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 Mountain Top, PA
5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Tent camping near Mountain Top, Pennsylvania ranges from primitive sites along the Appalachian Trail to tent campgrounds with full amenities in the surrounding area. Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers tent camping with access to lake activities, while Riverview Park Campground provides tent-only sites along the Lehigh River. The Lehigh Gap area features multiple primitive tent sites accessible from the Appalachian Trail, including ridge-top locations with scenic views.
Most tent camping areas in the region have basic amenities, with developed campgrounds providing more facilities than backcountry sites. Mauch Chunk Lake Park includes drinking water, showers, and toilets, while primitive AT sites typically have only fire rings with no water sources. A review mentioned, "Just be prepared to bring in your water since there is nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge." Tent campers should check seasonal availability, as some campgrounds like Lizard Creek operate only from April through October. The AT primitive sites are generally available year-round but may experience high bear activity, requiring proper food storage.
The tent camping experience varies significantly between developed campgrounds and backcountry sites. Primitive tent locations along the Appalachian Trail offer solitude and natural settings, particularly at ridge-top sites. A camper wrote, "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." Sites like AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap provide scenic vistas, while pine forest group sites offer protection from weather. Established tent campgrounds like Riverview Park feature tent-only sites along the river with picnic tables and fire pits, making them convenient for water activities. Tent campers seeking more amenities might prefer Mauch Chunk Lake Park, though reviews indicate it can become crowded and noisy during summer weekends.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Mountain Top (32)
1. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
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. 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
4. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
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. 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."
7. 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
8. 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."
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
- 26 min from Scranton, PA
- 1 hr 8 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 16 min from Williamsport, PA
- 1 hr 23 min from Reading, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mountain Top, PA
44 Photos of 32 Mountain Top Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Mauch Chunk Lake Park
BMR Operations, LLC dba Blue Mountain Resort By: BM Resort Management, LLC its Authorized Agent
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Camp Starry Night at Gulyan Farms
Oh! Pear Orchards
Wooded Campground
Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Hillside Campgrounds
Ratcliff's River Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Tent Camping Reviews near Mountain Top, PA
880 Reviews of 32 Mountain Top 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.
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.
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.
Guide to Mountain Top
Tent camping options near Mountain Top, Pennsylvania center around the Lehigh River corridor and surrounding state forests. This area sits at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,600 feet, creating varied camping experiences from riverside flats to ridgeline sites. Weather patterns typically include humid summers with temperatures reaching 85°F and winter temperatures regularly dropping below freezing, making seasonal preparation essential.
What to do
Water sports on the Lehigh River: Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center combines camping with river adventures. "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing. The campground is definitely great for Girl Scout or school groups, but if you are looking for a peaceful campground look elsewhere," notes Katie S.
Paddle boarding on calm waters: Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers direct water access for paddlers. "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm... I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear," reports Lisa S.
Hiking the pine forests: The AT Group Campsite area features extensive pine groves perfect for day hikes. "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area. This site sits a little ways back from the trail but is a nice quiet and secluded spot," according to Asher K.
What campers like
Direct river access: Riverview Park Campground offers tent-only sites with essential amenities. "This 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. The sites are each tent only and located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit," writes Asher K.
Protected camping in adverse weather: AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap provides natural shelter. "The pine trees also provide a nice cover to make this a well-protected site in case of bad weather. Although it doesn't have the views of the other parts of the trail it makes up for it in coziness," mentions Asher K.
Accessibility for beginners: Some of the best tent camping near Mountain Top offers amenities suitable for first-time campers. "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.
What you should know
Varied noise levels: Campgrounds near Mountain Top can range from serene to lively. "There were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight. There are supposed to be quiet hours, but they were not enforced. I am not sure if this is typical or if we hit a bad weekend, but it was the LOUDEST campground I have ever been to," reports Danielle F. about a summer weekend at Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Site preparation needs: Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite requires minimal setup. "A very large flat site with plenty of clear spots for multiple tents. This would work well for a large group. This site appears to be well-used and has several established areas for sitting and setting up a fire. It also was less muddy than some of the other options," notes Asher K.
Wildlife encounters: Tent camping near Mountain Top includes areas with active wildlife. "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," shares one camper about the AT trails.
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with amenities: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides family-friendly facilities. "GREAT first trip! The campgrounds were nice and 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. Would definitely recommend!" says Danny M.
Plan for entertainment: Some campgrounds offer organized activities. "There was a movie shown at night, as well as music played late into the night," mentions Katie S. about Whitewater Challengers.
Check pet policies: Policies vary significantly between campgrounds. "This is listed as pet friendly on thedyrt.com but if you go to the park's website, pets are not allowed," warns Blythe A. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Tips from RVers
Site surface considerations: George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter and surrounding areas have varied terrain. "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," advises Asher K.
Prepare for primitive conditions: Bring appropriate supplies when visiting remote locations. "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," suggests Amber M.
Seasonal variations: Some of the best tent camping near Mountain Top requires seasonal planning. "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. Overall if it works with your distance goal I highly suggest taking a night and camping up on this ridge," recommends a hiker about the AT ridgeline sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Mountain Top, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mountain Top, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mountain Top, PA is Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Mountain Top, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Mountain Top, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 32 tent camping locations near Mountain Top, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring