The Long Pond area sits within the Pocono Mountains at approximately 1,900 feet elevation, creating cooler summer temperatures and earlier fall color changes than surrounding lowlands. Camping options near Long Pond span both Pennsylvania and neighboring New Jersey, with sites ranging from lakeside to mountaintop settings. Water levels in area lakes and streams fluctuate seasonally, affecting fishing conditions and waterfront accessibility.
What to do
Hiking to wolf preserves: Camp Taylor Campground connects directly to miles of hiking trails including access to the Appalachian Trail. "There is a section of RV spots that are each cut out in the woods so very private... You can take a short hike up the mountain there to see the wolves in the sanctuary. There are moments by the fire you can hear them howl in the distance," notes Julie F.
Kayaking from waterfront sites: At Tobyhanna State Park Campground, campers can launch directly from some sites. "The campsites are nice. Fish was great," reports Charlotte T., while Marlaina M. adds, "Scenic and spacious... The lake is nearby and doesn't get crowded. There's a separate shore for kayaks and canoes to enter the lake."
Boulder field exploration: Hickory Run State Park features a unique geological formation. "Boulders everywhere! Big ones, small ones, run (carefully) across them all! Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown," shares Mike M. Another visitor recommends, "Don't twist an ankle, but you can play hide and seek to an extent as there are small depressions in the fields."
Winter activities: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, some locations operate year-round. At Pickerel Point Campground, Mara S. notes: "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers. The park is large with many hiking trails and ice fishing."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Mountain Vista Campground offers secluded camping spaces. "This is a nice campground with a pool. Our site was a good size and the facilities were clean," reports Teresa. Another camper mentions that "All sites have ample room. Lots of pull through for bigger rigs. Wooded."
Kid-friendly amenities: Mount Pocono Campground provides numerous family activities. One visitor notes, "Mt. Pocono Campground in the Poconos, Pennsylvania is a very active and fun vacation destination! There is a huge swimming pool and a toddler's pool." Another camper adds, "We called late without a reservation and they were so accommodating - very good customer service!"
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain high standards for bathhouses and common areas. At Hemlock Campground & Cottages, Luis B. reports: "The bathhouse is always clean and has hot water available at all times. The whole place and the spots are always clean." Similarly, at Hickory Run, visitors note "beautiful, fully updated showers and restrooms available."
Abundant wildlife: The Delaware Water Gap area offers frequent wildlife sightings. "We even got to see an eagles' nest near our campsite," mentions Marlaina M. at Tobyhanna State Park, while another camper reports seeing "wild turkeys and deer in the morning" at Camp Taylor Campground.
What you should know
Bear awareness requirements: Bears are active throughout the Pocono region. At Tobyhanna State Park, Erik M. 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."
Site variations: Campgrounds often have dramatically different sites within the same facility. At Worthington State Forest, "spacious, chilled, clean, quiet" sites are available, but Christine N. advises: "Careful on the roads to the campsite, they're a bit on the bumpy side. Defi smaller roads than your usual ones. We have a minivan so we had to take our time on all the pot holes."
Seasonal water quality: Some campgrounds experience water quality issues early in the season. Kevin K. at Hemlock Campground notes: "Only issue was the water was brown but that is most likely because we are very early in the season." The campground responded quickly to resolve the issue.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the region. "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon," reports Mara S. from Pickerel Point, while other campgrounds report adequate service for basic needs.
Tips for camping with families
Look for playground access: Cranberry Run Campground offers play areas for children. "There was a large open field in the loop we camped in with a swing set on it. This was nice for families with children," notes Ashley S., adding that their group "from ages 18 months to 76 years old say 'Cranberry Run Campground family approved!'"
Consider scheduled activities: Hemlock Campground provides organized events. "Family friendly campground with many activities incl. playground, games, karaoke, bingo nights etc.," shares Claus B. Similarly, J K. mentions that Mountain Vista offers "a ton of great activities from kids carnival, craft beer tastings, farmers market, bingo...the list goes on!"
Evaluate bathing facilities: Bathroom accessibility varies between loops at most campgrounds. At Hickory Run State Park, Sarah L. advises: "We were in the outer loop far from the rest of the campground and they only had ports potties and hand sanitizer. I wish we had been on the inner loop for the bathrooms."
Check lake water quality: Swimming areas have varying clarity. At Tobyhanna, one visitor mentions the "copper kind of like iced tea color" of the lake water, while Camp Taylor features "a nice swimming pond with paddleboat and kayak rentals."
Tips from RVers
Book hookup sites early: Full-hookup sites are limited at most public campgrounds. At Pickerel Point, Debbie W. shares: "We had full hookups (20/30/50 amp, water & sewer). There's no cable but we were able to pickup about 6 channels with our digital antenna."
Prepare for terrain challenges: Many campgrounds have challenging access roads and site conditions. Laura Z. reports from Hemlock Campground: "Unfortunately, it was a giant mud pit when we were there. The spots and road are not paved or have gravel." At Worthington State Forest, others note sites that are "located along the Delaware river with a short walk down to be able to launch our canoe and kayak."
Pay attention to size restrictions: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. At Camp Taylor, one RVer explains: "We had a 28 ft tow behind and a 38 ft mobile home. We stayed at sites 62 & 63... We called ahead and they gave us an easier way into the campground than that single road in."
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