Kingsley, Pennsylvania sits at approximately 1,850 feet elevation in the northern Pocono region, surrounded by forests and glacial lakes characteristic of northeastern Pennsylvania's landscape. The area experiences distinct seasons with warm summers that average 75-80°F and cold winters dropping well below freezing, creating varied camping conditions throughout the year. Tent sites around Kingsley typically have mixed terrain with gravel and grass pads, often nestled among mature hardwood forests.
What to do
Lakefront activities: Lackawanna State Park Campground features a 198-acre lake for fishing, boating, and swimming from April through October. "We stayed one night when it happened to rain all evening. So, we stayed inside our camper. We did take a short walk around both camping loops in lighter rain. The swimming beach looked nice. They do have boat rental," notes Amy V., highlighting options even during inclement weather.
Hiking trails: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground offers exceptional waterfall viewing with 22 cascades along moderate hiking paths. "The biggest draw to this state park (which no one in Pennsylvania I spoke with seemed to know about) is the 22 waterfalls! We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike," explains Lee D.
Winter recreation: Tobyhanna State Park Campground provides winter camping access for cold-weather glamping near Kingsley. "Scenic state park with a lake. You can swim in the lake in the summer or do a 5-mile hike around the lake along well-marked walk paths," says J.K., with the park offering ice skating and cross-country skiing during winter months.
Farm experiences: Valley View Farm and Campground integrates agricultural activities with glamping accommodations. "The owners are very nice and helpful. Very clean sites and bathrooms. Quiet and peaceful at night and the other campers were very friendly," reports Dawn C., describing the farm-based amenities available from May through mid-October.
What campers like
Private lake access: Keen Lake Resort Campground provides direct water access for glampers. "I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake. It was awesome," shares Shannon C., highlighting the water recreation options.
Clean facilities: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground maintains exceptional bathroom cleanliness. "The owners do a fantastic job keeping the campground shipshape. Restrooms/showers are immaculate any time of day. Heated swimming pool and the splash pad for kiddies is spotless as well," notes Cheryl W., describing the attention to detail that enhances the glamping experience.
Wooded tent sites: Honesdale - Poconos KOA offers year-round glamping in Kingsley-adjacent forests. "The bathrooms and showers, every time we went in, were spotless. The staff was incredible. So friendly And helpful. The sites are great. Activities for the kids like movies (it was Moana), a pool, mini golf and a bounce area," reports Corey M., noting the family-focused amenities.
Quiet environment: Tobyhanna State Park provides peaceful surroundings. "Camped here growing up. Visited again as an adult. Great memories. Quiet and relaxing. Great place to do nothing," says Shirley M., highlighting the tranquil atmosphere that makes glamping here particularly restorative.
What you should know
Wildlife awareness: Bear activity requires proper food storage. "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. Do not leave any food out be sure to lock up everything in car," cautions Erik M. about Tobyhanna State Park.
Site differences: Chenango Valley State Park Campground offers varied camping experiences. "Parking pads in the non-electric section are dirt/grass. Some of the pads are short; this section is geared toward tent campers. We found a site long enough to easily accommodate our vehicle and teardrop trailer (30 ft total) since we didn't want to detach for a one night stay," explains Mary S., detailing the site variations.
Seasonal operations: Most glamping options around Kingsley operate from April through mid-October, with reduced services during shoulder seasons. "This place would be a good choice for a multi-night stay. Activities for a Multi-Day Stay: Swimming in the lake, golfing, boating, fishing, multi-use trails for hiking or mountain biking," adds Mary S. about nearby options.
Water quality variations: Lakes in the area may have distinctive coloration. "The lake is very nice a little copper kind of like iced tea color but was very nice," notes Erik M. about Tobyhanna's lake water, which is typical of tannin-rich waters in the Pocono region.
Tips for camping with families
Splash pads: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground offers water features beyond swimming. "I chose this campground because the photos of the pool/splash pad looked fun. It turns out the tent site we had was the most wooded and cozy site we have camped in all year. So much room for tents/hammocks. Trees galore," says Katye M., describing family-friendly amenities.
Private bath facilities: Some campgrounds offer family-friendly bathroom setups. "The restrooms were fantastic too, the buildings held two complete rooms with a toilet sink and shower in each. It's the only shower camping this year my 4yr old wasn't afraid of because we had the whole room to ourselves," Katye M. continues about Pine Cradle Lake.
Educational programming: Lackawanna State Park includes nature education opportunities. "This is an amazing state park that has something for everyone. There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network if hiking and horse riding trails," explains Janet R., highlighting learning opportunities.
Bike-friendly areas: Several campgrounds feature road systems suitable for children's biking. "We like Lackawanna State Park. This is the place we camped when we moved to PA. It has signts that are very wooded. The trails are fun for relaxing hikes, we especially like the one right along the lake," notes Michael, mentioning the family-accessible trails.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: RVers at Keen Lake Resort recommend planning ahead. "We had a great time despite cold wet weather. Our site was probably one of the worst in the place but we were able to scope out others that we would prefer for our next visit. We didn't have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone's back yard lol," shares Emily Z., suggesting researching site locations before booking.
Electrical reliability: Some campgrounds have aging infrastructure. "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," David explains about certain sites at Lackawanna State Park, recommending bringing surge protectors.
Full hookup availability: Lackawanna State Park now offers improved RV services. "Stayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers. Nice play area for kids, water craft rentals, nice lake. Plenty of picnic areas for day trips," reports cheryl M., highlighting the upgraded facilities.
Pad materials: Different campgrounds feature varying site surfaces. "Parking pads in the electric loops (30 amps and 50 amps) have a good amount of gravel," notes Mary S. about Chenango Valley State Park, important information for RVers planning their glamping experience near Kingsley, Pennsylvania.
