Best Campgrounds near Lawrenceville, PA
Campgrounds near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania range from fully developed sites to primitive camping areas, with several options clustered around Cowanesque Lake and Tioga River. Ives Run Main Campground and Tompkins Campground, both Army Corps of Engineers facilities, provide well-maintained sites with various hookup options for RVs and tent campers. The region includes both federal recreation areas like Hills Creek State Park and private camping resorts such as Bucktail Camping Resort (now Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park PA Wilds). Most campgrounds accommodate multiple camping styles, including tent sites, RV pads, and in some locations, cabin rentals or yurt options.
Seasonal operations affect most campgrounds in the area, with typical seasons running from mid-April through October. Lawrence Recreation Area and Ives Run feature lakefront access but differ in amenity levels and reservation requirements. The terrain throughout the region consists of rolling wooded hills surrounding man-made lakes, with most developed campgrounds offering paved or gravel pads for easier setup. Many campsites require advance reservations, especially for summer weekends and holidays when waterfront spots fill quickly. A visitor noted, "We make sure we visit Ives Run several times during the season. The sites are mostly treed and you don't infringe on your neighbors."
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive feedback from visitors to the Lawrenceville area, particularly at locations like Tompkins Campground where sites offer lake views and boat access. Many campgrounds maintain clean facilities with regularly serviced bathhouses and shower buildings. Several reviews highlight the spaciousness between sites, especially in federally managed areas. "Sites are very spacious and clean. Love it here peaceful and quiet," wrote one camper about Ives Run. Most mixed-use campgrounds provide options ranging from primitive tent sites to full hookup RV pads, sometimes within different loops or sections of the same property. Wildlife viewing opportunities, including eagles and smaller mammals, add to the camping experience according to multiple reviews of developed campgrounds in the region.
