R
Russell A.
Scout
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!
Tent Camping near Tafton, PA
4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campsites near Tafton, Pennsylvania offer multiple riverside and forest settings, particularly along the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Namanock Island provides primitive tent-only sites accessible solely by water, requiring paddlers to navigate approximately 4 miles downstream from Milford Beach. The Steam Mill Campground features grassy tent sites with basic amenities and access to hiking trails, while sites at Alosa are positioned for multi-day river expeditions.
Primitive tent camping dominates the region with minimal facilities at most locations. Many sites include fire rings but lack drinking water, requiring campers to carry in their own supplies or filter from nearby sources. Most tent campsites within the Delaware Water Gap have one-night stay limits for river travelers, though some locations like Steam Mill allow longer stays. Vault toilets or primitive privies are available at most established tent sites, though some boat-in locations lack facilities entirely. Access methods vary considerably, with options ranging from drive-in tent sites at Steam Mill to paddle-accessible spots at Namanock Island and Alosa, where steep shorelines sometimes create challenging landings during high water periods.
Tent campers experience significant seclusion at waterside locations, particularly on Namanock Island where the absence of light pollution creates exceptional stargazing opportunities. The island tent sites are consistently described as clean and spacious, accommodating multiple tents while maintaining privacy. According to one visitor, "Once darkness falls there are no lights to be seen in either direction, up or down river." Hiking trails near many campsites connect to broader networks, including the Appalachian Trail near some locations. The area features diverse wildlife, with campers commonly reporting deer, birds, and occasional bear activity near tent sites. Several tent campgrounds serve as excellent bases for day hikes to nearby waterfalls, particularly Raymondskill Falls, which is accessible via a short hike from Namanock Island.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Tafton (48)
1. Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"There is a ten dollar fee per day to park your car so bring cash as the parking area is not always manned and you’ll have to leave the fee in an envelope that is available just past the entrance."
"They are a first come, first camped, set up, but I have not once in 6 years, (multiple trips per year), ever found anyone in the site ahead of me."
2. Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"This camping site is a set of 6 sites on the New Jersey border maintained by the National Park Service."
"There is no public road access to the campsite. Secondly, the site is maintained by the NPS,(National Park Service) within the DWGNRA, (Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area)."
3. Caffrey Recreation Area
4. Kunkelli Rapids
5. Steam Mill Campground
"Campsite is flat, grassy, some rocks to avoid, one tree in center, large fire ring, picnic table, short walk to the pit toilet, short walk to the water spigot that is always running and ice cold, short"
"Fire rings don't seem centered on their cement bases, but other than being aware of the edges as a tripping hazard this is not an issue -- no worse than any other rock or root. "
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
6. Minisink Campground
7. Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"It had 5-6 platforms, privys, big fire ring, a grill, a beatbox, a large pavilion w/picnic tables and a real full sized bathroom only 100 yards away."
"You can rent kayaks and canoes and swimming is allowed on Catfish Pond -- plenty of fish, snapping turtles, and other wildlife."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 - $75 / night
8. Rivers Bend Group Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"Four outhouses centrally locates and a pump well that did not work. Quiet surrounding. To your right down a small hill is the flat brook that funnels out into a large “U” bend of the Delaware river."
5 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $100 / night
9. Hornbeck's River Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Check Availabilityfrom $16 / night
10. Bushkill Creek Boat In Campsite — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"The only site on the PA side of the at the start of the S-bend in Zone 4 - great to have no neighbors, though we could hear some noise across the water from the 6 Peters sites on the other side. "
Check Availabilityfrom $16 / night
Drive Time
- 39 min from Scranton, PA
- 1 hr 5 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 28 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 31 min from Allentown, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Tafton, PA
68 Photos of 48 Tafton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Second District Brew FarmS
Sandyston Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Hornbeck's River Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Ratcliff's River Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Steam Mill Campground
Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Wooded Campground
Kirkrige Shelter / Kittatinny Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Kittatinny Valley State Park Campground
Oh! Pear Orchards
Tent Camping Reviews near Tafton, PA
956 Reviews of 48 Tafton Campgrounds
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.
- 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.
Leo C.ScoutWinding Hills Park
Nice but dated
Nice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
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.
Thomas B.
RangerNeversink River Resort
Cool Riverside Campground
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
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!
- KKelly B.Guide
Little Pond Campground
Nice quiet lil campground
We went the 2nd week of October and seems like we had just missed the foliage peak but it was still beautiful.
Everyone minded their business and most sites were 2-4 people, showers were clean and warm but the kind where you gotta push the button every 30 seconds. Toilets were clean and running smoothly (we were in the southernmost loop, closest to the camp office)
No cellphone reception but we could get satellite signal to text our loved ones that we were alive and well!
We loved the hiking and especially kayaking on the pond
Guide to Tafton
Tent camping near Tafton, Pennsylvania centers on the Upper Delaware River valley, which forms part of the 277-square-mile Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The river corridor sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level, with surrounding ridges rising to 1,200 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below 20°F with summer highs regularly exceeding 85°F, requiring seasonal preparation for tent campers visiting primitive sites.
What to do
Waterfall hikes: 3 miles from Sandyston Campsites. Accessible via short trails on the Pennsylvania side, several waterfalls provide day trip opportunities for campers. According to one visitor at Sandyston Boat In Campsites, "Within minutes on the Pennsylvania side of the river you can hike to Raymondskill Falls, (one of many in easy walking distance), as well as search for abandoned/forgotten homes and mills, (some of which date back to the 1700's)."
Packrafting: 4-mile float to campsites. The Delaware River offers numerous put-in points for inflatable boats and kayaks heading to water-access camping. A camper at Namanock Island notes, "I have now taken my packraft to the island twice and have had a fantastic trip each time! The sites are maintained by the NPS and are available on a first come first served basis. Also there is no cost!"
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk best times. Multiple sites provide opportunities to observe local fauna in natural habitats. "As for local wildlife, you can expect to be visited by a masked robber or two during the night, but a bear bag hanging will eliminate any issues," reports a camper from Namanock Island, highlighting the importance of proper food storage.
What campers like
Seclusion: No light pollution for stargazing. Riverside camping offers genuine isolation from urban environments. A visitor at Jenny Jump State Forest shared, "We've been here multiple times. It's so peaceful up there and the scenery is lovely." Many sites feature similar quiet conditions.
Spacious sites: Room for multiple tents. Many campgrounds in the area provide ample space between sites. At Steam Mill Campground, "Each of the camping spots were big and outfitted with picnic benches and fire rings for cooking." Sites often accommodate group camping without feeling crowded.
Island camping: Unique river experience. Water-access camping on islands creates memorable overnight stays. One camper stated, "Its always in nice shape, if not pristine. Group/family accommodating, pet friendly, PRIMITIVE camping that takes you back in time." The isolation of island sites provides a distinctive camping experience not commonly found elsewhere.
What you should know
Access limitations: Boat-only sites require planning. Many prime camping spots cannot be reached by vehicle. "This site is only accessible by canoes or kayaks. There is no public road access to the campsite," explains a reviewer from Sandyston Campsites, emphasizing the need for water transportation.
Primitive facilities: Most sites lack amenities. Prepare for basic camping conditions at most locations. At Alosa Boat In Campsites, "There's usually always a port-a-potty at the campsite. Each area has its own fire ring and multiple river pull offs for easy finding and access." Most sites have minimal facilities.
Seasonal considerations: Peak summer weekends fill quickly. Planning ahead prevents disappointment during busy periods. "During the summer, it is often a challenge to find an open site on a Saturday night, especially if you have gotten a late start on the river or are approaching the southern end of the park," warns a camper about Hornbeck's River Campsites.
Tips for camping with families
Emergency access: Know evacuation routes. Some remote sites maintain emergency access despite their primitive nature. At Alosa Boat In Campsites, "There is an emergency pick up/access road available as well with contact from the park. Reservations are required for this site." This provides peace of mind for families with children.
Campsite selection: Evaluate shoreline access. When camping with children, consider how steep the approach to water sites may be. "The other downside to these sites is the river to camp journey. Due to fluctuating water levels all of the islands that are used for camping have a cut wall cliff style approach," notes a visitor at Hornbeck's River Campsites.
Alternative accommodations: Basic shelters available. For families not ready for tent camping, some areas offer simple structures. A visitor to Jenny Jump State Forest describes, "The 'shelter' is what we would describe as a 'cabin'; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch."
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Small trailers only. Most campgrounds in the area cannot accommodate large recreational vehicles. At Steam Mill Campground, sites are described as "for people truly there to camp, either in a tent or small travel trailer." Standard-sized RVs will find limited options.
Limited hookups: Prepare for boondocking. Even drive-in sites typically offer minimal services. "It is primitive so there are no other facilities at the sites," notes a camper, reflecting the general lack of electric, water, and sewer connections throughout the region.
Parking access: Reserve well ahead for holiday weekends. Limited parking at river access points creates logistical challenges. "I paid 20 for day and overnight parking at Milford beach. Paddle about 4 miles to the site," explains a solo camper, highlighting both the cost and distance considerations for those bringing boats to reach river sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Tafton, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Tafton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Tafton, PA is Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area with a 4.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Tafton, PA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Tafton, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 48 tent camping locations near Tafton, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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