R
Russell A.
Scout
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!
Tent Camping near Pine Grove, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Several tent campgrounds surround the Pine Grove region of Pennsylvania, offering varied camping experiences. Shambala at Mystic Hollow provides creekside tent sites that require a walk-in approach, with 15 sites available for reservation. Nearby, Mauch Chunk Lake Park in Jim Thorpe offers wooded tent camping with many sites situated along the lake edge, though roots and rocks may require extra padding for tent campers.
Walk-in tent sites are common throughout the area's campgrounds, with varying amenities available. Most locations provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities differ significantly between established and primitive sites. Mill Creek Camping Area features creek-adjacent tent spaces that stay cooler in hot weather due to tree cover and water proximity. Several campgrounds offer drinking water and toilet facilities, but primitive sites like AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap require campers to pack in all supplies. Many locations have established fire pits, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods.
Tent camping experiences in this region often benefit from natural features that enhance comfort. Lower Allen Community Park offers tent sites along Yellow Breeches Creek, allowing campers to kayak to their sites. The ridge campsites near Lehigh Gap provide peaceful settings surrounded by ferns with views from tent locations. Sites vary in privacy and seclusion, with some areas experiencing hiker traffic despite designated camping areas. A recent review noted that "Campsite for where we stayed is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night." Tent sites at Mauch Chunk Lake benefit from wooded surroundings that provide shade and separation from neighboring campers, though weekend crowds can reduce the sense of solitude.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Pine Grove (25)
1. 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
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. Shikellamy State Park Campground
"Had a great time walking the trails and enjoying a picnic at the cliff-side pavilion."
4. Hibernia County Park
"Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."
"We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. There’s running water available, porta potties are very clean and don’t smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $50 / night
5. Rolling Hills Retreats
"Her boyfriend and I wanted to plan an outdoor camping trip but we’re completely over having no privacy, worrying about my reactive dog, feeling like we had to follow ridiculous rules when going camping"
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
from $160 - $380 / night
6. Lancaster County Mill Creek Camping Area
7. Mill Creek Camping Area
"Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents, camping cost $25 a night flat rate, for up to 6 days. Campground will refund you if rain prevents your stay or allow you to rebook."
Check Availabilityfrom $23 / night
8. Lower Allen Community Park
"The park is in the suburbs so it’s close to lots of things. They do lock the park at dusk though. They have portapotties, fire pits, and picnic tables."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $25 / night
9. 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."
10. 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."
Drive Time
- 30 min from Lebanon, PA
- 31 min from Harrisburg, PA
- 44 min from Reading, PA
- 1 hr 2 min from Lancaster, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Pine Grove, PA
41 Photos of 25 Pine Grove Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Pine Grove, PA
912 Reviews of 25 Pine Grove Campgrounds
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.
Peggy C.
TravelerCountry Acres Campground
Lovely campground!
Country Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
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.
Pam R.GuideGifford Pinchot State Park Campground
We booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
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
- LLynn C.Scout
Old Mill Stream Campground
Never Again
The advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
- 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.
Adam and Suzanne B.GuideBeacon Hill Camping
Great location
We stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
Guide to Pine Grove
Pine Grove sits in the eastern Pennsylvania woodlands with tent camping options scattered within a 45-mile radius. The region features numerous creek and lakeside tent sites between 400-800 feet elevation, with summer temperatures typically reaching 80-85°F. Most tent sites in this area remain open from April through October, though availability varies by location.
What to do
Creek wading access: Shambala at Mystic Hollow provides direct creek access from campsites, allowing for cooling off during hot days. As one camper notes, "Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers great creekside campsites for anyone looking to pitch a tent and enjoy some time by the water."
Kayaking and paddleboarding: Several tent sites near Mauch Chunk Lake Park offer water recreation options. A regular visitor shared, "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm. You can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear."
Rafting excursions: White water rafting on the Lehigh River runs approximately 10 minutes from some camping areas. One camper reported, "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing. The campground is definitely great for Girl Scout or school groups."
What campers like
Cooler temperatures near water: Creek-adjacent tent sites at Mill Creek Camping Area naturally regulate heat during summer months. One visitor mentioned appreciating "the sound of water flowing at night," noting that positioning "down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience."
Wooded privacy: Many tent sites feature tree coverage that creates natural boundaries between campsites. At Hibernia County Park, campers appreciate that "camp sites are under trees" providing natural shade and separation.
Natural padding: Pine needle ground cover at some sites creates comfortable tent foundations. A camper at the AT Ridge Campground described, "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area."
What you should know
Seasonal restrictions: Most tent campgrounds operate from April through October, with limited winter availability. Hibernia County Park specifically operates "May to October."
Parking limitations: Many of the best tent camping near Pine Grove involves walk-in access only. At AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap, sites are "less than a mile from the parking at Blue Mountain Rd. (Official A.T. parking)."
Limited facilities: Primitive sites require campers to bring water and sanitation supplies. The AT Ridge sites have no drinking water or toilet facilities, meaning campers need self-contained water and waste management plans.
Trail traffic: Some camping areas experience hiker traffic despite being designated camping zones. One camper noted, "Hikers take any trail instead of marked trails regardless of families camping in private areas."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: Lower Allen Community Park offers accessible sites ideal for first-time campers. One visitor described it as "Cute site in a local township park that not many people know about. There actually three total. You just need to call the township to reserve."
Weekday timing: Lake-adjacent sites become noticeably quieter midweek. A regular camper at Mauch Chunk Lake noted, "If you go during the week, it's quite calm."
Site selection strategy: For tent camping with children, prioritize sites with proximity to facilities. At Hibernia County Park, a family reported, "The park ranger this weekend was the nicest and very helpful with directions to walk to the playground and indoor restrooms."
Wildlife awareness: Inform children about local wildlife expectations. A camper reported "Lots of creepy crawlers" at Mill Creek, suggesting families prepare children for normal woodland insect encounters.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Pine Grove limit RV access to smaller units under 28 feet. One RV camper at Hibernia County Park noted that while at first glance sites don't appear suitable, "there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper."
Leveling preparations: Bring adequate leveling equipment as many sites have natural slope. An experienced RVer mentioned, "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Water planning: No hookups mean arriving with full tanks. One camper advised, "If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Pine Grove, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pine Grove, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pine Grove, PA is Shambala at Mystic Hollow with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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tent camping near
Pine Grove, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Pine Grove, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Pine Grove, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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