Jermyn, Pennsylvania sits at an elevation of 1,060 feet in the Pocono region, characterized by forested hills and numerous freshwater lakes. The area receives approximately 46 inches of precipitation annually, creating lush surroundings for camping from April through October. Most campgrounds maintain operating seasons that align with these moderate weather patterns, with several offering year-round yurt accommodations.
What to do
Waterfall hiking trails: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground features 22 named waterfalls accessible via moderate hiking trails. "We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike. The trails are very well marked," notes one camper who visited the park.
Lake activities: Keen Lake Resort Campground offers multiple water recreation options on their private lake. "We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake," explains a visitor who stayed for 5 nights. The campground provides paddleboats, rowboats and fishing access directly from lakeside sites.
Winter recreation: Some parks maintain seasonal yurt camping near Jermyn with winter activities. Tobyhanna State Park transforms during colder months, with ice fishing and cross-country skiing available. As one visitor observed, "Scenic state park with a lake. You can swim in the lake in the summer or do a 5-mile hike around the lake along well-marked walk paths."
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: Secluded Acres Campground delivers on its name with private camping spaces. "Such wonderful rustic sites that are absolutely secluded!! Love it and just wish it was open all year round!" reports an enthusiastic camper who traveled two hours to visit the location twice in consecutive weeks.
Clean facilities: Honesdale - Poconos KOA maintains exceptionally well-kept amenities according to multiple reviews. "The bathrooms and showers, every time we went in, were spotless. The staff was incredible. So friendly and helpful," notes a family with children and dogs who appreciated the cleanliness standards throughout their stay.
Year-round yurt options: Lackawanna State Park Campground extends camping seasons with weatherproof accommodations. "Campground has cabins and yurts, pull in sites for RV's and strictly walk in tent sites. There is a beautiful lake and a very large pool. We went in early spring midweek, it was very quiet," explains a visitor who appreciated the off-season tranquility.
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Bear sightings occur regularly at several campgrounds in the region. "Just stayed 2 nights with my 7 yrs. old daughter we had a blast. Everyone was very nice camp host and DCNR were very helpful. We were warned at check in that there have been a lot of bears in the area but never really thought that we would see one. As soon as we got to our site one came right up as we were setting up our tent," reports a camper at Tobyhanna State Park Campground.
Water conditions: Some parks experience periodic water issues. At Ricketts Glen State Park, "The water had been tested earlier in the season and unsafe levels of manganese were detected. All water spigots were shut off and covered but we were told it was safe to wash our dishes and brush our teeth."
Site spacing varies: Privacy levels differ significantly between campgrounds and even between loops at the same park. "The sites seemed a little narrow when we first pulled in, but it was plenty," notes a Keen Lake camper, while another observed at Tobyhanna that "scenic and spacious. Large camping areas that can fit two cars onsite and include picnic tables."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Hickory Run State Park Campground offers extensive recreation options for children. "The camp store had good hours and is stocked to high heaven; you could come here with just the clothes on your back and buy everything you need for a very comfortable stay," reports one visitor who appreciated the family-friendly amenities and play areas.
Organized activities: Scheduled programming engages children throughout their stay at several locations. At Keen Lake, a visitor notes, "They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day! The security is great and patrol to make sure quiet hours are quiet to be courteous to other campers that want quiet time."
Swimming options: Multiple water recreation areas accommodate different age groups and swimming abilities. "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake," shares a Keen Lake camper who appreciated having both swimming options available for their family.
Tips for RVers
Hookup quality: Electrical reliability varies between campgrounds. A visitor to Lackawanna reported "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," while Valley View Farm and Campground received praise for their well-maintained utility connections.
Site leveling: Terrain at many campgrounds requires preparation. "Our full hookup site was large with table and fire ring, and required some leveling," notes a Ricketts Glen visitor, suggesting RVers should bring leveling blocks.
Seasonal considerations: Not all campgrounds provide shade coverage for RV sites. "Not much shade in the full hookup loop, so was happy to have electricity for A/C," observes a Ricketts Glen camper, highlighting the importance of climate control during summer months.
