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 Jessup, PA
4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campers seeking seclusion near Jessup, Pennsylvania can explore several primitive options along the Delaware River in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The region's standouts include Oh! Pear Orchards, which provides walk-in tent sites along a creek, and Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground in Pinchot State Forest, featuring established tent sites with fire rings and some electric hookups.
Most tent camping areas require preparation for primitive conditions. Several campgrounds maintain basic fire rings and picnic tables, but lack amenities like drinking water or modern bathrooms. Manny Gordon Recreation Area allows fires with previously stocked wood often available at sites, though campers should prepare for ticks as one visitor noted they are prevalent. The walk-in tent locations at Oh! Pear Orchards require a short hike to access, but carts are provided to transport gear. Seasonal considerations affect site availability, with many locations operating from spring through fall.
The Delaware River provides exceptional opportunities for secluded tent camping experiences. Namanock Island offers boat-in tent sites that provide complete isolation from developed areas. A visitor commented that "camping on an island is a rare thing and Namanock is so serene and peaceful, you'll hear the water flowing gently all night." These primitive tent-only camping areas frequently serve as starting points for kayaking or canoeing adventures along the Delaware River. Sites like Sandyston Boat In Campsites provide spacious tent areas with enough room for multiple tents while remaining secluded. Many tent campers use these locations as bases for day hikes to nearby waterfalls, particularly Raymondskill Falls and Dingman's Falls, which are accessible from several riverside tent camping areas.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Jessup (46)
1. 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
2. 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
3. Half Baked Homestead
4. Caffrey Recreation Area
5. Hillside Campgrounds
6. Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"There is a ten dollar fee per day to park your car so bring cash as the parking area is not always manned and you’ll have to leave the fee in an envelope that is available just past the entrance."
"They are a first come, first camped, set up, but I have not once in 6 years, (multiple trips per year), ever found anyone in the site ahead of me."
7. 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
8. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
9. Second District Brew Farm
Check Availabilityfrom $110 / night
10. Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"This camping site is a set of 6 sites on the New Jersey border maintained by the National Park Service."
"There is no public road access to the campsite. Secondly, the site is maintained by the NPS,(National Park Service) within the DWGNRA, (Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area)."
Drive Time
- 7 min from Scranton, PA
- 54 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 14 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 17 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Jessup, PA
62 Photos of 46 Jessup Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Oh! Pear Orchards
Second District Brew FarmS
Hillside Campgrounds
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Ratcliff's River Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Hornbeck's River Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Private Campsite on 50 AcresC
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Tent Camping Reviews near Jessup, PA
926 Reviews of 46 Jessup 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.
Thomas B.
RangerNeversink River Resort
Cool Riverside Campground
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Guide to Jessup
Tent camping near Jessup, Pennsylvania offers access to the Pocono Mountains with elevations ranging from 1,800 to 2,300 feet. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and dropping to 55-65°F at night. Most primitive campsites in this area don't require reservations during weekdays, but weekend availability becomes limited from late May through early October.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Several campgrounds provide access to nearby waterfalls. At Jenny Jump State Forest, campers can enjoy "beautiful views you could enjoy right from your campground. It's also close to other local hikes like Mt. Tammany." Many sites serve as bases for exploring the region's scenic trails.
Paddling opportunities: The Delaware River offers excellent kayaking and canoeing options. At Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center, "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing." Their campground provides convenient accommodation for water enthusiasts seeking guided river experiences.
Lake activities: Several tent camping locations include lake access. As one visitor to Mauch Chunk Lake Park noted, "The lake was beautiful. Very clean and picturesque and perfect for swimming." The park offers kayak and canoe rentals, plus a swimming beach within walking distance of many campsites.
What campers like
Privacy at primitive sites: Many campsites in the region offer seclusion despite their proximity to recreational areas. A camper at Jenny Jump State Forest mentioned, "The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog. However, we didn't mind as it was so private we felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves."
Spacious camping areas: Several locations provide ample room for setting up multiple tents. At Oh! Pear Orchards, a visitor appreciated the "spacious & lovely sites" and noted, "Campsites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool, magical setting, firewood easily accessible."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. A visitor to Mauch Chunk Lake Park mentioned, "One of the best places we have stayed. The campground was spacious and while it was likely full, it still felt secluded." This balance of amenities and natural setting appeals to many tent campers in the region.
What you should know
Accessibility varies: Some tent sites require physical effort to reach. At Oh! Pear Orchards, "It is a short walk in to the sites, but there is a cart provided which made it pretty easy. The hosts also offer valet service to your site, though we did not need that with the cart."
Noise levels: Campgrounds closer to towns or with multiple activities can be louder. A Mauch Chunk Lake Park visitor warned, "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... There are supposed to be quiet hours, but they were not enforced."
Insect preparation: Ticks are common in this region during warmer months. A camper at Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground advised, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with amenities: Families often prefer campgrounds with basic facilities. Jenny Jump State Forest offers "flat tent spaces, generally clean bathrooms, and access to tons of things to do on the campground and nearby," making it "a great spot to go with people who haven't camped much before."
Consider cabin options: For families new to camping, cabins provide an easier introduction. At Jenny Jump State Forest, one visitor described their shelter as "what we would describe as a 'cabin'; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds (two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch."
Plan multiple activities: Campgrounds with diverse recreation options keep children engaged. Mauch Chunk Lake Park received praise because "The campground was nice and there was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals. Also a lot to do in the nearby town."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Most primitive campsites near Jessup lack full RV amenities. Hillside Campgrounds offers some options for RV camping, with one visitor noting, "Wifi and internet coverage is decent," which is important for those needing to stay connected during their camping trip.
Consider site access: Many campgrounds have narrow roads or limited turning space. While some accommodate smaller RVs, most aren't suitable for larger rigs. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center is one of the few noted as "big-rig friendly" in the region, making it a better choice for those with larger vehicles.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in this region operate from spring through fall. A visitor to Mauch Chunk Lake Park advised, "If you go during the week, it's quite calm," suggesting that weekday camping provides a more peaceful experience for RV campers concerned about crowding or noise levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Jessup, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jessup, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jessup, PA is Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground — Pinchot State Forest with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Jessup, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Jessup, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 46 tent camping locations near Jessup, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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