Dispersed camping opportunities exist across Pinchot State Forest near Kingston, Pennsylvania, alongside established campgrounds at several state parks. The forest covers 50,000 acres with elevations ranging from 500 to 2,300 feet. Most state park campgrounds operate seasonally, but Pinchot State Forest offers year-round primitive camping that requires proper waste disposal and adherence to leave-no-trace principles.
What to do
Boulder field exploration: Hickory Run State Park, located 30 miles from Kingston, features a remarkable 16-acre boulder field composed of red sandstone rocks. "The Boulder Fields are one of the coolest places I've ever visited, partially because they were so unexpected. Don't twist an ankle, but you can play hide and seek to an extent as there are small depressions in the fields," notes a visitor to Hickory Run State Park Campground.
Waterfall hiking: The falls trail at Ricketts Glen State Park showcases 22 named waterfalls within a moderate hiking distance. "The biggest draw to this state park 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. The trails are very well marked," reports a camper at Ricketts Glen State Park Campground.
Mountain biking: The trail system at Moon Lake Recreation Area offers technical routes through forested terrain. A regular visitor notes, "Absolutely love Moon Lake. Place has some of the best mountain bike trails in northeast PA. Camping is primitive but has spots big enough for RVs."
What campers like
Large, wooded sites: Many campers praise the spacious sites at Hickory Run State Park. "The sites are large and many are somewhat private in terms of visual barriers. Some bathrooms are latrines, but they also have beautiful, fully updated showers and restrooms available," mentions a satisfied camper.
Lake access for fishing: Lackawanna State Park offers shoreline fishing opportunities from dawn to dusk. A regular visitor mentions, "The park has great hiking spots, a local pool, and a lake that you can rent boats or kayak on!" Another adds, "A nice lake where you can rent boats or tie up your own right on the lake near the campground. Just the right size lake for kayaking."
Clean facilities: Lackawanna State Park Campground maintains well-kept shower buildings and restrooms. One visitor specifically noted, "Recently renovated, they were extremely clean and dry," while discussing bathroom facilities in the area.
What you should know
Bear precautions: Multiple campgrounds in the Kingston region have active bear populations. At Tobyhanna State Park Campground, a camper warns: "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."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. "We were given a terrific tent site. The park was very neat and well manicured. Bathrooms were fairly nice, but no TP mid day," notes a motorcycle camper at one location.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly across campgrounds. A visitor to Moyers Grove Campground reports, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Hickory Run, "There is a large open field in the loop we camped in with a swing set on it. This was nice for families with children," says a camper.
Swimming options: Most of the best places to camp near Kingston, Pennsylvania include water recreation. "We really liked the lake and the pool. The sites have electricity and water nearby," mentions a family that visited the area.
Safe biking areas: Cozy Creek Family Campground provides areas where children can ride safely. A visitor notes, "Campground is based around kids, there's a lot for them to do!" However, another visitor cautions about the entry road: "The road in is dirt, rough and narrow."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Many campgrounds require some adjustment for comfortable parking. A visitor to Ricketts Glen noted, "Our full hookup site was large with table and fire ring, and required some leveling. Not much shade in the full hookup loop, so was happy to have electricity for A/C."
Water hookup distances: At some locations, connections can be far from parking spots. A visitor to Moyers Grove cautions, "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."
Electric reliability: Older campgrounds may have power limitations. At Highland Campgrounds, there are "nice sites with full hookups for RVs" according to visitors, though details on amperage can vary across campgrounds in the Kingston region.
