In the heart of the Pocono Mountains, you’ll find the beautiful 3,000-acre Promised Land State Park in Greentown, Pennsylvania. With stunning views, abundant forests, and rustic hiking and biking trails, there is plenty to do for everyone. If you want to do some fishing or boating, this park has double the fun with two different lakes. Promised Land Lake is just over 400 acres and boasts huge amounts of record-breaking sized bass, massive catfish, and plenty of sunfish, perch, and muskellunge. You can even find some pickerel in this lake. The 173-acre Lower Lake also has rainbow, brown, and brook trout, so you’ll need a trout stamp to fish there.
If you are a fan of the cold, you can even try some ice fishing in the colder months, but make sure the ice is thick enough before venturing out too far. If you cannot catch any fish, grab some skates and take the kids ice skating for a while. Or you can do some snowshoeing, snowmobiling, or cross-country skiing as well. Winter is not the time to stay indoors when there is so much to do here.
There are six different camping areas for your RV camping trip. The best one for the bigger rigs is Beechwood, which accommodates up to 100-foot RVs while the others can handle from 30 to 85 feet RVs and trailers, depending on the site. It is best to reserve your site online to make sure you have one that will fit your needs.
Promised Land State Park is easily accessible in Pike County, Pennsylvania, using I-80 and I-84. Only 10 miles north of Canadensis off of PA-390, you will be about two hours from Philadelphia and one hour from Allentown. The roads are typically well maintained and easy to maneuver, but some areas can be tricky if you are driving a large RV or pulling a big camper. However, if you are coming from the Philadelphia area, watch out for the low clearance areas of US-13 and Highland, which is only 13 feet and US-13 and Chester Pike, which is 13 feet five inches.
The road the park is on, PA-390, is very curvy no matter where you are coming from, so you will want to drive slowly and carefully. If you have trouble maneuvering on the road, take a break, pull over, or stop at a rest stop and wait a while before trying it again. Sometimes it just takes a little relaxation to get you back to driving mode again. It is best to drive slowly anyway because the scenery with the mountains in the background is gorgeous along here.
Once you enter the park, you should be able to handle the roads. The Northwoods and Rhododendron Campgrounds have quite a few narrow roads and tricky turns, which is why they are only recommended for small RVs and campervans. Parking is easy in the other campgrounds, and most of the parking lots have plenty of room for rigs to park.
On the northeastern corner of Lower Lake, Beechwood Campground has 106 campsites with different amenities and pad lengths depending on which site you choose. Open from April until October, the majority of the sites can handle RVs up to 40 feet with some that can accommodate rigs up to 50 feet. Four of the sites (PT1-PT4) are pull-throughs that can fit those rigs up to 100 feet in length.
All of the sites here have 50-amp electric hookups, as well. Most of them allow pets, but you have to check when you reserve your spot because some of them do not. Some of the communal amenities include a laundry facility, modern restrooms with flush toilets, an RV dump site, and shower houses with hot water. Each of the campsites also has a private picnic table, a lantern post, and a campfire ring with a grill to cook on.
Just south of Promised Land Lake, Deerfield Campground boasts 34 campsites next to the park auditorium off North Shore Road. These primitive sites can accommodate RVs from 20 to 55 feet in length and are open from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Because of the wide variety of length limits, it is best to make your reservation way ahead of time, and be sure to check that the site you choose can accommodate your rig. Each of these spacious sites has a lantern post, picnic table, and campfire ring with a grill for cooking. Pets are welcome here. There are no utility hookups, but there are two potable water spigots, an RV dumpsite, and a shower house with modern restrooms. You are close to the Masker Museum here as well as the blacksmith shop and the shores of the Promised Land Lake.
Rhododendron Campground has 63 campsites just to the southeast of Beechwood Campground, and it is open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. Surrounded by Lower Lake on both sides, you are close to the water no matter which site you choose. Fifteen of the sites have 30- to 50-amp electrical hookups, but the others are primitive, if you are staying in a dry campsite, don't worry about drinking water; water is available near campsites 525, 536, and 543. This campground has a modern restroom with hot showers in the middle of the small loop of campsites near the host. The length limits vary between 25 and 35 except for one pull-through, which allows for anything up to 130 feet long. Pets are not permitted at this campground and reservations can (and should) be made well in advance.
Ice skating can be a lot of fun, and you can go ice skating right here in the park. As long as the conditions are right, you can skate on the lake, so make sure to pack your ice skates in the rig. The ice must be at least four inches thick for one person and at least seven inches thick for more than two people. Check with the park office for more information, but it is essential to perform your own ice thickness test before ice skating.
Bring the ice fishing gear in the camper if you are coming to the park during the winter. Promised Land Lake is known for its excellent bass fishing during the winter, and you’ll find plenty of panfish and pickerel as well. Bundle up and wear layers because it can get mighty cold on the frozen lake. You can also bring a fish house or ice shanty to help you stay warm. Whatever you do, be safe and make sure you check the ice thickness before heading out onto the frozen water.
If you forgot to pack the snowshoes in the RV, don’t worry. Promised Land State Park will loan you some on Mondays through Fridays until 3:00 PM. You’ll need at least six inches of snow to borrow snowshoes as well as picture identification, so make sure there is enough powder, and set aside your ID before heading to the office. The 6.5-mile boundary trail that takes you around the entire park is one of the best snowshoeing hikes in the park. If 6.5 miles isn't long enough, you can head out into the Delaware State Forest on some of those trails, too.
Once deer hunting season is over, you can explore the 23 miles of snowmobile trails if you remember to bring your snowmobiles with you. You’ll find some excellent trails to zip through while visiting the park in December. The park office has snowmobiling maps available that you can use to plot your course before taking off. Be sure to dress in layers and dress warmly. Practice safety procedures at all times and follow the trails marked with the orange diamonds.
One of the smaller campgrounds, Northwoods, has 48 campsites with 50-amp electric hookups, and it is open from May until mid-October. Each site offers its own large cleared area, a campfire ring with a grill, a lantern post, and a gravel pad for smaller RVs. The length limits range from 15 to 35, but it is important to check the size limit when reserving your spot. You’ll also find five pull-through sites in the first loop. In addition, you can find a shower house with hot water next to the parking lot and information board near the camp host site at number 450. There are potable water spigots located in several areas of the campground. Pets are welcome at all of these sites, but you must supervise and restrain them at all times during your visit.
Just up the hill from the Northwoods Campground, you can find the Hemlock Hill Horse Camping Area. Open from May through mid-October, this spacious area has six sites that can accommodate a rig and trailer up to 80 feet in length, 18 feet wide, and has an overhead clearance of 15-20 feet. Each campsite has its own picnic table, fire pit, lantern post, horse hitch, and a stall that can host either three or four horses.
You’ll also find a toilet and shower house, water for the horses, and a manure pit. There is an RV dump site nearby as well. Don’t use the manure pit for RV dumping. This campground is adjacent to the Hemlock Hill Equestrian Trail and many miles of equestrian trails in the Delaware State Forest. You can also enjoy a romp around the state forest roads in the park. Dogs are allowed to join you here as well, but they must be kept on a leash and accompanied at all times.
Pickerel Point Campground is on a peninsula on the southern side of Promised Land Lake and has 75 campsites. However, only 36 of these sites allow RVs or other vehicles. The rest of the sites are walk-ins. Twelve of the RV sites have full hookups, including water, sewer, and 20 to 50-amp electricity, while the other 24 sites just have power. There are even several ADA accessible campsites available, and certain sites are available year-round. Every spot has an excellent water view because of the campground's location on a peninsula, and some are right along the shore. You’ll also find laundry facilities, two shower houses with hot water, and one modern restroom area. All of the RV campsites are pet-friendly, but you will have to check online when you reserve your site just to be sure. If you stay in the campground's cottages, be aware that none of the cottages at Pickerel Point allow pets.
The Pines Campground is open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day and has 57 campsites that have room for rigs up to 87 feet in length. You will need to check the pad lengths when you reserve your site to make sure you get one that fits your needs. This campground is located along the northern end of Promised Land Lake by North Shore Road and HWY-390. No hookups are available, but with modern flush toilets and hot showers, you will feel comfortable here no matter how long you stay. There is one ADA accessible site (number 24) as well as a camp host (number 42).
If you enjoy hiking or biking, this is a great campground for you as there are several trails here. The Rock Oak Ridge Trail begins right at the campground entrance and leads you northeast through the woods. The Tree Tower Trail starts to the west of the campground by the overflow parking area. Mount Laurel Trail passes through the campground area along Highway 390. Pets are not allowed at any of these campsites.
With about 3,000 acres of land and 50 miles of trails, Promised Land State Park is a beautiful place to do some cross-country skiing. Enjoy the gorgeous white expanse as you ski the well-groomed trails in and around the park. Nearby Bruce Lake Natural Conservation Area has some of the best cross-country skiing trails in the state, according to those who have ventured out onto them. If you forgot to bring your skis, you could rent some from the park office.
Want to learn something on your RV vacation to Promised Land State Park? The Masker Museum, which is the largest state park museum in Pennsylvania, is located off Pickerel Point Road by the amphitheater. There is a wonderful natural history area that has several mounted animals, including a black bear and several birds. Speaking of birds, you can also visit the bird feeding and observation area to learn about some of the feathered friends in the area. You’ll find all kinds of displays and artifacts describing the history of the Promised Land State Park. The museum is ADA accessible so that everyone can explore and enjoy it. The kids will love it, and so will you.
Don’t forget to pack your swimming suit and beach toys in the RV before heading to the park. There are two marked swimming beaches. One at the end of Pickerel Point Peninsula past the Pickerel Point Campground, and the other is in the Day-Use Picnic Area. These sandy beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day from 8:00 AM to sunset. No lifeguards are on duty, so be aware that you are swimming at your own risk. All swimmers 10 years and under must be accompanied by someone who is 14 years or older.
Gather your friends and family in the RV and head to the park for a picnic. You will find a large picnic area by Promised Land Lake, where you can use any number of tables. The park also has two reservable pavilions that you can use if you have a large family or group. The CCC Pavilion seats 80 with 10 tables, several grills, electric, restrooms, and a playground. The Falls Pavilion can host 64 people with eight tables, power, BBQ grills, restrooms, a playground, and it is ADA accessible. Grab some grub and head to the park for a fun day with the family.
Make sure you don’t forget your hiking boots because there are at least nine fantastic trails that you can hike here from easy to moderate level difficulty. The easy 2.4-mile Little Falls Trail is a favorite of many for its stunning waterfalls, so bring a camera for this one. The moderate 7.3-mile Rock Oak Trail is a great workout for someone who is in good shape. If you just want to take the kids for a short walk, try the easy 0.6-mile 1800 Trail, which takes you on a nice path through the woods.
Get that bike rack hooked up to the camper so you can bring your bike to the park. There are several areas where you can enjoy riding here, including the 6.5-mile road that traverses the entire park. It starts at Promised Land Lake, meanders along to the Lower Lake Road, and passes by all six of the campgrounds. There are also several biking trails, including the easy one-mile Bear Wallow Trail, the Brook Trail, moderate 2.1-mile Burley Inlet Trail, or the moderate 3.2-mile Kleinhans Trail. All children under 12 years of age must wear a helmet at all times when riding.
