Camping near Thornhurst, Pennsylvania sits within the forested highlands of the Pocono Mountains, with elevations averaging 1,800 feet above sea level. This location experiences distinct seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs averaging 78°F and winter lows often dropping below 20°F. Road access becomes particularly challenging from November through March when snow and ice affect the forest service roads connecting to more remote camping areas.
What to do
Boulder exploration: 5.4 miles northwest of Hickory Run State Park Campground offers unique geological features. "Boulders everywhere! Big ones, small ones, run (carefully) across them all! Beyond the Boulder field is a vast, scary, unknown," notes visitor Mike M. The boulder field remains accessible year-round but requires appropriate footwear.
Wildlife observation: Dawn and dusk hours provide optimal viewing at Tobyhanna State Park Campground. Erik M. reports, "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."
Lakeside activities: Fishing, boating, swimming available from May through September at multiple locations. "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," explains J K. about Tobyhanna State Park. Canoe and kayak rentals cost $15-25 per day at most locations.
Hiking trail connections: Network of trails link camping areas to waterfalls and scenic overlooks. At Hickory Run State Park Campground, Shirley M. found "44 miles of trails. They are rated from easy to difficult. We found the 2 trails we hiked - Hawk Falls and Shades of Death trails - where were rated 'more difficult' were not bad to hike at all."
What campers like
Lakefront access: Sites with water views consistently receive higher ratings. At Pickerel Point Campground, Nancy L. shares, "Certain sites allow pets. My favorite site does, plus I can launch my kayak right from there!" Many water-adjacent sites require reservation 6+ months in advance for summer weekends.
Clean facilities: Regularly maintained bathrooms matter to campers with families. According to a visitor at Mountain Vista Campground, "Bathhouse was very clean. Lots of kids for our daughters to hang out with. Close to Bushkill Falls which we hiked." Most campgrounds clean facilities 2-3 times daily during peak season.
Privacy between sites: Natural vegetation buffers provide separation at select locations. Fransheska A. noted about Worthington State Forest Campground, "The spots are huge, and mostly private. When we go camping we don't want to be right up against our neighbors and at Worthington we pretty much had our own little island."
Year-round options: Limited winter camping possibilities exist despite seasonal closures. Mara S. discovered, "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers." Winter camping requires additional preparation with temperatures regularly below freezing.
What you should know
Bear safety protocols: Required food storage practices at all campgrounds in the region. "Do not leave any food out be sure to lock up everything in car," warns Erik M. at Tobyhanna State Park. "We were warned at check in that there have been a lot of bears in the area."
Site selection considerations: Location within campgrounds affects noise levels and privacy. At Frances Slocum State Park Campground, Jackie F. advises, "We had site 44 in the Stony Point loop and it was by far the largest campsite on the property. We had a thick covered wooded area to our right and a huge grassy area to the left."
Cellular connectivity: Variable reception depending on specific location and carrier. At Pickerel Point Campground, Mara S. notes, "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon." Signal strength varies significantly within short distances due to mountainous terrain.
Site surface considerations: Ground materials vary across campgrounds. Alaina Z. cautions, "Chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad!" Many campground reviews mention the importance of appropriate sleeping surfaces for tent campers.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Centralized recreation areas within walking distance of family-friendly loops. One camper at Mount Pocono Campground shares, "There is a huge swimming pool and a toddler's pool. There is an on-site store with everything you need to make your stay comfortable. The game room has pool tables, ping pong, arcade games, library, gym, and so much more!"
Organized activities: Scheduled programming available weekends May-September. Nick L. reports, "Friendly environment, plenty to do with family. Take a walk to the nature trail, go fishing or hiking. Take the kids to the arcade, play pool billiards. We were there for July 4th weekend. They had a schedule for events all weekend."
Education opportunities: Nature programs offer structured learning experiences. "The visitors center boasts the most modern updates and a truly lovely interactive museum displaying the history and current wildlife of the park," notes Shayna about Hickory Run State Park.
Campsite selection: Request sites away from roads when making reservations. Emilie D. cautions, "Just finished up two nights in site 123. These sites are RIGHT AGAINST THE ROAD. Other state parks tend to make their sites deep, whereas these are wide."
Tips from RVers
Campsite access: Narrow approach roads require careful navigation in larger vehicles. "Careful on the roads to the campsite, they're a bit on the bumpy side. Definitely smaller roads than your usual ones. We have a minivan so we had to take our time on all the pot holes," advises Christine N. about travel to Worthington State Forest Campground.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites limited at state park campgrounds. Debbie W. appreciated at Pickerel Point, "We had full hookups (20/30/50 amp, water & sewer). There's no cable but we were able to pickup about 6 channels with our digital antenna."
Seasonal considerations: Spring access challenges due to wet conditions. Laura Z. experienced issues at Hemlock Campground & Cottages: "Unfortunately, it was a giant mud pit when we were there. The spots and road are not paved or have gravel."
Site dimensions: Width vs. depth variations across different campgrounds. John S. observed at Peaceful Woodlands Campground, "The sites could be a little larger. The one we had was cramped between the picnic table, fire ring, 6 person tent and the car."
