Long Pond sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, with seasonal temperatures ranging from winter lows near 15°F to summer highs around 80°F. The area features dense hemlock forests interspersed with small lakes and wetlands. Wildlife activity is common at campgrounds in this region, particularly during evening and early morning hours.
What to do
Hiking at Hickory Run: Multiple trails with varying difficulty levels provide nature exploration options. "We hiked both with your 2 large dogs. Both of these trails had a creek and waterfalls," noted one visitor at Hickory Run State Park Campground.
Wolf preserve tours: Experience unique wildlife observation within walking distance of camping areas. A camper at Camp Taylor Campground shared, "There are tours leaving the campground twice a day on both Saturday and Sundays for the wolf preserve, I was glad there was camping so close."
Water activities: Several lakes offer swimming, fishing, and boating options through summer and early fall. "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," reports a camper who stayed at Tobyhanna State Park.
Local attractions: The famous Boulder Field at Hickory Run State Park provides a unique geological feature to explore. "Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown," writes one visitor about this unusual formation, while another adds, "The Boulder Fields are one of the coolest places I've ever visited, partially because they were so unexpected."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded, shaded camping spots. At Mountain Vista Campground, guests appreciate that "All sites are wooded, clean and spacious" with "Lots of pull through for bigger rigs."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities stand out in visitor reviews. One camper at Mount Pocono Campground was particularly impressed, calling it the "Cleanest campground bathhouse I've ever used!"
Seasonal activities: Campgrounds offer varied programming throughout the camping season. A visitor at Hemlock Campground & Cottages noted their "Family friendly campground with many activities incl. playground, games, karaoke, bingo nights etc."
Lakeside camping: Sites with water access or views rank highly among reviewers. "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper," shared a visitor at Pickerel Point Campground, while another mentioned, "I spent the night in the Promised Land State Park at Pickerel Point and it was so pretty and quiet... Mine overlooked the water and had a gorgeous sunset."
What you should know
Bear activity: Multiple campgrounds report bear sightings, requiring 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," reported a camper at Tobyhanna State Park.
Cell service variations: Connectivity differs significantly between campgrounds. A visitor at Otter Lake Camp Resort enjoyed good connectivity, while another at Promised Land State Park noted, "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon."
Reservation demands: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer and fall foliage seasons. "We drove from Arizona to camp here for 6 weeks each year," mentioned one dedicated camper, indicating the popularity that creates reservation pressure.
Weather considerations: The Poconos experience significant seasonal changes affecting camping conditions. Spring camping often means mud, while fall brings spectacular foliage but colder nights.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose campgrounds with child-friendly recreation areas. One visitor appreciated that Peaceful Woodlands Campground "had a large open field in the loop we camped in with a swing set on it. This was nice for families with children."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature lakes or pools for hot summer days. A camper at Otter Lake Camp Resort enjoyed "super clean swimming beach beautiful lake with boat rentals available. Tons of activities for kids and adults."
Camp store convenience: On-site stores save trips to distant retailers for forgotten items. "The camp store had good hours and is stocked to high heaven; you could come here with just the clothes on your back and buy everything you need for a very comfortable stay," noted a Hickory Run visitor.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Long Pond: Many sites accommodate pets with designated areas. "Lots of pet friendly sites in the other loops as well," shared a Hickory Run State Park camper, while another mentioned their "Clean, great camp store, dog friendly loop, great hikes accessible from campground!!"
Tips from RVers
Site size variations: RV sites differ significantly between campgrounds. "The sites in this loop were spacious and more in an open area, but we were along a wooded area which gave us some shade," explained an RV camper at Tobyhanna, while others noted some campgrounds have tighter spacing.
Hook-up availability: Water, electric, and sewer connections vary by location. Mountain Vista Campground offers "full hookup sites with sewer, water, and electric connections for RV campers traveling with pets."
Terrain challenges: The mountainous setting means steep access roads at some campgrounds. "The driveway is a little hairy- steep with crushed stone on top of pavement. Which led to some tire slippage on the way up with our setup," warned a visitor to Cranberry Run Campground.
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