pool, bathrooms with clean showers, and sinks with potable water. The mauch chunk stream runs through the back of the campground," notes Jessica W. Weekend activities often include bingo and food truck visits.
What you should know
Pet policies: Many campgrounds have designated pet-friendly areas with specific rules. "Clean, great camp store, dog friendly loop, great hikes accessible from campground!!" explains Christa I. about Hickory Run State Park. In contrast, some areas prohibit pets entirely: "Pets are NOT allowed... this is listed as pet friendly on thedyrt.com but if you go to the park's website, pets are not allowed," warns Blythe A. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Cabin alternatives: Tuscarora State Park Campground offers yurts as an alternative to traditional cabins. "My girlfriends and I just stayed in the yurts for annual glamping trip. We reserved 3 of 4 yurts for first weekend in June...non peak season. Peak season requires minimum 5 day reservation," shares Mandy F. Each yurt includes a refrigerator, stove, microwave, and deck.
Cell service: Coverage varies significantly between locations. "Be advised that there was no cell service or internet for AT&T users. (Verizon did have some service.) Also, there is no cable and our antennae was unable to pick up any TV channels," reports Becca U. from Moyers Grove Campground. Ricketts Glen has similarly limited connectivity: "Also no service (Verizon)," notes camper T K.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature updated play areas for children. "There was a large open field in the loop we camped in with a swing set on it. This was nice for families with children," shares Shirley M. about their stay at Hickory Run. The park also offers 44 miles of trails rated from easy to difficult.
Kid-friendly activities: Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers beach swimming areas ideal for families. "The lake was beautiful. Very clean and picturesque and perfect for swimming. The campsites were adequate size," notes Danielle F. Boat rentals including kayaks and paddle boats are available at the lakefront.
Space considerations: Family groups should select larger sites when available. "Our site was for the most part clean, the fire pit was so full of ash and trash and giant rocks? that we had to clean ourselves right when we arrived," reports Corbin from Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Many campgrounds have group sites available by reservation.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Bodnarosa Campground offers sites with varying degrees of levelness. "We went here on May 15-17. Nice site, not much grass, but they seem to be working on the place. Very quiet at night and they have the best WiFi of any place we have been," states Paul J. The campground provides full hookup sites suitable for larger RVs.
Hook-up placement: Bring extended hoses when camping at certain locations. "Make sure you have a LONG water hose. We actually had to buy a 50 foot hose in the camp store to accommodate the distance to the spigot," advises Becca U. about Moyers Grove Campground. Electric hookups at most campgrounds range from 30-50 amp service.
Space limitations: Some campgrounds have tight sites that make setup challenging. "Our site was way to small even though we gave the length and width of our rig ahead of time. We were always looking for a place to park our tow because we had no extra space in front or back," shares Donna C. about Jim Thorpe Camping Resort. Sites along lakes tend to be more spacious but book further in advance.
