Traditional camping and upscale glamping close to North Wales, Pennsylvania offer options within 25 miles of town across several counties. The region sits at the edge of Pennsylvania Dutch Country with elevations around 400 feet and mild summer temperatures averaging 85°F. Most campsites open from April through October, with limited winter availability at select locations.
What to do
Disc golf courses: Green Lane Park features 18 challenging holes through wooded terrain and open fields. "Phenomenal disc golf course, hiking, and fishing," notes one visitor who found the combination of activities ideal for extended stays.
Fishing opportunities: Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park provides access to multiple fishing spots with various species. "There are two large showers as well with very warm water," mentions a camper who appreciated the facilities after a day of outdoor activities.
Creek exploration: Lake Towhee County Park connects to nearby waterways via walking paths. "There are trails from the campground to the lake. Day use area with playground is walking distance," notes a visitor who enjoyed the natural setting during fall camping.
Rock climbing: Tohickon Valley Park features a "good 100' rock wall perfect for climbing," according to one adventurer who combined this with hiking and fishing during their stay.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: French Creek State Park Campground offers secluded camping spots with natural barriers. "The campsites are not right on top of one another. There is a lot of shade and the campground is laid out well," notes one regular visitor who appreciates the thoughtful design.
Year-round availability: French Creek State Park maintains some camping options throughout winter. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great! If you're traveling through, there are many places to eat nearby," reports a solo female traveler who felt safe during her off-season visit.
Well-maintained facilities: Boulder Woods Campground provides clean amenities even during peak season. "The bathrooms were nice and clean, showers were nice. There are a few bath houses that make the large camp ground have easy access to the bathrooms which I appreciated," mentions a tent camper who visited with an adult group.
Tent-specific areas: Boulder Woods designates separate areas for tent campers away from RVs. "The tent sites are on dirt and not stone which we enjoyed, I hate stone under my tent," explains a visitor who found the setup comfortable for weekend camping.
What you should know
Mud issues: Tohickon Family Campground experiences drainage problems after rainfall. "We had a great Halloween weekend but we were down by creek so it was very muddy," notes one camper who still enjoyed their themed weekend despite the conditions.
Site selection matters: Tohickon Family offers varied camping experiences depending on location. "Don't come if you're in a tent and it has been or will rain. It becomes flooded or turns into a mudpit," warns a regular visitor who still rates the campground highly for its other qualities.
Limited privacy at some parks: Deep Creek Campground has an open layout design. "The sites are large but there is NO privacy. The sites are lined up next to each other along the campground driveway and there are absolutely no trees or shrubs between them," explains a local who scouted the campground.
Seasonal camper policies: Boulder Woods maintains specific requirements for long-term stays. "They only allow seasonal campers to be 10 years old or newer. Ours is 13. Very disappointed," shared one visitor who planned to become a seasonal camper but couldn't due to their RV's age.
Tips for camping with families
Pool amenities: Quakerwoods Campground provides separate swimming areas for different age groups. "There is a pool and another playground situated conveniently between the loops of the campground. It had some slides, a bridge, lots of monkey bars, ladders to climb on and the best feature was the zip line," shares a parent who visited with young children.
Wildlife viewing: Evansburg State Park offers natural encounters on accessible trails. "Since he was 2 years old I've taken my son, and we always have an amazing time, either hiking the trails or wandering in the woods looking for 'adventures,'" describes a father who regularly visits with his son.
Playground access: Little Red Barn Campground maintains play areas near camping loops. "The pool is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. There is also a separate kiddie pool," mentions a visitor who enjoyed having the pool to themselves after the holiday weekend.
Off-season activities: French Creek State Park hosts seasonal events appropriate for children. "They hold a Sunday morning 'Church at the Park,' which we were planning to go to, but then it rained, and we didn't know there was a rain location (the park office), so we ended up missing that," shared a family camper who still gave the park five stars.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: French Creek State Park provides detailed site information important for larger vehicles. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze," notes one RVer who appreciated the thoughtful design.
Hookup variations: French Creek offers different utility options across camping loops. "There are three separate loops to camp at, Loop C is the only loop that allows pets, plus an area for large group camping which can accommodate anywhere from 30 to 60 people. All sites do not have a water hook up but there is water available and some sites have electric," explains a regular visitor who knows the layout well.
Assistance with parking: Boulder Woods Campground provides staff help for difficult sites. "The spots are tight to get into but the staff will offer to park your camper using your vehicle. I let them park mine and I'm really glad I did. It was super tight," shares an RVer who appreciated the service.
Bridge restrictions: Tohickon Family Campground has access limitations. "Getting here was a little tricky having to go around the covered bridge but not anything that would ever deter me and my family from coming back," notes an RV owner who was still impressed with the campground overall.
