R
Russell A.
Scout
Scout100 Mile View Camping
What a great place. So unique! Love the view, and a great experience! There are no hook ups, so be prepared but if you are looking for the dispersed camping experience you have found it. What a gem!
Tent Camping near Mahanoy City, PA
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent camping options near Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania include several established sites scattered throughout the Lehigh Valley region. Mauch Chunk Lake Park in Jim Thorpe offers flat tent spaces in a wooded setting with lakeside sites, while primitive tent camping can be found along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap. Several walk-in tent sites are available at Riverview Park Campground, which provides basic amenities for tent campers looking for river access.
Most tent campsites in this region feature stone fire rings and designated camping areas, though amenities vary significantly between established and primitive locations. Walk-in tent sites along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap provide no drinking water or facilities, requiring campers to carry in all supplies and practice Leave No Trace principles. Riverview Park offers toilets and trash disposal but no showers or drinking water. Weather conditions can impact camping experiences, with some sites becoming muddy after rainfall. Many locations, including AT Ridge Campground, require reservations in advance, while primitive backcountry tent sites operate on a first-come basis.
The tent camping experience in this area offers varied terrain and settings for different preferences. AT Overlook Campground provides panoramic valley views from ridgeline sites with stone fire rings. Pine-needle covered tent pads at the AT Group Campsite create comfortable sleeping surfaces in secluded forest settings. Tent sites at Mauch Chunk Lake Park provide access to swimming, kayaking, and hiking trails. According to one visitor, "The lake was beautiful, very clean and picturesque and perfect for swimming." Backcountry tent campers should note potential wildlife activity, as warning signs about bear activity have been posted near some primitive sites along the Appalachian Trail corridor. Campers seeking solitude may prefer weekday visits, as several reviews mentioned weekend crowding at the more established campgrounds.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Mahanoy City (19)
1. Mauch Chunk Lake Park
"Our first time tent camping was here and it set a great tone."
"Easy drive from Philly area, courteous staff, very wooded and quiet at night. Has many sites right along the lake edge, some very large."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
2. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
3. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
4. Shambala at Mystic Hollow
"Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water. Check them out and share your experience on the Dyrt!"
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
5. AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap
"The only downside was my sleeping pad sprung a leak, so it wasn't the best night's sleep. But the site itself was great and I would camp there again."
"A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area."
6. AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap
"You can set up your tent to have a view of the valley right from your door and the space is flat, dry, and not too rocky."
7. Riverview Park Campground
"The sites are each tent only and located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit. They also have a bathroom facility up alongside the road."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $30 / night
8. AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap
"This site is really 2 separate sites that are a short ways apart along the trail. They are both excellent spots to set up a tent if you plan on camping up on the ridge."
9. George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter
"A single-level open-sided AT shelter near the Lehigh Gap trailhead. The shelter itself is well maintained and has a raised covered platform for sleeping with plenty of space for lots of hikers."
10. Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite (group)
"This site appears to be well-used and has several established areas for sitting and setting up a fire."
Drive Time
- 48 min from Scranton, PA
- 53 min from Lebanon, PA
- 57 min from Reading, PA
- 1 hr from Allentown, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mahanoy City, PA
37 Photos of 19 Mahanoy City Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Mahanoy City, PA
852 Reviews of 19 Mahanoy City Campgrounds
Nancy W.
LegendHickory Run State Park Campground
Peaceful State Park Camping in the Fall
This is a large campground with a wide array of campsites so be careful attention when you book online, especially if you have a pet because some sites are not pet-friendly. Some are 50-amp full hook-up and some are primitive with no hook-ups.
There is a nice nature center with interesting interpretive exhibits and lots of informational brochures including ones about the hiking trails, bears, scat and tracks of local animals, and fishing. Our site was at the edge of the campground and backed up to Route 534 which resulted in a bit of road noise at our site. Other than the road noise the campground was pretty quiet and was not very crowded when we camped there in October.
Not all sites are level and we happened to book one that was not and we had to live with a slant for our stay. The roads in the park are gravel/dirt and since it rained the day we arrived the roads were a muddy mess which made the roads slippery and there were lots of potholes. Unfortunately, some campers were disrespectful and left bags of trash in the fire pit and scattered around their site which was totally unnecessary because there were dumpsters plenty of dumpsters in the campground. Since we camped at Hickory Run late in the season, there were no camp hosts and the trash never got picked up.
The campground is open from mid-April to mid-December; however, the shower facilities and dump station are not available after the third week of October so plan accordingly. We really like the hiking trails which are of varying degrees of difficulty and lengths. The Hawk Falls is a nice easy walk (1.4 miles round-trip) to a waterfall but is extremely popular so don’t think you will be admiring the falls alone. The parking lot at this trail head fills up fast so you better get there early if you want to get a spot.
You can enter the park from two different directions. If you have a big-rig, it is best to approach from the east side. We made the mistake of coming in from the west side as we dropped down from I-80 and came down 534 and the road was really windy with no shoulder. Luckily, there was very little traffic so we could go 10 mph and safely navigate the roads.
Be aware alcohol is not allowed in PA state parks. This park does allow hunting in certain sections of the park. The no-hunting areas are clearly marked with white no hunting signs on trees and you can also pick up a brochure from the office that designates hunting and no-hunting sections.
Tony F.
Guide100 Mile View Camping
The best views
This is a hidden gem, as close to dispersed camping you can get with dirt, gravel roads, large stone fire pits, a amazing views with the added benefit of a five gallon jug of non potable water and very clean port-a-potties. The owner regularly patrols the site and makes sure everything is okay.
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.LegendRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Beautiful Falls!
What a great campground! We stayed here on a recommendation from a friend after the Overland Expo. Great hiking trails and the falls were absolutely breathtaking. Truly enjoyed our stay and plan to return!
Troy P.
TravelerShikellamy State Park Campground
meh
i mean meh with the most enthusiasm as you can live your entire life & be oki not going here. the trails are small & the overlook is fenced high for falls. it’s about as much scenery as going for a walk deer hunting. it’s beginner friendly if anyone wants to start getting into parks but i feel there’s more focus on pavilions & playgrounds than calling it a state park. for anything boating or canoeing on the river it’s a good place to be but your in town so it take it for what it is
- jjeanne A.Guide
Council Cup Campground
Better than nothing
Small campground with rude owner. Everything I asked about was putting her out. It was cheap though at $36 for water and electric with a military discount.
- jjeanne A.Guide
Echo Valley Campground
Big sites with lots of trees
We only spent the night and didn't look at the amenities. The manager was very friendly and accommodating.
Kathy L.
RangerHickory Run State Park Campground
Beautiful forest
Gorgeous forested area in the Poconos. We stayed on the Rattlesnake Loop which was lovely. Sites not super private but most nestled in trees. The only bummer was that that Campground Loop didn’t have any direct links to the trail network and was far from it. The other Campground Loop was closer to trails and office. Would return!
Richard P.ScoutCircle S Farm Camping
Grantville is great
The area is very nice and so are the people. The sites are clean and the livestock are a cool sight to see
Guide to Mahanoy City
Tent campsites near Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania cluster along the Appalachian Trail corridor and around nearby lakes within 30 miles of town. The region sits at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,600 feet, creating varied camping microclimates. Summer temperatures typically reach 80°F during the day and drop to 60°F at night, with higher humidity levels near water sources like the Lehigh River.
What to do
Whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River: Campers staying at Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center can book guided rafting trips right from their campsite. "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing," notes Katie S., who mentions the campground hosts regular events as well.
Paddleboarding on calm waters: Launch directly from lakeside sites at Mauch Chunk Lake Park. "I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear," writes Lisa S., who recommends weekday visits for calmer conditions.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Access the trail directly from AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap, where tent sites sit along the ridgeline. "You can set up your tent to have a view of the valley right from your door and the space is flat, dry, and not too rocky," says Asher K., who spotted wild turkeys during his stay.
What campers like
Riverside tent sites: Walk-in tent campsites at Riverview Park Campground offer direct river access. "The sites are each tent only and located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit. They also have a bathroom facility up alongside the road," explains Asher K., who appreciates the convenient access to both the river and the D&L biking trail.
Flat, spacious tent areas: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides level tent spaces that accommodate first-time campers well. "I believe it is a great spot to go with people who haven't camped much before. It has flat tent spaces, generally clean bathrooms, and access to tons of things to do on the campground and nearby," reports Mackenzie B.
Pine-cushioned forest sites: The pine forest campsite at AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap offers natural comfort. "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area," says Asher K., adding that the "pine trees also provide a nice cover to make this a well-protected site in case of bad weather."
What you should know
Weekend noise levels: Popular campgrounds fill quickly and can become noisy. "It's a busy place, a lot of weekenders with excited kiddos," reports one Mauch Chunk camper named Corbin, who found the experience "not my cup of tea for a weekend getaway but great for kids and campers who want to hang out with their neighbors."
Water access limitations: Many primitive sites on the Appalachian Trail require carrying all water. "There is no water access at the site so make sure to fill up before coming up the mountain," warns Asher K. about the Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite.
Reservation requirements: Walk-in sites at Riverview Park Campground require advance planning. "Just make sure if you are going to stay here that you reserve a site in advance since they will charge you an additional $10 if you show up without planning," advises Asher K.
Tips for camping with families
Choose established campgrounds: George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter offers protected camping for families hiking the trail. "The shelter itself is well maintained and has a raised covered platform for sleeping with plenty of space for lots of hikers. There is also a spring nearby for filling up water," notes Asher K.
Pack extra padding for tent sites: Many established sites have natural obstacles. "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters," advises Amber M. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Consider first-time camper comfort: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides ideal amenities for families new to camping. "GREAT first trip! The campgrounds were nice and there was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals," writes Danny M., giving the park 4 stars.
Tips from RVers
Limited RV accommodations: Most campgrounds near Mahanoy City primarily serve tent campers. Among the exceptions is Whitewater Challengers, which one reviewer described as having a festival atmosphere: "Stayed here for Riverfest and it was great. Bands throughout the night with beer and food. Nice showers," reports Emma T.
Check pet policies carefully: Conflicting information about pet policies can cause problems. "This is listed as pet friendly on thedyrt.com but if you go to the park's website, pets are not allowed," warns Blythe A. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Be prepared for weekend crowds: RV sites at popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. "We visited in the summer on a weekend when it was full. The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers," reports Danielle F. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
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Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mahanoy City, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mahanoy City, PA is Mauch Chunk Lake Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Mahanoy City, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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