PA Campgrounds

[daldricht]

Would love to hear from everyone regarding various camping areas that you have stayed in PA. We are in the process of moving (ONCE HOUSE SELLS?) from VA to Punxsutawney. We are hoping to open a 12-unit B&B and if we are able to will be purchasing a 52-acre parcel of land with a pond and would like to develop a seasonal RV resort. But we are also PA co-ordinators of the Rainbow RV'ers and would love to be able to have some ideas to go camping each month for a 4 or 5 day getaway.
Much appreciated,
Dave

[jawilson]

Depends upon what type of camping you like -- primitive or full amenities -- but if you like the former then the PA state parks are very nice places (at least the ones I've been to). They're predominantly rustic, so if you enjoy that type of camping then check out this link.

[daldricht]

Thank you jawilson - we are looking for names and your evaluations of the various camping areas that you and other campers have been to. If we get a chance to go to a camping area that is WiFi, then we can go on Friday and stay until Monday - this way we can both telecommunicate from wherever we park the popup.
We had one horror story of a camping area where the "resident campers" were literally in 20-year old trailers that the tires had rotten out from under them. Plus the "crowd" was mostly rough looking women with pitbulls as their pets??? Ladies, please do not fry me - you know the ones I am talking about.
The Rainbow RV we group we are normally traveling around the state to each month is a middle aged group/couples, some with dogs, mostly with larger RV's but we have a popup and a couple of them are still tent campers - nice mix. We usually hope to have a building or roof to hold a Saturday night potluck supper, get to know each other and for those that return each month, perhaps get in touch with them prior to arrival to see if there is locally something they would like to do together - like visit an amusement park, go canoeing, or just nature walks.
Whatever kind of summation/personal observation - good or bad - is what we are looking to compare notes with.
Thanks in advance
Dave

[tlhdoc]

I have to agree with Jim Wilson.  PA has some very nice parks, but electric is the most you can hope for in the way of hookups.  Good luck with the new business.

[daldricht]

If you want to see a great camping area, plan on a trip to Entriken PA to a place called Lake Raystown Resort. The lakes are gorgeous - can have power boats, all other kinds of water sports. Camping area's comprised of log cabins, units that look like double high trailers, individuals own RV's of all variety, tent camping areas, large group areas, water front villa's fully furnished, WiFi and Cable ready camping sites. Also on-property restaurant, paddle boat that has Prime Rib dinners on Saturday nights . . . many other functions. Check it out:
http://www.raystownresort.com/

Looking for something nice/decent around Allentown, PA - any suggestions?

[dthurk]

I have to agree with Jim Wilson.  PA has some very nice parks, but electric is the most you can hope for in the way of hookups.  Good luck with the new business.

Just got back from a trip where we spend 2 days at Ives Run SP in Wellsboro, PA.  We had a W/E/S site for $24 per night.  This was our first experience in a PA State Park, and it was also our first for full hookups in a State Park in any state.  It was a great park, we took the kayaks instead of the bikes and did quite a bit of paddling on the lake.

[daldricht]

Thanks for the recommendation of the campground/state park located in Wellsboro - looks great and would not be that great a distance for us once we actually move everything to Punxsutawney. I have added this park to my list of "where to next"
Thanks again,
Dave

[daldricht]

OK - we landed in a full hookup camping area called Quaker Woods Campground in Quakertown PA - about 30 minutes from Allentown.
From what we can tell the campground is owned or run by a Korean family. Maintenance is at a minimum, the bathroom facilities are old but seem decently cleaned.
The area that we had for 4 days was between trees that were impossible to back into unless you have had truck driving schooling. We finally unhooked the trailer and pushed it into a spot that would work.
The trees are very dense so sunlight has a problem getting through. My guess is from the pattern of the mulch that when it rains it is a mad turrent of runoff water down the dirt roads and settling in under various campers in low muddy areas. When trying to drive through the campground without the trailer attached it is difficult to decifer which road or path to use - very poorly marked!
There are many seasonal parked RV's with lots of decks, lots of log piles, lots of trash around, lots of very old large RV's and would guess that many could use some maintenance. Golf carts are very abundant - did not bother to ask for rates. There is a pool and it is where the kids are!
On a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being the best, I would rate this campground around a 5. The campground does have internet but is extremely weak and they also have cable hookup. The plug on the electrical post also indicated there is a hookup for land-line telephone jack.
While buying ice at a local GIANT Foodstore, the woman in the deli department recommended another camping area called Boulder Woods Campground in Green Lane PA. Does not indicate full hookup.

[daldricht]

Green Lane PA is the location of the other camping area called Boulder Woods Camping. Since the GPS indicated we were only 10 miles from the other campground, we went to check it out. After roaming around their campground and dodging the various large boulders everywhere, we both were trying to figure out how to get a popup into these woods and an RV of any size would be close to impossible.
We had to chuckle over the giant sized sign at the main gate NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED - and yet when I was in the registration area EVERYONE was smoking and I started to cough. The woman - looking once removed from dumbdom - said I had a nasty cough - I told her it was from her cigarette smoke and the other 30 people in the general store all smoking. While driving around the camping area, the cigarette smoke was warfting into the open windows of the car. Even the dog was blowing area out of his nose - he objects to cigarette smoking also - well trained by a reformed smoker.
There is also a one-vehicle-bridge and Class A RV's would not be able to go over it for both size and weight. You must have to get instructions of entrance in another direction?

When we got back to our campground, the place actually looked better than the one we just visited. Old rusty trailers really do make a camping area look pretty tacky! See attached photo for tightness of trees! With the high heat that we had this weekend, the trees really kept the temperature down in the low 80's so was a big benefit!

[tlhdoc]

Is the picture of your camp site?

[daldricht]

Not quite sure if I understand what you are asking? We rented this space for the weekend, which is literally covered by the truck and the camper. The area directly behind us is where the sewer/electric hook-ups were located and it backed up to the camper to one end and the back side butted up against two other larger 5th wheelers. The road to the left of our truck is the main road through the back side of the camping area - so traffic NEVER stopped. If you have kids this place would be a nightmare to parents trying to watch kids that have no place to play except the road area or taking them down to the pool area - where there is a playground also.

[dthurk]

We'll be staying in the Tohickon Campground in Quakertown, PA for 2 nights starting tomorrow night.  Will let you all know how it was when we get back.

[busdriverwc75]

Thanks. I'm interested in reading your thoughts on Tohickon. I tented there over 20 yrs ago, but really don't remember much about the campground.

[dthurk]

It's already getting odd.  GPS POI file shows Tohickon Campground as being in Allentown.  The address of the campground as posted on their website puts it outside of Quakertown.  I've got both in my addressbook, will goto the website address location.  But the POI file is not that old.  Strange.

[PJay]

Since you are asking about Pennsylvania campgrounds, may I suggest the Philadelphia KOA.  It is actually located in Coatsville, PA.  Near enough for day trips into Lancaster, Valley Forge or Philly.  

This is NOT your typical KOA, as it is not even remotely near a major highway.  There are some hills that had many large rigs spinning wheels at times but all seemed to manage.  There are open sites and treed sites.  

They just completed renovation of the swimming pool and are about to begin a new guest complex.  

Bathrooms neat and clean.  Quiet hours enforced by patrol!  Roads open and well marked.

River sites are down a 9% grade, which is paved and mostly for tenters.