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 Shavertown, PA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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The forested hills surrounding Shavertown, Pennsylvania offer several tent camping options within a 30-mile radius. Manny Gordon Recreation Area in Pinchot State Forest provides primitive tent campsites with established fire rings and open spaces. Campers seeking walk-in tent sites can explore Oh! Pear Orchards, which features streamside tent camping with well-built fire pits. For backcountry tent camping experiences, the Appalachian Trail corridor south of Shavertown includes several hike-in tent sites near Lehigh Gap that provide ridge-top views and seclusion.
Most tent-only sites in the region feature basic amenities with varying terrain conditions. At Manny Gordon Recreation Area, tent pads are generally flat with previously stocked firewood often available, though tick protection is essential during warmer months. Walk-in tent sites at Oh! Pear Orchards require a short hike from parking areas, with carts provided to transport gear. Water access varies significantly between locations - primitive tent sites along the Appalachian Trail typically have no water sources, requiring campers to fill containers before arrival. Stone fire rings are common at most sites, though fire bans may be implemented during dry periods.
Tent campers report distinctive experiences at different locations throughout the region. According to reviews, AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap offers "flat, dry tent sites with valley views right from your tent door," though campers must bring their own water. At Oh! Pear Orchards, one visitor described "campsites next to a beautiful stream with the best fire pits," noting the peaceful setting and adequate shade. Weekday camping generally provides more solitude than weekend stays, particularly at popular locations like Mauch Chunk Lake Park, where lakeside tent sites can become crowded and noisy during summer weekends. Pine forest tent sites along the AT provide natural padding from pine needles, creating comfortable tent floors for backcountry campers.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Shavertown (26)
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. Half Baked Homestead
3. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
4. 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
5. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
6. Oh! Pear Orchards
"Campsites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool, magical setting, firewood easily accessible, close to state parks and lots of wide, open undeveloped"
"We're excited to have this property on our platform. This listing has peaceful tent sites located against the creek."
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $45 / night
7. 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."
8. Hillside Campgrounds
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 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."
Drive Time
- 22 min from Scranton, PA
- 1 hr 10 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 10 min from Williamsport, PA
- 1 hr 16 min from Binghamton, NY
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Shavertown, PA
39 Photos of 26 Shavertown Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Scrub Mountain Retreat
Mauch Chunk Lake Park
Oh! Pear Orchards
Hillside Campgrounds
BMR Operations, LLC dba Blue Mountain Resort By: BM Resort Management, LLC its Authorized Agent
Second District Brew FarmS
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Private Campsite on 50 AcresC
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Tent Camping Reviews near Shavertown, PA
791 Reviews of 26 Shavertown 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 Shavertown
Tent camping options near Shavertown, Pennsylvania include primitive sites in state forests, streamside locations, and backcountry spots along trail corridors. The region sits within the Pocono Mountains foothills, with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet, creating varied camping terrain. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-85°F during day with overnight lows in the 60s, while spring and fall campers should prepare for temperature drops into the 40s.
What to do
Paddle sports access: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides multiple tent sites with easy water access. "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, plus great restaurants and bars. I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear," notes Lisa S.
Weekend adventures: Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center combines camping with rafting excursions on the Lehigh River, located about a 30-minute drive from Shavertown. "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing. The campground is definitely great for Girl Scout or school groups, but if you are looking for a peaceful campground look elsewhere," reports Katie S.
Hiking opportunities: The Appalachian Trail corridor near Lehigh Gap offers multiple primitive camping options. At AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap, "you can hear the wind blowing through the trees while watching the ferns sway back and forth. Overall if it works with your distance goal I highly suggest taking a night and camping up on this ridge," according to Asher K.
What campers like
Natural padding: Backcountry tent sites at George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter feature protected sleeping areas during inclement weather. "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," notes Asher K.
Streamside settings: Oh! Pear Orchards offers tent camping with running water access. "This is a special place! Campsites next to a beautiful stream, the best fire pits, quiet and peaceful, just enough shade to stay cool, magical setting, firewood easily accessible," writes Heather T.
Spacious sites: Many tent campers appreciate the roominess at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, which provides larger than average tent spaces. "The campground was spacious and while it was likely full, it still felt secluded. Beautiful lake beach and canoe and kayak rentals. There's much to explore in the town Jim Thorpe and beautiful hiking close by," explains Katie S.
What you should know
Surface conditions: Tent site terrain varies significantly throughout the region. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, "Many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks, recommend extra padding for tenters. Plenty of space away from neighbors," advises Amber M.
Weekend noise levels: Campgrounds closer to recreation areas can become louder on weekends. "We visited in the summer on a weekend when it was full. The campsites are too close to each other and we were surrounded by very loud campers. It was not just 1 group; there were multiple parties making a lot of noise until after midnight," reports Danielle F. at Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Tick precautions: Insect protection is essential at Manny Gordon Recreation Area during warmer months. "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," warns Gavin S.
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: Some campgrounds specifically cater to new campers with easier access and 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," suggests Mackenzie B. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Activity-rich environments: Families with children often prefer sites with built-in recreation. "GREAT first trip! The campgrounds were nice and there was a lot to do. Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals. Also a lot to do in the nearby town," shares Danny M.
Gear transport assistance: When camping with children, look for sites with convenient gear access. At Oh! Pear Orchards, "It is a short walk in to the sites, but there is a cart provided which made it pretty easy. The hosts also offer valet service to your site," notes Heather T., making it easier for families with multiple items to transport.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: While most sites in the region cater primarily to tent campers, some accommodate smaller RVs. At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, lakefront sites tend to fill quickly. "Our first time tent camping was here and it set a great tone. We set up the tent, kayaked on the lake, cooked up some dinner, watched a strawberry super moon rise over the lake... Note for next time: we will definitely be getting a lake front site for the awesome view!" advises Emma T.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Shavertown, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Shavertown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Shavertown, 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
Shavertown, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Shavertown, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Shavertown, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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