Searching for primitive backcountry tent camping sites in Pennsylvania state forests usually starts the same way: a map, a keyword, and a long list of names that are hard to tell apart. This guide organizes twelve supplied listings — state park tent camping areas, group tenting sites, campgrounds, and camping resorts — so you can compare them side by side before deciding where to point the car.
Pennsylvania's public land is spread across many managing agencies, and the entries below sit in different parts of the state, from the Jersey Shore and Lock Haven areas in the north-central tier to Barnesville, Jim Thorpe, and Perkasie in the east. Some listings are clearly public park properties; others are private campgrounds and resorts that serve as base camps near forest country. The distinction matters, because a resort campground and a walk-in backcountry site are two very different nights out.
The comparison below uses only the structured data supplied for each location: category, city and state, address, rating, and review count. Where a detail was not provided — site regulations, reservation rules, amenities, fees, or opening seasons — it has been left out rather than guessed. Treat this as a shortlist to verify directly with each property or managing agency.
★★★★★ 5 · 1 reviews
Ravensburg State Park Tent Camping is listed as a campground in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, at 4Q65+45, Jersey Shore, PA 17740. It carries a 5.0 rating from a single review, so the sample is very small and should be read as an early signal rather than a settled reputation. The name ties it directly to Ravensburg State Park and to tent camping, which places it among the public-park entries in this list rather than the private resort properties. Details on site count, regulations, fees, and reservation rules were not supplied and should be confirmed with the park before planning a trip.
Address: 4Q65+45, Jersey Shore, PA 17740, United States
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★★★★★ 4.6 · 9 reviews
PA Camping, The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association is listed as a campground in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on Craigs Meadow Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301. It holds a 4.6 rating from 9 reviews. The name identifies it as an association entry rather than a single campground property, which makes it a different kind of result from the others in this list — useful as a pointer to Pennsylvania camping rather than as a specific place to pitch a tent. Address details and the association's scope were not supplied beyond what is shown, so verify directly before relying on it for trip planning.
Address: PA Camping, The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association, Craigs Meadow Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, United States
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★★★★★ 4.6 · 21 reviews
French Creek Org Group Tenting Sites 13-18 is categorized as a state park in Douglassville, Pennsylvania, at 394 Scott's Run Rd, Douglassville, PA 19518. It has a 4.6 rating from 21 reviews. The name indicates organized group tenting sites numbered 13 through 18, which suggests a designated group-use area rather than scattered individual sites. Because it is labeled a state park entry, it sits in the public-land half of this list. Group size limits, reservation requirements, and facility details were not included in the supplied data and need to be confirmed with the park directly.
Address: 394 Scott's Run Rd, Douglassville, PA 19518, United States
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★★★★☆ 4.3 · 1,835 reviews
Hersheypark Camping Resort is listed as a campground in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, at 1200 Sweet St, Hummelstown, PA 17036. It has a 4.3 rating from 1,835 reviews, by far the largest review volume in this comparison, which makes its rating the most statistically stable of the twelve. Despite the campground category, the name identifies it as a resort property rather than a primitive backcountry setting, so it is best treated as a base camp option in the Hershey area. Site types, hookups, amenities, and seasonal details were not supplied and should be checked with the property.
Address: Hersheypark Camping Resort, 1200 Sweet St, Hummelstown, PA 17036, United States
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★★★★☆ 4.4 · 662 reviews
Keen Lake Camping Cottage Resort is listed as a campground in Waymart, Pennsylvania, at 155 Keen Lake Rd, Waymart, PA 18472. It carries a 4.4 rating from 662 reviews, a substantial sample that gives its rating reasonable weight in this comparison. The name identifies it as a camping and cottage resort, which places it with the private properties in this list rather than the state park or state forest entries. Its location in the northeastern part of the state makes it relevant for trips toward that corner of Pennsylvania. Accommodation types, amenities, and pricing were not provided and should be verified directly.
Address: Keen Lake Camping Cottage Resort, 155 Keen Lake Rd, Waymart, PA 18472, United States
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★★★★★ 4.5 · 543 reviews
Deer Run Camping Resort is listed as a campground in Gardners, Pennsylvania, at 111 Sheet Iron Roof Rd, Gardners, PA 17324. It holds a 4.5 rating from 543 reviews, one of the stronger combinations of rating and review volume among the private properties here. The name identifies it as a camping resort, so it should be read as a developed campground option rather than a primitive backcountry site. Its south-central Pennsylvania location puts it in a different travel corridor from the northern tier entries. Details on site types, facilities, and reservation policies were not supplied and require direct confirmation.
Address: Deer Run Camping Resort, 111 Sheet Iron Roof Rd, Gardners, PA 17324, United States
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★★★★☆ 4.2 · 633 reviews
Adventure Bound Camping Resorts - Eagles Peak is listed as a campground in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, at 397 Eagles Peak Rd, Robesonia, PA 19551. It has a 4.2 rating from 633 reviews, a large enough sample to make the rating meaningful for comparison. The name identifies it as part of a camping resort group, which places it among the developed properties rather than the state park or state forest entries in this list. It sits in southeastern Pennsylvania, a different region from the northern-tier state park listings. Amenities, site categories, and seasonal availability were not included in the supplied data.
Address: Adventure Bound Camping Resorts - Eagles Peak, 397 Eagles Peak Rd, Robesonia, PA 19551, United States
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★★★★★ 4.6 · 257 reviews
100 Mile View Camping is listed as a campground in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, at 58 Flagstaff Rd, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. It carries a 4.6 rating from 257 reviews, a solid sample that supports its position near the top of this list on rating alone. The name references a long-distance view, which fits the elevated terrain around the Jim Thorpe area, though the supplied data does not confirm any specific feature or viewpoint access. It is categorized as a campground rather than a state park entry, so verify whether tent sites, regulations, and reservation terms match what you need before booking.
Address: 100 Mile View Camping, 58 Flagstaff Rd, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, United States
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★★★★★ 5 · 1 reviews
Locust Lake State Park Tent Campground is categorized as a park in Barnesville, Pennsylvania, at QVMF+82, Barnesville, PA 18214. It has a 5.0 rating from a single review, meaning the score reflects one camper's experience and should not be treated as a reliable average yet. The name explicitly identifies it as a state park tent campground, which places it firmly in the public-park group in this comparison. Its Barnesville location puts it in Schuylkill County in eastern Pennsylvania. Site counts, fees, quiet hours, and reservation rules were not supplied and must be confirmed with the park.
Address: QVMF+82, Barnesville, PA 18214, United States
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★★★★★ 4.8 · 121 reviews
Lost Acres Camping Resort/Eatery is listed as a campground in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, at 15235 Coudersport Pike, Lock Haven, PA 17745. It holds a 4.8 rating from 121 reviews, one of the highest ratings in this list backed by a moderate review volume. The name identifies it as a camping resort with an eatery, which distinguishes it from the state park entries and suggests an on-site food option, though the supplied data does not detail it. Its Clinton County location places it in north-central Pennsylvania, near some of the state's larger forest tracts. Site types and policies were not provided.
Address: Lost Acres Camping Resort/Eatery, 15235 Coudersport Pike, Lock Haven, PA 17745, United States
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★★★★☆ 4.1 · 388 reviews
Hidden Valley Camping Resort is listed as a campground in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, at 162 Hidden Valley Ln, Mifflinburg, PA 17844. It carries a 4.1 rating from 388 reviews, the lowest rating in this comparison, though the review volume is large enough to make it a meaningful data point rather than noise. The name identifies it as a camping resort, so it belongs with the developed properties rather than the primitive backcountry entries. Its Union County location sits in central Pennsylvania, within reach of forest country. Amenities, site categories, and seasonal details were not supplied and should be verified.
Address: Hidden Valley Camping Resort, 162 Hidden Valley Ln, Mifflinburg, PA 17844, United States
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★★★★★ 4.7 · 11 reviews
Nockamixon State Park - Cabin 4 is categorized as a camping cabin in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, at 1998 Stover Mill Rd, Perkasie, PA 18944. It has a 4.7 rating from 11 reviews. This entry is different from the rest of the list: it is a specific numbered cabin inside a state park rather than a tent camping area or campground, so it is relevant as a comparison point for anyone weighing a roofed stay against a tent pitch. No thumbnail image was supplied for this listing. Cabin capacity, amenities, and reservation rules were not included and should be confirmed with the park.
Address: 1998 Stover Mill Rd, Perkasie, PA 18944, United States
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How We Selected These Places
These twelve listings were compared using the structured data supplied by the system: category label, city and state, street address, average rating, and review volume. Geographic relevance to Pennsylvania state forest and state park country was a primary filter, along with whether the listing is described as tent camping, a state park entry, a campground, or a camping cabin. Review volume was weighed alongside rating so that a 5.0 from a single review is not presented as equivalent to a 4.3 from more than 1,800 reviews. No site visits, inspections, or first-hand testing were performed, and no amenity, fee, or policy details were assumed. Entries are listed in the order supplied by the system.
Tips
Before committing to any site on this list, confirm the basics directly with the property or managing agency: whether tent camping is permitted at that specific area, whether reservations are required or accepted, what the current fees are, and what the season runs. Public park and state forest land often carries its own rules on campfires, food storage, group size, quiet hours, and check-in times, and those rules can differ from what a private resort allows. Pack for the conditions rather than the forecast — Pennsylvania weather shifts quickly, and a tent pitch that is comfortable at midday can be exposed and cold overnight. Carry out everything you bring in, plan a water and waste strategy in advance if facilities are limited, and leave a trip plan with someone who is not traveling with you. If you are new to an area, arrive with enough daylight to evaluate drainage, dead limbs overhead, and distance from other campers before you set up.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are all twelve of these locations primitive backcountry tent camping sites?
- No. The supplied data shows a mix: state park tent camping and group tenting entries such as Ravensburg State Park Tent Camping, French Creek Org Group Tenting Sites 13-18, and Locust Lake State Park Tent Campground, alongside private campgrounds and resorts including Hersheypark Camping Resort, Keen Lake Camping Cottage Resort, Deer Run Camping Resort, Adventure Bound Camping Resorts - Eagles Peak, 100 Mile View Camping, Lost Acres Camping Resort/Eatery, and Hidden Valley Camping Resort, plus one camping cabin listing at Nockamixon State Park - Cabin 4. Whether any specific site qualifies as primitive or backcountry must be confirmed with the managing agency.
- Which listings in this comparison have the most reviews?
- Based on the supplied data, Hersheypark Camping Resort leads with 1,835 reviews at a 4.3 rating, followed by Keen Lake Camping Cottage Resort with 662 reviews at 4.4, Adventure Bound Camping Resorts - Eagles Peak with 633 reviews at 4.2, Deer Run Camping Resort with 543 reviews at 4.5, and Hidden Valley Camping Resort with 388 reviews at 4.1. Higher review volume generally makes a rating more stable as a comparison signal.
- Which entries have very small review samples?
- Ravensburg State Park Tent Camping and Locust Lake State Park Tent Campground both show a 5.0 rating from a single review each, and PA Camping, The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association shows a 4.6 from 9 reviews. Nockamixon State Park - Cabin 4 shows a 4.7 from 11 reviews. These scores reflect a small number of experiences and should be treated as directional rather than definitive when you compare options.
- Do any of these locations require reservations or charge fees?
- The supplied data does not include reservation policies, fees, opening seasons, or site regulations for any of the twelve listings. Those details must be confirmed directly with each property or with the relevant state park office before you travel. Do not assume that a public park entry is first-come, first-served or that a private resort accepts walk-ins.
- How should I use this list if I want a quiet, low-development camping experience?
- Start with the entries labeled as state park or park properties — Ravensburg State Park Tent Camping, French Creek Org Group Tenting Sites 13-18, and Locust Lake State Park Tent Campground — and ask the managing agency directly about primitive or walk-in options, group size limits, and facility levels. The resort-categorized listings appear to be developed properties with larger review footprints, which typically means more infrastructure rather than less. The supplied data does not confirm development level for any listing, so direct confirmation is the only reliable step.
Conclusion
Choosing among primitive backcountry tent camping sites in Pennsylvania state forests comes down to matching the type of property to the type of trip you actually want. The public-park entries in this list — Ravensburg State Park Tent Camping, French Creek Org Group Tenting Sites 13-18, and Locust Lake State Park Tent Campground — are the closest starting points for anyone hunting a simpler, land-managed camping experience, while the resort and campground properties offer a different baseline and often a much larger review history to weigh. Use the ratings and review counts here as a first filter, not a final answer: confirm site rules, seasons, and reservations with each property or park office, and treat every unlisted detail as unknown rather than assumed.
Business information, ratings, reviews, opening hours, and other details may change over time. Please verify important information before visiting.
