Trees and Tents: Camping Reviews

Birds singing and chirping, chipmunks rustling in leaves, sun rays shining through trees and a warm breeze. Ah, that's what I call home. As much as I love snow, I love the spring and fall (summer, not so much, too hot) for camping. We love to go camping, frequent music festivals and visit our friends in the great wide and wondrous outdoors. Some times we camp at private campgrounds, but some times state parks are all that is available. The best camping is always with friends and family, but there is good camping to be had everywhere. Below are all the camping spots we have visited and our thoughts on the location, things to do and the status of the campground.

State/County parks are okay for camping (a bit strict on rules and lots of tourists). The PA state/County parks we have camped at are:

French Creek State Park – Beautiful state park! Enjoyed camping here. Hiking and exploring at the nearby Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.

Frances Slocum State Park – Wouldn't camp here again voluntarily. Noisy, cramped sites and schizoid park rangers lurking. However, hiking and more hiking at the nearby Ricketts Glen State Park, 22 beautiful waterfalls on the Falls Trail to see. Worth the experience due to the waterfalls if you can't find a private campground.

Mauch Chunk Lake Park - Hiking trails and a lake to provide swimming. Unfortunately we were located directly across from the bathrooms, which seemed like a good idea at the time. Was a very busy campground, very noisy with lots of car traffic. Was okay, will try to find a private campground next time.

Can you tell we do NOT like state parks? Private campgrounds are SO much better, more friendly and local – local – local!

Some private PA, Ohio, New Jersey and Delaware campgrounds we have camped at are:

"Camp" in Rome, PA – Our FAVORITE place to camp of all time! Our friends own a rather large chunk of land where they built a lake, huge fire pit and a surrounding camping area under the canopy of many trees. We LOVE camping here and visit VERY often. Good friends, good laughs, good food, good stories, good camping (we have our own personal camp site here) with lots of good fun and good cheer.

Party Down!

Friday night lights

Houd's garden

Camp Taylor in Hope, NJ - was an awesome place to camp!!! The campsites were very wooded, set back from the road pretty far and beautiful to top it off. No noise of passing vehicles and the campsites were set far enough apart you couldn't hear your neighbors. Some sites had built in decks to use! The nearby Lakota Wolf Preserve is pretty cool too (at least I have been told). We didn't have time to visit the wolves on this trip but plan on making another trip to this awesome campground.

Canyon Country Campground – Awesome hiking and visit the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon right next door (also close to Wellsboro, PA) – breathtaking. Campground owners are kind and helpful with a laundry room and outside sink to wash your camp dishes. Not impressed with the lack of foliage between campsites, but at least you can have alcohol. Would camp here again!

Friendship Park in West Milton, PA – We weren't too impressed with the amenities here or the lack of foliage and not even sure if you can just camp here, but it was the location for SHARE Fest, the Sandy Hollow Arts and Recreation for the Environment not for profit organization that sponsors invitation only festivals to raise money for worthy environmental causes and awareness. Also the Stonehenge Music Festival (a festival with lots of good jam bands - great for dancing your butt off) has been hosted here at this “park”. (both of these festivals have since moved their venues) We had to use port-o-potties so I can't say I liked camping here at all. I am not aware of any shower facilities either. Very barren and open area, not many trees. Two thumbs down.

SHARE Fest Camping

SHARE Fest Stage/Dance Area

Good's Campground – Hiking and also close to Ricketts Glen State Park – waterfall trails. Nice private place to camp with adequate amenities and inexpensive prices. Not to mention a huge taxidermy bear above the doorway to the camp office......creepy but cool at the same time. Bathrooms or bathroom should I say was almost adequate. Bathroom was barely clean and there was only ONE. However the campground was quiet and well wooded. We had a nice private site. Will always camp here when visiting the waterfalls.

Creepy/Cool Taxidermy Bear above Camp Office

Beautiful Waterfall on Falls Trail

Ricketts Glen Beauty

Holly Lake Camp Sites - in Millsboro, DE - Affordable, close to Rehobeth Beach and a nice swimming pool. A VERY, VERY large campground with seasonal site rentals (very tempting) to plop down semi-permanent campers/trailers. The site was a typical campsite, the bathrooms were average. I will recommend if you have a choice, pick camping in the normal camper area. We did not enjoy camping near the seasonal sites. Will use this campground when visiting the beach. Perfect!

Nelsons Ledges Quarry Park – BEST PLACE I HAVE EVER CAMPED!!!! This AWESOME campground is in Ohio and hosts Grateful Fest every year (and other great festivals) to support important children's causes. His daughter was diagnosed with Rett's Syndrome and they want to help others in their time of need. How could you NOT want to camp here? Plenty of peace and love here. (and AWESOME camping – beach, lake, cliff diving, hiking, etc.) Can't wait to visit again!!!!

Nelsons Ledges Beach Area

Grateful Fest - Keller Williams (my fav) on Stage

Lake

Cliff Diving

Rivers Edge Camping and Cabins – Original location for Spring Fest, a festival loaded with jam bands (I first saw Hypnotic Clambake play here) that we frequented for several years (and my husband many years before that) before they changed the venue on us. We liked how the campground was butted up against a wide river. They have since made a tremendous amount of changes to the campground that I barely recognize it now. When we camped here it was well wooded and an enjoyable experience. We are sad they no longer host the festival. Also not even sure if the festival itself still exists......

Spring Fest Stage

Stony Fork Creek Campground – Family friendly and located in Wellsboro, PA – lots of things to do. Also home of Hickory Fest a bluegrass festival we have frequented for 6 years and counting. The owners of this campground are very friendly and the bathrooms are clean. Love camping here and some day we will score a real campsite instead of the overflow lot. The campsites are beautiful. Campfire wood delivery and a large pool to boot!

Hickory Fest

Camping at Stony Fork Campground - new friends

Private Residence in Kellyburg, PA – Original location for Stonehenge Music Festival, however I believe the festival got too big and caused some problems for the homeowner who hosted the event. I met the person who put this festival together when he came in to get some laminating done for the event. I was working full time then for a small laminating business. He was very friendly and chatted me up about the festival. The area was fantastic for camping, heavily wooded and mostly untouched land. We miss camping here (and the awesome festival). We no longer attend the festival since they changed venues.

Huge Dance Area at Stonehenge

Stonehenge Camping - Good Times

Private property on the side of a mountain in Snowshoe, PA – My sister's husband's father (say that fast) owns some land up there (for hunting) and we go with them every other year for Memorial weekend for hiking, camping and splashing in the river at the bottom of the mountain. One year we forgot our tent (forehead slap) and had to craft one out of our easy up canopy and a large tarp. THAT was interesting. When we owned our Jeep Wrangler my husband enjoyed off roading with it through the creek, mud and up and over the large rocks/boulders. Great hiking here too. Absolutely beautiful, can't wait to go back again!