Best Tent Camping near Lake Ariel, PA

Tent campsites around Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania include both established grounds and more secluded primitive options for backpackers seeking solitude. Caffrey Recreation Area in nearby Lakeville offers tent-specific sites with amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and showers, while Oh! Pear Orchards provides walk-in tent camping with beautiful streamside locations and well-maintained fire pits. Manny Gordon Recreation Area at Pinchot State Forest also accommodates tent campers with drive-in access approximately 20 miles southwest of Lake Ariel.

Most tent camping areas near Lake Ariel feature basic fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Walk-in sites at Oh! Pear Orchards provide a cart for transporting gear from parking areas to campsites situated along streams. Campers should note that drinking water access is inconsistent across locations, with Caffrey and Second District Brew Farm offering potable water while other primitive sites require bringing your own supply. Many tent campgrounds allow fires but may impose seasonal restrictions during dry periods. One visitor mentioned that "most campgrounds have previously stocked wood from other people, making setting up very convenient," though ticks can be prevalent in warmer months.

Tent campers at Oh! Pear Orchards enjoy spacious sites next to flowing streams with just enough shade to stay comfortable in summer months. These walk-in sites offer more privacy than standard drive-in locations, with one camper describing it as "a special place with magical setting, quiet and peaceful." The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, approximately 30 minutes from Lake Ariel, provides unique island and riverside tent camping for paddlers, with Namanock Island offering primitive tent sites only accessible by canoe or kayak. These boat-in tent camping areas deliver remarkable seclusion, with campers reporting "you totally feel that your party is alone out on the river, the entire world is yours and yours alone."

Best Tent Sites Near Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania (47)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Lake Ariel, PA

943 Reviews of 47 Lake Ariel Campgrounds


  • Doug W.
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Valley View Group Campground

    Beautiful River Site

    This 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.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2024

    Salt Springs State Park Campground

    Unique park with unique natural features

    This park is technically a “state park” because the land for it was donated to the state for public use. However, once the state became the official stewards, there werent funds in the state budget to maintain it as a park. A lical group, the Friends of Salt Springs, stepped up and offered to maintain the park with funds raised by their group. The result is a small but unique property open to the public for day use (picnicking and hiking and fishing) along with 2 small rustic campgrounds. One campground has a large open mowed grassy meadow with level sites for car camping or small campers, no hookups are available but each site has a fire ring and picnic table. On the other side of the parks trout stream are seven secluded primitive hike-in tent sites along with three basic camper cabins. The Friends of Salt Springs makes a good effort to maintain these two rustic campgrounds, however it seems there isnt a ranger on site at night so a camper said the meadow campground can get a little noisy some nights. The hike in sites are relatively quiet and secluded though, and are positioned nicely along the stream, one site actually adjacent to a good swimming hole.

    The camper cabins are basic with bunks, bring all your own gear. They are fairly new and have electricity but no water or heat.

    On the grounds in the day use area are picnic spits, a pavilion, and an activity barn. When I was there, the barn was featuring a local quilt show.

    The special aspect of this park are the hiking trails through old growth hemlock forest, said to be the largest hemlocks in Pennsylvania. The trout stream also cascades through some some waterfalls, and there are gorges with unique geology.

    There is a village nearby with limited supplies, you may want to stock up on groceries before heading out to this somewhat remote park. There is, however, a local brewery, plus an odd coffee shop featuring both donuts and ammo, an unusual combination…..

  • Dwight D.
    Sep. 26, 2021

    Jenny Jump State Forest

    Cute Comfortable Shelter

    This 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.

  • D
    Jul. 5, 2020

    Tobyhanna State Park Campground

    Good campground for families.

    My 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.

  • Christina H.
    Aug. 6, 2019

    Stokes State Forest

    Stokes State Forest: A nature-lovers dream (Review for Shotwell Campsite)

    I would definitely recommend this campsite to anyone wanting a beautiful, remote setting, but with all of the conveniences that the campgrounds offer. Anyone from a beginner to an expert would enjoy Stokes. Whether it be just a short, relaxing weekend trip or an adventure-packed week long trip, this place has the potential to be whatever you make it.

    Pros:

    • Has the perfect balance of feeling secluded without feeling completely alone in the middle of nowhere; the campsite we were specifically on was just far enough to be remote-feeling and fully private with trees surrounding it

    • Cute little pond right on the campgrounds

    • Our site had a fire ring, a picnic table, and a large sturdy pole with a hook for your lantern/mesh dry bag/etc

    • Even, rocky, yet soft enough ground to sleep on, many trees available for hammock camping

    • There was a huge, nasty storm one night that we stayed there, with terrible downpour and flash flood warnings, our site was elevated and did not get flooded

    • A lot of firewood and kindling in the area to be gathered, or you can buy firewood right from the office

    • Lots of stuff to do in the area for nature-lovers and outdoors-enthusiasts (Hiking trails, fishing/fly-fishing, sightseeing, mountain-biking, kayaking/paddle-boarding (rentals in the area if you do not own), hunting, swimming, horseback riding, waterfall-hunting, bird/wildlife watching (there are hawks, rabbits, owls, deer, toads, snakes, turtles, frogs, foxes, bats, salamanders, many interesting bugs, beavers, and bears in the area, you never know what you will see), lots of beautiful brooks and streams throughout the entire park, many awesome remote areas to set up your hammock and relax) Whoever said that there wasn't much to do here is just either not an outdoors person or straight up lying!

    • Water and dumpsters are within walking distance, or if you are not up to walking you can just take a short drive to fill up and dispose of your trash

    • There are outhouses scattered around, or if you are really needing a clean restroom where you can wash your hands, the park office's restroom is always open and very clean

    • Can be buggy at night time however, I was pleasantly surprised to have experienced zero mosquito bites and ZERO ticks on ourselves and even our dog (however she did have a leech on her from playing in the brook all day). We moderately used bug spray on ourselves and the dog had her flea and tick topical on.

    • Beautiful view of the stars on a clear night (Which can be breathtaking especially to city folk or those that cannot see stars from their homes)

    Cons:

    • Can hear the traffic from 206, but generally gets much quieter at night

    • Campsites are close enough that you may occasionally hear other groups if they are being very loud (We were next to a group campsite that had a very noisy party crowd, but could really only hear them at their loudest, and we weren't bothered)

    • Tent sites are located just off the dirt road where people travel to get to their sites, which means other campers' cars will occasionally pass right through your area. If this bothers you, be sure to book a site as far back as possible. Ex: Site T137 should have no vehicle traffic but your own and is the most remote of that area

    • Water fill stations can be a bit busy at certain times

    • Our fire ring rack was bent, but luckily we came prepared with our own rack to place on top of it and it worked out

    • Lots of poison ivy in the area, if you are not immune to it be very mindful of where you are stepping!

    • Our neighbor warned us that they got a flat tire after arriving at their campsite, and after searching their site found a bunch of nails almost intentionally thrown about. It's not the park's fault and the rangers were made aware of it. Carefully check your site after arriving for anything out of place and report to the office if necessary to keep these campsites safe and enjoyable.

    Points of interest nearby the campsite:

    • Big Flat Brook - A beautiful babbling brook that runs all throughout the area. Has great fly fishing for stocked rainbow trout. Access to the brook was only a short but beautiful hike north from our site through some thistle fields and woodlands.

    • Buttermilk falls (Tallest waterfall in NJ), Tillman Ravine, Dingmans Ferry/Falls, and my personal favorite, Silver Spray Falls - Multiple gorgeous waterfalls and ravines just waiting to be explored, all within ~15-20 min by car. I definitely recommend checking them out while you are camping here especially if you live far away from the area.

    • Sunrise Mountain and Rattlesnake Mountain - Catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset on top of Sunrise Mountain, which is a pleasant, scenic car ride directly to the top where there is a small parking lot, a smelly outhouse, and a nice picnic table area with a great view. Rattlesnake Mountain is a part of the Appalachian Trail and is somewhat barren towards the top which makes for excellent views. Like its name, it's not uncommon to see many snakes in the area, rattlesnakes tend to hang out on the top and sunbathe on the rocks. Keep your pets on a leash and have a stick handy just in case, however, they will leave you alone if you keep your distance.

    • Lake Ashroe, Stony Lake, Lake Ocquittunk - Many lakes for multiple activities in the area such as fishing (trout stocked waters), kayaking, swimming (Stony lake has a beach area with lifeguards, restrooms, and picnic areas. Check their website for more info.)

    • Horseback riding - A few great horseback riding places nearby, some offering trail rides through the beautiful park.

    • Appalachian Trail - The widely-known Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking-only trail in the world, that runs all the way from Maine to Georgia goes right through this area. You may run into very interesting people from all over who are thru-hiking the AT.

    PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR VISIT. LEAVE NO TRACE. KEEP OUR PARKS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU.

  • M
    May. 17, 2015

    High Point State Park Campground

    Large Private Lakeside Sites

    We recently stayed at site 3 at the campground at High Point State Park in NJ. It was our first time there, and we were surprised at how nice it was.

    There are about 40 to 50 sites around Sawmill Lake. Many of these sites , like ours, are walk in sites (about a 50 yard walk) that sit lakeside. The sites were large and spread out, and we felt like we had a good amount of privacy.

    Our site had a picnic table, and a fire ring with a cooking grate. Although, we didn't have one, we saw some sites had tent platforms

    There are a few sites that sit higher up, and further from the lake, for RV and or car campers not looking to walk to there site. These had less privacy because they sit close to the road.

    The bathrooms with flush toilets were ok when we were there. There are water spigots around the campground, but there are no showers or sinks. It's noted that there is no camp store at the campground, and the closest grocery was about 1/2 hour away, so come prepared. They did sell firewood at the park headquarters , which is about 10 minutes away from the campground.

    It was pretty buggy (including ticks), so don't forget your deep woods.

  • Angel A.
    Aug. 20, 2018

    Lower Lake Campground Northwoods Area — Promised Land State Park

    Northwoods Campground

    Big sites with 30 amp service available for RVs and trailers. Each site has a large picnic table and a fire ring with an adjustable grate. The pull-through sites don’t offer much in the way of privacy, but that’s the trade off for convenience. There are two potable water spigots in the campground. The bathhouse offers warm showers, 2 dishwashing sinks, and a coin-operated washer and dryer. The facilities are kept very clean. On the weekends it can get pretty crowded, so it tends to be louder at night then, but the camp hosts and the rangers do a good job of enforcing quiet hours. Access points to several trails are very near the campground. As with all PA state parks, alcohol is prohibited. The park doesn’t have a camp store, however, there is a small general store on Route 390 (The Lake Store) just north of the park that would have any essentials you may have forgotten, as well as ice for your cooler.

  • Dwight D.
    Jun. 6, 2021

    High Point State Park Campground

    Nice Secluded Campsites

    My first time camping at High Point State Park, Sawmill Area, September 2019. I chose a campsite close to the restrooms and water spigot. It turned out to be very secluded, minus the foot traffic to the restroom at all hours. The campsite is mostly gravel so the platform is necessary. There are no trees for hammocking, so I made the best of it with the platform and my car. There was also not a lot of shade during the day. I moved my chair around to chase the shade. It was hot during the day and chilly at night.

    Campground is close hiking trails and the High Point Monument(20min drive).

    Each campsite has a firepit/ring, picnic table, and lantern hook. Campsite sells fire wood. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets, no sinks, no showers, no bad smell.

  • Alaina Z.
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Pickerel Point Campground — Promised Land State Park

    Beautiful facilities, rocky sites

    Pros: -beautiful new bathrooms -private lakeside walk-in sites -beavers! Far away but exciting nonetheless -the Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked.

    Cons: -chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad! -has a beach but it's not much to look at -sites have nice sizable fire pits, but they are very tall. It's difficult to cook over them, and sitting around the campfire in the evening is a much less visually appealing experience than I'd like

    We stayed in site 157. Accessible via a path from the designated parking space to the site about 2 minute walk. Lakeside, but visibility not great due to vegetation. All sites have little trails down to the water.

    Site 174 by the road and less private, but prettily overhung by evergreens.

    The cabins look very nice inside.


Guide to Lake Ariel

Tent camping options near Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania extend into the surrounding Pocono region with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 feet. The area features mixed hardwood forests dominated by oak, maple and beech trees with summer temperatures typically 5-10 degrees cooler than nearby urban areas. Annual rainfall averages 48 inches, creating favorable conditions for the numerous streams that flow through many camping areas.

What to do

Hiking at Pinchot State Forest: Manny Gordon Recreation Area serves as a gateway to miles of forest trails. "Very open, plenty of space" according to Gavin S., who notes the convenient camping setup with "previously stocked wood from other people."

Paddling to island campsites: The Delaware Water Gap area offers unique boat-in camping experiences approximately 30 minutes from Lake Ariel. Sean M. describes Namanock Island as "super clean and well maintained" with "lots of peace and natural all around" including "tons of bald eagles flying near the site."

Fossil hunting and waterfall exploration: Historic areas along the Delaware River provide opportunities for unique outdoor activities. John B. mentions that near Sandyston Boat In Campsites, "Within minutes on the Pennsylvania side of the river you can hike to Raymondskill Falls, as well as search for abandoned/forgotten homes and mills, or try your luck at fossil and artifact hunting."

Stargazing on river islands: The Delaware River camping area offers exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. One camper notes that on Namanock Island, "once darkness falls there are no lights to be seen in either direction, up or down river. You are camped on the side of the island that views Pennsylvania's shore. Now, no lights means an incredible view of the night sky."

What campers like

Privacy at walk-in sites: Campers appreciate the seclusion offered at tent-specific areas. Heather T. describes Oh! Pear Orchards as having "spacious sites next to a beautiful stream" with "just enough shade to stay cool" and "wide, open undeveloped space."

River island solitude: The boat-in camping options on Delaware River islands provide remarkable isolation. John B. explains that at Namanock Island "you totally feel that your party is alone out on the river" and describes it as "one of the best sites I have ever stayed in. Always Clean, very spacious, great views."

Accessible primitive facilities: Even remote sites often maintain basic facilities. At Sandyston Boat In Campsites, John B. notes this is "one of the rare primitive sites along the river to feature an outhouse" which some campers appreciate for privacy.

Forest canopy protection: The wooded areas provide natural temperature regulation. At Jenny Jump State Forest, Lindsay D. appreciated the "good hammocking trees" at this "nice quiet primitive camping" location that wasn't crowded and offered "plenty of privacy from other sites."

What you should know

Seasonal insect awareness: Ticks are prevalent in warmer months. Gavin S. warns about "lots of ticks" at Manny Gordon Recreation Area, recommending insect repellent spray.

Water access varies: Many tent sites require bringing your own drinking water. Some river campsites like Sandyston have steeper terrain access challenges, with John B. noting "a very steep and above average height to the shoreline making unloading both more tiring and more of a hazard."

Fire restriction periods: While most campgrounds permit fires, seasonal bans may apply during dry conditions. Sean M. advises paddlers to "stop at one of the many places along the way to buy fire wood" when heading to island campsites, as collecting sufficient firewood can be challenging in heavily-used areas.

Gear transport considerations: Walk-in sites require planning for equipment movement. At Oh! Pear Orchards, Heather T. mentions "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."

Tips for camping with families

Shelter options for beginners: For those new to tent camping, some parks offer basic cabins. At Jenny Jump State Forest, Dwight D. describes the 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."

Site selection for convenience: Choose locations with appropriate amenities for children. Kelsey K. found Jenny Jump State Forest ideal because "The bathroom/shower was only a few steps away which was convenient and clean."

River safety for youth paddlers: When planning Delaware River camping with children, consider water conditions. Sean M. warns about return paddling challenges: "I thought it would a good idea to paddle down stream and back up to Milford beach, Boy was I wrong! Took about 4.5 hours to paddle 3 miles."

Activities near campsites: Look for camping with built-in recreational options. Fransheska A. enjoyed Jenny Jump State Forest because they "had hiking trails with beautiful views you could enjoy right from your campground. It's also close to other local hikes like Mt. Tammany."

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup availability: Several campgrounds near Lake Ariel offer powered sites for smaller RVs. Caffrey Recreation Area provides electric hookups along with drinking water and shower facilities for RV campers who prefer established grounds.

Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise despite forested settings. Jocelyn G. noted at Jenny Jump State Forest that while "the camp sites are nicely laid out to ensure privacy" and the park is "high up on a mountain and affords lovely views," her "only complaint is that the noise from the highway was quite loud at night."

Site terrain challenges: Tent platforms and leveling can be issues at some locations. Seth K. describes Jenny Jump sites as "hit or miss in terms of comfort, some have large, flat, clear spaces for multiple tents, some you have to wedge a tent to avoid rocks."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lake Ariel, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lake Ariel, PA is Caffrey Recreation Area with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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