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 Moscow, PA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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The Pocono Mountains region surrounding Moscow, Pennsylvania offers tent campers several established camping areas and primitive sites within an hour's drive. Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground in Pinchot State Forest provides tent-specific sites with fire rings and picnic tables. For those seeking a more natural experience, Namanock Island in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers boat-in tent camping accessible only by canoe or kayak, approximately 30 miles southeast of Moscow.
Most tent campgrounds in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Sites at Manny Gordon have electric hookups but no drinking water, while primitive areas like Namanock Island provide only fire rings and primitive toilets. Campers should pack in all supplies including water, as most sites have limited services. Access types vary significantly—some areas require only a short drive-in approach, while others demand boat access or hiking. A recent review noted, "If you are planning on tent camping there isn't really any flat area to set up around the shelter so you might want to keep moving to one of the next sites." Many areas operate seasonally, with some sites closing between late October and April due to weather conditions.
The Delaware Water Gap region offers particularly rewarding tent camping experiences within reach of Moscow. Tent sites on Namanock Island provide remarkable seclusion, with one camper describing it as "very peaceful, very private" with "tons of room to enjoy your camping trip." Most tent areas feature natural buffers between sites, allowing for privacy despite proximity to other campers. The terrain varies from flat grassy pads to more rugged surfaces requiring careful tent placement. Wildlife sightings are common, with many reviewers mentioning encounters with deer, birds, and occasionally bears. Fire rings are standard at most sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Moscow (45)
1. Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground — Pinchot State Forest
"Very open, plenty of space. most campgrounds have previously stocked wood from other people, makes setting up very convenient. lots of ticks tho so get your spray"
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
2. Caffrey Recreation Area
3. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"There is a ten dollar fee per day to park your car so bring cash as the parking area is not always manned and you’ll have to leave the fee in an envelope that is available just past the entrance."
"They are a first come, first camped, set up, but I have not once in 6 years, (multiple trips per year), ever found anyone in the site ahead of me."
5. 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
6. Half Baked Homestead
7. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
8. Oh! Pear Orchards
"Campsites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool, magical setting, firewood easily accessible, close to state parks and lots of wide, open undeveloped"
"We're excited to have this property on our platform. This listing has peaceful tent sites located against the creek."
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $45 / night
9. Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"It had 5-6 platforms, privys, big fire ring, a grill, a beatbox, a large pavilion w/picnic tables and a real full sized bathroom only 100 yards away."
"You can rent kayaks and canoes and swimming is allowed on Catfish Pond -- plenty of fish, snapping turtles, and other wildlife."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 - $75 / night
10. Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
"This spot is right next to a beautiful view on the side of Kittany Mountain and just off the Appalachian trail. There is 4 spots to set up at all of which have a spot for a fire."
Drive Time
- 8 min from Scranton, PA
- 57 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 4 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 15 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Moscow, PA
63 Photos of 45 Moscow Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Second District Brew FarmS
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Oh! Pear Orchards
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Ratcliff's River Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Hillside Campgrounds
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Hornbeck's River Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Tent Camping Reviews near Moscow, PA
1010 Reviews of 45 Moscow Campgrounds
- 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.
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!
- WWill W.Guide
Lackawanna State Park Campground
Car camping
Stayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
- 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.
Daniel C.ScoutHillside Campgrounds
Stay away... Unless you like 70 y/o men acting like high schoolers
This clothing-optional campground has a highly toxic, intrusive, and vindictive environment. During my stay, the seasonal permanent residents('perms') subjected me to intense harassment, inappropriate sexual advances, and severe social retaliation/rumor-spreading when those advances were rejected. The situation escalated to the point where an employee had to intervene for my safety. Furthermore, despite management allowing my photo to be taken in costume at a party, I was intentionally blocked from the community group where the photos were posted, leaving me unable to monitor how my image was being used. Avoid this place if you value your privacy, personal boundaries, and safety.
Thomas B.
RangerNeversink River Resort
Cool Riverside Campground
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Guide to Moscow
The Pocono Mountains surrounding Moscow, Pennsylvania sit at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,300 feet, creating diverse camping microclimates. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F, with cooler evenings requiring extra layers for tent campers. The region's mixed hardwood forests provide natural shelter at many primitive camping locations within a 30-mile radius of Moscow.
What to do
Paddle the Delaware River: Access the Delaware River from Namanock Island for secluded camping and wildlife viewing. "The camp site was super clean and well maintained! I saw 2 other campers at 13, pretty well distance between sites. Saw tons of bald eagles flying near the site and while paddles birds playing and baby geese with their mommas!" notes Sean M.
Visit historic sites: Explore the 300-year history around the Delaware Water Gap region. A camper at Namanock Island shared, "There are waterfalls on the Pennsylvania shore within a quick walking distance of your location that are very much worth the time it takes to walk the trail." Local historic bridges and settlements offer self-guided exploration opportunities.
Mountain biking: The terrain around Moscow provides beginner to intermediate trails. A visitor at Scrub Mountain Retreat mentioned the "wide, open undeveloped space" perfect for outdoor activities, with multiple trail networks within 15 minutes of camp.
What campers like
Water access: Campers consistently praise lake and river access points. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, one visitor noted, "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."
Spacious sites: Many camping areas offer generous spacing between sites. One camper at Jenny Jump State Forest shared, "The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog. However, we didn't mind as it was so private we felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves."
Night sky viewing: The rural setting around Moscow provides excellent stargazing opportunities. A camper at Namanock Island observed, "The island is situated in a way that once darkness falls there are no lights to be seen in either direction, up or down river... no lights means an incredible view of the night sky."
What you should know
Varied terrain: Tent camping surfaces range from flat to rocky across the region. A visitor to Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground reported, "Very open, plenty of space. most campgrounds have previously stocked wood from other people, makes setting up very convenient. lots of ticks tho so get your spray."
Seasonal crowds: Many campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, a camper warned, "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... It was not just 1 group; there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight."
Limited facilities: Most tent camping locations have basic amenities. "This is a primitive campsite. There is a fire ring suitable for cooking on as well as allowing you a small fire. You will also have access to a privy style toilet a short distance in the woods behind your site," explains a visitor to Namanock Island.
Tips for camping with families
Easy access campsites: Choose locations with minimal hiking for young children. Jenny Jump State Forest offers "nice big group site and fun walk to Ghost Lake," according to Doug W., making it suitable for families with small children who can't hike long distances.
Lake beaches: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides a "nice beach area and lake to kayak!" says Annette M. The swimming area includes a designated children's section with gradual entry points, making it ideal for families with various swimming abilities.
Educational opportunities: Look for campgrounds with nature programs. "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," shares Mackenzie B. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions: Most Moscow-area campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. At Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center, while marked as big-rig friendly, one camper noted the "campground is definitely great for Girl Scout or school groups," suggesting tighter quarters for larger vehicles.
Electric hookups: Several campgrounds offer electric but lack full hookups. Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides electric hookups but limited sewer connections, making it necessary to plan for periodic dump station visits at nearby facilities.
Alternative accommodations: Consider non-traditional options when tent camping near Moscow. Jenny Jump State Forest offers unique shelter experiences: "The 'shelter' is what we would describe as a 'cabin'; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Moscow, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Moscow, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Moscow, PA is Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground — Pinchot State Forest with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Moscow, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Moscow, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 45 tent camping locations near Moscow, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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