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 Mount Carmel, PA
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Tent camping opportunities near Mount Carmel in Pennsylvania include established campgrounds and primitive sites along scenic ridges and waterways. Shikellamy State Park, while frequently listed as a camping destination, does not actually offer overnight camping facilities according to recent visitor reports. Most legitimate tent camping options are found at Mauch Chunk Lake Park in nearby Jim Thorpe, which features wooded lakeside sites suitable for tents, though campers should note the presence of exposed tree roots and rocks at many sites.
Tent sites at Mauch Chunk Lake Park provide access to both basic and comfort-oriented amenities. Drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and trash collection are standard at most sites, with bathroom facilities and showers also available. Walk-in tent sites offer more seclusion than drive-in options but require carrying gear from parking areas. Primitive tent campsites along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap provide a more rugged experience with few amenities beyond fire rings. These sites typically require hikers to pack in all water and supplies, as noted by visitors to the AT Ridge and Overlook campgrounds.
The tent camping experience varies significantly between established campgrounds and backcountry sites. Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers tent campers easy access to swimming, kayaking, and nearby outdoor attractions, though some visitors note the campground can become crowded and noisy on summer weekends. The more secluded primitive campsites along the Appalachian Trail provide peaceful settings with natural features like pine needle beds and fern-covered areas that are particularly suitable for tent camping. One visitor to the AT Ridge Campground described it as "a peaceful experience as you can hear the wind blowing through the trees while watching the ferns sway back and forth."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Mount Carmel (27)
1. Shikellamy State Park Campground
"Had a great time walking the trails and enjoying a picnic at the cliff-side pavilion."
2. 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
3. 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
4. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
5. Ravensburg State Park Campground
"It's our favorite place to tent camp. It's rarely busy and it's first come first serve."
"Nice and shaded! No one there but us in site 6, not even a ranger checked on us. Has modern toilets and shower. Most sites are spacious. They have nice raised tent pads."
6. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
7. 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."
8. 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."
9. 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."
10. 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
Drive Time
- 54 min from Lebanon, PA
- 55 min from Harrisburg, PA
- 1 hr 1 min from Williamsport, PA
- 1 hr 7 min from Reading, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mount Carmel, PA
37 Photos of 27 Mount Carmel Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Mount Carmel, PA
769 Reviews of 27 Mount Carmel 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.
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.
Guide to Mount Carmel
Tent camping near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania offers options within the anthracite coal region landscape where elevations range between 800-1,400 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F during peak camping months. Winter camping is limited, with most facilities closing after September when temperatures can drop below freezing at night.
What to do
Swimming and beach access: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides a clean swimming area with lifeguards during summer months. One camper noted, "Nice beach area and lake to kayak!" while another mentioned they enjoyed the "beautiful lake beach and canoe and kayak rentals."
White water rafting: Located about 40 minutes from Mount Carmel, Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center offers rafting packages on the Lehigh River. A visitor explained, "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing," while another mentioned attending "Riverfest and it was great. Bands throughout the night with beer and food."
Hiking on established trails: The Appalachian Trail sections near Lehigh Gap provide multiple hiking options with primitive camping. A hiker at AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap described "a magical field of ferns" where you can "get views of both sides of the ridge with only a short walk down the trail."
What campers like
Secluded waterfront sites: Many campers value the privacy of sites along water. At Riverview Park Campground, sites are "located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit" and provide "convenient access to the river in a beautiful place."
Group camping opportunities: For those camping with friends, Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers spacious sites that accommodate multiple tents. A camper shared, "I've stayed here a couple times with groups. 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."
Natural padding for tent floors: Pine needle beds and fern-covered ground create comfortable tent sites. The AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap features "a bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area" with "many large flat areas that are perfect for tents."
What you should know
Accessibility varies significantly: Many primitive sites require hiking in. The AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap is "less than a mile from the parking at Blue Mountain Rd. (Official A.T. parking)" but needs to be marked on maps as it "can be a tougher site to find especially in the summer when everything is so lush and green."
Tent pad conditions: Several sites have raised tent pads or natural ground variations. At Ravensburg State Park, sites "have tent pads which are nice" though campers with larger tents should "pick a site that the pad is flush with the surrounding ground."
Not all parks permit camping: Despite listings, some parks like Shikellamy State Park do not allow overnight camping. As one visitor emphatically warned, "THERE IS NO CAMPGROUND HERE....NOT ON ONE SIDE OF THE RIVER & NOT ON THE OTHERSIDE."
Tips for camping with families
Starter-friendly options: For families new to camping, Ravensburg State Park Campground offers a beginner-friendly environment. A visitor noted, "This state park is beautiful and I consider it a semi-hidden gem. It's our favorite place to tent camp. It's rarely busy and it's first come first serve."
Noise considerations: Family campers should consider campground activity levels. Some sites can be quite active, as one camper at Mauch Chunk Lake Park observed: "It's a busy place, a lot of weekenders with excited kiddos."
Recreational variety: Families benefit from multiple activities in one location. A first-time camper at Mauch Chunk described their experience: "GREAT first trip! The campgrounds were nice and there was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals."
Tips from RVers
Site access limitations: Many campgrounds near Mount Carmel have restrictions or challenges for larger vehicles. At Scrub Mountain Retreat, tent camping is the primary accommodation with both drive-in and walk-in access, but no RV hookups are available.
Road condition awareness: Access roads to some campgrounds can be challenging. At Ravensburg State Park, one visitor warned, "You will be driving down into the valley, which can feel very steep at times," and recommended being "aware of your directions and make sure they're taking you to the park via Rocky Road."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Mount Carmel, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mount Carmel, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mount Carmel, PA is Shikellamy State Park Campground with a 2.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Mount Carmel, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Mount Carmel, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Mount Carmel, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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