Campgrounds and RV parks near Inkerman, PA

Hickory Run State Park is the marquee draw, with over 40 miles of hiking trails, three state park natural areas, and miles of trout streams. The Boulder Field, a National Natural Landmark, is a striking boulder-strewn area, and popular trails include Hawk Falls and Shades of Death. Warmer months bring swimming at Sand Spring Lake, where lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Closer to Inkerman, Frances Slocum State Park offers lakeside recreation, and Lackawanna State Park centers on a lake popular for paddling and fishing. Lehigh Gorge Campground provides easy access to the Lehigh Gorge rail-trail and Lehigh River whitewater. Off-park, families can visit Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton or the historic town of Jim Thorpe.

The camping season in this region generally runs from mid-spring through fall, with limited winter options. At Hickory Run State Park, modern facilities with showers and flush restrooms operate from the second Friday in April through the third Sunday in October, when the dump station and all facilities with running water close for the season. Rustic camping continues until mid-December with reduced amenities, so late-season RV travelers should plan water stops accordingly. Summer weekends are the busiest window, particularly between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Lakeside and full-hookup sites tend to book earliest, and Hickory Run is a perennial favorite in the state system. Fall brings cooler nights and strong foliage color across the Poconos and Endless Mountains, usually peaking in early to mid-October. Winter camping is limited to rustic areas and group tenting sites that stay open year-round. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing are the main cold-weather activities in the surrounding state parks, but travelers should expect snow and closed bathhouses.

Sites in this region are mostly wooded, with a mix of gravel and grass pads. State park loops tend to be spacious. Hickory Run has 385 sites including full-hookup, modern electric, modern non-electric, tent-only, and camping cottage options, with modern restrooms, hot showers, a dump station, and a camp store. Cell coverage is inconsistent inside the parks, particularly in the Lehigh Gorge and the interior of Hickory Run. Bring a paper map or download offline routes before leaving Inkerman. Black bears are active in the region, and overnight guests at Hickory Run are required to store all food and scented items in their vehicle and use bear-proof dumpsters for trash. Pets are allowed only in designated loops. Quiet hours are enforced at Pennsylvania state parks from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.