Campsites near Towanda sit within the northern Pennsylvania Endless Mountains region, characterized by rolling hills and dense deciduous forests at elevations between 800-2,000 feet. The area features a humid continental climate with distinct seasonal changes, including colorful fall foliage from late September through mid-October. Many camping areas provide direct access to the Loyalsock Creek watershed, with several campgrounds positioned along this 64-mile tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: Ricketts Glen State Park Campground offers access to 22 named waterfalls along the Falls Trail system. "The biggest draw to this state park (which no one in Pennsylvania I spoke with seemed to know about) is the 22 waterfalls! We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike," notes one visitor.
Swimming in mountain streams: Sites near Camp Kit Adin Outfitters provide access to natural swimming areas with clear water. According to the owner, the property offers "the best swimming hole on the Loyalsock creek! No mud just clear mountain water!"
Lake activities: Pioneer Campground provides a heated swimming pool for warmer water recreation. One camper notes, "We own some property near this campground and have stayed here a few weekends as a home base while we clean up our property...There is a small pool that we haven't used yet, but it looks nice and well kept."
What campers like
Private wooded tent sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded nature of tent camping options in the region. At Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground, "The tent sites are located in the back of the campground behind the sports field within the trees...We did take a short walk around both camping loops in lighter rain. The swimming beach looked nice."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in this region maintain high standards for bathroom facilities. "The bathhouse was clean but not adequate for 73 sites. The campground was about ¾ full and there was often a wait in the bathroom," reports one camper at Ricketts Glen. Another notes "Restrooms were clean—not terrible, but could use updates."
Dark night skies: Pioneer Campground offers excellent stargazing opportunities away from light pollution. "Night time is especially beautiful, you can see tons of stars on a clear night," describes one visitor, making this location ideal for glamping close to Towanda, Pennsylvania.
What you should know
Weather variability: The mountains around Towanda experience rapid weather changes, particularly in spring and fall. One camper at Hickories Park Campground shared, "I pulled in at about 6pm mid week, the ranger station was closed...the campground is well maintained, the porta potty in the tent area was very clean, i felt very safe."
Reservation timing: Popular sites fill quickly, especially for summer weekends. "Get your reservations in early though weekends for lakeside sites are booked super fast!" advises a camper at Pine Cradle Lake.
Limited phone service: Cell reception varies widely across the region. One camper noted, "Very little cell reception and only wifi if you pay for it. We had to put our phones and devices down and just relax."
Water testing: Some parks periodically test water supplies. A Ricketts Glen visitor reported, "The water had been tested earlier in the season and unsafe levels of manganese were detected. All water spigots were shut off and covered but we were told it was safe to wash our dishes and brush our teeth."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Watkins Glen State Park Campground offers extensive play areas. "There is a huge new playground for the kids and lots of area to walk around the loops if you don't want to hike the gorge trail," shares one camper.
Educational programs: Several campgrounds offer structured activities. "They do a haunted woods that we felt the kids were too young for- maybe next time! They do hot chocolate and goodies in the store during the evening and there are tons of photo ops!" notes a family who visited Pioneer Campground during Halloween.
Swimming alternatives: When lake temperatures are cold, look for heated pools. "We enjoyed fishing and kayaking in the lake, the heated pool and splash pad, spacious sites and clean amenities," reports a Pine Cradle visitor.
Private bathrooms: Lackawanna State Park Campground provides family-friendly facilities. "The bathhouse was clean but not adequate for 73 sites. The campground was about ¾ full and there was often a wait in the bathroom. Showers looked reasonable but I did not use them."
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Bring leveling blocks for most sites in the region. "Our site had water and electric, was a drive through spot for a typical RV with a section to the side of the drive through for the fire pit and picnic table."
Electrical concerns: Check amperage compatibility before booking. "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained," reports one RVer at Lackawanna State Park.
Site variations: For glamping close to Towanda, PA, note that premium sites often have specific advantages. "Most of the other available sites in the road ahead of us had no tree coverage but closer to the lake had more trees and shade."
