Camping options near Nanticoke, Pennsylvania include several spots within a 30-mile radius offering diverse experiences for weekend getaways. The area sits in the Wyoming Valley region of northeastern Pennsylvania with elevations ranging from 500 to 2,000 feet. Most campgrounds operate from April through October, though selected sites remain open year-round, with summer humidity levels reaching 70-80% during peak camping months.
What to do
Hike the trails: Hickory Run State Park Campground features 44 miles of trails ranging from easy to difficult. One camper noted, "The park has great hiking spots, a local lake with boat rental, and several well-marked trails."
Mountain biking: Blue Mountain RV and Camping Resort offers unique downhill biking opportunities. "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. You can also Zip line or swing through the trees if you would rather."
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide fishing access with varying catch rates. "There is a catch and release lake for fishing," mentions one visitor to Robin Hill Campground, while another camper at Stonybrook RV Resort reports limited success: "Not much fish to catch but overall the experience is always worth it."
Disc golf course: Blue Mountain offers this activity for those looking for alternatives to hiking. "If you're into Disc golf this place has that too," notes one reviewer who enjoyed the diverse recreational options at this resort.
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. At Hickory Run State Park Campground, "The sites are large and many are somewhat private in terms of visual barriers. The camp store had good hours and is stocked to high heaven."
Clean facilities: Frances Slocum State Park Campground maintains high cleanliness standards. A visitor reported, "Cleanest campground I have been to. Great in between spot to worlds end state park and rickets glen."
Pool access: Robin Hill Campground provides swimming options during summer months. "Pretty campground with cute pool. There is an outdoor pool which is open seasonally, an arcade, a playground for children, and a catch and release lake for fishing."
Organized activities: Seasonal events enhance the camping experience. "The activity director organized a nice continental breakfast, free chair massages, and raffled off manicure and pedicures. They had an art activity for the children, BINGO on Friday night, and a live band on Saturday night."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most RV sites near Nanticoke, Pennsylvania have limited availability during winter. "Most of the time we were offsite attending a local music festival. The campsites were clean, adequately spaced and many positioned along side a creek," noted one visitor to Moyers Grove Campground.
Wildlife awareness: Bear activity requires food storage precautions. "Be aware that this area has a high bear population and all campers are required to keep food items in their vehicles or trailers when not at the site."
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. "Be advised that there was no cell service or internet for AT&T users. Verizon did have some service."
Utility connections: Water hookup locations can be challenging at some campgrounds. "Make sure you have a LONG water hose. We actually had to buy a 50 foot hose in the camp store to accommodate the distance to the spigot."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Look for sites near recreation areas. "There was a large open field in the loop we camped in with a swing set on it. This was nice for families with children."
Swimming options: Frances Slocum State Park Campground offers both pool and lake access. "Cute little park. Nice lake for kayaking but not for swimming although there is a big pool. Nice trails for hiking."
Pet-friendly loops: Several campgrounds designate specific areas for pets. "We had a full hook-up site in the back loop, pet friendly part of the campground. The sites in this loop were spacious and more in an open area, but we were along a wooded area which gave us some shade."
Water quality alerts: Check for advisories before planning water activities. "DO NOT take your pups to the water. There is a weird bacteria or algae currently growing in the lake, it's completely visible. There are advisories around about it too."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Appalachian Camping Resort, choose your location carefully. "We were unaware that our site was a buddy site. The buddy site was very narrow and since our buddy arrived first we had no choice but to park farther down on the site to avoid our awnings touching and that left us very uneven."
Terrain challenges: Some campgrounds require navigating hills. At Stonybrook RV Resort, "The entrance made for a challenging entry up a steep grade, narrow roadway, and sharp turn in. I made it without problems, but it wasn't easy in a 45' motorhome towing a Jeep."
Seasonal site quality: Permanent sites vary in maintenance. "Many seasonal or annual sites were trashy and their rigs very dirty. Not sure about other sites but ours had a big 'tank' that was used for sewer hookup instead of group connection as did all the sites around us."
Check-in timing: Plan arrivals according to campground policies. "Check in is as 3pm, we showed up at 2:45 after a 7 hr drive and they made us pay $15 extra. Sites were average."
