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 Plymouth, PA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campgrounds within driving distance of Plymouth, Pennsylvania offer a mix of established facilities and primitive sites, particularly in the surrounding mountain areas. Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides lakeside tent sites with basic amenities, while more secluded options exist along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap. Several primitive tent areas can be found within an hour's drive, including the ridgeline campsites on Kittatinny Mountain that provide panoramic views.
Most tent camping areas feature stone fire rings and flat spaces suitable for multiple tents, though site conditions vary considerably between locations. Campers should note that several primitive sites, especially those along the Appalachian Trail, require hikers to carry in all water as no sources are available on the ridgelines. Facilities range from developed campgrounds with showers and toilets at Mauch Chunk Lake Park to completely undeveloped backcountry sites with no amenities. A review mentioned that "a bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area," describing one of the group campsites near Lehigh Gap. Reservations are required at some locations, with additional fees sometimes charged for walk-ins without prior booking.
The tent camping experience near Plymouth offers distinct advantages over other camping styles, particularly for those seeking quiet natural settings. Sites along the Lehigh River provide both water access and proximity to recreation opportunities. Areas farther from town offer deeper seclusion and less noise, with many campers appreciating the pine-covered sites for their protection during inclement weather. One camper noted that the AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap features "a magical field of ferns" where "you can hear the wind blowing through the trees while watching the ferns sway back and forth." Seasonal variations affect the camping experience, with many backcountry tent sites offering more solitude during weekdays and shoulder seasons when visitation is lower.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Plymouth (23)
1. 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
2. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
3. 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
4. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
5. Half Baked Homestead
6. 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."
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 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. 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
10. 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."
Drive Time
- 25 min from Scranton, PA
- 1 hr 14 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 17 min from Williamsport, PA
- 1 hr 19 min from Binghamton, NY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Plymouth, PA
34 Photos of 23 Plymouth 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
Oh! Pear Orchards
Hillside Campgrounds
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Tent Camping Reviews near Plymouth, PA
863 Reviews of 23 Plymouth 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.
- 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.
Kathy L.
RangerHickory Run State Park Campground
Beautiful forest
Gorgeous forested area in the Poconos. We stayed on the Rattlesnake Loop which was lovely. Sites not super private but most nestled in trees. The only bummer was that that Campground Loop didn’t have any direct links to the trail network and was far from it. The other Campground Loop was closer to trails and office. Would return!
Guide to Plymouth
Tent camping areas near Plymouth, Pennsylvania range from state forest sites to primitive Appalachian Trail locations accessible by hiking only. Situated between the Poconos and the Lehigh Valley, campers find diverse terrain with elevations ranging from 400 feet along the Lehigh River to over 1,500 feet on mountain ridges. Most primitive sites experience 10-15°F cooler temperatures than surrounding valleys, with seasonal changes affecting site accessibility.
What to do
Paddle sports access: Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers multiple water recreation options with kayak and paddleboard rentals available on-site. "I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear," notes Lisa S. about the lakefront sites.
Whitewater rafting: Several campgrounds provide convenient access to Lehigh River rafting. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center combines camping with adventure activities. "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing," reports Katie S., though she mentions it "definitely great for Girl Scout or school groups" but may not suit those seeking quiet camping.
Festival experiences: Some seasonal campgrounds host special events during summer months. Emma T. describes staying at Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center for "Riverfest" as "great. Bands throughout the night with beer and food."
Early river access: Riverside camping puts you directly on water routes. Riverview Park Campground sites sit along the Lehigh River with "picnic bench and firepit" with bathroom facilities "up alongside the road," according to Asher K., making it "perfect" for "adventuring out on the Lehigh River and want to get an early start."
What campers like
Protected forest sites: Pine-covered areas provide natural shelter during inclement weather. At AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap, "pine trees also provide a nice cover to make this a well-protected site in case of bad weather," with "a bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area."
Secluded ridge camping: Primitive sites along mountain ridges offer increased privacy. The AT Ridge Campground features camping areas "surrounded by a magical field of ferns" where "you can hear the wind blowing through the trees while watching the ferns sway back and forth," according to Asher K.
Water-adjacent campsites: Lake and riverside locations remain popular for direct water access. Lisa S. appreciates Mauch Chunk Lake Park because "you can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm."
Spacious forest sites: State forest camping areas provide ample space between sites. Gavin S. describes Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground as "very open, plenty of space. Most campgrounds have previously stocked wood from other people, makes setting up very convenient."
What you should know
Water access limitations: Many ridge and mountain sites lack water sources. Asher K. warns about the AT Overlook Campground: "Just be prepared to bring in your water since there is nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge."
Reservation requirements: Some public camping areas charge extra for walk-ins. At Riverview Park Campground, "make sure if you are going to stay here that you reserve a site in advance since they will charge you an additional $10 if you show up without planning."
Noise levels: Popular campgrounds can become crowded during peak seasons. Danielle F. reports about Mauch Chunk Lake Park: "The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers... There are supposed to be quiet hours, but they were not enforced."
Pest considerations: Ticks remain prevalent in wooded camping areas. Gavin S. notes at Manny Gordon Recreation Area: "Lots of ticks tho so get your spray."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: Some campgrounds specifically accommodate new campers. Mackenzie B. states that Mauch Chunk Lake Park "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."
Activity-focused camping: Sites with built-in recreation help keep children engaged. Danny M. found Mauch Chunk offered "volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals. Also a lot to do in the nearby town."
Weekday vs weekend: Consider timing for quieter family experiences. Lisa S. notes that at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, "if you go during the week, it's quite calm," which contrasts with weekend experiences reported by other campers.
Tent preparation: Rocky terrain requires additional comfort considerations. Amber M. advises: "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for views: Choose lake or river sites for optimal camping experience. Emma T. reported after camping at Mauch Chunk Lake Park: "Note for next time: we will definitely be getting a lake front site for the awesome view!"
Check pet policies: Campground pet rules vary significantly in this region. Despite website listings, Blythe A. warns: "This is listed as pet friendly on thedyrt.com but if you go to the park's website, pets are not allowed."
Site leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven terrain at many of the best tent camping sites near Plymouth. Amber M. notes many sites "have exposed tree roots and rocks," which applies to both tent and small RV camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Plymouth, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Plymouth, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Plymouth, PA is Manny Gordon Recreation Area Campground — Pinchot State Forest with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Plymouth, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Plymouth, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Plymouth, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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