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 White Haven, PA
4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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The forested ridgelines surrounding White Haven, Pennsylvania offer diverse tent camping options within the Pocono Mountains region. Tent-only sites at Riverview Park Campground provide riverside camping with basic amenities, while primitive backcountry tent sites along the Appalachian Trail near Lehigh Gap offer more secluded experiences. Mauch Chunk Lake Park in nearby Jim Thorpe features wooded tent campsites with lake access, making it popular for water activities. Scrub Mountain Retreat provides walk-in tent sites with more privacy than standard campgrounds, and Manny Gordon Recreation Area in Pinchot State Forest offers tent camping in a natural forest setting.
Most tent campsites in the White Haven area feature dirt or gravel pads with varying degrees of levelness. Fire rings are standard at established sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Primitive tent camping areas typically lack potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supply or filter from natural sources. Basic toilet facilities are available at developed campgrounds like Mauch Chunk Lake Park, while backcountry sites along the AT require proper waste disposal practices. Sites at Riverview Park require advance reservations, with an additional $10 fee for walk-ins. Tick activity is common throughout the region, particularly at forest sites.
Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring the Lehigh River and surrounding trail networks. According to reviews, AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap offers "excellent spots to set up a tent if you plan on camping up on the ridge," with stone fire rings and views from both sides of the ridge. One visitor at Mauch Chunk Lake Park noted that "many sites have exposed tree roots and rocks," recommending extra padding for tent campers. Summer weekends bring higher occupancy levels, particularly at established campgrounds. The tent-only sites at Riverview Park are particularly valued for their location "right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit," providing convenient access for paddlers and anglers seeking overnight accommodations.
Best Tent Campgrounds near White Haven (31)
1. 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
2. Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
3. Scrub Mountain Retreat
from $30 - $35 / night
4. 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
5. 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."
6. 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."
7. Riverview Park Campground
"The sites are each tent only and located right along the river with a picnic bench and firepit. They also have a bathroom facility up alongside the road."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $30 / night
8. 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."
9. George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter
"A single-level open-sided AT shelter near the Lehigh Gap trailhead. The shelter itself is well maintained and has a raised covered platform for sleeping with plenty of space for lots of hikers."
10. Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite (group)
"This site appears to be well-used and has several established areas for sitting and setting up a fire."
Drive Time
- 32 min from Scranton, PA
- 51 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 18 min from Reading, PA
- 1 hr 22 min from Lebanon, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near White Haven, PA
51 Photos of 31 White Haven Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
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Tent Camping Reviews near White Haven, PA
995 Reviews of 31 White Haven 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.
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.
- jjeanne A.Guide
Echo Valley Campground
Big sites with lots of trees
We only spent the night and didn't look at the amenities. The manager was very friendly and accommodating.
Thomas B.
RangerTohickon Family Campground
Simple, peaceful FHU
We stayed just a couple nights here on our way north. The camp host was helpful before our stay and during check-in. Our site was pretty isolated from the others, so it was very quiet (no complaints here). There is a decent mix of sunny sites by the river and shady sites under the trees. The weather was perfect mid September. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was a good experience and it was a nice taste of fall PA scenery. Beware that the roads are tight for a big rig. Side note, it did seem like most campers lived there.
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 White Haven
Tent campsites near White Haven, Pennsylvania cluster along the Lehigh River corridor and surrounding state forest lands. The area sits at approximately 1,100 feet elevation with steep terrain changes throughout the Pocono Mountains region. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping requires preparation for overnight temperatures that can drop below freezing.
What to do
Water activities on Mauch Chunk Lake: The lake at Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers multiple recreation options. "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, went to bed, woke up to make some breakfast and then we were off to go rafting on the Lehigh river 10 minutes away," reports Emma T.
Whitewater rafting excursions: Combine camping with guided river adventures at Whitewater Challengers Adventure Center. "Rafting on the Lehigh with whitewater challengers was amazing," notes Katie S. The campground serves as a convenient base for scheduled rafting trips, with morning launches available May through October.
Appalachian Trail hiking: Access the AT directly from several primitive campsites near Lehigh Gap. At George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter, hikers can find "a spring nearby for filling up water" according to Asher K., making it a strategic water resupply point during multi-day treks on this section of trail.
What campers like
Riverside camping locations: Anglers and paddlers appreciate the direct water access from tent sites at Riverview Park Campground. "This is the perfect place for camping if you are adventuring out on the Lehigh River and want to get an early start or stay the night," writes Asher K., highlighting the convenience for water-based activities.
Protected forest campsites: The AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap offers natural shelter from weather. "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area... The pine trees also provide a nice cover to make this a well-protected site in case of bad weather," according to Asher K.
Lakefront views: Many tent campers specifically request waterfront sites. "Note for next time: we will definitely be getting a lake front site for the awesome view!" shares Emma T. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Another camper, Lisa S., notes "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm."
What you should know
Campsite conditions vary significantly: Tent pads range from soft pine needle floors to rocky, uneven ground. At AT Ridge Campground near Lehigh Gap, Asher K. describes "a magical field of ferns and you can get views of both sides of the ridge with only a short walk down the trail."
Weekend noise levels: Several established campgrounds become busy during summer 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," cautions Danielle F. about Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Wildlife concerns: Ticks require preventive measures in all area campgrounds. At Manny Gordon Recreation Area, camper Gavin S. advises "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."
Tips for camping with families
Group-friendly campgrounds: Mauch Chunk Lake Park offers amenities suitable for novice campers. "I've stayed here a couple times with groups. 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," explains Mackenzie B.
Recreation facilities: Choose campgrounds with built-in activities for children. Danny M. shares that Mauch Chunk offers "Volleyball courts, secret picnic areas, kayak and other boating rentals. Also a lot to do in the nearby town."
Bathroom access: Family camping often requires regular bathroom facilities. Campgrounds like Whitewater Challengers provide shower buildings, while primitive sites along the AT require proper waste management. Some campgrounds have "decent" bathroom facilities that are "generally clean" according to multiple reviews.
Tips from RVers
Limited full-hookup availability: Most primitive tent camping areas near White Haven do not accommodate RVs. For those requiring electrical connections, water hookups, and dump stations, options are limited mainly to established campgrounds like Mauch Chunk Lake Park.
Access road considerations: The steep mountain roads accessing many campsites present challenges for larger vehicles. Local forest roads often have tight turns, low clearances, and unpaved sections that require careful navigation in larger motorhomes or trailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near White Haven, PA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near White Haven, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near White Haven, PA is Mauch Chunk Lake Park with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near White Haven, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near White Haven, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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