Best Campgrounds near Scranton, PA
State parks and private campgrounds within an hour of Scranton, Pennsylvania provide a range of camping experiences from lakeside sites to forested retreats. Lackawanna State Park Campground, located just 10 miles north of the city in North Abington Township, offers tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with electric hookups and lake access. Frances Slocum State Park Campground, situated southwest of Scranton near Wyoming, provides similar amenities with restrictions on alcohol consumption. The region extends into the Pocono Mountains to the east, where Tobyhanna State Park and Promised Land State Park feature additional camping options. Private facilities like Keen Lake Resort Campground in Waymart and Highland Campgrounds in Dalton supplement the state park system with year-round and seasonal availability.
Most campgrounds in the Scranton area operate from mid-April through mid-October, with limited winter camping options. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and holidays. As one camper noted, "We were motorcycle camping and came in on a holiday weekend without a reservation, but we were given a terrific tent site. The park was very neat and well manicured." Site conditions can vary with weather, particularly in spring when rain can create muddy conditions. Cell service is spotty in many locations, particularly in the more remote state parks. Pennsylvania state parks enforce strict quiet hours (typically 9pm to 8am) and many prohibit alcohol consumption, with rangers actively patrolling campgrounds to enforce these rules.
Water features dominate the camping landscape around Scranton, with lakes and streams providing recreational opportunities. Campers frequently mention the quality of bathhouses in Pennsylvania state parks, though facilities vary by location. Site spacing can be an issue at some campgrounds, with one visitor to Tobyhanna State Park noting, "The sites were too close together and sites along the water would be better if they were tucked back from the road." Fall brings spectacular foliage viewing opportunities, particularly in the Poconos region east of Scranton. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting deer, various birds, and even bears in some areas. Park rangers typically advise proper food storage to prevent wildlife encounters, with some campgrounds providing bear-proof containers or centralized dumpsters away from camping areas.
