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 Kempton, PA
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Several tent campgrounds operate within 25 miles of Kempton, Pennsylvania, offering diverse options for overnight wilderness stays. Mauch Chunk Lake Park in Jim Thorpe provides wooded lakeside tent sites with moderate amenities, while more primitive hike-in camping exists along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap. Shambala at Mystic Hollow features creek-side tent sites for a more immersive natural experience.
Most walk-in tent sites near Lehigh Gap require hikers to carry all necessary supplies, as amenities are minimal or non-existent. Fire rings are common at established tent campgrounds, though some primitive sites along the AT lack designated fire areas. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, tent sites feature picnic tables and access to showers and toilets, while the AT primitive tent sites provide only basic clearings for tents. Access varies significantly, with Riverview Park Campground offering boat-in and walk-in tent sites along the Lehigh River, accessible from the D&L biking trail.
The tent camping experience differs dramatically between established and backcountry sites. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, "flat tent spaces, generally clean bathrooms, and access to tons of things to do on the campground and nearby" make it suitable for new campers, according to visitor feedback. Primitive tent sites along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap provide more solitude but require self-sufficiency. The AT Overlook Campground offers particularly scenic tent camping, where a visitor noted, "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." Many tent sites in the area accommodate solo hikers or small groups, though the primitive group campsites near Lehigh Gap can handle larger parties with multiple tents.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Kempton (29)
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. Shambala at Mystic Hollow
"Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water. Check them out and share your experience on the Dyrt!"
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
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 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."
5. Rolling Hills Retreats
"Her boyfriend and I wanted to plan an outdoor camping trip but we’re completely over having no privacy, worrying about my reactive dog, feeling like we had to follow ridiculous rules when going camping"
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
from $160 - $380 / night
6. 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."
7. 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."
8. 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
9. 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."
10. AT/Bypass Trail Split Primitive Campground
Drive Time
- 28 min from Allentown, PA
- 35 min from Reading, PA
- 47 min from Lebanon, PA
- 1 hr 4 min from Lancaster, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Kempton, PA
49 Photos of 29 Kempton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
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Tent Camping Reviews near Kempton, PA
1055 Reviews of 29 Kempton 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.
Peggy C.
TravelerCountry Acres Campground
Lovely campground!
Country Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
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.
- LLynn C.Scout
Old Mill Stream Campground
Never Again
The advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
- 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.
Adam and Suzanne B.GuideBeacon Hill Camping
Great location
We stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
- 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.
Guide to Kempton
Tent campsites near Kempton, Pennsylvania offer diverse overnight options throughout the Lehigh Valley region. Most sites sit within 25 miles of Kempton, with elevations ranging from 400 feet along riverways to over 1,600 feet on mountain ridges. Summer temperatures typically reach 85°F with cooler 65°F nights, while spring and fall camping seasons bring temperature swings requiring layered clothing.
What to do
Paddling access: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides kayak rentals for exploring the clear waters. "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," shares Emma T., who later went "rafting on the Lehigh river 10 minutes away."
Biking trails: Riverview Park Campground sits directly on the D&L biking trail built on an old railroad bed. Campers can access tent sites while cycling the trail without needing a vehicle. "This is the perfect place for camping if you are adventuring out on the Lehigh River and want to get an early start or stay the night," notes Asher K.
Wildlife viewing: The ridgeline trails near Lehigh Gap offer opportunities to spot native wildlife. "When I was up here I came across a flock of wild turkeys who thoroughly scared me when they flew off. I was already on edge since there are several signs warning of high bear activity," recounts one camper at AT Overlook Campground.
What campers like
Creek-side settings: Shambala at Mystic Hollow features 15 tent sites positioned along a flowing creek. "Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water," notes Jake C., highlighting the water-focused camping experience.
Stone fire rings: Many primitive sites include established stone fire rings built by previous campers. At one overlook site, a visitor noted that "Previous campers have also been kind enough to build up a sizable stone fire ring and construct a stone chair for enjoying the fire and view."
Pine needle padding: The AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap offers natural comfort through its forest floor. "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area," writes Asher K., adding that "The pine trees also provide a nice cover to make this a well-protected site in case of bad weather."
What you should know
Water availability: Most primitive sites along ridgelines require carrying in all water. The George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter is an exception, featuring "a spring nearby for filling up water," though hikers should filter or treat before drinking.
Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds charge extra for walk-ins. Riverview Park Campground warns that "you reserve a site in advance since they will charge you an additional $10 if you show up without planning."
Noise levels: Established campgrounds can become crowded during summer weekends. One Mauch Chunk Lake Park visitor reported: "The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers. It was not just 1 group; there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides a swimming beach that's popular with families. Katie S. found it "one of the best places we have stayed. The campground was spacious and while it was likely full, it still felt secluded. Beautiful lake beach and canoe and kayak rentals."
Beginner-friendly options: Rolling Hills Retreats offers glamping accommodations that introduce children to outdoor sleeping with more comfort. A recent visitor noted their group of five "came across the Dyrt then also found this spot only an hour away from Philly. It rained the weekend we went but it didn't ruin our time what so ever."
Recreation facilities: Some campgrounds include structured recreation beyond hiking. According to Danny M., Mauch Chunk offers "Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals. Also a lot to do in the nearby town. Would definitely recommend!"
Tips from RVers
Site surface conditions: Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite offers "a very large flat site with plenty of clear spots for multiple tents" that is "less muddy than some of the other options so would work well when it has rained recently," notes Asher K.
Root exposure: Some tent areas have difficult ground conditions. One camper at Mauch Chunk Lake Park observed "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters. Plenty of space away from neighbors."
Site privacy factors: Mauch Chunk Lake Park features "very wooded and quiet at night" conditions with "many sites right along the lake edge, some very large," providing natural screening between campsites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular tent campsite near Kempton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kempton, PA is Mauch Chunk Lake Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
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