33 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campsites near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania range from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites along the Appalachian Trail. Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers lakeside tent camping with designated sites in a wooded setting, while several primitive tent areas can be found along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap. The region provides diverse options for tent campers seeking both convenience and seclusion within the rolling terrain of eastern Pennsylvania.
Most primitive tent camping areas near Jim Thorpe feature basic amenities with fire rings and limited facilities. The AT Ridge Campground and AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap provide primitive tent setups with stone fire rings but no water sources, requiring campers to pack in their supplies. Riverview Park Campground offers tent-only sites along the Lehigh River with picnic tables and fire pits, plus bathroom facilities accessible from the road. Many backcountry tent sites require advance planning as water access is limited, particularly at ridge-top locations where campers must fill up before ascending.
Tent campers at Mauch Chunk Lake Park enjoy spacious, wooded sites with lake access. A camper noted that "the sites were adequate size" and "the lake was beautiful, very clean and picturesque and perfect for swimming." The primitive tent camping areas along the Appalachian Trail provide more secluded experiences with outstanding views. At the AT Overlook Campground, campers can position their tents to have valley views directly from their tent doors. The site features a stone fire ring and even a stone chair constructed by previous visitors. During summer months, tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, as several areas post warnings about high bear activity. The backcountry tent sites on the ridgeline offer peaceful camping surrounded by fern fields, providing excellent stargazing opportunities away from light pollution.
"Beautiful lake beach and canoe and kayak rentals. There’s much to explore in the town Jim Thorpe and beautiful hiking close by."
"You are in beautiful Jim Thorpe that has white water rafting in town, plus great restaurants and bars. I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear."
from $20 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $30 - $35 / night
"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 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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"This site appears to be well-used and has several established areas for sitting and setting up a fire."
TravelerThis is a great little campground. Nice pool decent playground for kids. Definitely recommend creek side site if you can. Bathrooms a little dated but we’re very clean. Staff was friendly, helpful and accommodating. A lot of paperwork to fill out and go over though. It’s just a short drive away from Jim Thorpe which is great. Would recommend!
LegendTucked into the rolling farmland and lush hillsides of Bucks County just off Exit 44 of the PA Turnpike and Exits 60/60A from I-78, Quakerwoods Campground delivers a postcard-perfect countryside setting with wide-open skies, neighboring hay fields, rustic barns and charming small towns that feel pulled straight from a New England travel guide. With roughly 170 RV sites, a small collection of tent sites and several rental campers, the campground strikes a balance between peaceful rural escape and full-featured family campground energy.
HIGHLIGHTS:(1) Gorgeous pastoral setting with surrounding farmland, rolling hills and a distinctly peaceful countryside atmosphere;(2) Excellent full-hookup RV infrastructure with mostly back-in sites offering 30/50 amp electric, water and sewer, along with flat pads, picnic tables and in-ground fire rings;(3) Exceptionally strong amenity package including adult and kids swimming pools, mini golf, baseball field, RC track, shuffleboard, fishing pond, game room, playgrounds, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, cornhole, themed weekends, bingo and Saturday wagon rides;(4) Clean and plentiful facilities including four well-kept restroom and shower buildings, laundry, camp store, dump stations, water stations, propane refills and ice sales; and(5) Outstanding access to regional attractions including Nockamixon State Park for kayaking and canoeing, plus great nearby dining at Brick Tavern Inn, McCoole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn and Sage Alley Brewery.
LOWLIGHTS:(1) Interior sections of the campground offer less tree cover and privacy compared to the wooded perimeter sites;(2) Tent camping is limited in number and clustered separately, which may feel slightly isolated to some campers;(3) Restaurant options are not immediately adjacent, requiring a short drive for dining;(4) Weekend popularity and themed events can increase noise and traffic levels; and(5) RV rates trend toward the higher end during peak season.
Happy Camping!
ScoutThe park is lovely, but the camping facilities are subpar, primitive and lack any kind of privacy. I bike toured there. The only potable water was from a near-broken water fountain at the public rest rooms and no electrical connection to recharge electronics. There was also a fair amount of road noise at night. Bathhouse OK, but just basic. Tent spots are just lined up against one another facing a service road.
TravelerThis is a great campsite right on the river. There are 5 different sites all nicely marked out. Each has its own fire ring. There is also a central area with a big fire ring for everyone to get together. Bear boxes at each site for food storage.
LegendPretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.
ScoutThis place is amazing! everything you could want, from tent and RV camping to cabin rentals. They also have a pool and playground. some of my favorite parts of this park are a good 100’ rack wall perfect for climbing, great fishing, trails for miles that even connects to the AT, and when scheduled they open the dam up stream for som world class whitewater rafting.
As for some things that aren’t listed. this is no alcohol permitted in the park due to it being a state park, however that all depends on how open you are about it and the Park rangers. Cell phone service is limited last time I was up there in 2012 only people with Verizon Wireless had any reception. Also there is no WiFi. No hookups or camp store.
LegendPROS
Reserved 328 days prior to arriving
$13.50 senior discount
Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful
Site C3 parking pad level asphalt
Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable
One hook lantern pole
Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival
Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites
Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center.
Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP
CONS
$6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation
Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching
Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together
Pitiful low water pressure in Loop C
Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level
Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking
Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday
Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable)
Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced
Lots of barking dogs
No wood sales in park
No WiFi
1 bar Verizon
RangerThis is the first time we decided to forgo tent camping and reserve a shelter at a state park. We had a much better experience than we were expecting! The "shelter" is 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. Even compared to our glamping this was luxury!!
There are eight shelters at Jenny Jump State Park. Shelter 2 is a minute walk from the restroom with sink/shower and water. Shelters 7 & 8 are even closer while 4 & 5 are the furthest, may an extra 5 minutes walk? The dead end means there isn't too much traffic, though the road is right there so you can wave to the other campers heading to the restroom or for hikes. There is a trail head at one of the parking lots. During the day the parking lots filled up and there was some overflow parking for day-hikers across the road. We got to see their dogs, so that was a bonus for us! Otherwise, this shelter is not situated too close to the other shelters and feels very private.
We brought battery-powered lights since there is no electricity. There were coat hooks and a built-in shelf for our snacks, games, and other supplies. There was a picnic table and benches inside. We brought camping chairs for relaxing on the porch. We spent most of our time on the porch; cooking, chatting, and crafting while enjoying the sunshine and breeze.
Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not.
ScoutMy dog and I stayed for 2 nights in the rustic tenting area. We were the only campers Wednesday & Thursday. The family camp area features spaces (small areas for either RV campers or tents and cars) with a picnic table and fire ring and water (some have electricity). They also have shared facilities such as bathrooms and showers. However, they seemed a little too cramped fir me and I wasn’t looking for opportunities to socialize, so the remote tent site was my choice. The tent sites do not have water or electric, but do have picnic tables, a fire ring and share one large outhouse with clean pit toilets. There are 5 sites and they can accommodate (shared) multiple tent set ups. Also you need to park your vehicle in a designated lot which is very close to the sites. There are multiple easy hiking and biking trails that are well marked. A lake for fishing and a small sandy beach with a picnic area for families (unfortunately no dogs are allowed on the beach). There are 2 boat launch areas (one for the campers, and another for gen. public) which also has a boat rental business (dogs are allowed). There are black bears in the park so do not leave food out and dispose of all trash in the appropriate dumpsters.
Primitive camping spots surround Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania along the Appalachian Trail corridor, with tent sites concentrated near Lehigh Gap on the northeastern edge of Carbon County. The region's elevation ranges from 400 feet near the Lehigh River to over 1,500 feet on the ridgelines where backcountry campsites offer maximum seclusion. Most primitive sites require carrying in all water supplies, especially during summer when seasonal springs often dry up.
River activities: The Lehigh River provides excellent paddling and rafting opportunities for campers. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, visitors appreciate that "the water is so clean and clear" for paddle boarding, with sites available "right on the water that are nice size." For those seeking a more adventurous experience, Lehigh Gorge offers whitewater rafting trips.
Hiking trails: Access segments of the Appalachian Trail from primitive camping areas near Lehigh Gap. The AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap serves as an excellent base for exploring the ridge with "a magical field of ferns" surrounding the campsite and "views of both sides of the ridge with only a short walk down the trail."
Water recreation: Swimming and boating opportunities abound at local lakes. One camper at Mauch Chunk mentioned, "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."
Privacy in primitive sites: The backcountry camping areas provide seclusion not found at developed campgrounds. At AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap, campers value that "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."
Convenient river access: Campers appreciate sites with direct water access. Riverview Park Campground offers "tent only sites located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit," making it "the perfect place for camping if you are adventuring out on the Lehigh River and want to get an early start."
Group camping spaces: Several locations accommodate larger parties. The AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap features "a bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area" with "many large flat areas that are perfect for tents."
Water planning: Most primitive sites require water planning. At many ridge sites, there is "nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge," so campers must "bring in your water" before ascending.
Wildlife awareness: Bears are common in the region. One camper at AT Overlook Campground reported being "on edge since there are several signs warning of high bear activity" and encountering "a flock of wild turkeys who thoroughly scared me when they flew off."
Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds require advance booking. At Riverview Park, campers need to "reserve a site in advance since they will charge you an additional $10 if you show up without planning."
Weekend noise levels: Developed campgrounds can become noisy on weekends. A visitor to Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite noted their site "appears to be well-used" but was "less muddy than some of the other options so would work well when it has rained recently."
Beginner-friendly options: Some campgrounds cater well to camping novices. Mauch Chunk Lake Park "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."
Activity variety: Campgrounds with multiple recreational options keep children engaged. At Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center, families find evening entertainment like "a movie shown at night, as well as music played late into the night," though one camper notes, "if you are looking for a peaceful campground look elsewhere."
Comfort considerations: Expect varied terrain conditions for tent placement. At some Mauch Chunk Lake sites, campers report "many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters" despite having "plenty of space away from neighbors."
Limited RV options: Most primitive sites near Jim Thorpe cannot accommodate RVs. Larger vehicles should stick to established campgrounds like Mauch Chunk Lake Park, which offers electric hookups and water but is not considered "big-rig friendly" according to site descriptions.
Event camping: Some RV sites serve as bases for special events. During Lehigh Riverfest, Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center provides a festival atmosphere with "Bands throughout the night with beer and food. Nice showers."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jim Thorpe, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jim Thorpe, PA is Mauch Chunk Lake Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
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