Ricketts Glen State Park Campground
Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
20 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Several RV campgrounds operate within driving distance of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, ranging from full-hookup RV parks to sites suited for big rigs with pull-through access. Appalachian Camping Resort offers full hookup RV sites with electric, water, sewer and 50-amp service, open from April through October. Sites vary in size with some buddy sites positioned close together. "For $80 bucks I expected more. The H sites are somewhat swampy," noted one visitor about nearby Robin Hill Campground, which provides similar hookups but can have drainage issues after rain. Twin Grove RV Resort accommodates big rigs with pull-through sites and full hookups, while Thousand Trails locations in Hershey and Manheim provide members with various site options including 50-amp service at most locations.
Advance reservations are essential during summer weekends and fall foliage season when campgrounds near capacity. Many parks have sanitary dump stations on premises, though some charge additional fees for services like WiFi and cable. Pet policies vary between facilities, with most allowing pets but imposing restrictions around pools and buildings. Propane fill service is limited at these campgrounds, requiring visitors to locate external vendors. Road access to most parks is manageable for large rigs, though sites within the campgrounds may present challenges with tight turns, low-hanging branches, or uneven terrain. Several visitors have noted highway noise affects camping experience at locations near interstates, particularly at Appalachian which sits close to a major highway.
"We stayed at Appalachian to visit a friend who has a seasonal site. Our site was full hook up."
"Family friendly. Lots for the kids to do."
"It's too bad it is mainly seasonal sites back there. This campground is called Robin HILL for a reason. You will get you exercise walking to the pond, pool, capstone or basketball courts."
"Although they do have sites for tents, this seems to be better suited for RVers and renting cabins. Many of the people we met during our stay are regulars."
"The biggest downside to this particular campground is its very close proximity to the PA Turnpike, which while convenient, might detract a bit from the peace & quiet you might be expecting when here"
"Tucked into the rolling, wooded hills of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country RV Resort offers a unique blend of peaceful countryside and activity-packed camping, all just a stone"
"While it offers nice amenities and a shuttle to Hersheypark, the campground itself is very tight, cramped, and hard to navigate."
"I stayed at HersheyPark Camping Resort with my family over the extended Easter weekend this year. "
from $50 - $60 / night
"Well wooded campground with friendly staff and guests. The only minor complaint is that the camp store was sparsely supplied. B+ little gem of a campground."
"Showed up on Wednesday, and was assigned a spot in loop 700 up on a hill in the center of a ring of trailers, past a lot of full-timers. Cable does not work. No internet. 2 bars LTE on T-Mobile."
"While its proximity to the highway makes access easy, the property itself is gated, organized into distinct camping zones and packed with amenities that clearly cater to longer stays and families looking"
"campground so inconveniently located (more on this later) right next to highway I76."
"My family and I stayed at Lake In Wood for 4 days. The campground is very well maintained , and the staff is very nice."
"From the spotlessly clean grounds to the nice facilities this is a favorite of ours. There are lots of seasonal sites but there also lots of visitors too."
from $40 - $60 / night
"We spent four nights at Stonybrook RV Resort in Lehighton, PA, for a quiet wedding anniversary getaway— and so glad we did. We paid$150 per night total for a FHU 50 Amp Premium Back-in site (#F20)."
"We stayed here during the winter January-February no activities going on. It does offer beautiful views especially covered in snow."
"We were long term stay. Calvin was great and the yearly campers were fun and enjoyable."
"Super dog friendly. Many little dog parks throughout. Great pool."
"Wanted to find a close by place for for a night of Tent camping and stumbled across this winter time ski resort/ spring summer camping and adventure grounds."
"Staff was nice & showed us to our campground, hauled our firewood, and checked in regularly to make sure we didn’t need anything. Restrooms were really clean."
Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
We only spent the night and didn't look at the amenities. The manager was very friendly and accommodating.
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!
Campgrounds near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania sit in the heart of anthracite coal country, with terrain featuring rolling hills at elevations between 800-1,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, creating favorable camping conditions from April through October. Most campgrounds in this region are within a 45-minute drive of Mount Carmel, providing access to both natural areas and historical attractions.
Fishing at local ponds: Twin Grove RV Resort offers fishing opportunities with well-maintained grounds. "There is a pond to fish from, a dog park for your furry friend to play at and a few playgrounds for the kids," notes one visitor about Twin Grove RV Resort.
Explore Amish country: Drive 15-20 minutes from many RV sites near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania to experience authentic Pennsylvania Dutch culture. "This campground will put your mind at ease and let you uncover the lost culture of this unique community. I remember going to the market and learning about culture that I was not necessarily familiar with before," shares a visitor at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Mountain biking adventures: Some campgrounds offer direct access to trails. "If you choose adventure this is the place for you, ride the ski lifts up to the top of the mountain then you get to bike down it, they have rental bikes available or bring your own," explains a camper at Blue Mountain RV and Camping Resort.
Clean bathhouse facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. "Spotless. Plenty of room for whatever size tent or RV you have. Always lots of activities. Nice arcade and mini golf in an area set off to the side with a ferris wheel, merry go round, and other small kiddie rides," reports a camper at Twin Grove RV Resort.
Peaceful wooded settings: Several campgrounds offer secluded sites. "Weekend stay here and instead of leaving on Sunday, we booked another day. Great swimming pool, immaculately clean bathrooms and showers. Well wooded campground with friendly staff and guests," mentions a visitor at Sun Valley Campground.
Swimming pools and water amenities: Many RV sites feature pool facilities. "We were in two different sites: the first was a two point site (water and electric) the road was dirt it seemed separate from the main drag of the campground, sites were wide but not very deep," describes a camper at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in this hilly region require additional equipment. "Sites are very close together. Fire rings are very close to campers. Water was rusty in our row came out brown at first then was tan after running through our filter for the entire stay. Unlevel is an understatement we were in E row and every camper there had front end 4 foot off the ground," warns a visitor at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience external noise. "Nice, forested campground. Friendly staff, clean bathhouses. Sites well maintained but ours wasn't level. Gets packed on weekends. Main drawback is noise from road and shooting range nearby," reports a camper at Pinch Pond Family Campground.
Seasonal restrictions: Most campgrounds operate April through October. "By far my favorite campground in PA. Staff was nice & showed us to our campground, hauled our firewood, and checked in regularly to make sure we didn't need anything. We visited in fall so we had the entire place to ourselves," notes a visitor at Blue Mountain RV and Camping Resort.
Plan for rainy day activities: Indoor facilities provide backup options. "Nice campground with well taken care of sites. There is a pond to fish from, a dog park for your furry friend to play at and a few playgrounds for the kids," shares a camper at Twin Grove RV Resort.
Choose sites away from highways: For quieter family camping near Mount Carmel, request sites furthest from main roads. "This is one of my favorite campgrounds I've gone too. Very well kept, bathrooms are clean, showers are hot. Sites are spacious and clean. Great staff, overall great campground!! Nothing bad to say. Also has best pool I've seen at a campground," notes a visitor at Twin Grove RV Resort.
Look for campgrounds with organized activities: Many offer weekend programming. "We come here once a year to take our grandkids on an annual camping trip with us. Lots to do! Playgrounds, special events, crafts. Very nice sites and shower houses are very clean," shares a repeat visitor at Twin Grove RV Resort.
Check entrance clearance: Some access roads have challenges. "Very large park. Showed up on Wednesday, and was assigned a spot in loop 700 up on a hill in the center of a ring of trailers, past a lot of full-timers. Cable does not work. No internet. 2 bars LTE on T-Mobile," reports an RVer at Sun Valley Campground.
Bring leveling blocks: The terrain around Mount Carmel requires extra equipment for comfortable RV setup. "This is my 3rd stay with a Thousand Trails campground and haven't been too impressed and wasn't expecting too much when we drove in. The campground loses a star because the sites are pretty uneven. Not just the one we're on but others as well," advises an RVer at Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country.
Site selection matters: Request specific areas for more privacy or shade. "We stayed here during the winter January-February no activities going on. It does offer beautiful views especially covered in snow. Has a heated pool and playground, laundry facilities and a small game. Shower/bathrooms are the best I've ever seen," shares a winter visitor at Stonybrook RV Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Mount Carmel, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Mount Carmel, PA is Appalachian Camping Resort with a 3.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
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