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Best Tent Camping near Bethlehem, PA

1,034 Reviews

The Appalachian Trail corridor near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania offers several primitive tent camping options, particularly around Lehigh Gap where multiple hike-in tent sites provide backcountry experiences. AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap features tent-only sites with valley views and established stone fire rings, while AT Ridge Campground provides secluded tent camping surrounded by fern fields. For those seeking established facilities, Round Valley State Park Campground in nearby Lebanon, New Jersey (about 30 miles east) offers boat-in and hike-in tent camping along a reservoir shoreline, operating from April through October.

Most primitive tent sites in the Lehigh Gap area require hikers to carry in all supplies, including water. The AT campsites feature basic stone fire rings but lack amenities like potable water, picnic tables, or toilet facilities. At Round Valley, tent campers must either hike approximately 3-5 miles or boat across the reservoir to reach campsites. Ground conditions vary significantly by location, with ridge sites typically offering drier, rockier terrain while lower elevation sites may become boggy after rain. Fire regulations are strictly enforced throughout the region, and bear activity requires proper food storage in all locations.

According to a camper at AT Overlook Campground, "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." The ridgeline sites offer excellent views but require water planning as one visitor noted, "be prepared to bring in your water since there is nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge." For those willing to make the journey to Round Valley, tent campers report the effort is worthwhile. One reviewer mentioned, "Once we reached the campsite it was absolute perfection. Perfectly secluded from the trail, plenty of trees to set up a hammock, and a nice little walk down to the water." Weekday visits typically offer greater solitude at all locations, with weekend crowds more common during summer months.

Best Tent Sites Near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (41)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Bethlehem, PA

1034 Reviews of 41 Bethlehem Campgrounds

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Washington Crossing State Park - TEMP CLOSED FOR 2024

    History and Camping with Revolutionary Limits

    Washington Crossing Historic Park, straddling Pennsylvania and New Jersey along the Delaware River, is one of those rare places where you can literally camp in history. The Pennsylvania side is all about historic buildings, museums and picnic spots, while the New Jersey side (Washington Crossing State Park) offers organized group tent camping. This isn’t the place for a cushy RV getaway or individual tenters looking to sneak in for the night, but rather a structured, group-style camping steeped in Revolutionary War atmosphere. First impressions? More Boy Scout jamboree than weekend getaway, but if you’re here for camaraderie and heritage, you’ve hit the mark.

    Facilities are deliberately minimal. On the Pennsylvania side, camping is limited to a handful of Scout-designated sites with portable toilets, no running water and zero frills. Across the river in New Jersey, the official group camping area provides open tent-only sites with no hookups, no pets and strict quiet hours. Think old-school camping: fire rings, pit toilets and a heavy dose of ‘leave no trace’ ethos. Reservations are required, permits are non-negotiable and the max stay tops out at 14 nights. What you do get is a wide, peaceful forest setting with plenty of space for tents, youth groups or scout troops along with the kind of simplicity that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

    Beyond the tent pads, the surrounding parks are rich with history and outdoor options. On the Pennsylvania side, you’ll find the visitor center, historic McConkey’s Ferry Inn, Bowman’s Hill Tower, and interpretive programs that bring the Revolutionary War era to life. Picnic areas and a boat launch offer ways to enjoy the Delaware River. In New Jersey, miles of wooded trails lead you through rolling hills and historic landscapes, perfect for hiking and birdwatching. It’s a spot where history buffs, scouts and nature seekers can all find common ground.

    Insider Tips? Here’s a handful: (1) The best group sites are the ones tucked furthest from the trailhead as (surprise, surprise) they’re quieter and offer more privacy; (2) Stock up before arriving, as there are no supply stores inside the park, so head on over to nearby Weis Markets in Langhorne or ShopRite in Fairless Hills, both of which are on the PA-side; (3) Be sure to bring all your own water as none is available onsite; (4) Kayakers should launch from the Pennsylvania side’s boat access for an iconic paddle on the Delaware River; (5) Visit the park’s historic reenactments, especially the Christmas Day Crossing event as it’s easily the most memorable history lesson you’ll ever get outdoors; and (6) When you’re done camping, fuel up at It’s Nutts Restaurant on the Jersey side in Titusville for classic diner-style comfort food or Francisco’s on the River for Italian fare with Delaware River views.

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 1, 2026

    Quakerwoods Campground

    Quaint Country Camping in Classic Bucks County

    Tucked into the rolling farmland and lush hillsides of Bucks County just off Exit 44 of the PA Turnpike and Exits 60/60A from I-78, Quakerwoods Campground delivers a postcard-perfect countryside setting with wide-open skies, neighboring hay fields, rustic barns and charming small towns that feel pulled straight from a New England travel guide. With roughly 170 RV sites, a small collection of tent sites and several rental campers, the campground strikes a balance between peaceful rural escape and full-featured family campground energy.

    HIGHLIGHTS:(1) Gorgeous pastoral setting with surrounding farmland, rolling hills and a distinctly peaceful countryside atmosphere;(2) Excellent full-hookup RV infrastructure with mostly back-in sites offering 30/50 amp electric, water and sewer, along with flat pads, picnic tables and in-ground fire rings;(3) Exceptionally strong amenity package including adult and kids swimming pools, mini golf, baseball field, RC track, shuffleboard, fishing pond, game room, playgrounds, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, cornhole, themed weekends, bingo and Saturday wagon rides;(4) Clean and plentiful facilities including four well-kept restroom and shower buildings, laundry, camp store, dump stations, water stations, propane refills and ice sales; and(5) Outstanding access to regional attractions including Nockamixon State Park for kayaking and canoeing, plus great nearby dining at Brick Tavern Inn, McCoole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn and Sage Alley Brewery.

    LOWLIGHTS:(1) Interior sections of the campground offer less tree cover and privacy compared to the wooded perimeter sites;(2) Tent camping is limited in number and clustered separately, which may feel slightly isolated to some campers;(3) Restaurant options are not immediately adjacent, requiring a short drive for dining;(4) Weekend popularity and themed events can increase noise and traffic levels; and(5) RV rates trend toward the higher end during peak season.

    Happy Camping!

  • Ra F.
    Aug. 28, 2024

    Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park

    OK, but camping gets a low rating.

    The park is lovely, but the camping facilities are subpar, primitive and lack any kind of privacy. I bike toured there. The only potable water was from a near-broken water fountain at the public rest rooms and no electrical connection to recharge electronics. There was also a fair amount of road noise at night. Bathhouse OK, but just basic. Tent spots are just lined up against one another facing a service road.

  • Doug W.
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Valley View Group Campground

    Beautiful River Site

    This is a great campsite right on the river. There are 5 different sites all nicely marked out. Each has its own fire ring. There is also a central area with a big fire ring for everyone to get together. Bear boxes at each site for food storage.

  • Laure D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Locust Lake State Park Campground

    Serenity on the lakes

    Pretty campground with lots of lake views. We arrived just before dark which was good because the sites were not level front to back. Most sites had a slope but there were some level sites. You can kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish on the lake. There are 2 boat launches. The store wasn’t much to speak of. Bath houses were clean. We walked around the lake on a paved level path. They advertise no alcohol. This is near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine tour which we loved. It’s near the Yingling Brewery tour.

  • B
    Jul. 29, 2018

    Tohickon Valley County Park

    One stop shop for adventure!

    This place is amazing! everything you could want, from tent and RV camping to cabin rentals. They also have a pool and playground. some of my favorite parts of this park are a good 100’ rack wall perfect for climbing, great fishing, trails for miles that even connects to the AT, and when scheduled they open the dam up stream for som world class whitewater rafting.

    As for some things that aren’t listed. this is no alcohol permitted in the park due to it being a state park, however that all depends on how open you are about it and the Park rangers. Cell phone service is limited last time I was up there in 2012 only people with Verizon Wireless had any reception. Also there is no WiFi. No hookups or camp store.

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Campsites Jammed Closely Together

    PROS 

    Reserved 328 days prior to arriving

    $13.50 senior discount 

    Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful 

    Site C3 parking pad level asphalt 

    Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable 

    One hook lantern pole 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival 

    Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites 

    Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center. 

    Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP 

    CONS

    $6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation 

    Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching 

    Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together

    Pitiful low water pressure  in Loop C

    Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level 

    Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking 

    Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday 

    Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable) 

    Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced

    Lots of barking dogs 

    No wood sales in park 

    No WiFi 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Dwight D.
    Sep. 26, 2021

    Jenny Jump State Forest

    Cute Comfortable Shelter

    This is the first time we decided to forgo tent camping and reserve a shelter at a state park. We had a much better experience than we were expecting! 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. Even compared to our glamping this was luxury!!

    There are eight shelters at Jenny Jump State Park. Shelter 2 is a minute walk from the restroom with sink/shower and water. Shelters 7 & 8 are even closer while 4 & 5 are the furthest, may an extra 5 minutes walk? The dead end means there isn't too much traffic, though the road is right there so you can wave to the other campers heading to the restroom or for hikes. There is a trail head at one of the parking lots. During the day the parking lots filled up and there was some overflow parking for day-hikers across the road. We got to see their dogs, so that was a bonus for us! Otherwise, this shelter is not situated too close to the other shelters and feels very private.

    We brought battery-powered lights since there is no electricity. There were coat hooks and a built-in shelf for our snacks, games, and other supplies. There was a picnic table and benches inside. We brought camping chairs for relaxing on the porch. We spent most of our time on the porch; cooking, chatting, and crafting while enjoying the sunshine and breeze.

    Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not.

  • D
    Jul. 5, 2020

    Tobyhanna State Park Campground

    Good campground for families.

    My dog and I stayed for 2 nights in the rustic tenting area. We were the only campers Wednesday & Thursday. The family camp area features spaces (small areas for either RV campers or tents and cars) with a picnic table and fire ring and water (some have electricity). They also have shared facilities such as bathrooms and showers. However, they seemed a little too cramped fir me and I wasn’t looking for opportunities to socialize, so the remote tent site was my choice. The tent sites do not have water or electric, but do have picnic tables, a fire ring and share one large outhouse with clean pit toilets. There are 5 sites and they can accommodate (shared) multiple tent set ups. Also you need to park your vehicle in a designated lot which is very close to the sites. There are multiple easy hiking and biking trails that are well marked. A lake for fishing and a small sandy beach with a picnic area for families (unfortunately no dogs are allowed on the beach). There are 2 boat launch areas (one for the campers, and another for gen. public) which also has a boat rental business (dogs are allowed). There are black bears in the park so do not leave food out and dispose of all trash in the appropriate dumpsters.

Guide to Bethlehem

Primitive tent campsites near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania range from mountainside spots with stone fire rings to pine-covered forest sites that accommodate multiple tents. The Lehigh Gap area, which sits at approximately 1,000 feet elevation, connects several sections of the Appalachian Trail and experiences seasonal temperature variations of 20-85°F throughout the camping season. Ground conditions in this region vary considerably, from rocky ridge sites to softer pine-needle covered areas in the wooded sections.

What to do

Paddle boarding on clear waters: At Mauch Chunk Lake Park, campers can launch directly from lakefront sites. "You can get sites right on the water that are nice size. If you go during the week, it's quite calm. You are in beautiful Jim Thorpe that has white water rafting in town, plus great restaurants and bars. I like that I can launch my paddle board from my sight and the water is so clean and clear," notes Lisa S.

Disc golf and fishing: Green Lane Park offers activities beyond just camping. "Phenomenal disc golf course, hiking, and fishing," reports Benjamin C. The park maintains several well-marked trails for day hiking while the disc golf course provides a challenging course with varied terrain.

Hiking to scenic ridge views: The AT Ridge Campground provides access to unique fern-filled landscapes. "They are surrounded by a magical field of ferns and you can get views of both sides of the ridge with only a short walk down the trail," writes Asher K. Hikers report the area is particularly peaceful with wind sounds creating a natural soundtrack.

What campers like

Protected sites during bad weather: The George W. Outerbridge AT Shelter provides coverage during storms. "The shelter itself is well maintained and has a raised covered platform for sleeping with plenty of space for lots of hikers. There is also a spring nearby for filling up water," according to Asher K. The shelter's position down the mountain offers protection from harsh winds.

Pine forest padding: The AT Group Campsite near Lehigh Gap features natural comfort. "A bed of pine needles creates a padded comfortable area that is perfect for a large group backpacking in the area. This site sits a little ways back from the trail but is a nice quiet and secluded spot," says Asher K.

Wildlife encounters: Boulder Ridge Farm offers natural animal encounters. "Great place to escape the stress of every day life. Plenty of fire wood, really cool huge rocks and waking up to owls was awesome," reports Jnear139. The property features numerous large boulders and regular owl activity, especially at night.

What you should know

Water availability limitations: Many ridge campsites lack water access. For the AT Overlook Campground near Lehigh Gap, "Just be prepared to bring in your water since there is nowhere to fill up while up on the ridge," warns Asher K. Hikers should plan to carry all water needed or know locations of natural springs.

Weather impacts on tent sites: Ground conditions change significantly after rain. At Lehigh Gap Woodpecker Trailhead Primitive Campground, "When I was here it had recently rained and the site was overall pretty boggy. The ground was relatively soft but without a good ground tarp, you might get a little wet," advises Asher K.

Proximity between sites varies: At Green Lane Park, campers should expect limited privacy. "The sites are lined up next to each other along the campground driveway and there are absolutely no trees or shrubs between them," notes Jen. Sites at more primitive locations offer greater seclusion but require hiking to access.

Tips for camping with families

Choose boat-in sites for adventure: Round Valley State Park Campground offers unique boat access camping. "This is a great campground that is super private and quiet - great for getting out to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort! If you get a site on the water, you can take a boat across to to your site," explains Agbi B.

Look for established facilities: Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides family-friendly amenities. "The lake was beautiful. Very clean and picturesque and perfect for swimming. The campsites were adequate size. The campground is very close to lots of outdoor attractions and fun in the Jim Thorpe and Blue Mountain area," shares Danielle F.

Consider shorter backpacking trips: For families new to primitive camping, shorter trail sections work best. "This would work well for a large group. It appears to be well-used and has several established areas for sitting and setting up a fire," notes Asher K. about the Lehigh Gap AT primitive campsite.

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup limitations: Most tent campsites near Bethlehem lack RV amenities. At Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park, "Green Lane Park is a lovely park with a small campground. The spaces are right on top of each other with no tree cover between spots, so you'll definitely be right up on your neighbors," reports Tara T.

Site size considerations: Larger RVs may struggle at most local sites. "The campground is as basic as they get. Sites are close to each other with absolutely no privacy. Bathrooms however are nice and clean with plenty of them around the park," notes Tiffany B. about Green Lane Park.

Weekend crowds impact experience: Weekday camping provides more space and quiet. "Even though I live 10 minutes away I like to camp here because you still feel a little isolated. With no roads to the campgrounds it takes some effort to get there and it's a beautiful place," shares G V. about Round Valley Recreation Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bethlehem, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bethlehem, PA is Round Valley State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 25 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bethlehem, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 41 tent camping locations near Bethlehem, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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