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sorcha A.
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TravelerShady Oak Campground
Easy access to Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch areas. Friendly, welcoming staff and plenty of colorful trees in the autumn. The only RV park in the area that is open year round.
Tent Camping near Port Clinton, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Several tent camping options can be found near Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, with primitive sites scattered along the Appalachian Trail corridor that passes through the area. The region offers backcountry tent sites particularly around the Lehigh Gap section of the AT, including the AT Ridge Campground and George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter. Mauch Chunk Lake Park, located in nearby Jim Thorpe, provides established tent campsites with more amenities for those seeking a less primitive camping experience while still being within reach of Port Clinton.
Most primitive tent campsites along the Appalachian Trail near Port Clinton are accessible only via hiking trails and feature basic stone fire rings with no amenities beyond what backpackers carry themselves. These sites typically have no drinking water sources directly at the campsites, requiring hikers to fill up before ascending the ridge or at springs marked along the trail. The tent sites at Mauch Chunk Lake Park offer more amenities including drinking water, trash disposal, and access to toilets and showers, though these tent sites are more developed and less secluded than the backcountry options. Fire restrictions may apply during dry periods, particularly at the primitive sites.
The tent-only backcountry campsites provide excellent views and natural immersion not available at developed campgrounds. Several sites along the ridge offer panoramic views of the valley directly from tent locations, particularly at the AT Overlook Campground. The ground conditions vary throughout the region, with some sites featuring soft pine needle beds ideal for tent camping while others may be rocky or prone to becoming boggy after rainfall. A visitor commented, "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." For those seeking more facilities, Mauch Chunk Lake Park's tent sites offer the advantage of lake access for swimming and paddling, though some campers note these sites can become crowded and noisy during peak summer weekends.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Port Clinton (26)
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. 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
4. 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."
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. 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
7. 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."
8. 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."
9. 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."
10. Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park
"Clean restrooms, lots of open space!"
"Large sites, clean bathrooms, lots of hiking trails"
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $30 / night
Drive Time
- 25 min from Reading, PA
- 34 min from Allentown, PA
- 38 min from Lebanon, PA
- 54 min from Lancaster, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Port Clinton, PA
39 Photos of 26 Port Clinton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Port Clinton, PA
867 Reviews of 26 Port Clinton 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.
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.
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 Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Pennsylvania offers tent camping opportunities along the Appalachian Trail (AT) with sites situated at elevations between 950 and 1,600 feet. The area experiences moderate humidity with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during day and 55-65°F at night. The surrounding Blue Mountain ridge creates a microclimate that can result in quick weather changes, requiring campers to prepare for unexpected conditions.
What to do
Paddling activities: Several tent campsites near Port Clinton provide excellent access to water recreation. Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers paddleboarding opportunities with lakefront sites. "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm. You are in beautiful Jim Thorpe that has white water rafting in town," notes Lisa S.
River camping: For those planning Lehigh River adventures, Riverview Park Campground positions you perfectly along the waterway. Each site includes a picnic bench and firepit right along the river. The park connects to the D&L biking trail on an old railroad bed, providing additional recreational opportunities.
Disc golf and fishing: Green Lane Park combines primitive tent camping with diverse recreational activities. "Phenomenal disc golf course, hiking, and fishing," reports Benjamin C. The park offers multiple well-marked trails for day hiking between camping sessions, allowing visitors to explore without traveling far from their campsite.
What campers like
Mountain views: AT Overlook Campground provides exceptional panoramas of the surrounding valley. "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. Previous campers have also been kind enough to build up a sizable stone fire ring and construct a stone chair for enjoying the fire and view," writes Asher K.
Natural surfaces: Some backcountry tent sites near Port Clinton feature comfortable natural terrain. AT Group Campsite offers "a very large flat site with plenty of clear spots for multiple tents" that "was less muddy than some of the other options so would work well when it has rained recently." Meanwhile, the pine forest camping areas provide natural padding with pine needle beds.
Shelter options: For those seeking protection from the elements without carrying a tent, the George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter offers an alternative. "The shelter itself is well maintained and has a raised covered platform for sleeping with plenty of space for lots of hikers. There is also a spring nearby for filling up water," according to visitor reports.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Some tent campsites in the Port Clinton area require advance planning. Riverview Park Campground charges an additional $10 fee for walk-ins without reservations. "Just 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," advises Asher K.
Water access limitations: Many primitive sites along the AT near Port Clinton lack reliable water sources. When staying at AT Overlook Campground, visitors should "be prepared to bring in your water since there is nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge." Plan water carrying capacity accordingly or research spring locations before your trip.
Campsite visibility: Some camping areas can be difficult to locate along the trail. The AT Group Campsite is "a little removed from the trail so make sure to keep an eye out for it." Similarly, the pine forest group site requires attention: "Just make sure to mark this on your map before you leave since it can be a tougher site to find especially in the summer when everything is so lush and green."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: For those new to camping, select sites with basic amenities. "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," says Mackenzie B. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Activity variety: Look for campgrounds with multiple recreation options to keep children engaged. "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. about his first camping experience at Mauch Chunk.
Noise considerations: Some established campgrounds can become lively, particularly on weekends. "It's a busy place, a lot of weekenders with excited kiddos," notes one camper. For quieter family experiences, consider mid-week stays or more remote tent sites along the AT corridor.
Tips from RVers
Site preparation: While most campsites near Port Clinton cater to tent camping, those bringing small RVs should check ground conditions. Some sites feature "exposed tree roots and rocks," requiring careful positioning. Small trailers may work at select sites, but most backcountry locations are tent-only.
Electric needs: For campers requiring electric hookups, options are limited near Port Clinton proper. Most AT corridor sites offer no utilities, while campgrounds like Mauch Chunk Lake Park provide electric hookups at a premium price. Consider alternative power solutions like portable solar chargers when staying at primitive sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Port Clinton, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Port Clinton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Port Clinton, PA is Shambala at Mystic Hollow with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Port Clinton, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Port Clinton, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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