Camping near Moscow, Pennsylvania offers diverse outdoor experiences within the Pocono Mountain region at elevations ranging from 1,300-1,800 feet. The camping season typically runs from mid-April through mid-October, with most facilities closing for winter. Many sites feature wooded settings with mixed hardwood forests providing natural shade and wildlife habitat.
What to do
Hike along waterfalls: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground features incredible hiking trails with 22 named waterfalls. "The biggest draw to this state park (which no one in Pennsylvania I spoke with seemed to know about) is the 22 waterfalls! We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike. The trails are very well marked," shares one visitor to Ricketts Glen State Park Campground.
Explore boulder fields: Hickory Run State Park Campground offers a unique geological formation that draws many visitors. "Boulders everywhere! Big ones, small ones, run (carefully) across them all! Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown," notes one camper at Hickory Run State Park Campground. The boulder field is accessible via a stone road through the woods.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Camp Taylor Campground offers direct access to the Lakota Wolf Preserve. "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," explains a visitor.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many luxury camping options near Moscow offer secluded settings. At Secluded Acres Campground, one visitor noted, "This is honestly the best campground we have ever been to!! We loved it so much we went back again the next week even though it's two hours away. Such wonderful rustic sites that are absolutely secluded!!"
Clean facilities: At Mount Pocono Campground, guests consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities. "Just got back from a week here. Very clean and well-run. We were here during COVID restrictions and they were handling it well. We used the arcade, pool, bathouse and laundry. Cleanest campground bathouse I've ever used!" remarks one reviewer.
Lake activities: Keen Lake Resort provides excellent water recreation options for glampers. "I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake," shares a visitor to Keen Lake Resort Campground.
What you should know
Bear activity: Be aware that bears are active in the region and proper food storage is essential. At Tobyhanna State Park Campground, a visitor warns, "Just stayed 2 nights with my 7 yrs. old daughter we had a blast. Everyone was very nice camp host and DCNR were very helpful. 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 privacy varies: Campgrounds in the region offer different levels of privacy between sites. "This campground is big. Many people live here, but there are spots to rent. Primitive site or not, they have a spot for you. The size of the spaces would depend on where you are. We saw primitive sites that are ginormous. Also saw RV sites that were very close to each other," notes a visitor to Secluded Acres.
Water quality concerns: Some parks occasionally have water issues. At Ricketts Glen, a visitor explained, "The water had been tested earlier in the season and unsafe levels of manganese were detected. All water spigots were shut off and covered but we were told it was safe to wash our dishes and brush our teeth. However, the water for the dishwashing sink was turned off as well as the water in the restroom at the trailhead."
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with organized activities: Otter Lake Camp Resort offers extensive activities for children. "Otter lake has every amenity imaginable super clean swimming beach beautiful lake with boat rentals available. Tons of activities for kids and adults. Indoor pool with 2 hot tubs even a dry sauna. Tennis volleyball pickle ball basketball bocce ball," explains a happy camper.
Look for playgrounds: Many glamping facilities near Moscow include play areas. One visitor to Mount Pocono Campground notes, "The game room has pool tables, ping pong, arcade games, library, gym, and so much more! There is a huge swimming pool and a toddler's pool."
Check for quiet hours enforcement: Some campgrounds strictly enforce quiet hours. "Camp Taylor Campground is well kept, unlike many other campgrounds we've been to, they are very good about actually enforcing the quiet hours at night, so you can have an actual peaceful and quiet night around the campfire," shares a repeat visitor.
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions: Some RV sites in the Moscow area can be tight. "Just finished up two nights in site 123. These sites are RIGHT AGAINST THE ROAD. Other state parks tend to make their sites deep, whereas these are wide. They don't seem to enforce quiet time after 9, which would be fine if each campsite wasn't right up on the neighbor," notes a visitor to Tobyhanna State Park.
Electrical service concerns: Older campgrounds may have electrical issues. At Lackawanna State Park Campground, one RVer experienced challenges: "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
Consider site location: At many glamping destinations near Moscow, location within the campground affects convenience. A Keen Lake visitor advised, "We were on the far side of the lake which is not really within walking distance of the beach, pool and store. We knew this going in and were totally OK with it. I seemed less busy where we were as far as cars and people which is what we were looking for."
