Best Campgrounds near Towanda, PA

Camping opportunities in the Towanda area span from established facilities to more primitive setups in the surrounding Pennsylvania countryside. Riverside Acres Campground sits directly on the Susquehanna River, while Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground in nearby Rome offers a mix of tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin accommodations. The region includes several smaller private campgrounds such as Doo Dah Campgrounds and Lake Front Campsite, along with established state park campgrounds like Worlds End State Park and Ricketts Glen State Park within driving distance. Most locations support tent camping and RV parking, with some offering cabin options for those seeking more amenities.

Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the Towanda region, with many campgrounds operating from early April through October or November. Winter camping is limited, though some facilities like Worlds End State Park maintain year-round operations. Cell service tends to be spotty across the area, particularly in more remote locations and state parks. Most established campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, while more primitive sites may require campers to bring their own supplies. Several locations require advance reservations, especially for weekend stays during summer months. A camper noted, "The campground sits atop one of NEPA's rolling hills in quiet, rural farming area. Cell service is spotty."

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the Towanda area. Sites along the Susquehanna River at Riverside Acres provide excellent fishing opportunities, while Pine Cradle Lake offers lakeside spots with private docks. One visitor remarked, "The lakeside spots are gorgeous and the private dock is great when you have kids that love to fish." Several campers mentioned the peaceful atmosphere of the region's campgrounds, noting the opportunity to disconnect from technology as a positive feature. For those seeking hiking opportunities, Worlds End State Park and Ricketts Glen State Park provide trail access directly from their campgrounds. State park facilities tend to be more rustic but offer better access to natural features, while private campgrounds typically provide more amenities like swimming pools, splash pads, and organized activities.

Best Camping Sites Near Towanda, Pennsylvania (122)

    1. Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground

    10 Reviews
    Towanda, PA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 247-2424

    "The tent sites are located in the back of the campground behind the sports field within the trees. I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to see them but they have them pictured on their website."

    "Great family campground, decent sized sites, many lake side sites, very clean bathrooms/ showers. Several playgrounds, heated pool, pet friendly with shots paperwork."

    2. Worlds End State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Forksville, PA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 924-3287

    $20 - $62 / night

    "The park has some good trails with amazing views, a beach area and Loyalsock creek. The campsite was a bit cramped and right next to the main road going in and out of the park."

    "This is another Pennsylvania state park with excellent recycling facilities."

    3. Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

    68 Reviews
    Sweet Valley, PA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 477-5675

    $20 - $92 / night

    "The biggest draw to this state park (which no one in Pennsylvania I spoke with seemed to know about) is the 22 waterfalls!"

    "Many of the sites looked close to the road and not very private but we were in site 63 which was pretty private(though we were lucky neighboring site 62 was empty)."

    4. Riverside Acres Campground

    2 Reviews
    Towanda, PA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 265-3235

    $22 - $35 / night

    "If you have wheels, anything can be bought with a run into Wyalusing, or Towanda.

       When I have been there, if your night life requires things, you should bring your own."

    5. Doo Dah Campgrounds

    1 Review
    Towanda, PA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 627-0793

    6. Camp Kit Adin Outfitters

    2 Reviews
    Dushore, PA
    14 miles
    +1 (484) 459-2048

    $20 - $125 / night

    "My Camp is close to World's End state park, Ricketts Glen,and numerous overlooks and plenty of hiking, biking and the best swimming hole on the Loyalsock creek! No mud just clear mountain water!"

    "Or cook outside on the big grill. 2 inside showers, porta potty! Lots to do!"

    7. Lake Front Campsite !!!

    1 Review
    Towanda, PA
    13 miles
    Website

    $88 / night

    "This campground has access to a private no motor lake for a calm day on the water.  Check them out and make sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!"

    8. Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    89 Reviews
    Watkins Glen, NY
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 535-4511

    $20 - $58 / night

    "I absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on."

    "There was one central bathroom/shower house, so if being close to a restroom is important, choose your site accordingly.  Some of the campsites were quite a walk from the facilities.  "

    9. Pioneer Campground

    12 Reviews
    Laporte, PA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 946-9971

    "We own some property near this campground and have stayed here a few weekends as a home base while we clean up our property. The owners are just amazingly nice people, always very helpful!"

    "Our tent site was secluded and quiet, but not too far off the beaten path!"

    10. Sunfish Pond County Park

    2 Reviews
    Granville Summit, PA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 364-8051
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Recent Reviews near Towanda, PA

526 Reviews of 122 Towanda Campgrounds


  • Mindie C.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Pinecreek Campground

    Overnight stay

    The campground is cute and quiet. Staff is friendly and helpful. My only complaint is the condition of the roads. They are in dire need of grading and new gravel. Be careful!

  • Lynsey M.
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Salt Springs State Park Campground

    Adventures!

    3 couples all ventured to Salt Springs and split the largest cabin for a few days. We electricity from a few outlets in the cabin if needed. Let me tell you that we spent very little time inside. We enjoyed the trials, waterfalls, and firepit cooked meals outside! Hemlock Grove, Penny Rock, and the saltspring kept us entertained! We cooled off under a waterfall :) I'm looking forward to visiting again! Bring some hotdogs/burgers for a yummy meal after a good day in PA!

  • Casey L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    Busy campground

    Sites are level, some are more spaced apart than others but none seemed crowded as they seemed to all have trees between. Main complaint was most people speed way too fast through the campground. There was poison Ivy around the edges of our site and on the path to the bathroom. Bathroom was fairly modern and clean. It was nice to be able to access the gorge right from the campground.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Riverside Campground & Riverside Roadhouse

    Great location & proximity to Williamsport

    Came thru for a night and wanted to catch a game at the Little League World Series. Stayed here one night and caught an uber to the museum and game. Got the last site for the night. Did a few loads of laundry, ate a good dinner at the restaurant, kids enjoyed the pool and swam in the river. Big huge park and tons of grassy areas. Really lovely. Nice staff.

  • MacKenzi G.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Pioneer Campground

    Beautiful Campground

    Me and my husband stayed here it was beautiful and has a very nice pool. Seems family friendly and very clean. Staff were friendly as well.

  • Sienna L.
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Harpy Hollow

    Great spot in the Finger Lakes

    This was a great visit! The owners were amazing and accommodating. We had everything we needed.

  • not S.
    Jul. 17, 2025

    Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

    Finger Lakes camping

    Site 54 at Robert H Treman is very large, flat, nonelectric and well shaded with areas of sun. A long walk to the restroom. Beautiful waterfall swimming pool is very cold, but great on a hot day. The new loop is a large field--we got one of the few shady sites in the new loop. Old loop has plenty of trees, but sites are much smaller. Restrooms were ok--not terrible, but could use updates. Great playgrounds for the kids. Good central location for exploring the Finger Lakes, Watkins Glen, Seneca Falls, Cornell and Ithaca.

  • Jama A.
    Jul. 15, 2025

    Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    Watkins Glen State Park, New York

    Campers arriving at Watkins Glen State Park are immediately captivated by its dramatic gorge scenery, where 19 waterfalls cascade through narrow stone walls. Their campsites are nestled among hardwood forests, offering a perfect balance of sunlit clearings and shady retreats. Each site comes equipped with a picnic table and fire ring, making it easy to prepare meals after a day spent exploring the park’s famous Gorge Trail. The park’s facilities blend rustic charm with modern comforts: clean flush toilets, hot-water showers, and convenient potable water stations. Hiking enthusiasts appreciate the interconnected trail system, which includes the popular Rim Trail for elevated views of the gorge, as well as more secluded footpaths through hemlock groves. Families particularly enjoy the nearby swimming pool and easy-access picnic areas overlooking Seneca Lake. To simplify travel logistics for out-of-state visitors, many campers opt to pre-book an airport transfer so they can arrive at Ithaca or Elmira–Corning Regional Airport and head straight to the park without the hassle of car rentals. Those planning to explore multiple stops along the Finger Lakes often choose the provider’s reliable city-to-city rides for comfortable, door-to-door transportation between destinations. All in all, Watkins Glen State Park delivers an unforgettable combination of awe-inspiring gorge hikes, well-appointed campsites, and family-friendly amenities. Campers seeking both adventure and relaxation will find this New York treasure hard to surpass.

  • James S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

    Ricketts Glen not as expected

    Arrived mid-afternoon, visitor center/Ranger office was closed, our reservation sheet was available in a mailbox near the door with instructions. No human contact. Park was not mowed, seemed a little rough & unattended. Our full hookup site was large with table and fire ring, and required some leveling. Not much shade in the full hookup loop, so was happy to have electricity for A/C. The beach was a little more than a half mile walk from our site.


Guide to Towanda

The Towanda region sits nestled in Pennsylvania's northern tier, where the Susquehanna River winds through wooded hills and farmland at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet. Most camping spots near Towanda, Pennsylvania benefit from this rolling terrain, creating natural privacy between campsites. Cell service remains patchy throughout the region, with campers often needing to position themselves on higher ground to maintain connectivity.

What to do

Fishing access points: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground offers catch-and-release fishing without requiring a Pennsylvania license. "The lakeside spots are gorgeous and the private dock is great when you have kids that love to fish. Get your reservations in early though weekends for lakeside sites are booked super fast!" notes reviewer Tracey.

Hiking trails: Worlds End State Park Campground features multiple marked trails directly accessible from the campground. "Campgrounds are connected to some very cool hiking paths, very well marked. Do not miss the chance to check out cottonwood falls. Completely stunning location," shares Kate J.

Water activities: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation options, particularly during summer months. At Pioneer Campground, "We enjoyed fishing and kayaking in the lake, the heated pool and splash pad, spacious sites and clean amenities," according to Jake D.

What campers like

Disconnecting from technology: Many campsites in the Towanda area have limited connectivity, which campers often view positively. "If you are looking for a place to disconnect for a few days this is it. (There is very very little cell reception and only wifi if you pay for it). We had to put our phones and devices down and just relax," writes a Pine Cradle Lake camper.

Cooler temperatures: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground and other higher-elevation sites provide relief during hot summer months. As one Pioneer Campground reviewer notes, "When it is brutally hot, this Campground is always cool. Large shaded sites that you don't feel like your right on top of the next camper."

Peaceful settings: Many camping areas near Towanda offer quiet surroundings away from highways. "It feels like you're in another world, or at least separated from the daily hassles and vexations of society, with a wall of a mountain between you and them," describes a Worlds End State Park visitor.

What you should know

Waterfront site reservations: Campsites along water require advance planning. One reviewer advises about Pine Cradle Lake: "The lakeside spots are gorgeous and the private dock is great when you have kids that love to fish... Get your reservations in early though weekends for lakeside sites are booked super fast!"

Limited amenities at tent sites: Riverside Acres Campground offers varying levels of hookups depending on site location. "Good tentable spaces on river. Second row has water/electric, shade trees and lawn frontage. Inland row has sewer hook ups and the bath house," explains Bruce H.

Shower facilities vary: Bathhouses differ significantly between campgrounds and even within loops. A Worlds End State Park camper notes: "Bathrooms are clean, but only one shower (at least in Loop B). Also a tip- the sites are down the road from the Office, so I recommend arriving during daylight hours."

Tips for camping with families

Private swimming areas: Lake Front Campsite provides access to a motor-free lake ideal for children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a state park in Towanda for camping?

While there isn't a state park directly in Towanda, several excellent state parks with camping facilities are within driving distance. Salt Springs State Park Campground is maintained by the Friends of Salt Springs group and offers camping options. Hills Creek State Park Campground is another nearby option featuring well-maintained facilities, clean bathrooms, and lakefront sites perfect for nature lovers. These parks provide access to hiking, fishing, and kayaking opportunities within a reasonable drive from Towanda.

Where are the campgrounds near Towanda, PA?

Several campgrounds are located within driving distance of Towanda, PA. Riverside Acres Campground is a modestly sized campground situated along a river where you can fish and watch eagles. For those willing to drive a bit further, Tompkins is located just off US 15 at the New York border with paved roads and parking pads. Other nearby options include Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground near Rome, Salt Springs State Park Campground, and Ives Run, which offers lakefront primitive sites.

What types of camping are available near Towanda?

The Towanda area offers diverse camping experiences to suit various preferences. Worlds End State Park Campground provides traditional campground experiences with hiking trails and creek access, though sites vary in size. For RV enthusiasts, Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground offers gated access with full hookup sites. Those seeking more primitive experiences can explore free backcountry sites at Loyalsock State Forest (permit required) or the primitive sites at Ives Run with water access. The region also features modern cabin rentals at several state parks for those wanting more comfort.