Stephen R.
Guide
GuideRicketts Glen State Park Campground
Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
Tent Camping near Middleport, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Tent campers seeking primitive campsites near Middleport, Pennsylvania have multiple options along the Appalachian Trail and Lehigh Gap region. Established tent grounds include Mauch Chunk Lake Park with lakeside tent sites, and several primitive backcountry campsites along the AT corridor that provide more secluded wilderness experiences. Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers creek-side tent camping with 15 designated sites for those seeking a balance between accessibility and natural settings.
The Appalachian Trail primitive sites near Lehigh Gap provide true backcountry tent camping experiences with minimal amenities. Several free hike-in tent sites feature established fire rings and enough flat ground for multiple tents. Most AT primitive campsites require hikers to carry in their own water, as drinking water is not available at most sites along the ridge. Tent sites at Riverview Park Campground provide access to toilets and trash service but lack showers or drinking water. According to one visitor, this park is "the perfect place for camping if you are adventuring out on the Lehigh River and want to get an early start or stay the night."
AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap offers exceptional ridgeline tent camping surrounded by fern fields and panoramic views. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "Sitting up on the mountain in this area is a very peaceful experience as you can hear the wind blowing through the trees while watching the ferns sway back and forth." The AT Overlook Campground site provides dramatic valley views directly from your tent door with a sizable stone fire ring. Most primitive tent sites along the Appalachian Trail near Middleport allow fires and are pet-friendly but require proper bear-safe food storage as signs warn of high bear activity. Tent campers should note that while Mauch Chunk Lake Park has more amenities including showers and drinking water, several reviewers mention it can be crowded and noisy during summer weekends.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Middleport (24)
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. 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
3. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. 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."
5. 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."
6. 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
7. 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."
8. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
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
- 46 min from Reading, PA
- 55 min from Allentown, PA
- 57 min from Lebanon, PA
- 1 hr 15 min from Lancaster, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Middleport, PA
38 Photos of 24 Middleport Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Mauch Chunk Lake Park
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Rolling Hills RetreatsA
BMR Operations, LLC dba Blue Mountain Resort By: BM Resort Management, LLC its Authorized Agent
Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Tent Camping Reviews near Middleport, PA
937 Reviews of 24 Middleport Campgrounds
- ssorcha A.
TravelerShady Oak Campground
Easy access to Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch areas. Friendly, welcoming staff and plenty of colorful trees in the autumn. The only RV park in the area that is open year round.
- RRussell A.
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!
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.
Peggy C.TravelerCountry Acres Campground
Lovely campground!
Country Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
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
- LLynn C.Scout
Old Mill Stream Campground
Never Again
The advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
Guide to Middleport
Primitive camping options near Middleport, Pennsylvania provide varied terrain experiences from creek bottoms to ridge tops. The area includes sections of the Appalachian Trail corridor along with several designated primitive camping areas situated between 700-1,500 feet elevation. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during day and 55-65°F at night, with higher humidity levels in valley locations.
What to do
Water activities at Mauch Chunk Lake Park: Visitors can kayak and paddle board on the clear waters of the lake. According to Lisa S., "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm... I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear."
Rafting on the Lehigh River: Located just 10 minutes from Riverview Park Campground, the Lehigh River offers excellent rafting opportunities. Emma T. reports on a great experience at Whitewater Challengers: "Stayed here for Riverfest and it was great. Bands throughout the night with beer and food."
Hiking the ridge trails: The Appalachian Trail sections near Lehigh Gap feature unique terrain with fern fields. A reviewer at AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap notes the area offers "2 separate sites that are a short ways apart along the trail... surrounded by a magical field of ferns and you can get views of both sides of the ridge with only a short walk down the trail."
What campers like
Protected campsites for weather concerns: The pine forest near Lehigh Gap provides natural shelter. A camper describes AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap as having "a bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area... The pine trees also provide a nice cover to make this a well-protected site in case of bad weather."
Proximity to town amenities: Many campsites offer good access to nearby Jim Thorpe. Corbin reports about Mauch Chunk Lake Park: "It's a busy place, a lot of weekenders with excited kiddos. Bathrooms were decently clean." Danny M. adds, "There was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals. Also a lot to do in the nearby town."
Spacious group camping areas: Several locations accommodate larger parties. At Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite, one reviewer describes "A very large flat site with plenty of clear spots for multiple tents. This would work well for a large group... several established areas for sitting and setting up a fire."
What you should know
Water access concerns: Most ridge campsites require carrying water. A camper at AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap advises, "Just be prepared to bring in your water since there is nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge."
Wildlife awareness: Bear activity requires proper food storage. The same AT Overlook Campground reviewer mentions, "When I was up here I came across a flock of wild turkeys who thoroughly scared me when they flew off. I was already on edge since there are several signs warning of high bear activity."
Campsite maintenance varies: Some locations require cleanup before use. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, one camper noted: "Our site was for the most part clean, the fire pit was so full of ash and trash and giant rocks that we had to clean ourselves right when we arrived."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: First-time campers find certain locations more accommodating. Mackenzie B. recommends Mauch Chunk Lake Park: "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."
Plan for noise levels: Some campgrounds have more activity than others. Danielle F. cautions about Mauch Chunk Lake Park: "The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers... there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight. There are supposed to be quiet hours, but they were not enforced."
Consider site accessibility: Some locations require more hiking than others. When discussing Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite, Asher K. notes, "The site is pretty easy to spot but it is a little removed from the trail so make sure to keep an eye out for it."
Tips from RVers
Limited full-hookup options: Tent camping dominates near Middleport, with limited RV facilities. Amber M. shares about Mauch Chunk Lake Park: "Easy drive from Philly area, courteous staff, very wooded and quiet at night. Has many sites right along the lake edge, some very large. Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters."
Seasonal availability considerations: Some campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center only operates "During rafting season," which typically runs from April through October depending on water levels.
Advance planning required: Reserve sites when possible to avoid additional fees. Asher K. advises about Riverview Park Campground: "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Middleport, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Middleport, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Middleport, PA is Mauch Chunk Lake Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Middleport, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Middleport, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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